Beam
Bielefeld DRM-free ebook shop with subscriptions to book series
Key data
| Company | BEAM Shop GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Ebook Subscription Services |
| Headquarters | Bielefeld, Germany |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | not stated on the pages we read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Ebooks without DRM, series subscriptions, subscription configurator, ebook bundles, genre shop for science fiction, crime, western and romance |
| Pricing | Series subscriptions with a chosen term; prices are not quoted from the pages we read |
| Best For | Readers of serial pulp novels who want DRM-free files |
| Replaces | Kindle Unlimited (series reading) |
Full review
BEAM Shop GmbH is based at Stapenhorststr. 42b, 33615 Bielefeld, registered at Amtsgericht Bielefeld under HRB 43148, with managing director Daniel Brun named in the imprint.
Beam is a shop for ebooks without DRM, and its Serien and Abo area sells subscriptions to ebook series.
How do Beam series subscriptions work?
Beam lets customers subscribe to series such as western pulp novels, science fiction serials and romance. New episodes are available for download right after release.
The subscription runs for a chosen size and does not renew automatically when it ends.
Is Beam a catalogue subscription like Kindle Unlimited?
No. Beam is a shop where books are bought and series are subscribed to one by one, while Kindle Unlimited is a catalogue flatrate.
The Beam shop offers its ebooks without DRM, which means files are not locked to a reading app.
Who is behind Beam?
The imprint names BEAM Shop GmbH in Bielefeld and the terms are contracts with that company. The privacy text mentions Google Analytics.
Hosting is not stated on the pages we read.
Points against
Beam is not a flatrate: every series is subscribed and paid separately, and the pages we read do not quote prices. The privacy text names Google Analytics. The shop is German-language.
Who Beam fits
Choose Beam if you follow serial novels and want DRM-free files. For unlimited reading, use BookBeat or Skoobe.
Advantages and drawbacks
Pros
- BEAM Shop GmbH registered in Bielefeld
- Ebooks without DRM
- New episodes ready on release
- Subscriptions do not auto-renew
- Wide genre shop
Cons
- Not a catalogue flatrate
- Prices not quoted in the pages we read
- Google Analytics in the privacy text
- German-language shop
Pros and Cons
Pros
- BEAM Shop GmbH registered in Bielefeld
- Ebooks without DRM
- New episodes ready on release
- Subscriptions do not auto-renew
- Wide genre shop
Cons
- Not a catalogue flatrate
- Prices not quoted in the pages we read
- Google Analytics in the privacy text
- German-language shop
Alternatives to Beam
Alternatives from Europe in the ebook subscription services group:
See all European ebook subscription services or compare them directly against Kindle Unlimited (series reading) on our alternatives page.
FAQ
Only for series. Beam sells subscriptions to individual ebook series, not a catalogue flatrate.
Yes. The Beam shop is labelled eBooks ohne DRM.
No. The Beam subscription page says a subscription does not renew automatically when it runs out.