15 Best Free Book Promotion Sites for Authors (2026)
Running a free book promotion on Amazon is one of the most effective ways to get downloads, reviews, and visibility for your Kindle book. But simply making your book free and hoping people find it doesn't work. You need to get your free deal in front of readers who are actively looking for their next read. That's what book promotion sites do.
These sites maintain large email lists of readers who have signed up to receive daily notifications about free and discounted ebooks. When your book is featured, it gets put in front of thousands (sometimes millions) of people who are already in "download mode." The best free book promotion sites can drive hundreds or even thousands of downloads in a single day.
This guide covers the 15 best free book promotion websites for Kindle authors in 2026. Some are genuinely free to submit to. Others charge a fee but deliver strong results. We've included honest assessments of each so you can decide where to spend your time and money.
How Free Book Promotions Work
If you're enrolled in KDP Select, Amazon gives you five free promotion days every 90-day enrolment period. During these days your book is listed at $0.00 on the Kindle store, and anyone can download it for free. The catch is that Amazon won't actively promote your free book to shoppers. You have to drive the traffic yourself.
That's where free ebook promotion sites come in. These platforms maintain newsletters with tens of thousands (or in BookBub's case, millions) of subscribers who have opted in to receive daily free and discounted book deals. You submit your book to these sites, and if accepted, they feature it to their audience on the day your book goes free.
If your book isn't in KDP Select, you can still run a free promotion by going "permafree." This means listing your book for free on Apple Books, Kobo, or another retailer, then requesting Amazon to price-match. It takes a few days but Amazon usually complies. Most promo sites accept permafree books.
The key to a successful free promotion is stacking.Don't rely on a single site. Book three, four, or five promotion sites for the same day (or across the first two days of your free window). The combined traffic creates a snowball effect: more downloads push you up the free charts, which leads to organic visibility, which drives even more downloads. A stacked promotion can easily outperform a single expensive booking by a factor of two or three.
The Best Free Book Promotion Sites
Here are 15 kindle book promotion sites worth considering for your next free promotion. We've listed a mix of paid and free-to-submit options, because the reality is that the best book promotion sites free of charge tend to have smaller audiences. Paid sites generally deliver more downloads per dollar than trying to promote entirely on your own.
1. BookBub
BookBub is the biggest name in book promotion by a wide margin. They have over 15 million readers on their email list, and a featured deal can drive thousands of downloads in a single day. For many authors, landing a BookBub feature is the gold standard of ebook promotion.
The downside? It's extremely competitive. BookBub's acceptance rate sits somewhere around 10 to 20 percent, depending on genre. They're picky about covers, reviews, and overall book quality. And it's not free for authors. Pricing ranges from roughly $50 for smaller genres up to $500 or more for categories like romance and mystery.
If you can get in and can afford the fee, BookBub is almost always worth it. The results typically far exceed the cost. But don't build your entire marketing strategy around it, because rejection is the most likely outcome for any given submission. Apply regularly and keep improving your book's profile in the meantime.
2. Freebooksy
Freebooksy is part of Written Word Media and focuses specifically on free ebook promotions. They've built a large reader base, particularly in romance and genre fiction. It's one of the go-to free book promo sites for indie authors.
Submissions are paid, typically ranging from $80 to $200 depending on your genre. Acceptance rates are much higher than BookBub, so you can plan around it more reliably. Results vary, but most authors report 200 to 800 downloads from a Freebooksy feature.
It's a solid mid-range option. Not as powerful as BookBub, but far more accessible. If you're stacking promotions, Freebooksy is often the anchor that other sites supplement.
3. Robin Reads
Robin Reads offers affordable book promotions at $15 to $35 per feature. The audience is smaller than Freebooksy or BookBub, but the price point makes it an excellent addition to a promo stack. You're not expecting 1,000 downloads from Robin Reads alone. You're using it to add momentum.
They accept most genres and the booking process is straightforward. Results tend to be consistent if unspectacular. Expect 50 to 200 downloads depending on genre and cover quality. At $15 to $35, the cost per download is reasonable, and it's one of the cheapest kindle book promotion sites that still delivers measurable results.
4. GenrePulse
GenrePulse is a daily free and discounted Kindle book site with a growing reader base across all major genres. Authors can run targeted book promotion campaigns to readers who have specifically opted in to their preferred genres, which means your book reaches people who actually want to read it.
Campaigns start from a few dollars, and pricing is straightforward with no hidden fees. GenrePulse also tracks deal performance so you can see exactly how your promotion performed. The genre-targeting system means less wasted reach compared to sites that blast every book to their entire list.
If you're looking for a cost-effective way to reach engaged Kindle readers, check the author dashboard to get started. It works particularly well as part of a promo stack alongside larger sites.
5. eReader News Today (ENT)
eReader News Today is one of the oldest free ebook promotion sites still running. They've been featuring daily Kindle deals for well over a decade and have built up a loyal readership. ENT is particularly strong in mystery, thriller, and romance.
They offer both free and paid submission options. Free submissions are accepted but paid listings get priority placement. The site sees decent traffic and the newsletter has a solid open rate. It won't match Freebooksy or BookBub in raw numbers, but it's a reliable addition to your promotional stack.
If you're on a tight budget, the free submission option makes ENT one of the genuinely free book marketing sites worth trying. Just be aware that free submissions may take longer to be featured.
6. Bargain Booksy
Bargain Booksy is Freebooksy's sister site, also run by Written Word Media. While Freebooksy focuses on free books, Bargain Booksy covers discounted titles, typically in the $0.99 to $3.99 range. It's a paid submission site with similar pricing to Freebooksy.
If you're running a Kindle Countdown Deal rather than a free promotion, Bargain Booksy is where you'd look. It's also useful for the transition day after your free promo ends, when you move your price to $0.99. The audience overlaps with Freebooksy's, which is a good thing since those readers are already trained to look for deals.
7. BookSends
BookSends sits in the mid-tier of book promotion sites. Pricing is reasonable, and they accept most genres. The audience isn't huge, but it's engaged enough to deliver a noticeable bump in downloads when you're running a free or discounted promotion.
Think of BookSends as a supporting player rather than a headliner. You probably wouldn't use it as your only promotion, but adding it to a stack of three or four sites costs relatively little and adds incremental downloads. They also offer both free and paid book categories, which gives you flexibility.
8. FreeBookHub
FreeBookHub is a smaller site, but the submission is free, which makes it worth including every time you run a promotion. The audience is modest compared to the bigger players, so don't expect hundreds of downloads from this one alone.
That said, free is free. When you're stacking five sites and this one costs you nothing but five minutes of your time, there's no reason to skip it. Every download contributes to your chart position, and FreeBookHub occasionally surprises with better-than-expected results in certain genres.
9. ManyBooks
ManyBooks has been around for years and originally started as a free ebook library before pivoting to include promotional features for indie authors. They have a free submission option as well as paid tiers for better visibility.
Reach is moderate. The site gets steady organic traffic from Google, which means you're not purely reliant on their email list. This makes ManyBooks a decent long-tail option. Your book listing sticks around on their site, so you may see trickle downloads over time even after the initial promotional push. It won't change your life, but it's one of the more useful free book promotion websites to have in your toolkit.
10. Book Gorilla
Book Gorilla operates as a daily deal aggregator, sending out curated lists of discounted and free Kindle books to subscribers. It's a paid submission site with pricing that varies by genre and promotion type.
Results are mixed. Some authors report solid download numbers, while others find it underwhelming. Your mileage will depend heavily on genre and timing. It's best used as a stack addition rather than your primary promo site. The cost is low enough that it's not a major risk to include it.
11. Ebook Soda
Ebook Soda accepts free submissions, which immediately makes it worth a look. The audience is smaller than the big names, but you can't argue with the price. Submit your book, wait for approval, and any downloads you get are pure bonus.
The site is particularly useful for authors who are just starting out and don't have much of a marketing budget. It won't drive hundreds of downloads on its own, but it contributes to the overall stack. And because submissions are free, there's essentially no downside to including it in every promotion you run.
12. Book Barbarian
Book Barbarian focuses specifically on science fiction and fantasy. If you write in those genres, this is one of the more targeted free ebook promotion sites available. Their readers have specifically signed up for SFF deals, so the audience quality is high.
If you write romance or non-fiction, look elsewhere. But for SFF authors, Book Barbarian is a strong pick for your promo stack. The niche focus means less wasted reach and better conversion rates compared to generalist sites. Pricing is affordable and acceptance rates are reasonable.
13. The Fussy Librarian
The Fussy Librarian takes a different approach to most book promotion sites. Instead of broad genre categories, readers pick from very specific sub-genres when they sign up. This means your mystery thriller goes to people who actually read mystery thrillers, not just "fiction" readers.
Pricing is affordable and the targeting is genuinely good. The audience is smaller than Freebooksy or BookBub, but the relevance makes up for it. Open rates and click-through rates tend to be higher because readers are getting exactly what they asked for. It's one of the smarter free book marketing sites for authors in niche sub-genres.
14. ContentMo
ContentMo takes a slightly different approach by combining email promotion with social media exposure. Your book gets featured on their website, email newsletter, and across their social media accounts. This multi-channel strategy can extend the reach of your promotion beyond what a pure email blast delivers.
Results vary. The social media component adds visibility but doesn't always translate directly into downloads the way a targeted email does. Still, the overall package is reasonably priced and the extra exposure doesn't hurt. Worth considering if you want to diversify your promotional channels beyond just email newsletters.
15. BooksButterfly
BooksButterfly offers various promotion packages at different price points. They have options for free books, discounted books, and new releases. The site has been around for a while and has built up a reasonable subscriber base.
Reviews from authors are mixed. Some packages seem to deliver decent results while others feel overpriced for what you get. Do your research on which specific package matches your genre and book type before committing. It's not the first site most authors think of, but it can round out a promotional stack if you've already booked the bigger names.
Free vs Paid Book Promotion Sites
The phrase "free book promotion sites" can mean two things: sites that promote free books, and sites that are free for authors to submit to. Most of the sites on this list charge authors a fee for the listing. A handful, like Ebook Soda, FreeBookHub, and ManyBooks, offer genuinely free submission options.
There's a reason the paid sites tend to perform better. They use that revenue to grow their email lists through advertising, which means more readers see your book. Sites that don't charge authors have smaller marketing budgets, which usually means smaller audiences. It's a simple equation.
That doesn't mean free submission sites aren't worth it. They absolutely are, especially as part of a stack. If you're running a free promotion and you've booked Freebooksy as your primary site, adding three or four free-to-submit sites costs you nothing but time. Every extra download helps your chart position.
The best approach for most authors is to pick one or two paid sites as your anchor, then fill out the stack with free and cheap options. A typical effective stack might look like: Freebooksy ($100 to $150) + Robin Reads ($20) + GenrePulse + FreeBookHub (free) + Ebook Soda (free). Total cost under $200, with potential for 1,000+ downloads.
How to Get the Most from Your Free Book Promotion
Booking the right promotion sites is only half the battle. Here are the things that separate a good free promotion from a great one.
Time it right
Tuesday through Thursday tend to be the strongest days for ebook downloads. Avoid launching on weekends when reader engagement dips. If you have five free days, start on a Tuesday and stack your biggest promo sites on days one and two. Let the momentum carry through the rest of the week.
Stack multiple sites on day one
Don't spread your promotions across five different days. Concentrate as many as possible on day one. The goal is to create a surge of downloads that pushes your book up the free charts quickly. Once you're visible in the charts, organic discovery takes over and adds to your numbers.
Optimise your book page first
All those promo sites are going to send readers to your Amazon book page. If your cover looks amateur, your blurb is weak, or your categories are wrong, you'll lose a big chunk of potential downloaders. Before you book any promotion, make sure your cover is professional, your description is compelling, and you're in the right categories and keywords.
Have book two ready
This is the tip that separates hobby authors from business-minded ones. A free promotion on book one of a series is really a marketing campaign for books two, three, and beyond. The real money is in read-through. If you give away 2,000 copies of book one and 30% go on to buy book two at $4.99, that's $2,100 in downstream revenue from a single promotion. Make sure the "also by" links in your back matter are up to date.
Ask for reviews in your back matter
A free promotion puts your book in front of thousands of new readers. A small percentage of them will leave reviews if you ask nicely at the end of the book. Include a brief, friendly request in your back matter with a direct link to your book's review page. Even if only 1% of downloaders leave a review, that's 10 to 50 new reviews from a single promotion. Those reviews compound over time and make future promotions more effective.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many downloads should I expect from a free book promotion?
It depends on your genre, your book cover, and how many promo sites you stack. A single smaller site might deliver 50 to 200 downloads. A well-stacked promotion across 4 or 5 sites can push 1,000 to 5,000+ downloads in a day. Romance and thriller tend to see the highest numbers. Non-fiction and literary fiction typically see fewer downloads, but the readers who do grab your book are more targeted.
Can I promote a book that isn't in KDP Select?
Yes, but with limitations. If your book isn't enrolled in KDP Select, you can't use Amazon's built-in 5 free days. You'd need to set your book as permanently free (permafree) by price-matching, which means listing it free on another retailer like Apple Books or Kobo and asking Amazon to match the price. Most promo sites accept permafree books, though some specifically require a KDP Select free promotion.
How far in advance should I book promotion sites?
Two to four weeks ahead is a good rule of thumb. Some popular sites like BookBub and Freebooksy fill up fast, so booking early gives you the best chance of getting your preferred date. Smaller sites often have availability within a week. Schedule your KDP Select free days first, then book your promo sites to match.
Do free promotions help with Amazon's algorithm?
They do, though indirectly. A big spike in downloads pushes your book up the free charts, which increases visibility. When your book switches back to paid, you often see a bump in paid sales and Kindle Unlimited borrows for a few days afterwards. The algorithm also factors in recent activity, so a successful free run signals to Amazon that readers are interested in your book.
Is it worth paying for book promotion?
For most authors, yes. Free submission sites exist and they're worth using, but paid promotion sites typically have larger, more engaged email lists. The return on a well-targeted paid promotion usually outweighs the cost, especially if you have a series where book one leads to paid read-through on books two, three, and beyond. Think of the promo cost as an investment in acquiring new readers, not just selling one book.
What genres perform best on book promotion sites?
Romance dominates almost every platform. Mystery, thriller, and sci-fi/fantasy are strong second-tier performers. Non-fiction, literary fiction, and poetry tend to see smaller numbers, though sites like The Fussy Librarian that let readers pick specific sub-genres can work well for niche categories. If you write in a popular genre, you'll generally see better results across the board.
Free book promotions remain one of the best tools in a Kindle author's marketing kit. The key is to approach them strategically: stack multiple book promotion sites, time your launch for maximum impact, and make sure your book page is ready to convert browsers into downloaders.
Whether you're using entirely free book promotion websites or investing in paid features, the goal is the same: get your book in front of readers who will love it. Start with the sites on this list, track your results, and double down on what works for your genre.