Free Digital Magazines

Digital Magazines allow you to read a magazine via a digital format, accessed either online or via a downloaded file. They are fast becoming a popular new medium both online and with the increasing popularity of mobile devices such as the iPad and smartphones. There are various different types of digital magazines, the most common being replicas and stand alone.

Replicas are, as you’d expect, digital versions of existing print magazines. Many publishers are now offering digital versions of their magazines titles, usually released at the same time as the print issues and containing the exact same content just replicated in digital format. Most notably available as digital subscriptions, Replicas are usually considerably cheaper than their print equivalents and as such are fast becoming adopted as a cost effective replacement to the standard print subscription.

Stand Alone digital magazines do not replicate a printed magazine; they are produced solely as a digital magazine. This means more interactive content such as videos, animations and games but usually less pages and ‘standard’ content than you will find in a replica. Many Stand Alone titles are currently available for free although I suspect as they grow in popularity many will be introducing paid subscription options. Good examples of Stand Alone magazines include Monkey and Photo 360.

As the Digital Magazine format is still in its early stages, many publishers are offering free issues of their Replica magazines or even free trial subscriptions. You’ll also find many free subscriptions to Stand Alone digital titles as well. Below are links to some sites where you’ll find great Free Digital Magazines…

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Digital-Magazines/133104493384100
Facebook page giving links to free issues of Replica magazines

http://goreadgreen.com/
Zinio’s Read Green initiative offers you a whole year’s free digital subscription to a magazine of your choice. There’s not loads of titles to choose from but there’s still some good mags to go for.

http://www.photo360mag.com/
Great example of a free Stand Alone title that integrates interactive content to great effect. Free access to all issues from their site

http://monkey.kontraband.com/
Free Stand Alone lad’s mag similar to Nuts or Zoo. Simply sign up for your free Digital subscription.

http://www.rioferdinand.com/
Rio Ferdinand’s free Stand Alone digital magazine #5 features a mix of sports, music, comedy and more. Issues can be read for free via the website.

http://www.digitalpaintmagazine.com/
Free subscription to Stand Alone magazine about digital art.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Magazine/
View a sample version of the current issue of Car magazine, plus a number of back issues.

http://www.turnit.ca/
Offers various free back issues to a number of Canadian titles. These can all be read for free via the website.

http://www.digitalmagazinedeals.com/
Gives you access to a number of free Replica issues across a range of magazines including photography, sports and lifestyle.

I’m sure there are probably lots that I’ve missed and as the medium continues to grow there will be more and more free digital magazines popping up so please feel free to add any you find by posting a comment.