When you buy an ebook with DRM, you don’t really own it. You own a license — one that can be revoked, that locks you into a single app, and that stops working if the store shuts down. DRM-free ebooks are different: you get a file, it’s yours, and you can read it however you want, on any device, forever.
This is a curated list of stores and publishers that sell DRM-free ebooks. The first two sections list stores and publishers where everything is DRM-free by default. The third section covers major bookstores that carry both DRM and DRM-free titles — you’ll need to check per book, but they’re worth knowing about.
DRM-Free Stores
Everything these stores sell is DRM-free. Buy with confidence.
Smashwords — One of the largest independent ebook platforms, now part of Draft2Digital. Strong on indie fiction, romance, mystery, and self-published authors. Books come in multiple formats including EPUB, PDF, and Kindle-compatible MOBI. Prices range from free to full retail, with many authors offering discounts. The catalog leans heavily toward indie and small-press titles — if you’re looking for mainstream bestsellers, look elsewhere, but for discovering new voices it’s hard to beat.
Baen Books — Military sci-fi, space opera, and fantasy from one of the genre’s most respected publishers. Baen has sold DRM-free ebooks since the early 2000s — one of the first publishers to embrace it. Their Free Library has dozens of complete novels available at no cost, including first books in popular series. Ebooks are priced between $6–$10, well below most traditional publishers, and come in EPUB and MOBI formats.
StoryBundle — Pay-what-you-want bundles of DRM-free ebooks, usually themed by genre (sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, comics, non-fiction). New bundles rotate regularly, typically offering 5–15 titles per bundle. A great way to discover authors you’d never find otherwise. Bundles run for a limited time, so check back often. All books are provided as EPUB and MOBI.
Weightless Books — Small indie bookstore focused on SFF, comics, literary magazines, and small-press titles. Everything is DRM-free in EPUB and PDF. The catalog is curated rather than massive — think quality over quantity. Particularly good for finding indie SFF magazines and anthologies.
Beam eBooks — A German-based store that specializes in DRM-free ebooks. Strong science fiction and fantasy selection in both German and English, plus a growing general fiction catalog. One of the few stores where DRM-free is the default, not the exception. Prices in euros, ships worldwide (digitally).
DRM-Free Publishers
These publishers sell DRM-free everywhere — even on Amazon or Apple Books. If you see their name on a book, the ebook version is DRM-free regardless of where you buy it.
Tor.com / Tor Books — Tor dropped DRM on all their ebooks in 2012 and never looked back. One of the largest science fiction and fantasy publishers in the world, home to authors like Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, and N.K. Jemisin. Buy Tor titles from any retailer — they’re DRM-free everywhere. This single policy change made Tor the gold standard for DRM-free genre publishing.
Angry Robot Books — Indie SFF publisher known for taking risks on unusual, genre-bending fiction. All their titles are available DRM-free across all retailers. Their catalog skews toward inventive, boundary-pushing sci-fi and fantasy — the kind of books that don’t fit neatly into a single category.
Pragmatic Bookshelf — Technical books for software developers. Every ebook purchase includes DRM-free EPUB, PDF, and MOBI — buy once, get all three formats. Known for high-quality, hands-on programming books with frequent updates. Their catalog covers languages, frameworks, and developer practices. Prices typically $20–$50.
No Starch Press — Technical and hacking books, plus some science and math titles. Every ebook purchase includes DRM-free PDF, EPUB, and MOBI. Particularly strong on cybersecurity, Linux, Python, and hardware hacking. Also publishes accessible science books and manga guides to technical topics. Buy direct from their site or any retailer.
Manning Publications — Technical publisher covering software development, data science, and DevOps. DRM-free in all formats. Their “MEAP” (Manning Early Access Program) lets you read books chapter-by-chapter as they’re being written — useful for fast-moving technologies where you can’t wait for a finished book.
Leanpub — Self-publishing platform for technical and non-fiction books. Authors set their own pricing, often with a pay-what-you-want model (suggested price + minimum price). All books are DRM-free PDF, EPUB, and MOBI. The catalog is heavy on programming, data science, and business topics, with some fiction. Quality varies since anyone can publish, but the best titles are excellent.
Mixed Stores (Check Per Title)
These major bookstores sell both DRM and DRM-free ebooks. Whether a specific title is DRM-free depends on the publisher. Worth browsing — they have the biggest catalogs — but always check the product page before buying.
Google Play Books — Look for “You can read on devices and apps that support open EPUB” on the book page — that means DRM-free. Wide catalog, competitive prices, and frequent sales. Google doesn’t make it easy to filter for DRM-free titles, so you’ll need to check each book individually. Titles from DRM-free publishers (Tor, Baen, etc.) are DRM-free here too.
Kobo — Look for the “DRM-Free” label on the product page. Large catalog with regular sales and a good international selection. Kobo’s own Kobo Plus subscription uses DRM, but individual purchases from DRM-free publishers come through clean. Available in most countries with localized stores and pricing.
Thalia — One of the largest bookstores in the German-speaking world (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Look for “Ohne Kopierschutz” (without copy protection) or “Digitales Wasserzeichen” (digital watermark — no hard DRM, just your name embedded in the file). Huge German-language catalog including fiction, non-fiction, and academic titles. Also carries English-language ebooks.
buecher.de — Major German online bookstore with a large ebook section. DRM-free titles are marked on the product page. Wide catalog of German and international titles at competitive prices. Good search filters for finding DRM-free options.
Hugendubel — Traditional German bookstore chain with a strong online presence. Filter for “Ohne Kopierschutz” to find DRM-free ebooks. Particularly good for German literature, non-fiction, and academic titles. Part of the Tolino ecosystem, so purchases sync across Tolino devices and apps.
Weltbild — German retailer with a large ebook catalog. Many titles available without hard DRM (watermark only). Known for regular sales, bundle offers, and a broad selection spanning fiction, non-fiction, and lifestyle titles.
Osiander — Independent German bookstore chain dating back to 1596 — one of the oldest bookstores in Germany. Sells ebooks alongside physical books, with DRM-free options available. Strong on curated recommendations and regional literature. Also part of the Tolino ecosystem.
Tips for Finding DRM-Free Books
Check the publisher, not just the store. Some publishers are DRM-free everywhere they sell. If a book from Tor, Baen, or Angry Robot is on Amazon, it’s still DRM-free — Amazon just wraps it in their Kindle format, but the underlying content isn’t locked.
Look for “watermark” or “social DRM.” This is a soft alternative to DRM — the file contains your name or email, but there are no restrictions on copying or device limits. For practical purposes, watermarked ebooks work exactly like DRM-free files. You can open them in any reader, copy them to any device, and back them up however you want.
Download your books. Even from DRM-free stores, download your purchased EPUBs and keep local copies. Stores can close, accounts can be lost. If you have the file, you have the book — that’s the whole point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does DRM-free mean? DRM stands for Digital Rights Management — technology that restricts how you can use a file. A DRM-free ebook has no such restrictions. You can open it in any compatible reader app, copy it to any device, back it up, and keep it forever. The file is yours the same way a physical book is yours.
Can I read DRM-free ebooks on my Kindle? Yes — if the ebook is in MOBI or EPUB format. Modern Kindles support EPUB files via the Send to Kindle feature or by transferring files over USB. Many DRM-free stores provide MOBI format specifically for Kindle compatibility.
Is buying DRM-free ebooks legal? Absolutely. DRM-free simply means the publisher chose not to add copy protection to the file. You’re buying a legitimate copy of the book — the only difference is that the publisher trusts you not to redistribute it instead of trying to technically prevent it.
What’s the difference between DRM-free and public domain? Public domain books are free because their copyright has expired (or was never claimed). DRM-free books are commercial titles that you buy — the author and publisher get paid — but the file comes without copy protection. One is about copyright status, the other is about file format restrictions.
Why don’t all publishers sell DRM-free? Most large publishers (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, etc.) still require DRM on their ebooks, believing it prevents piracy. The irony is that DRM is routinely circumvented, so it mainly inconveniences legitimate buyers. Publishers like Tor have shown that dropping DRM doesn’t increase piracy — and may actually increase sales by reducing friction.
Read Your DRM-Free Books Anywhere
That’s the whole point of buying DRM-free — you choose how and where to read. Any EPUB reader works. On macOS and iOS, BookShelves gives you a clean reading experience with library management and thousands of free classics built in.
For free public domain ebooks, check out our guide to the 30 best free classic books or browse the free book catalog directly.
