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Amazon Kindle VS Kobo Books

Compare Amazon Kindle VS Kobo Books and see what are their differences

Amazon Kindle logo Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle software lets you read ebooks on your Kindle, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, and...

Kobo Books logo Kobo Books

Kobo Books is a best in the class eBooks and eReadering apps for many reasons.
  • Amazon Kindle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22
  • Kobo Books Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-02

Amazon Kindle features and specs

  • Portability
    The Kindle is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry hundreds of books wherever you go.
  • Battery Life
    Kindles have an impressive battery life, lasting weeks on a single charge, which is significantly longer than most tablets.
  • E-Ink Display
    The e-ink display mimics paper, reducing eye strain and making it easy to read in bright sunlight.
  • Built-in Store
    Access to the Amazon Kindle Store allows users to purchase and download books instantly from a vast collection.
  • Customization
    Users can customize font size, style, and spacing to enhance their reading experience.
  • Additional Features
    Features like dictionary lookup, translation, and highlighting add value to the reading experience.
  • Environmentally Friendly
    Using a Kindle can reduce the need for paper books, thereby having a positive impact on the environment.

Possible disadvantages of Amazon Kindle

  • Cost
    The initial cost of purchasing a Kindle can be high compared to buying a single physical book.
  • Limited Interactivity
    While great for reading, Kindle devices are limited in functionality compared to tablets and other devices.
  • DRM Restrictions
    Digital Rights Management can limit the ability to share or transfer purchased books across different platforms.
  • Physical Feel
    Some users miss the tactile experience of holding and reading a physical book.
  • Software Updates
    Occasional software updates can sometimes introduce bugs or require users to adapt to new features.
  • Dependency on Amazon
    The Kindle ecosystem is tightly integrated with Amazon, making users heavily dependent on the company for content and services.
  • Technical Issues
    Like any electronic device, Kindles can suffer from technical issues such as screen malfunctions or frozen pages.

Kobo Books features and specs

  • Wide Selection
    Kobo Books offers a large variety of books, eBooks, and audiobooks across multiple genres, catering to various reading preferences.
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility
    Kobo Books can be accessed on multiple devices, including Kobo eReaders, smartphones, tablets, and PCs, ensuring flexibility for the user.
  • Competitive Pricing
    Kobo often has competitive pricing and frequent promotions, making it an attractive option for bargain readers.
  • Integrated Reading Experience
    Kobo provides features such as bookmarks, annotations, and syncing across devices, which enrich the reading experience.
  • Extensive Library Integration
    Kobo supports OverDrive, allowing users to borrow eBooks from local libraries, which is a unique advantage.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The Kobo app and website are known for their user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and find books.
  • Personalized Recommendations
    Kobo offers personalized book recommendations based on your reading history and preferences, enhancing the user's experience.
  • Support for Multiple Formats
    Kobo supports various book formats, including EPUB, PDF, and MOBI, offering flexibility in reading options.

Possible disadvantages of Kobo Books

  • Geographical Restrictions
    Some books may not be available for purchase in certain regions due to geographical restrictions, which can limit selection for some users.
  • DRM Limitations
    Books purchased through Kobo often have Digital Rights Management (DRM) protections, which can restrict the ability to share or transfer books to other devices.
  • Limited Audiobook Selection
    Compared to other platforms like Audible, Kobo's audiobook selection may be somewhat limited.
  • Inconsistent Syncing
    Some users have reported issues with syncing books and annotations across devices, leading to a fragmented reading experience.
  • Customer Service
    Kobo's customer service has occasionally been reported as lacking in responsiveness and efficiency, which can be frustrating for users needing support.
  • Interface Lag
    Some users have reported occasional lag or slow response in the mobile app and website interface, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • Limited Social Features
    Kobo has fewer social features compared to competitors like Goodreads, making it less engaging for readers who enjoy interacting within a book community.

Amazon Kindle videos

Amazon Kindle 2019 | Serious screen upgrade!

Kobo Books videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Amazon Kindle and Kobo Books)
eBook Reader
69 69%
31% 31
Ebooks
68 68%
32% 32
eBook Manager
72 72%
28% 28
Digital Publishing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Amazon Kindle and Kobo Books

Amazon Kindle Reviews

10 of the Best Ebook Readers for Windows, macOS, and Mobile
Ebooks provide a convenient way to read digital content on an Amazon Kindle, a smart device, tablet, laptop, desktop machine, and more. The popularity of ebook readers for these multiple platforms shows that digital formats are replacing physical books. In this post, we’re run through the best ebook reader apps for various devices.
21 Apps for Kids With Reading Issues
Large numbers of books are available through the Amazon Kindle application. Parents can utilize the application’s great features to make reading a joy for the kids.

Kobo Books Reviews

We have no reviews of Kobo Books yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Kobo Books seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 38 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Amazon Kindle mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Amazon Kindle yet. Tracking of Amazon Kindle recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Kobo Books mentions (38)

  • Buying a Clara HD in 2023?
    If I were in your position I would spend the extra and get the 2e, if for no other reason than iirc, it has an audiobook feature. The clara2e is only $139 on kobo.com right now. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Tolino Vision 6 eManga
    Im buying my manga from kobo (kobo.com). Theyre usually drm protected, but its incredibly easy to remove it. After doing so you get a standard epub file which you can read on basically any ereader, including yours. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How do you keep up with LNs that have dozens of volumes? Is it even possible to keep track and remember what happen in each?
    LNs are short. If they look like they're as long as your typical Western novel, it's only because of the font size or thickness of paper used. You'll probably find similarly thin books in the YA section of a bookstore, but most Western books are longer. And while Harry Potter books start out shorter, in general, they absolutely dwarf the size of the typical LN, and I don't know if there are even any LNs which are... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Some kobo.com purchased books not showing up on Kobo Clara HD
    I purchased some ebooks and I can see them at kobo.com but not all of them show up on my Kobo Clara HD reader. Everything is up-to-date and synced. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Is piracy my only option?
    I usually buy from either ebooks.com or kobo.com (sometimes Google Play). They have their own Android apps where you can read your purchases without removing the DRM. On Boox, I've only ever tried the ebooks.com app, but I've found it to have a very limited feature set, so I prefer Pocketbook. By the way, ebooks.com sells DRM-free ebooks whenever the publisher allows it. I usually don't buy Kindle books, because... Source: almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Amazon Kindle and Kobo Books, you can also consider the following products

calibre - Ebook manager, viewer & converter

Google Play Books - Google Play Books lets you search, preview, and buy millions of books using Google Book Search.

FBReader - FBReader is an e-book reader for various platforms. Features:

Cool Reader - Fast and small cross-platform eBook reader for desktops and handheld devices

The new iPad Pro - 10.5 inch - Thinner and better

Calibre Web - Calibre Web is a web app providing a clean interface for browsing, reading and downloading eBooks...