The complete list of free audiobooks to listen to during the lockdown period

Last updated on 12 February 2025

Work is resumed on the identification of useful resources during this new period of confinement. After the list of free ebooks which continues to get richer every day thanks to your contributions, I offer you an overview of all the sites offering audiobooks or audiobooks to listen to for free. They are classified into two main categories. A first category lists sites offering free audiobooks for children and young people. In the second category, you will find free audiobooks or radio soap operas for all audiences. Good listening.

I count on you to complete this list to make it as exhaustive as possible and share it with as many people as possible. Email me at fidel.navamuel@outiltice.com.

Free audiobooks for children and young people:

Audible

The large online audiobook store offers thousands of recent books read by comedians. Paid books, of course, with a subscription that is still reasonable given the quality of the offer. Audible also offers around 30 free books for children and teenagers.
Link: Audible Bookstore – Ray free books for children

Radio-Canada

Many thanks to our friends at Radio-Canada who offer a large library of free quality audiobooks including many stories for children. The works are performed by actors and sometimes by the authors themselves. Great resource.
Link: Radio-Canada

Ebook Kids

1,400 books, tales and stories for the little ones. Books are leafy on screen, most of them offer a version in free audiobook format to listen to with one click at the same time as looking at images and illustrations. Books are categorized by themes. Do you also have an indication of the reading time for each of them?
Link: Ebook Kids

The Stories of Father Castor

Flammarion Jeunesse offers several audio stories to occupy young and old but especially small. Quality recordings from the publisher’s CD-book collection. On the agenda at the moment  Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Little Red Riding Hood, The little gingerbread man and Not a wolf ! Thank you, Father Castor, but could we please have more?
Link: The Stories of Father Castor

The fictions of France Culture for young people

The large public radio channel is always at the rendezvous with high quality productions. France Culture offers a whole series of fictions aimed at young people. For listeners from 6 to 16 years old! Tintin or Asterix in sound version, tales, fictions in music, stories to fall asleep, others for the day. A great place to escape everyday life and be guided by voice, sound and imagination.

Among the novelties of this autumn. Tintin versions signed France Culture, with the Comédie-Française and the Orchestre national de France.  The Pharaoh's Cigars, The Blue Lotus, The 7 Crystal Balls and Temple of the Sun. And an unpublished broadcast since Monday, October 26, The Jewels of Castafiore.

Link: Fictions of France Culture

Free audiobooks for everyone:

Audiocity

A beautiful library of audiobooks of all kinds read by volunteers. Originally designed to meet the needs of a visually impaired audience. Novels, short stories, poems … good discovery. Audio books can be listened to online or downloaded in MP3 format.
Link: Audiocity

Audio Literature

No less than 8500 books are offered to your ears by this site of free reference audio books. The laudable purpose of the association behind the site: Make accessible to all the joys of literature!
The audio books you will find here are free and in MP3 format so you can listen to them everywhere.
Link: Audio Literature

Internet Archive

Internet Archive is a non-profit library that contains millions of free books, movies, software, music and websites. You will find hundreds of audio books in French. The only risk is to get lost along the huge virtual shelving. Especially since the site also offers royalty-free films and music. Use the search engine to find the audiobook you want to listen to.
Link: Internet Archive

Librivox

Librivox's website is entirely in English, but it hosts books recorded in many languages. There are several hundred audiobooks in French in the various collections. Simple interface with a simple search engine. The readings are of quality. Note that like other sites on this list, you can listen to audiobooks, but you can also if the heart tells you to donate your voice and record books for others.
Link: Librivox

The radio fictions of France Culture

Polars, science fiction, literature and a selection of youth fiction discussed above. France Culture offers a catalogue of productions similar to high-quality free audiobooks. Editorial choices and demanding realization, the people of France Culture have the know-how, you can dive without hesitation in these radio fictions that will rest your eyes and guarantee you immersion and escape in quality texts.
Link: The radio fictions of France Culture

So much for this list of free audiobooks. Do not hesitate to contact me to help me to complete it for an exhaustive sharing.

.Except during containment and special operations, you can consult the list of 7 Best Sites to Listen to Free Audiobooks.