Books shape how we see the world—and where we buy our books from literally funds the kind of world we’re creating.
I’ve already ranted about the problem with shopping on Amazon Prime and why I “broke up” with Jeff Bezos.
In the 5+ years since I’ve cancelled my Amazon Prime membership and given the entire online store the axe, I’ve done a lot of research on where to buy books online other than Amazon.
Turns out, it’s not that hard. It’s not expensive. And it doesn’t take extra effort from your end. But the social and environmental impact is real—and very worth it.
In this post, I share my top 5 favorite alternatives to Amazon for books—for everything from physical books, audio books, and ebooks to new and used copies with worldwide (free) shipping.
I also share the 3 main reasons why I stopped buying books (and everything else) from Amazon and why you might want to consider doing the same.
The shortlist: where to buy books online other than Amazon
- Better World Books—if you want to support a charitable company
- Bookshop.org—if you want to support indie bookstores
- Barnes & Noble—if you want the ease of a national chain
- Book Outlet—if you want to shop discounted books
- Your local library—If you want to find free books
My top 5 favorite alternatives to Amazon for books
These are the options I personally use, love, and recommend to my friends and family around the world (spoiler: that’s a hint at good international shipping options). They’re not only good Amazon alternatives for books—they’re affordable, convenient, and much better for your conscience than lining the pockets of an already very rich man.
1. Better World Books—if you want to support a charitable company
My personal favorite Amazon alternative for books. Better World Books is an online new and used bookseller—and they’re a certified B Corp, which means they’ve been assessed and recognized for meeting certain social sustainability and environmental performance standards.
Beyond their status as a B Corp, Better World Books does plenty of non-profit work on their own. For example, for every book you buy, they donate a book to charity. To date, they claim to have donated over 38 million books.
I’m also big into literacy (in case you didn’t know, it’s an epidemic, with a new OECD survey reporting adult literacy skills are declining and stagnating around the world)—and Better World Books lends a hand there, too. Their annual literacy grants give money to literacy and educational nonprofits and libraries—yay.
And for American and British readers, you can also turn to Better World Books for help taking your old books off your hands. They have hundreds of book drop boxes where you can easily donate your READ list when you’re done (before stocking up again from your current reading list).
But from the purely consumerist point of view, there are other reasons to buy from Better World Books instead of Amazon. They offer FREE worldwide shipping (and you don’t have to pay a subscription fee to get it, looking at you, Amazon Prime).
Plus, Better World Books is practically always offering a sale, which fellow bookworms know can be quite dangerous…
Want to vet Better World Books for yourself? Check out their social, literacy, and sustainability statements.
Key Takeaways: Why Better World Books is one of the best alternatives to Amazon for books
- They’re a B Corp.
- For every book you buy, they donate one book to charities.
- They fund literacy and educational nonprofits.
- They offer FREE worldwide shipping.
2. Bookshop.org—if you want to support indie bookstores
When you go to Bookshop.org, their banner proudly affirms: “Every purchase financially supports local independent bookstores!” And who doesn’t love that?
Here’s how it works:
- When you go to Bookshop.org, you select a local, independent bookstore you’d like to support.
- You buy a book—easy, peasy.
- When you buy that book, Bookshop.org files the order—but the full profit from your purchase goes to the bookstore you selected.
If you don’t select a specific bookstore, no worries—you’re still doing some good. Bookshop.org will automatically put the profits of your purchase into their profit-sharing pool that helps the entire network of 2,000+ independent bookstores.
So far, the online shop has already raised over $39 million for independent bookstores.
As someone who wants to support small businesses and not contribute to the somehow still increasing wealth disparity in the USA, I like knowing that my book purchases are putting money in the pockets of independent bookshops—and I still get the convenience of shopping online.
Right now, they only ship to the USA and UK (bummer, I know), but if that’s where you call home, I strongly recommend checking out this online B Corp bookshop.
Key Takeaways: Why Bookshop.org is one of the best alternatives to Amazon for books
- They’re a B Corp.
- You can easily buy books online—while still supporting small, independent bookstores.
3. Barnes & Noble—if you want want the ease of a national chain
I know why people buy books from Amazon. It’s fast, easy, and the shipping is reliable. (Although, guess what? All of that is true with other online bookstores, too.) So if you’re looking for somewhere to buy books online other than Amazon, you’re likely looking to stick it to the retail giant by opting for a smaller, more indie option.
But sometimes the ease of a national chain is too strong—and that’s when I turn to Barnes & Noble.
It’s a full-circle story, really. Barnes & Noble started as a small New York City bookstore in 1886 (then known as Arthur Hinds & Company). After a series of expansions in the 20th century when the bookstore changed hands a few times, it became the shopping mall mainstay many of us remember it as today in the ‘90s.
Amazon enters the scene.
By the 2010s, Barnes & Noble was suffering as IMHO everyone was all too happy with their new smartphones (it’s no coincidence to me that the first iPhone was released in 2008) to pick up a paperback.
But Barnes & Noble is back, baby. As reported by Alina Selyukh for NPR, the bookstore’s then-new CEO in 2023 was taking B&N back to its indie roots:
“The biggest change borrowed from the playbook of independent bookshops: Daunt gave local Barnes & Noble stores much more authority to order what their readers, in their area want to see.”
Basically, you’ll find local recommendations, in-store events, themed displays, and that oh-so-wonderful smell of a fresh book that you just can’t get online.
It’s working. In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened 60 new stores and is set to open 60 more in 2025.
TLDR, this is why Barnes & Noble is one of the best Amazon alternatives for book lovers:
- They have a membership and rewards program, too. For premium members, that’s FREE shipping (no minimum purchase), 10% off almost all books, eBooks, and audiobooks, 1 free eBook per month, and a lot of other goodies.
- They give you community vibes + the easy access of a national chain. Each store includes customized selections and hosts in-person events.
4. Book Outlet—if you want to shop discounted books
Coming home with a fat stack of paperbacks and hardcovers is really exciting for your bookshelf—for your wallet, not so much.
While the library is an obvious go-to for budget readers, sometimes nothing beats the fresh, crisp page of an untouched book. (Plus, highlighting your favorite quotes and dog-earing the pages is a big no-no.)
For a budget-friendly alternative to shopping on Amazon, I like Book Outlet. The site manages to sell brand-new books at deeply discounted prices (like 50–90% off) because they’re overstock, AKA they’re brand-new books that just didn’t sell anywhere else fast enough.
This isn’t the place to go to if you’re looking for more rare or niche titles, but if you want to get New York Times Best Sellers for as little as $6.49, this is the place.
Plus, Book Outlet has a charitable side too, donating books and money to non-profit organizations like The Literacy Project, SickKids Foundation, and many others. They must not be a totally nefarious company, either, since they’ve been recognized as one of “Canada’s Best Managed Companies.”
Key Takeaways: Why Book Outlet is one of the best alternatives to Amazon for books
- You get brand-new books at major discounts.
- They offer easy, free shipping (for order $35+) to the USA and Canada.
- They reward you for reading with their Book Outlet Rewards Program.
5. Your local library—if you want to find free books
In a world where an airport will sell you a bottle of water for $6, the fact that you have all the knowledge of the universe at your disposal for free is pretty remarkable. That’s your friendly public library I’m talking about.
I don’t think I need to tell you that you can get free books at your local library—but you might need a gentle reminder of all the other reasons libraries rock.
For another, these days, you can also borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. If you have the Libby app or Hoopla app, all you have to do is input your regular library card number, and you can rent ebooks and audiobooks without even leaving your house. (And if you get stuck, your librarian can help you out.)
Though, otherly, you may want to leave your house. Libraries also serve as third spaces, which in our money-grabbing, digitally-obsessed society we are sorely in need of (and in short supply of).
ICYMI, third places were first defined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg. As explained by Allie Volpe for Vox:
“Third places are settings a person frequents beyond their home (the first place) and work (the second place). Third places can include more traditional settings like places of worship, community and recreation centers, parks, and social clubs, but also encompass bars, gyms, malls, makeshift clubhouses in neighborhoods, and even virtual settings like Nextdoor. As Oldenburg described them, third places are great equalizers, spots where regulars of different backgrounds and perspectives can mingle in a location that is comfortable, unpretentious, and low-cost.
At the library, you can get all the books, magazines, and newspapers you want—no expectation to purchase anything. (Just please be quiet.)
Key Takeaways: Why your local library is the best free Amazon alternative for books
- You can borrow books, ebooks, and audiobooks—completely for free.
- It’s a peaceful, free third space that supports community. (And it might be the one place left in public where people aren’t allowed to play TikTok videos without wearing headphones.)
- Apps like Libby or Hoopla let you rent library books online and on the go.
Why I stopped buying books on Amazon
When I was in my early 20s, I used to shop from Amazon Prime, like a lot of other people. But then during the COVID-19 pandemic, I got to reading about Amazon’s poor labor practices, terrible impact on the environment, and the insane wealth of Bezos—and I quickly changed my mind.
These are the 3 main reasons I stopped buying books on Amazon:
1. Amazon treats their workers poorly
After all, how do you think it’s possible to buy made-in-China, cheap, plastic, nonsense with a click of the button—and receive it on your doorstep in two days or less?
Because Amazon cares about making people buy things—and they don’t care about making other people do the back-breaking, low-paid labor to do it.
Amazon puts its’ workers’ health at risk: In six warehouses in Colorado, Idaho, and New York, the US Department of Labor found that Amazon exposed its workers to “a high risk of low back injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders” at six warehouses in Colorado, Idaho, and New York. Source: US Department of Labor
Amazon barely pays its workers a living wage: In a national study conducted by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Urban Economic Development, 53% said they’d experienced food insecurity in the last 3 months and 48% housing insecurity.
Another study by the US Government Accountability office “Amazon was among the biggest employers of people receiving food assistance in nine states that reported the data.” Source: TIME
Amazon lets its workers get injured: In the same UCI study, 41% reported being injured while working at an Amazon warehouse, while 69% reported taking unpaid time off “due to pain or exhaustion from working at the company. Source: Center for Urban Economic Development
Bottom line: Amazon puts their workers’ health and safety at risk—and they pay them an embarrassingly low wage in exchange. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my book-buying to support that. Not when there are so many other places to buy books online other than Amazon.
2. Amazon is bad for the environment
Those smiling cardboard boxes don’t just damage workers’ physical and financial health. They ruin the planet, too.
After all, how can a company that promotes egregious levels of consumerism and aggressive overproduction not spell disaster for waste and emissions? That’s because Amazon’s business model isn’t designed for sustainability or mindful consumption. It’s designed to get people hooked on buying so they buy more stuff, faster, and more often.
Spoiler: The environmental fallout isn’t worth the environmental consequences.
Amazon throws out 100,000s of products each week. According to reports from ITV, Greenpeace, Business Insider, and ZDF frontal, Amazon marked 200,000 products for destruction each week—that means they either get sent to the landfill or incinerated. Why? In short, Amazon values shelf space over product. In other words, all that burning and throwing away is just to increase profits. Source: Ethical Consumer
Amazon’s fast shipping has a high carbon price. On Prime Day 2024 alone, Amazon was responsible for more than 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. To put that in perspective, that’s the equivalent of the annual emissions of 68,000 Americans. Yes, all online shopping creates waste, but Amazon’s “Festival of Consumption,” as Kristin Toussaint dubs it for Fast Company, encourages gross levels of materialism that local business and indie bookstores simply don’t match. Source: Fast Company
Bottom line: Amazon’s business model is built on convenience, not sustainability. The cheaper your package and the faster it arrives, the more environmental damage it causes. Is two-day shipping really worth it?
3. Do we really need to give Bezos more money?
Wouldn’t you rather give your hard-earned dollars to someone else?
In the sickening sparring match of the century, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk love to toggle back and forth for the title of richest person in the world. Right now, that title belongs to Musk, but the Amazon founder clearly isn’t hurting.
Here are a few gut-wrenching statistics:
- When Bezos spends $1.7 million, it’s like the average American spending $1. (Bear in mind that this comparison dates from 2018—the tycoon is even richer now.) Source: Inc.
- Bezos’s wealth is bigger than the GDP of Hungary. Source: Fortune
- His wedding to Lauren Sanchez (the one for which he rented Venice) reportedly cost $40 million. Source: Reuters
Bottom line: Whether or not you believe Bezos deserves every penny’s got, the fact remains: Other people need money. He doesn’t. The next time you trade your hard-earned dollars for a book, wouldn’t you rather support someone other than a billionaire?
Conclusion: Love books? Consider alternatives to Amazon
Books shape how we see the world—and where we buy our books from literally funds the kind of world we’re creating.
When we default to Amazon out of habit or convenience, we support a system that undermines many of the values books invite us to embrace: empathy, integrity, and thoughtful living.
I’ve already broken up with Bezos. Is it maybe time for you to do the same?
No virtue-signaling here. You don’t have to go cold turkey or give up all your online comforts overnight. But small shifts matter. So why not start with books?
By choosing to buy your next book from a place that pays workers fairly, gives back to the community, and does more for the environment than make empty “climate pledges,” you put your money where your values are.
And book by book, that adds up.
Next Steps:
Browse ethical book-buying options. Check out some of my personal favorites like Better World Books and Barnes & Noble—or visit your local in-person indie bookstore.
Get your library card. Head into your local library. Then download the Libby or Hoopla app to start borrowing ebooks and audiobooks for free.
Find your next read. Browse my curated reading lists, including Books on Self-Awareness and Books for Existential Dread.
Read more intentional living posts. See more tips on how to live a simpler, less wasteful (but still enjoyable) life.
Amazon Alternatives for Books: Common FAQs
What is the best alternative to Amazon for buying books?
It depends on what matters most to you. If you want to support indie bookstores, Bookshop.org is a great option. If you want access to new and used books for free worldwide shipping, Better World Books is your best bet (and my personal favorite.)
Are Amazon book alternatives more expensive?
Not necessarily. Indie options (like Bookshop.org) might cost you a few more bucks, but Better World Books and Book Outlet are actually cheaper than Amazon a lot of the time. And don’t forget: Libraries are always 100% free.
Can I still get fast shipping for books from non-Amazon sites?
You sure can! My favorite website, Better World Books, even offers free international shipping, with no minimum purchase required. On most sites, you may have to wait more than Amazon Prime’s infamous two-day shipping—but when you consider the environmental, human, and charitable impact, the trade-off is worth it.
Discover how the merry loner lifestyle makes life more enjoyable:
LONER MINDSET: fresh perspectives on learning to genuinely enjoy your own company
BOOKS: reading lists for people who love being alone with a good story
ANALOG LIVING: inspiration to step back from the screen and live a life offline
SOLO TRAVEL: guides on where to go and how to enjoy it alone
MINDFUL CONSUMPTION: vetted recommendations for a simpler, less wasteful life
LONER Q&As: interviews from global voices on how to live a meaningful, enjoyable life
Merry
Merry is the blogger behind A Merry Loner, a full-time freelance writer, and a lifelong bookworm. Since kindergarten, it was her dream to become a novelist. (She likes to think she's halfway there.) Born and raised in Rhode Island, where she earned a triple-major BA in writing, communication, and French from the University of Rhode Island, she moved to Toulouse, France after the pandemic to complete a master's in creative writing at Univeristé Toulouse Jean — Jaurès. She now lives in Paris with husband.
