Audible

Audio Stores

Audible is owned by Amazon, whose misconducts deserve an article of its own. Furthermore, Audible uses Digital Rights Management (DRM) to restrict the usage of their audiobooks. Luckily there are more ethical alternatives, online and offline.

LibriVox

LibriVox

LibriVox is a DRM-free collection of audiobooks that are provided at no charge. The books are read by volunteers and published under the public domain.


Libro.fm

Libro.fm

Libro.fm offer DRM-free audiobooks while also supporting local bookstores. Their membership option is only available in the US and Canada though.


Public Libraries

Public Libraries

The most ethical way of borrowing books is from your local public library. It’s free, it’s best for the environment and libraries are perhaps the only public spaces left where you can sit, read and relax for as long as you want without buying anything.

Modern libraries also lend eBooks, audiobooks, DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs and sometimes even video games. They usually cost nothing to join, your local council’s website will tell you where your nearest library is.