{"id":18555,"date":"2026-07-30T02:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T20:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grabon.in\/indulge\/?p=18555"},"modified":"2026-07-30T10:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T05:24:32","slug":"best-sites-buy-books-online-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.grabon.in\/indulge\/shopping-tips\/best-sites-buy-books-online-india\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Best Sites To Buy Books Online In India In 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
Quick Answer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amazon India and Flipkart are the best sites to buy books online in India for new releases and competitive prices. For second-hand books, Bookchor, MyPustak, and Kitabay offer savings of up to 80%. If you’re looking for indie titles, try Champaca, Blossom Book House, or Kitab Khana. Kindle Store remains the top choice for ebooks.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Nearly half of all books sold in India are now bought online, with online retailers accounting for <\/span>44.3%<\/span><\/a> of sales. Yet most people still begin and end their search on the same two websites. But the thing is, the best place to buy a book depends on the book itself. A student looking for a discounted HC Verma textbook isn’t shopping the same way as someone hunting for a signed Amitav Ghosh hardback or an out-of-print classic.<\/span><\/p>\n

So we’ve grouped this list by what you’re looking to buy, from mass-market new books and curated bookstore picks to second-hand finds, independent bookshops, and ebooks. Start with the section that matches what you’re after.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best Online Bookstores in India (At a Glance)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/strong><\/td>\nSite<\/strong><\/td>\nBest for<\/strong><\/td>\nTypical discount<\/strong><\/td>\nFree delivery<\/strong><\/td>\nSecond-hand?<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/span><\/td>\nAmazon India<\/strong><\/td>\nLargest catalog, Kindle, fastest delivery<\/span><\/td>\n10-40%<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b9499 (Prime: free)<\/span><\/td>\nVia third-party sellers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/span><\/td>\nFlipkart<\/strong><\/td>\nRegional languages, textbooks, exam prep<\/span><\/td>\n20-60%<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b9500<\/span><\/td>\nVia Plus sellers<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/span><\/td>\nCrossword<\/strong><\/td>\nCurated picks, gifting, signed editions<\/span><\/td>\n5-20%<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b91,000<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/span><\/td>\nBookswagon<\/strong><\/td>\nImported titles, manga, UK\/US editions<\/span><\/td>\n5-30%<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b999 (paid)<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/span><\/td>\nBookchor<\/strong><\/td>\nSecond-hand fiction and non-fiction<\/span><\/td>\n60-85% off cover<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b9499<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/span><\/td>\nMyPustak<\/strong><\/td>\nDonation-model, near-free books<\/span><\/td>\nUp to 90% off<\/span><\/td>\nFlat shipping only<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/span><\/td>\nKitabay<\/strong><\/td>\nNew + gently used, mystery boxes<\/span><\/td>\n30-70%<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b9399<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/span><\/td>\nBookish Santa<\/strong><\/td>\nPre-loved, rare finds<\/span><\/td>\n50-75%<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b9299<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/span><\/td>\nClankart<\/strong><\/td>\nPeer-to-peer textbooks (engineering, medical, UPSC)<\/span><\/td>\n40-80%<\/span><\/td>\nSeller-dependent<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/span><\/td>\nBlossom Book House<\/strong><\/td>\nBangalore indie, out-of-print imports<\/span><\/td>\nVaries<\/span><\/td>\nOrder-value based<\/span><\/td>\nYes<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/span><\/td>\nChampaca<\/strong><\/td>\nIndie publishing, translated fiction, subscriptions<\/span><\/td>\nRarely discounted<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b91,000<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/span><\/td>\nPagdandi<\/strong><\/td>\nSmall-press fiction, poetry, translations<\/span><\/td>\nRarely discounted<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b9500<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/span><\/td>\nKitab Khana<\/strong><\/td>\nMumbai indie, art books, hard-to-find titles<\/span><\/td>\nRarely discounted<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b91,000<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/span><\/td>\nBahrisons<\/strong><\/td>\nDelhi indie, deep non-fiction, politics<\/span><\/td>\n10-20%<\/span><\/td>\n\u20b9500<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/span><\/td>\nKindle Store<\/strong><\/td>\nEbooks, Kindle Unlimited<\/span><\/td>\nUp to 80% vs print<\/span><\/td>\nN\/A<\/span><\/td>\nN\/A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

New books at the best prices<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. Amazon India<\/h3>\n

\"amazon<\/p>\n

Not much to debate here. <\/span>Amazon has 25 million+ titles<\/span><\/a>, the fastest delivery in the country (same-day in metros, next-day almost everywhere else for Prime members), and the deepest discounts during Prime Day and the Great Indian Festival.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A huge benefit most people overlook is Kindle integration. When a paperback goes out of stock, the ebook is usually still available for <\/span>30 to 80% less<\/strong>, while<\/span> Prime Reading<\/strong> gives you a rotating free library every month on top.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing most people ignore is piracy. Sometimes, third-party sellers on Amazon list pirated prints with thin paper, dodgy binding, and faded text. Before ordering, check the seller name (stick to “Fulfilled by Amazon” or the publisher’s own storefront) and read the last 15-20 reviews. If people are complaining about print quality, walk away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b999 to \u20b950,000+ <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b9499, or free on everything for Prime members <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> 7 days <\/span>COD:<\/strong> Yes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saving tip:<\/strong> Prime Day (July) and the Great Indian Festival (October-November) drop book prices 30-60%. Stack that with a bank card offer and an <\/span>Amazon coupon code<\/span><\/a> at checkout for added savings.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

2. Flipkart\"amazon<\/h3>\n

Flipkart doesn’t beat Amazon on catalog size, but it does beat Amazon in three segments that matter to a lot of Indian readers: <\/span>regional language books <\/strong>(Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi catalogs are noticeably deeper),<\/span> school textbooks (CBSE, ICSE)<\/strong>, and<\/span> competitive exam prep material<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price-wise, the two platforms are almost identical on any given bestseller. The gap opens during Big Billion Days (September-October), when Flipkart pushes book discounts to 50-70% off cover.<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing Flipkart no longer does: ebooks. The Flipkart eBook store shut down, so if you want both print and digital, Amazon is the only one-stop option.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b918 to \u20b989,000 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b9500 <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> 7 days <\/span>COD:<\/strong> Yes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saving tip:<\/strong> SuperCoins work at checkout on most book listings, covering up to 50% of\u00a0 the order value. Pair that with a bank offer and a<\/span> Flipkart coupon<\/span><\/a>, and textbook purchases during BBD become genuinely cheap.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

For the bookstore feel, online<\/strong><\/h2>\n

3. Crossword<\/h3>\n

\"crossword\"<\/p>\n

Crossword has been around since 1992 and runs 90-odd physical stores across India. Its website is the closest you’ll get to walking through one of those stores without leaving your couch. Hand-picked staff recommendations,<\/span> Top 50 lists<\/strong>, <\/span>gift-worthy hardback editions<\/strong>, <\/span>stationery<\/strong>, and the occasional signed copy.<\/span><\/p>\n

You’re not coming here for discounts. You’re coming here when the book is a gift, when you want the hardback (not the cheap paperback), or when you want someone else to do the editorial curation instead of scrolling through Amazon’s algorithm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b9195 to \u20b97,999. <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> \u20b950 flat below \u20b91,000, free above. <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> 3-day return or exchange <\/span>COD:<\/strong> No<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Want to save a little more? <\/strong>Check for active <\/span>Crossword coupons<\/span><\/a> before placing your order, and consider subscribing to the newsletter for updates on upcoming promotions.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

4. Bookswagon<\/h3>\n

\"bookswagon\"<\/p>\n

This is the site you need when Amazon and Flipkart say “currently unavailable” on an international title. Bookswagon sources directly from UK and US distributors and stocks three things the big platforms regularly miss: <\/span>manga <\/strong>and <\/span>graphic novels<\/strong>, <\/span>imported children’s hardbacks<\/strong>, and <\/span>academic texts<\/strong> from international publishers that never got an Indian print run.<\/span><\/p>\n

You’ll pay more as shipping is per-item, plus discounts rarely go past 20% , and delivery takes longer. But if the book you want doesn’t exist on Amazon India, Bookswagon probably has it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b912 to \u20b96,53,000 (collector editions push the top end) <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> \u20b939 per item, more for imports <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> 2-day window <\/span>COD:<\/strong> Yes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saving tip:<\/strong> Back-to-school (June-July) and Christmas sales offer up to 45% off. Check<\/span> Bookswagon offers<\/span><\/a> before placing your order to save a little extra.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Second-hand and budget books<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A book doesn’t have to be brand new to be worth reading. From lightly used novels to well-kept textbooks, these websites make it easy to build a bookshelf without spending a fortune.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Bookchor<\/h3>\n

India’s largest second-hand book marketplace, <\/span>Bookchor<\/span><\/a> is running since 2015. It has over two million titles, most priced between \u20b999 and \u20b9400. Every book is condition-graded before it ships. Returns honoured within 3 days if the book arrives damaged or doesn’t match the listing.<\/span><\/p>\n

The mystery boxes are the move if you read a lot and aren’t too picky about titles. Five books for \u20b9499, ten for \u20b9899. That’s under \u20b9100 a book for genuine copies in good condition.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b9100 to \u20b93,000 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b9599 <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> 3 days <\/span>COD:<\/strong> Yes<\/span><\/p>\n

6. MyPustak<\/h3>\n

MyPustak runs on a different model from everyone else on this list. Readers donate books they’ve finished, MyPustak processes them, and buyers pay only shipping and handling. You’ll find books at 70 to 90% below cover price. It’s the cheapest way to buy books online in India, period.<\/span><\/p>\n

The catch is that you can’t always find the exact title you’re after. Inventory is donation-driven, so it’s inconsistent. But if you’re the kind of reader who browses and buys whatever looks interesting, MyPustak is absurdly cheap.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b90 to \u20b9500 (plus \u20b949-99 shipping) <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Flat fee by weight <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> Limited <\/span>COD:<\/strong> No<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Kitabay<\/h3>\n

A Jaipur-based startup that sits between MyPustak’s donation model and Bookchor’s marketplace. Kitabay sells both new books (30-50% off) and gently used copies (up to 70% off). Their mystery boxes (“Kitabay Boxes”) let you pick a genre and get 5 or 10 books selected for you. Decent option if you’re stocking up a home library on a budget.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b9179 to \u20b91,500 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b9399 <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> 10-day return or replacement <\/span>COD:<\/strong> Yes (\u20b960 add-on)<\/span><\/p>\n

Saving tip:<\/strong> Download the app for \u20b9100 off your first order. Monthly clearance sales drop prices further.<\/span><\/p>\n

8. Bookish Santa<\/h3>\n

Bookish Santa has built a following partly because of how they ship books: brown paper, jute string, a handwritten note. It’s a small thing, but it tells you something about how they handle inventory. They maintain about 50,000 titles, condition-checked, spanning chart-toppers to genuine rare finds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b979 to \u20b94,000 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b9299 <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> 10-15 days <\/span>COD:<\/strong> Yes (\u20b975 add-on below \u20b91,000)<\/span><\/p>\n

Saving tip:<\/strong> First-order 10% off via newsletter. Their Independence Day, Diwali and New Year sales hit 40-60% off.<\/span><\/p>\n

9. Clankart<\/h3>\n

Think of Clankart as OLX, but only for books. You buy directly from students and readers listing their used copies. Payments sit in escrow until you confirm delivery, which keeps scams low. The real strength here is textbooks: engineering, medical, MBA, UPSC, JEE, NEET. These books are expensive new (\u20b9500-2,000 each) and barely depreciate in value. Students who just graduated sell them at 50-80% off.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b950 to \u20b92,000 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Seller-dependent (\u20b940-80 typical) <\/span>Returns:<\/strong> Buyer-seller dispute resolution <\/span>COD:<\/strong> Limited<\/span><\/p>\n

Independent bookshops that ship online<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Most “best bookstore” lists in India skip independent shops entirely. That’s a gap. These five have been building solid online operations for years, they ship pan-India, and they stock titles the big platforms don’t carry: indie publishers, translated regional literature, small poetry presses, international imports the mainstream distributors never picked up.<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Blossom Book House<\/h3>\n

If you’ve been to Church Street in Bangalore, you know Blossom. It’s possibly the most beloved bookshop in the country. The online store carries the same eclectic mix: second-hand imports, out-of-print classics, cheap paperbacks from \u20b9100. This is where you start if you’re hunting for a specific 1970s Penguin edition or a Vintage Books paperback that Amazon’s algorithm has never heard of.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b9100 to \u20b95,000 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Order-value based <\/span>Delivery:<\/strong> Pan-India<\/span><\/p>\n

11. Champaca<\/h3>\n

Champaca in Bangalore has quietly become the most recognisable independent bookshop brand online in India. They curate around themes (feminist writing, climate, translation, queer literature) and run a monthly book subscription that ships hand-picked titles to your door. \u20b9500 to \u20b91,500 a month, depending on the plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

This isn’t for discount hunters. It’s for readers who want an editorial voice picking their next read instead of an algorithm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b9250 to \u20b91,500 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b91,000 <\/span>Delivery:<\/strong> Pan-India<\/span><\/p>\n

12. Pagdandi Bookstore Cafe<\/h3>\n

Pagdandi started as a bookshop-cafe in Pune in 2013 and built out a solid online arm over the years. Stock leans heavily into indie publishers, translated writing, poetry, and small-press non-fiction. You won’t get 50% discounts and books sit close to MRP. But you’ll find titles here that genuinely don’t exist on Amazon or Flipkart.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b9150 to \u20b91,200 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b9500 <\/span>Delivery:<\/strong> Pan-India<\/span><\/p>\n

13. Kitab Khana<\/h3>\n

Kitab Khana in Fort, Mumbai, has been one of the city’s most respected literary spaces since 2011. The online store carries a strong literary catalog: fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and a serious art and photography books section. Gift presentation is better than anything you’ll get from a marketplace checkout.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b9300 to \u20b98,000 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b91,000 <\/span>Delivery:<\/strong> Pan-India<\/span><\/p>\n

14. Bahrisons Booksellers<\/h3>\n

Bahrisons in Khan Market, Delhi. Established 1953. One of the oldest independent bookstores in the country. The online catalogue leans heavily into non-fiction, politics, history and biography. Readers who want depth on current affairs, Indian history or international relations will find more here than on either of the big platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Price range:<\/strong> \u20b9200 to \u20b95,000 <\/span>Shipping:<\/strong> Free above \u20b9500 <\/span>Delivery:<\/strong> Pan-India<\/span><\/p>\n

Ebooks and audiobooks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A “best sites to buy books” list in 2026 that ignores digital formats is incomplete. Roughly a quarter of regular readers in urban India now read at least some of their books on a screen or through headphones.<\/span><\/p>\n

15. Kindle Store (Amazon)<\/h3>\n

Kindle dominates ebook sales in India. Prices run 30-80% below print. Kindle Unlimited costs \u20b9169 a month and opens up access to over a million titles. You don’t need a Kindle device to use it. The free Kindle app works on any phone, tablet or laptop.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other platforms worth knowing about:<\/strong><\/p>\n