For the most part, Amazon’sKindle ereaderecosystem is pretty great. Putting aside the multi-year effort of iterating on and perfectingthe hardware side of the formula, the Kindle ebook store is a thriving and diverse marketplace of written works.
However, as avid readers know all too well, being a bookworm can be somewhat costly. Building a digital library of novels is a satisfying endeavor, but costs certainly accrue over time. Some are opting to scale back on ebook purchases, and the reasons are multifaceted.
Recent controversies surrounding theremoval of the ability to transfer Kindle books over USB, the inherent lock-in ofAmazon’s proprietary digital book format, and growing consumer push back over the lack of ownership in the digital age, are all factors playing a role here – to say nothing of increased costs of living among other economic concerns.
If you’re like me and are looking to save some money on your nextKindle ebook purchase, then these 4 lesser-known tips and tricks are the perfect jumping off point. Your wallet will thank you, and you won’t have to give up your page-turning habit in the process.
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1Check out the Deals section within the Kindle app
Amazon frequently highlights discounted and on-sale ebooks
Amazon Kindle
Amazon’s first-party Kindle app for downloading and reading all your favorite ebooks across your mobile devices.
One of the best ways to search for Kindle ebook deals is to go straight to the source – Amazon itself. Thankfully, the e-commerce giant makes it pretty easy to browse through currently discounted book listings.
As pointed out by Reddit user dragonstkdgirl over on ther/kindle subreddit, it’s possible to find excellent deals in the $3 or less price range if you do a bit of digging around.
To access the Deals section within the Kindle app on iOS, iPadOS, or Android, follow these steps:
While it’s not possible to check out ebook deals directly from theKindle for Web(also known as Kindle Cloud Reader) interface, you can browse through discounts using the main desktop Amazon site. To do so, follow these steps:
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Removing Download & Transfer via USB ends support for some older Kindles, but it also makes it much harder to remove the DRM from ebooks.
Once the copyright license of a given novel expires, it enters into the public domain – that is to say, the intellectual property becomes generally accessible without restriction. As a result, a number of all-time greats, including Pride and Prejudice, Moby-Dick, Dracula, Great Expectations, and The Wizard of Oz, can be read free of charge.
Some excellent sources for finding books in the public domain include:
Once you’ve downloaded your pick of classic literature in the openEPUBfile format, you’re able to send it to your Kindle via the Save in Kindle Library share option. For additional details,XDA provides an in-depth guideon how to send ebook files directly to your Amazon Kindle tablet.
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Receive daily briefings on currently-on-sale ebooks
BookBub is a popular service that helps you discover and keep track of ebook deals from across the web, while letting you build a wishlist for receiving discount notifications in real time.
There are a number of apps and websites out there that help surface up-to-date deals on ebook listings across the internet. One of the more popular solutions,BookBub, provides a dedicatedFree Kindle Books sectionwith a list of discounts on offer.
Aside fromBookbub, there are a number of other sites that provide adjacent services. Popular options include:
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4Consider subscribing to Amazon Prime
Prime members have access to a rotating selection of ebooks through Prime Reading
Amazon Prime Reading
Amazon Prime Reading is a cool perk for Prime members, letting you dive into a digital library packed with books, audiobooks, magazines, comic books, and more. The selection keeps changing, so there’s always something new. Plus, you’re able to borrow up to 10 items at once.
With the Kindle brand being an integral part of the broaderAmazonumbrella, it’s no surprise that signing up for Amazon Prime has its e-reading perks. In addition to standard Amazon Prime benefits – including faster shipping,Prime Videostreaming, and unlimited photo storage – bookworms can enjoy unlimited access to a rotating library of ebooks, in addition to a free pre-release ebook each and every month.
…taking advantage of Prime Reading is a great way to save while bolstering your Kindle backlog in the process.
It should be noted that although Prime Reading provides access to thousands of ebooks, digital magazines, and comics, the service is rental-based. That is to say, your access to ebooks is subject to a recurring subscription paywall, without any permanent ownership of the book files in question.
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