Amazon Kindle Vs. Kobo: which e-reader is right for you?

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With the recent announcement that Amazon is essentially making a variety of older Kindle devices, we’ve compiled our list of 5 e-reader alternatives. Among these were two completely separate Kobo e-readers. So while we clearly think Kobo is a worthy contender for your hard-earned e-book budget, what exactly is a Kobo device, what does it do well, and most importantly, is it a better fit for you than a Kindle?

Kobo’s history dates back to early 2009, when it launched in Toronto, and with the unveiling of its first e-reader in 2010, they became an official competitor to the Kindle, launched a few years earlier on Amazon. Kobo started out focusing on e-book innovation and app functionality, just as much of Kobo’s development team focused on apps before that point. So while Amazon and Kobo saw a key shift in book buying, Kobo had a much more e-ink-focused approach than Amazon’s much larger business.

Today, Kobo readers are loved by many real-world users because of their philosophical differences from the Kindle. Like it or not, Amazon owns a large portion of the world’s digital and physical storefront. Under the hood, a Kindle has Amazon’s proprietary Android version, which means you have to follow Amazon’s rules to import books to the device. This can be very handy for ease of use, but Kobo is known for offering greater file type compatibility and less strict guidelines. There are also unlimited plans to consider, as both companies have their version. Finally, look closely at the hardware, where Amazon offers more devices to choose from, Kobo may have the right feature-to-price ratio.

Read a few “What should I do when my Kindle is shut down” Reddit threads and you’ll see quite a few community members wholeheartedly recommending Kobo. It’s fair to be frustrated with Amazon for removing features on older devices, and Kobo’s pitch is strong if you don’t like some of Amazon’s approaches. Kobo has historically supported more e-book formats than Kindle, including MOBI, PDF, and even CBR comic options. Although Kindle opened ePub support a few years ago, it’s not as simple as downloading a book directly to your Kindle.

The Kobo also allows you to connect directly to a computer and transfer e-books, while the Kindle controls it, requiring you to “send to Kindle” using a software web portal. This can be frustrating for those who own many eBook formats, but for those who want to simply download from the dedicated storefront on either device, this probably won’t be a big problem for you. Then, of course, there’s the fact that Amazon decided to literally remove features from older devices, while Kobo has a better track record in this regard. The “closed” philosophy of this movement really couldn’t be clearer.

We recently wrote a roundup of Kindle Unlimited alternatives, so it shouldn’t be that surprising to see the Kobo Plus Unlimited plan mentioned here in this article. Comparing the unlimited options between these two providers can be difficult. While the raw numbers of over 5 million eBooks from Kindle and just 1.5 million from Kobo may seem clear, it really matters. What the titles are there. So it’s best to browse the library to your liking. But at $11.99/month for the Kindle and just $7.99/month for the Kobo, the savings put Kobo ahead for budget-conscious people.

Then there are the display cases themselves. This comparison gets a little more interesting when you look at the deals and offers of both. For starters, Amazon’s Kindle probably offers the greatest selection, simply because it’s the household name in e-book publishing. However, if you’re looking for good deals, that might mean the Kobo store has entirely different setups for sales and discounts. Some happy users point out that being able to shop through different storefronts on Kobo will naturally make finding deals better, with some reports even confirming that Kobo will match prices in certain regions. So while you can’t determine the price advantage at all times given the sporadic nature of promotions, Kobo might offer you more flexibility, while Kindle often remains the “first place” for e-publishing.

It’s not just the “proprietary” items that are worth considering if you want to buy a Kobo over a Kindle. While dedicated storefronts are important, support for third-party apps is a bit more free in the Kobo ecosystem. Take for example the popular Libby. This service essentially allows you to request a “copy” of an e-book if you have a valid public library card, the same way you would borrow a physical book from your library. The problem is that you can’t actually install Libby on e-ink Kindles, whereas you can on Kobo. This native support means you’ll have a clean and simple interface for your borrowed eBooks. Kindle allows Libby borrows, but you have to “send” them to the Kindle the same way you do with other e-books, so it’s just not as seamless.

Then there is the Caliber use case which is really interesting to learn about. Caliber is third-party software that lets you convert eBooks, organize your library, and more so that the transfer to/from your eReader is at the level of detail and organization you want. As many users note, with Kindle you can simply convert and send your files. With Kobo, there are more open plugins that allow for greater customization, providing another rich experience to compare.

The e-reader itself is also an important consideration if you’re comparing Kindles to Kobos. Kindle has long been considered a leader in the e-ink space, with the newer Paperwhite and Colorsoft models garnering many positive reviews for build quality and features. However, Kobo offers its own share of powerful features, albeit with a simpler device lineup. At the time of writing, here are the current active models for each: Kindle offers the basic Kindle e-ink, the high-end Kindle Paperwhite, the colorful Kindle Colorsoft, and the high-end note-taking-focused Kindle Scribe. Kobo offers Libra Color, Clara Color, and Clara BW.

Right off the bat, if you want stylus support, you’re comparing the Libra Color and Kindle Scribe, both of which are premium devices with premium builds. The Scribe has much more coverage, and its form factor and screen size feel more familiar. As you get to the Clara line, the Kobo value accessory starts to look compelling. The Kindle Colorsoft starts at $189, while the Clara Color costs $159 – a significant saving for a color device. Although the Clara BW is priced closer to the Papersoft ($139 versus $159 for the Kindle), there’s no real budget option with Kobo like there is with the base Kindle. But this lowest model doesn’t offer some key features like backlighting and waterproofing, so you’ll have to make sacrifices in this area.