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Flibusta has long been the go-to pirate library for readers seeking free access to books, but it will soon shut down permanently. The site, which openly disregards copyright laws, boasts over 630,000 titles and millions of readers.
We discuss what happened to Flibusta, why it is controversial, and what alternatives you should consider once the site ceases to exist.
Key Takeaways
- Flibusta, a popular pirate library with over 630,000 books, is shutting down due to the critical health condition of its creator.
- Flibusta faced controversy for violating copyright laws, with Russian publishers repeatedly attempting to shut it down.
- Despite mirror sites keeping it alive, legal pressure and declining traffic contributed to Flibusta’s downfall.
- Several Flibusta alternatives, such as Readli, Coollib, and Royallib, offer similar access to online books, though piracy concerns remain.
- Author.Today is a legitimate alternative where users can publish and purchase ebooks, unlike pirate libraries.
What is Flibusta?
Flibusta is an online pirate library with over 630,000 books. About 83 percent of the collection is in Russian, and anyone can access the e-books for free, along with books in Ukrainian and Belarusian. Other literature is available only to registered users. It was created in 2009 by ‘Stiver’ an anonymous individual claiming to live in Germany.
In its early days, Flibusta attracted as many as 4 million visitors a month, but eventually, the Russian government caught on and blocked access to the site.
By spring 2016, traffic had dropped to just 163,000 visits a month. The Moscow City Court’s decision to permanently block the online library for repeated copyright violations was another nail in the coffin for its already dwindling traffic.
Why is Flibusta Closing Down?
Flibusta is closing due to the critical health condition of its creator, Stiver. The website will remain active for a few more weeks but will eventually shut down for good.
A message posted by Stiver on September 23, 2024 said:
“This is Stiver. I’m in the hospital with an obscenely sized glioblastoma. Unfortunately, Flibusta seems to have ended here, as did I. Thanks everyone, it was fun. The servers are paid for for a few more weeks.”
Why Was Flibusta Controversial?
Any site that offers pirated content is bound to be controversial, and Flibusta was no exception. Russian publishers repeatedly tried to shut it down, but the site kept surviving thanks to its many mirror sites. The issue was simple — publishers weren’t making money from the books they invested in because readers could easily find them for free on Flibusta. The site was violating copyright and intellectual property laws.
In September 2011, Stiver ran into issues accessing the online library because his hosting provider was under a lot of pressure.
Allegedly, lawyers from Eksmo Publishing House reached out to the Dutch hosting company Ecatel, asking them to reveal who owned Flibusta.
In 2016, the German police wrapped up a two-year investigation into Stiver and found no evidence of any criminal activity.
4 Flibusta Alternatives
Flibusta is shutting down, but there is no shortage of online pirate libraries. Below are four sites similar to Flibusta that you might want to consider.
1. Readli
Readli is an online library that offers a collection of eBooks for you to download and read. All books are in Russian and while the collection is not as vast as Flibusta, you get to choose titles from different genres and subjects. You can browse, search, and access thousands of titles.
- The site is active and regularly updates its content.
- It has a decent collection of books from various genres and authors.
- The interface is modern and user-friendly.
- Users can filter and search for books by genre and author.
2. Coollib
Coollib is a great alternative to Flibusta. The site boasts a way more diverse collection than Readli, and you can read and download everything for free without even signing up. It’s also comparatively safer than Flibusta since it only allows the submission of books that users have copyrights to. Plus, there’s an active forum where users chat regularly.
- The site offers a wide range of books across various genres and from different authors.
- It has clear rules, making it a safer place to browse.
- Navigation is a breeze, thanks to its handy filters and search options.
3. Author.Today
Author.Today isn’t a pirate library. It’s a legitimate online network that aims to “unite creative people.” The site mainly features paid ebooks from various Russian authors. Author.Today also lets you write and publish your work, so you can be part of a community of fellow creatives. However, we must warn you that this platform isn’t for you if you’re looking to access free books.
- The site lets you upload your novels, stories, and illustrations and create a professional portfolio to showcase your work.
- You can participate in regular literary and art contests with cash prizes and opportunities for recommendations to top publishing houses.
- It features a solid collection of paid ebooks by various Russian authors, giving you access to unique content.
4. Royallib
Royallib is worth considering if you’re looking for a site similar to Flibusta. It offers books for free download in five electronic formats: DOC, RTF, FB2, HTML, and TXT. There’s also a “reading room” where you can read books directly on the website without downloading them. The reader allows you to customize the book format to your liking—choose the type, size, font color, background color, and line length.
You can save your reading progress and continue where you left off the next time you visit the website using the bookmark function. The website’s search engine lets you easily find what you’re looking for, whether it’s a book, author, or book series.
- It lets you download books in five formats or read online with customizable settings.
- You can save your progress with bookmarks and pick up where you left off.
- The site lets you easily find books, authors, or series using the search or browse options.
The Bottom Line
Flibusta has been around for quite some time, and it has a collection of more than half a million books — that’s something no other online pirate library can match. However, with the site now shutting down, you’re forced to look for alternatives.
Remember, piracy isn’t the best way to read and support your favorite authors and publishers, but if you still want to go down this road, the alternatives we listed above should help.
