When the pandemic forced me into a new normal with no people and many books, I got back into my reading habit. Along with that, I adopted a new routine: scavenging the entire Internet for the best online bookstores in the Philippines. Enough to make a listicle, at least. So here we are.
Before letting you dive into this list, I must give you a disclaimer: This one is riddled with my biases. After guiltlessly spending most of my money on book after book, I’ve inevitably developed a personal preference for certain bookshops. On the bright side, I can attest that the following online bookstores in the Philippines have appealing interfaces and a responsive team behind the screen. So, fellow bookworm, get ready to shop.
Also read: Book Depository Philippines Review: Ordering During the Pandemic
Online bookstores in the Philippines for brand new books
1. Fully Booked
The Pinoy bookworm’s go-to for extensive selections, Fully Booked immediately rose as one of the top online bookstores in the Philippines once it announced its delivery services in April 2020. Thankfully, its digital catalogue continues to serve us well. Scrolling through the list of available reads on their website almost mimics the very experience of treading through the aisles of our favourite Fully Booked branches.
Shop at their official website, Shopee or Lazada.
2. National Book Store
Another popular bookstore in the country, National Book Store opened its doors for online orders in May 2020. Aside from the vast array of books they hold, NBS also houses office supplies — especially helpful if you’re building your home office.
Shop at their official website, Shopee, or Lazada.
3. Blithe Books Independent Bookstore
With a website that captures the owners’ preferences and tastes, Blithe Books Independent Bookstore offers a carefully curated collection of diverse titles — from storybooks to books about nature to non-fiction essays about wars and crises. Hands-on with their services, the team even provides customers with book recommendations and offers to scour the market for obscure titles.
On Instagram, Blithe Books Independent Bookstore also holds #ShopOurShelf, letting loyal customers virtually browse their newest additions. So if you enjoy checking out covers and spines, don’t hesitate to drop them a DM.
Shop at their official website or Instagram.
4. Bookshelf PH
If you want your book purchase to matter, you won’t go wrong with shopping at Bookshelf PH. This online bookstore celebrates Filipino readership by offering notable titles from local authors. They even have original books which they publish through their in-house imprint, Bookshelf Press! With top-selling books on business, finance, and women empowerment, Bookshelf PH has engaging titles (in print, audiobook, and e-book formats) for every Pinoy reader.
Shop at their official website, Shopee, or Lazada.
5. Biblio
Must-read books, cute totes, and retro posters — Biblio has all these and more. Famous for its imported preowned books, the speciality bookstore-cafe opened its website in 2020 and has since been offering brand-new books of diverse genres and gifts, toys, and other cool merch.
Shop at their official website or Shopee.
6. Omniana
“An online collection of curated books and artwork,” the website of Omniana reads. But one look in their catalogue of books will make you doubt if there is even a line between books and art. Regardless of genre, the reads that Omniana offers are all in their most stunning editions — no kidding, their whole website looks like a bookstagram, but better!
Shop at their official website.
7. Savage Mind
Supporting indie publishers and self-published writers, Savage Mind fosters a community for local creatives. Founded in 2018, the bookstore is the sole bookstore in Naga City, also known as the Pilgrim City for housing one of the largest pilgrimages in Asia. Today, it houses thousands of titles in both Bicolano and Filipino, as well as other translations in local languages. The works of Bicolano writers, like Ricky Lee and Merlinda Bobis, also hold a special place in the bookstore.
If you can’t visit Naga City yet, you can easily shop through their online bookstore. They offer a rich selection of anthologies, biographies, poetry collections, translated classics, and other types of literature.
Shop at Shopee.
8. artbooks.ph
An independent bookstore run by artists themselves, artbooks.ph is home to some of the most precious gems of the country’s literary scene. With local art flourishing hand in hand with novels, the online bookstore has a selection that propels its mission: to generate awareness and advocate for cultural literacy. From zines to antiques, artbooks.ph’s rich collection undoubtedly deserves your attention. Dive into Philippine art and culture through their online catalogue. When something catches your eye, don’t hesitate to add it to your cart!
Shop at their official website.
9. Mt. Cloud Bookshop
If you can’t visit the physical store of Mt. Cloud yet, take comfort in that they are now one of the online bookstores in the Philippines we can easily access from home. Always housing an impressive collection of Filipiniana, Mt. Cloud Bookshop is a credible source for poignant books by local authors. So if you’re all about supporting local, why not check out their online catalogue? You might even find a book written in your own native dialect!
Shop at their official Facebook page.
Also read: 10 Library Cafes in Metro Manila for Bookworms & Avid Readers
10. Precious Pages Bookstore
Is Wattpad romance your cup of tea? If so, you’ll likely enjoy devouring books from Precious Pages Bookstore, an online bookstore in the Philippines that specialise in Tagalog romance novels. Their bestsellers include an interesting bunch: a law-inspired Wattpad book, a colouring book for children, and the trailblazing storybook, Ako ay May Titi by Genaro Gojo Cruz.
Shop at Shopee.
11. Books & Minds Bookstore
A Pasay-based indie bookshop, Books & Minds Bookstore primarily offers books on self-help, business and finance, and spirituality. They advocate for Filipino professional development, regularly participating in sales and promos to make learning more accessible.
12. REX E-Store
Driven enough to take up an online class or two? Thinking of homeschooling the kids during the quarantine? Look no further: Rex Book Store is home to the widest variety of learning materials — from affordable children’s books to volumes of law textbooks. Always a trusted resource for educational materials, Rex also sells e-books, teaching materials, and other supplementary tools.
Shop at their official website or Shopee.
Online bookstores in the Philippines for secondhand books
13. Books for Less
Don’t mind dog ears and broken spines? Our favourite thrift bookstore is finally online, as well! True to its name, Books for Less is an official source for affordable pre-loved books of various genres. Make sure to pin their website as they load up to 700 “new” books daily!
Shop at their official website.
14. Porch Reader
Porch Reader has long been one of the online bookstores in the Philippines where customers could avail quality pre-owned books. But what sets Porch Reader apart from the rest is their advocacy: To build free little libraries all over the Philippines to promote literacy and love of reading. Every purchase goes to this notable cause, giving us more reason to support this indie bookshop.
Shop at their official website.
15. The Bargain Reader
The Bargain Reader prides itself on being one of the top-rated online bookstores in the Philippines. Since 2018, the bookshop has been delivering physical books to customers nationwide. For a thrift store, The Bargain Reader has quite a collection of fresh reads, ranging from fiction to self-help. They also accept book requests if you’re searching for an item for a lower price!
Shop at their official website, Shopee or Lazada.
Also read: A Bibliophile’s Guide to Packing Books for Vacation
By the way, congratulations on jumpstarting your reading habit again! This feat is definitely worth celebrating — and you deserve to splurge on fantastic books from these online bookstores in the Philippines.
