In today’s digital age, having access to textbooks in an electronic format has become increasingly important. PDF textbooks offer the convenience of being portable and accessible on multiple devices and the ability to search, highlight, and make notes directly on the text. However, obtaining these digital textbooks can often come at a high cost.

This is where downloading free PDF textbooks come in. With a bit of research and effort, it is possible to find a vast array of educational materials available for free online. This guide will explore some of the best sources for downloading free PDF textbooks to access the knowledge you need without breaking the bank. (All links open in a new window). – Updated July 2024

What are PDF Textbooks?

PDF (Portable Document Format) textbooks are electronic versions of traditional printed textbooks. These digital books have all the same information as the printed versions, but they are much more convenient and cost-effective. PDF textbooks can be easily stored on a computer or mobile device and can be accessed anywhere, at any time.

List of places to get free textbooks online

Below is a detailed collection of websites and forums from where you can get textbooks in PDF for free or very low costs. They have been updated and checked on the 10th of Feb, 2023. If any link is not working, it will be changed/updated with a note.

A. Online Bookstores

1. Libgen

More commonly known as Library Genesis, Library Genesis is a valuable resource for individuals seeking access to academic content typically only available through costly journals. This “shadow library” provides a vast collection of journal articles and books covering a wide range of topics and subjects.

The process of downloading a PDF textbook from Library Genesis is straightforward. Simply enter your desired search term, whether it be the author’s name, subject, or ebook title, into the search box and select the desired textbook for download. It will usually present multiple links (as some links can be taken down, especially if it’s against copyright law). Make sure to use an Adblocker on this site, as this could have some malware.

With a user-friendly interface and an extensive collection of books on diverse subjects, Library Genesis offers a convenient and accessible means of obtaining academic content. The site even allows for reading on various e-reader devices such as Kindle, Android, and iPad. The links keep changing (Registrars keep taking them down cause they don’t like people sharing, so you’ll have to google LibGen, lols)

2. Textbooks For Life (textbooks.dad)

Yes, our very own, textbooks.dad is a one-stop-shop for affordable and accessible college textbooks! We understand the struggles that students face in obtaining the necessary materials for their courses, especially with the rising cost of tuition and textbooks. That’s why we’re here to help. Our website provides a vast collection of high-quality PDF and ePub textbooks at a fraction of the cost of traditional printed textbooks. Whether you’re a science major, history buff, or art enthusiast, we have a textbook for you. With our easy-to-use interface and search functionality, you can quickly find the etextbook you need and start studying right away. There are no restrictions on the books you download from our site. Say goodbye to the days of overpaying for textbooks and hello to a world of knowledge at your fingertips. Start saving money and enhancing your education with TextbooksForLife today!

P.S. We also have test banks and solution manuals for many titles. You can also request text books and instructor resources from us. Contact us for more info.

3. BookBoon

Bookboon is an online platform for accessing hundreds of paid and free textbooks written by professors from top universities around the world. Users can download books in PDF for subjects like economics, accounting, natural sciences, engineering, marketing, finance, law, strategy, and management etc. The website also includes short practical books, for example, Personal Development, Personal Productivity, Career and Study Advice, etc.

Not all their books are free. BookBook offers a 30-day free trial for users to access them. After the trial period, a nominal fee of $5.99 per month is required for continued access. The user interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy to use. They say their aim is to democratize knowledge to make it easy for everyone to develop themselves through high-quality learning.

4. PDF Drive

PDF Drive is a search engine specializing in finding and indexing PDF files, including but not limited to textbooks. With over 82 million PDF files, PDF Drive is one of the largest collections of free PDF textbooks available online. However, this site doesn’t always have the latest editions available. Apart from textbooks, they also have car manuals, tutorials, and random PDF documents.

B. Open-Source Textbooks

Some of the best sources for free PDF textbooks are open-source textbook initiatives. These projects aim to provide high-quality educational materials to students and teachers at no cost and are 100% legal. Some of the most popular open-source textbook initiatives include:

1. Open Textbook Library

The Open Textbook Library is an online repository of college-level textbooks covering a range of subjects, including Education, Business, Engineering, and more. With a focus on providing access to high-quality educational materials, the website offers a variety of funded and published books that are free to use, share, and adapt without any legal consequences. Additionally, users can even print the books at an affordable cost.

At last count, they had over 1100 open-source textbooks in their library. The library takes its name, “Open Textbook Library,” seriously, allowing users to make edits or contributions to the open textbooks. This open and collaborative approach to education is what sets the Open Textbook Library apart and makes it a valuable resource for students and educators alike.

This site is run by the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development.

2. OpenStax

OpenStax is a nonprofit organization that creates high-quality, peer-reviewed, openly licensed textbooks for college and high school courses that are free online and low-cost in print. They aim to provide university students with access to affordable course materials in order to help reduce the cost of education and improve student outcomes. OpenStax was founded in 2012, and with a team of expert authors, editors, and educational designers, they develop high-quality books that educators and subject matter experts review. OpenStax’s mission is to make education more accessible and affordable for all students, regardless of their financial circumstances.

3. Project Gutenberg

The oldest digital library offers over 60,000 free eBooks, including a vast collection of ePub and PDF textbooks. Their extensive collection covers various subjects, including history, literature, science, and more. They primarily focus on fiction books whose copyright has expired to make them available for the public domain, so you can find a lot of classic books on this site as well.

4. LibreTexts

LibreTexts is an open-source digital library of free educational resources that provides college students and faculty with a comprehensive and evolving collection of open educational resources (OERs). It is a collaborative platform that aims to increase access to high-quality educational materials by providing free access to a wide range of peer-reviewed and up-to-date textbook materials for various disciplines. The platform is supported by a community of educators and researchers who contribute their expertise and knowledge to create a dynamic and growing library of educational resources. With its user-friendly interface, support for over 150 courses, and an extensive collection of materials, LibreTexts is a valuable resource for educators, students, and anyone interested in learning and education. Anyone can download a PDF book from this site.

C. University Websites

Another excellent source for free PDF textbooks is university websites. Many universities offer a wide range of educational materials, including lecture notes, syllabi, and even full textbooks, for free on their websites. However, some universities do require that a student be able to login using their credentials from the same university. Some good universities offering free textbooks for free include:

1. MIT OpenCourseWare: MIT OpenCourseWare provides free access to course materials for over 2,400 MIT courses. This includes syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, and even some full textbooks.

2. Open Yale Courses: Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught at Yale University. This includes some textbooks, syllabi, video lectures, and other course materials.

3. UC Berkeley Webcast: UC Berkeley Webcast (Webcast and Legacy Course Capture) provides free access to course materials for a wide range of subjects being taught at the University of California, including computer science, biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, and more.

D. Others

Some bonus forums and sites where you can find and request textbooks and material that are very difficult to find otherwise.

1. Reddit

Reddit is one of the most visited websites in the world, especially in the United States. A subreddit (or a sub-forum) called /r/textbook is the perfect place for students looking for affordable and accessible educational resources. This subreddit is a community-driven platform that provides a wealth of information on textbooks and other study materials, including links to free online resources and discussions on various educational topics. Whether you’re looking for a specific textbook, solutions manual, test bank want to share your own study materials, or just want to connect with others who are passionate about education, college, or textbooks, /r/textbook has something for everyone. With a friendly and knowledgeable community of members, this subreddit is a valuable resource for anyone looking to further their education and expand their knowledge.

Do especially check out the 1st post on this subreddit for a collection of resources that may help you. You can also post and join the conversation today, asking for help finding a particular text. There are other similar subreddits as well

2. PDF Search Engine

Someone has made a custom Google search engine combining many of these sites and resources in a single place. PDF Search Engine allows anyone to search for free PDF textbooks and download them to their smartphone, computer, or tablet. Using the PDF Search Engine is as simple as using Google.

Type your query in the text box, press enter, or click the search icon. You will be shown a list of search results relevant to your query. This search script digs deep and is rich in resources. It doesn’t host any books on its own, rather it collects results from other popular sites offering free PDF books and presents it to you.

Conclusion & Disclaimer

In this article, we meticulously researched a list of the best cheap and free PDF textbook websites and forums focusing on university and college students. By offering students the ability to download required textbooks for free or at a considerable discount, these textbook websites are a valuable resource for anyone looking to supplement their education. Make sure always to use an Adblocker while visiting any site, and always scan the files with an anti-virus. We can only guarantee the ePub and PDF files on our website (TextbooksForLife) are free from any malware or virus. NEVER download an ‘EXE’, ‘BAT’, or another file format. They will always be a virus. Only stick to PDF, ePub (or, in some cases MOBI) formats.

You can also use the online scanner VirusTotal tool to scan any file for free. If you have any suggestions or questions, let us know via email or in the comments below.