As a writer, reading widely is one of the most powerful things you can do for your craft. Luckily, in 2026, a world-class library is never further away than your phone or laptop – and it won’t cost you a cent.
Whether you’re looking to study the masters, research your next project or simply lose yourself in a great story, here are the best places to access free eBooks legally, with a special focus on what’s available to readers right here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
1. Your local library app: the best-kept secret in New Zealand
Before you look anywhere else, start here. Many Kiwis don’t realise just how rich their local library’s digital collection has become. All you need is a free library card and a smartphone or tablet.
Libby (by OverDrive)
Libby is the most widely used digital library app and is available through public libraries in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga and many more. Auckland Council Libraries members can borrow up to 35 eBooks and Audiobooks at a time, plus unlimited eMagazines – all for free with a library card.
Auckland Libraries also currently offers small guaranteed-available collections on OverDrive, giving readers immediate access to curated eBooks and eAudiobooks with no waitlist. Christchurch and Selwyn libraries have gone a step further, partnering to offer a shared digital collection called AWA that gives members of both libraries access to a greater range of titles.
How to get started: Download the Libby app (iOS or Android), search for your library and sign in with your library card number.
Wheelers ePlatform
If you’re passionate about New Zealand writing, Wheelers is essential. Wheelers has the largest collection of eBooks about Aotearoa or by New Zealand authors, from celebrated New Zealand fiction and poetry to history, biography and contemporary issues. It’s a goldmine for writers wanting to understand the local literary landscape.
Note: Wheelers eBooks can only be borrowed from members of the Horowhenua Library Trust, Tararua and Wairoa Libraries and Central Hawke’s Bay District Libraries.
BorrowBox
BorrowBox offers a wide range of popular eBooks and Audiobooks with a great selection of New Zealand and Australian authors, syncing automatically across devices so you can continue right where you left off. Much like Libby, this app requires you to have a local library membership. Available through Auckland Libraries and Christchurch City Libraries, among others.
2. Project Gutenberg: over 75,000 classics
Project Gutenberg is a library of free eBooks, offering thousands of titles including works by the world’s great authors, with a focus on older works for which copyright has expired. No fees or registration required, and you only need a regular web browser or eBook reader instead of an app.
For writers, Project Gutenberg is an extraordinary resource. Want to study how Jane Austen builds tension? How Dickens creates character through dialogue? How Hemingway strips prose to its bones? It’s all here, completely free, in EPUB and Kindle formats.
Writers’ tip: Don’t just read – analyse. Pick a scene from a novel you admire and study how the author handles pacing, point of view or dialogue. Then try writing your own version.
3. Open Library: discover modern titles
Open Library is an open, editable library catalogue building towards a web page for every book ever published, with over 3 million books to read and discover for free.
Unlike Project Gutenberg’s focus on older classics, Open Library includes more contemporary titles through a digital lending system – meaning you can borrow a book for a set period, just as you would from a physical library. It’s ideal for writers researching a specific topic or genre.
4. ManyBooks: 50,000+ curated titles
ManyBooks offers more than 50,000 free eBooks in the genres you love, with editors exploring the catalogue of public domain books to surface real gems that might otherwise stay hidden. The site also offers a newsletter with free and discounted current titles, which is useful if you’re exploring a genre beyond your usual comfort zone.
5. Standard Ebooks: beautiful editions of the classics
If you’ve ever downloaded a free classic and been put off by the poor formatting, Standard Ebooks is for you. This volunteer-run project takes public domain texts and produces them to a high typographical and editorial standard, properly formatted and genuinely pleasurable to read. Perfect for writers who want to study classic texts without the frustration of badly digitised copies.
6. LibriVox: audiobooks for writers on the move
LibriVox is supported by a group of worldwide volunteers who read and record public domain texts, creating free public domain audiobooks available for download. Closely affiliated with Project Gutenberg, the project sources many of its texts from the former.
For writers who simply prefer listening, LibriVox is a wonderful companion. Hearing how a story flows aloud can teach you as much about rhythm and pacing as reading it on the page.
A quick note on reading legally and safely
Always download from trusted, legitimate sources. Pirated eBooks are not only illegal, but they also deprive authors of the income that allows them to keep writing. Every time you borrow through your library or download from a legitimate free site, you’re participating in a system that values writers and their work.
When in doubt, look for the HTTPS padlock in your browser address bar, and stick to well-known platforms or your local library’s recommended services.
Make it a habit
The best writers are voracious readers. Set yourself a goal – one book a month, or one chapter a day – and let these free resources help you meet it. Whether you’re drawn to stories through Wheelers, classic literature through Project Gutenberg, or contemporary fiction through your local Libby collection, there has never been a better (or cheaper!) time to expand your reading repertoire.
Your next great influence could be just a download away.
Looking to turn your reading passion into writing skill? Explore the full NZ Writers’ College range of online courses here.
