5 Alternatives to a Kindle Unlimited Subscription

Thinking about whether you should join, cancel or renew your Kindle Unlimited subscription? Before you make your decision, check out these 5 alternative suggestions to get your reading fix:

1. Discover free eBooks

Did you know that Amazon has thousands of free Kindle books available at any given time? Sites like JustKindleBooks makes it super easy to find these free eBooks and download them at no cost to you. Simply go to the free books page and click on your favorite genre to find all of the free titles in that category.

2. Buy discounted paperback books

With a bit of luck, you can find plenty of amazing books at thrift shops, Goodwill, and garage sales at highly discounted prices. Or you can buy used books online at these online discount book stores. When you’re done reading them, you can donate them to a library, resell them to other readers, or contribute to a nearby Little Free Library.

3. Borrow eBooks from your library

With apps like OverDrive, you can virtually check out content like audiobooks, eBooks, and movies from your local library for free. All you need is a library card and internet access to get started!

If you’re using a PC, go to the Overdrive homepage and click “Find a library.” One you find your library, click on it to browse through the available content or use the search function to look for a specific title. When you find something you like, hit “Borrow,” sign in to your Amazon account, and select which device the content should be delivered to.

If you’re using a phone or tablet, download OverDrive’s other app, the free Libby app, create an account, and simply follow the on-screen directions to find your library.

4. Subscribe to Bookmate

Bookmate is similar to Kindle Unlimited in several ways. The subscription fee of $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year is about what you would pay for KU, and Bookmate has a huge content library. Subscribers can choose unlimited titles and browse over 1.8 million eBooks, comics, magazines, and more. Bookmate is also more social than KU, allowing users to share what they’re reading and check out what their friends are currently reading.

5. Try Scribd

If you’re on the hunt for bestsellers, Scribd might be the perfect option for you. Scribd typically carries the latest popular titles before Kindle Unlimited or Bookmate offers them, and its subscription plan has additional perks that other platforms simply can’t provide. For instance, Scribd subscribers can also listen to unlimited audiobooks, read unlimited magazines, and even download sheet music. Also, Scridb has 1,000+ publishers on its platform, including Bloomsbury, Harlequin, HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Lonely Planet, Macmillan, Perseus Book Group, Simon & Schuster, Wiley, and more.