Truly Owned. Freely Shared.
Buy a book and actually own it. Lend it to a friend, get it back when it's due, or sell it on when you're done. Exactly like a paperback, on any device.
Sign in with your email. Nothing to install, nothing to learn.
A book you buy stays yours. No store can revoke it, expire it, or take it back.
Lend a book and it truly leaves your shelf until it comes home, just like a real one.
Phone, tablet or computer, straight in the browser. Nothing to download.
How it works
Three simple steps. The technology stays out of your way.
1
Your library is created in seconds. No apps to install, no account jargon, nothing to configure.
2
Buy a title or receive one from a friend. It lands in your library, ready to read.
3
Lend it free for up to a year, take it back when it's due, or sell it on. The author earns a little every time it changes hands.
Every book is encrypted, and only its current holder can open it. Ownership is recorded on a public ledger, so your library outlives any store, including ours. Read the full walkthrough.
For authors & publishers
In the old world, an author is paid once and never sees a cent from a used book. On Ownbound, you keep the lion's share of the first sale and earn a royalty every single time a copy is resold.
The library runs on a test network while our first author pilot is underway, so it's free to try, and what you tell us shapes what ships. If you're an independent author who'd like readers to own your book and pay you on every resale, we'd especially love to hear from you.
Try the library