The Best Kobo Alternatives for Ebook Readers

Kobo is well liked for good reason. Its e-readers are excellent, it sells in many countries, and it plays nicely with public libraries. Still, no single store has every book at the best price, and plenty of Kobo readers want a second place to shop. This guide compares the main options fairly.

What Kobo does well

It helps to be clear about what you would be giving up. Kobo's strengths are real.

• Excellent e-readers. Kobo's Clara, Libra, Sage and Elipsa ranges are among the best e-ink devices you can buy.
• Library borrowing built in. Kobo e-readers connect to OverDrive, so library ebooks go straight to the device.
• Standard EPUB files. Kobo reads EPUB, the most common ebook format, which makes it friendlier to files from other sources.
• A subscription option. Kobo Plus costs less than Kindle Unlimited in the US.

Why readers look beyond Kobo

People usually go looking for an alternative for one of these reasons:

• A book isn't there. Some titles, especially independent ones exclusive to other stores, simply aren't on Kobo.
• Price. The same ebook can cost different amounts in different stores, and deals rarely line up.
• Reading on a laptop. Kobo has no web reader, so reading on a work computer or a borrowed laptop isn't possible.
• Supporting independent publishers. Some readers want to buy more directly from the people who publish the books.
• A second opinion. Different stores recommend different books, and a second store widens what you discover.

Kobo alternatives compared

Features change over time. Check each store before buying a device or a subscription.

Kindle: the big-store alternative

If you want another store with its own e-ink device, Kindle is the main choice. Amazon's catalog is the largest, and Kindle Unlimited includes many independent genre titles.

The trade-off is openness. Kindle books are tied to your Amazon account, and since February 2025 you can no longer download purchases to a computer for transfer over USB. If you value Kobo's EPUB-friendly approach, Kindle will feel more closed.

For the full picture, read Kindle vs Kobo vs BooksOasis.

PocketBook: an open e-reader

PocketBook makes e-ink readers that open a wide range of file formats, including EPUB and PDF. It appeals to readers who buy books from many places and want one device for all of them.

Its own store is smaller than Kobo's or Amazon's, so most PocketBook owners treat it as a device first and buy books elsewhere.

Apple Books and Google Play Books: phone-first reading

If you already read a lot on your phone, you may not need an e-reader store at all.

Apple Books is built into iPhones, iPads and Macs. It is polished and effortless, but there is no version for Android or Windows.

Google Play Books runs on Android, iPhone and the web, and lets you upload your own EPUB and PDF files. It is a flexible home for a mixed library.

Libby: keep borrowing, free

If you use Kobo's library borrowing, you can keep doing it anywhere. Libby, from OverDrive, lends ebooks and audiobooks free with a library card, on phones, tablets and the web.

The only cost is waiting for popular titles. Placing holds early keeps a steady supply of books coming.

BooksOasis: independent books on the screens you already own

BooksOasis is an ebook-first bookstore where independent authors and publishers sell their books directly. When you buy an ebook, it opens in Oasis Reader within seconds.

Because Oasis Reader runs in a web browser, it fills a gap Kobo leaves: you can read on a work laptop, a family computer or a tablet without installing anything. You can also add it to your home screen so it opens like an app.

• Offline: download a book once and read it without a connection.
• Comfort: Light, Sepia and Dark themes, adjustable text size, fonts and spacing.
• Notes: highlights in four colours, your own notes, and search inside the book.
• Sync: your place, highlights and notes follow you between devices.

If you are leaving Kobo Plus specifically

Some readers are happy with Kobo's store but unsure about the Kobo Plus subscription. That is a different decision, and a simpler one.

Kobo Plus is listed at $7.99 a month for ebooks, or $9.99 a month with audiobooks, in the US (Kobo). Over a year, the ebook plan comes to $95.88.

Example figures using the listed US price at the time of writing.

The same thinking applies to any reading subscription. Our Kindle Unlimited alternatives guide walks through it in more detail.

Before you buy a new e-reader

If your Kobo is ageing and you are tempted to switch devices, check these first. A new e-reader is the most expensive part of changing stores.

• Where are your books? A new brand of e-reader won't open your Kobo library, so you would keep using the Kobo app for those.
• Does it borrow library books? Kobo's OverDrive support is hard to beat; check the alternative does something similar in your country.
• What formats does it open? Open devices that read EPUB and PDF give you more freedom later.
• Do you really need one? If most of your reading already happens on your phone, a browser-based or app-based reader may be enough.

Should you switch completely, or add a second store?

For most Kobo readers, the answer is to add, not switch. Your Kobo e-reader and library aren't going anywhere, and nothing stops you buying some books elsewhere.

What happens to your Kobo library if you move

Your Kobo purchases stay in your Kobo account whatever you decide. You can keep reading them in the Kobo apps or on any Kobo e-reader you own.

Moving those books to another app is a different matter. Most Kobo books are protected with DRM, which means they open only in Kobo's own apps and devices. A minority are sold DRM-free; those EPUB files can be downloaded and opened elsewhere.

So the practical approach is simple: leave your Kobo library where it is, and decide where your next books come from.

How to choose in five minutes

1. Note where you actually read.E-reader, phone, tablet, laptop? The answer rules options in or out quickly.
2. List your last five books.Check whether each is available, and at what price, in the stores you are considering.
3. Decide on subscriptions.If you read three or more books a month, compare Kobo Plus and Kindle Unlimited. Otherwise, buy on offer.
4. Set up Libby.Free borrowing makes any store choice cheaper.
5. Try one book.Buy a single inexpensive ebook in the new store before moving your whole habit.

Reading comfortably when you leave e-ink behind

If you are moving some reading from a Kobo to a phone or tablet, a few settings make a big difference to comfort.

• Warm the page. Sepia is the closest thing to e-ink's soft paper look on a bright screen.
• Go dark at night. A dark theme with light text is easier on the eyes in bed.
• Size up the text. One or two steps larger than you think reduces eye strain on small screens.
• Loosen the lines. More line spacing makes long chapters easier to follow.
• Silence your phone. Turn on Do Not Disturb so notifications don't pull you out of the story.

More tips in how to read ebooks on your phone comfortably.

Books to start with

If you want to try a second store today, these are popular with BooksOasis readers right now. Prices are live and include any current offer.

Browse all books →

Kobo alternatives by reader type

The bottom line

Kobo is a strong platform, and most readers don't need to abandon it. If you want another e-ink ecosystem, compare Kindle and PocketBook. If you mainly want more books, better deals or reading on any screen, adding a second store alongside Kobo gives you the best of both.

The readers who get the most from their money rarely use one store. They keep a device they love, a library card, and one or two places they trust for the books they want to keep.