15 Best Places to Find Cheap Books Online
Updated: Apr. 05, 2023Books for under a buck? Yes, please! These sites that sell cheap books are calling your name.
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Websites with read-iculously cheap books
There’s nothing like opening a highly anticipated book and getting lost in another world for a bit. Reading is a great habit to have, but book lovers may feel those enticing pages pinch their wallets—especially nowadays, when inflation is making things more expensive and causing bookworms to dip into their book budgets for everyday needs. There are ways to expand your library without going broke, though—like reading some Kindle Unlimited books (if you have a subscription) and shopping for cheap books online.
You can get some of the best fiction books, nonfiction books and helpful books for a fraction of the price by shopping for used books online. You often find the best books for less simply because someone previously turned their pages. Not a bad deal, right? If you’re sold, here are some of the best places to find cheap books online—so you can organize your bookshelf with new reads without depleting your savings.
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ThriftBooks
Price range: $3.59 and up
Book genres: Biographies, memoirs, children’s books, nonfiction, young adult and more
One of the best places to find cheap books online is ThriftBooks. ThriftBooks has more than 13 million titles to browse, including the classics and newer titles. And did we mention the books are super affordable? We found a copy of the classic children’s book Goodnight Moon in “very good” condition for only $4.69. We also found a new copy of The Hill We Climb, the presidential inaugural poem by Amanda Gorman, also for $4.69. Get ready to stock your library—and save a couple of bucks in the process.
AbeBooks
Price range: $1 and up
Book genres: Fiction, romance, poetry, historical fiction, nonfiction and more
AbeBooks has a large variety of used books in numerous genres to choose from. Search the website for cheap books based on the author, title or a keyword associated with the story. They even have categories for popular authors, such as Stephen King and Toni Morrison, ready to browse. As of this writing, you can get a used copy of Morrison’s powerful (and banned) debut novel, The Bluest Eye, for $4.63. AbeBooks has more than just books too—you can also find art, comics, vintage photographs, sheet music and maps for sale.
Goodwill Books
Price range: $6.75 and up
Book genres: Audiobooks, classic literature, young adult, nonfiction, and more
You’ve likely seen used books at Goodwill stores, but you may not know that Goodwill has an entire website dedicated to selling used books. There’s a large selection of books in different categories, ranging from fiction books to books about computers and technology. For instance, you could get a book on microprocessors and microcomputers for $7.50, and then add a used copy of Pride and Prejudice to your cart for just $7. Goodwill Books also has more than just books—users can snag the best movies, games, music and cookbooks for less. Browse for yourself and see what treasures await!
Powell’s Books
Price range: $4.50 and up
Book genres: Fiction, poetry, young adult, non-English language books, thrillers and more
Another great place to get cheap books online is Powell’s Books, an independent bookstore located in Portland, Oregon. The used-book section of its site offers a wide selection of books within several genres, so every bookworm is bound to find something to love. You can get a copy of the Pulitzer Prize–winning All the Light We Cannot See for just $12.95, or if you’re in need of a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, you can get one for $7.50.
Alibris
Price range: 99 cents and up
Book genres: Sci-fi, romance, sports, travel and more
Make sure you bookmark this site for future book browsing. Alibris is a website where you can find books on just about anything. They have categories dedicated to textbooks, fiction books, children’s books, craft and hobby books and even eBooks. They even have a section dedicated to 99-cent books. Yep, you read that right—you can get a book on this site for less than a buck. Take a look for yourself! Then, browse through these places you can read free books online.
Book Finder
Price range: Depends on which sites are compared
Book genres: Textbooks, rare books, classics and more
Book Finder is a website that has a plethora of books to browse. There are more than just used books available, too—you can look for rare books, textbooks and even out-of-print books. The best part? It lists out where you can find the book you’re looking for online and compares prices from different websites. You can also choose if you want to shop for new books or used. It takes the hassle out of having to click back and forth between tabs to compare prices, which can save you time as well as money.
Half Price Books
Price range: $1.99 and up
Book genres: Mystery, fairy tales, cooking, memoirs and more
Half Price Books is another great website to check out if you want to get books for a bargain. There are plenty of titles and genres to choose from, including history, self-help and children’s fiction. You can also browse music, movies, television series and textbooks. They’ve got puzzles too! Another cool thing about Half Price Books is the “Super Buy” categories, where you can choose to look at books under $10, under $5, even under $2. Your library (and wallet) will thank you later.
Better World Books
Price range: $4.24 and up
Book genres: Funny books, science books, romance novels, mystery tales and more
This is a website you’ll want to share with the book lovers in your life. Better World Books has a ton of books across categories, as well as audiobooks and DVDs to browse. One section to check out is the bargain bin—it lists a ton of great books at even better prices (and some books even ship for free!).
Book Outlet
Price range: 99 cents and up
Book genres: Art, biographies, poetry, children’s fiction, true crime and more
Book lovers, fair warning: You could spend hours browsing this website. Book Outlet has so many great books that are affordable, and if you want to stick to a specific budget, you can shop for books under $20, under $15, under $10 and even under $5. Book Outlet doesn’t just have books, either—you can browse puzzles, toys and other fun gifts.
Second Sale
Price range: $2.99 and up
Book genres: Fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels and more
Second Sale is another great website for buying books on a budget. It has plenty of fiction and nonfiction books for you to take a look at, and it has an impressive collection of books on certain topics. For instance, there are informational books on architecture, computers, law and gardening, among other topics. If you want to learn something new, snag a book from this website and get to reading. You can also sell your books to Second Sale for some extra cash.
BookMooch
Price range: N/A
Book genres: Horror novels, classic literature, young adult books and more
BookMooch is great for book lovers who aren’t looking for specific titles. It’s a website where you can trade your books with others around the globe and get your hands on something you’ve never read before (and earn points in the process). With around 74,000 members in 90 different countries, you’re bound to find an interesting novel or two on this website.
Biblio
Price range: $1 and up
Book genres: Dystopian books, rare books, thrillers and more
If you’re on the hunt for rare books and first editions, Biblio is the website for you. You can search for books by their author, title, keyword or ISBN. You can even select if you want a book to be a first edition, or signed by the author. With more than 100 million used, rare and out-of-print books available, you’re bound to find your next bookshelf addition on Biblio. Browse now and see what you can find!
Barnes and Noble
Price range: $1.49 and up
Book genres: Graphic novels, history, funny books and more
Barnes and Noble is known for having a great selection of books, but did you know they also sell discounted reads? Check out the site’s Book Annex, which offers a variety of titles across genres, from children’s lit to poetry. The site even has sections dedicated to books under $10 and under $5, so you can buy those page-turners even if you’re on a tight budget. Search your favorite authors (we found some Stephen King books on the site, FYI) and get to shopping!
Amazon
Price range: $2.99 and up
Book genres: Mystery, memoirs, nonfiction and more
What doesn’t Amazon sell these days? If you’re looking for used books, Amazon has your back. You can search for your favorite titles and save some money by shopping used instead of new. We won’t judge if you end up with a used book (or five) in your cart.
eBay
Price range: One cent and up
Book genres: Fiction, nonfiction, fantasy and more
No bidding required here! eBay allows you to buy used books at affordable prices right away. You can even search for books under $5—and yes, we found some titles that were as low as a penny. Who says you need to go broke buying books?
