How to Borrow eBooks & Audiobooks Free (Libby, hoopla, Kanopy)

With a free library card you can read and listen for free through apps like Libby, hoopla, and Kanopy. Here’s what each one offers and how to get started.

By Megan Carter, Library Resources Editor · Updated August 7, 2026

In this guide

Free digital borrowing, explained
The main free library apps at a glance
You need one thing first: a library card

Free digital borrowing, explained

With a free public library card, you can borrow and stream digital media at no cost through the apps your library subscribes to. eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, TV, music and comics are available through services like Libby, hoopla and Kanopy — you just download the app and sign in with your library card. Which apps and titles are offered varies from library to library.

The main free library apps at a glance

App	You can borrow	How it works	Cost
Libby	eBooks, audiobooks & magazines	Free app made by OverDrive.	Free with a library card
hoopla	Movies, TV, music, eBooks, audiobooks & comics	Free app (iOS, Android, supported TV devices) or hoopladigital.com.	Free with a library card
Kanopy	Movies, documentaries & kids' shows (video streaming)	Free app (phones, tablets, web, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast) or kanopy.com.	Free with a library card
The Palace Project (formerly SimplyE)	eBooks & audiobooks	Free app.	Free with a library card

You need one thing first: a library card

Every one of these apps is free, but they all sign you in with a public library card. If you don’t have one yet, it takes minutes — see our guide on how to get a library card in any state. Your same card also unlocks your state’s free online library of research databases.

Catalogs and monthly limits are set by each library, and not every library subscribes to every app — so what’s available in Libby, hoopla, or Kanopy varies from place to place. Check your own library’s digital collection to see what you can borrow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really free?

Yes. Apps like Libby, hoopla and Kanopy are free to use with a library card from a participating library — there are no subscription fees and no late fees, because borrowed titles return automatically on their due date. Your library pays for the service on your behalf.

Do I need a library card?

Yes. You sign in to each app with a library card from a library that offers that service. If you don’t have one, most public libraries let you sign up for a card for free — sometimes online in a few minutes.

What if my library doesn't have the title I want?

Availability varies by library, since each library chooses which apps and titles to offer. In Libby, popular eBooks and audiobooks may have a waitlist, so you can place a hold and be notified when it’s your turn. hoopla and Kanopy have no waitlists, but your library sets a monthly borrowing limit (a set number of hoopla checkouts, or Kanopy play credits, each month).

Can I read or watch offline?

Often, yes. Libby and hoopla let you download eBooks, audiobooks and (in hoopla) videos to your device to enjoy offline, then they return automatically when the loan ends. Kanopy is primarily a streaming service, so it generally needs an internet connection.

Megan Carter

Megan Carter is the Library Resources Editor at Public-Libraries.com, where she researches and explains how to get the most out of America’s public libraries — from library cards to free digital resources.