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Kobo Books

An app that sells ebooks and audiobooks and syncs with your e-reader.

Read & listenEbook readersFree planFree trial
Get Kobo BooksBuild your own reading appFree plan

What Kobo Books does

Kobo Books is the reading app from Rakuten Kobo. It sells ebooks and audiobooks, syncs with Kobo eReaders, and works with Kobo Plus, an optional subscription you start on kobo.com with a 14-day trial in the US.

Ebook and audiobook store
Kobo Plus subscription catalog
Syncs with Kobo eReaders
Offline reading, notes and quote sharing
Guest mode to browse before signing in
CarPlay for audiobooks

Kobo is a popular alternative to Amazon for buying ebooks, and its app is where those books live on your phone. You can browse as a guest before signing in, read offline, save notes and quotes, and pick up on a Kobo eReader where you stopped on your phone.

Kobo Plus is the subscription side. You start it on kobo.com, not inside the iPhone app, and then read its catalog in the app. The US gets a 14-day free trial. Prices change by country, so check kobo.com before you sign up.

Kobo makes the most sense if you own a Kobo eReader or want to buy books outside Amazon. For free books, Libby and hoopla are better places to start.

Alternatives to Kobo Books

KindleRead your Kindle books on any phone, no Kindle device needed
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Free, paid from $11.99/moFree plan
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BlinkistKey ideas from nonfiction books in about 15 minutes, to read or hear
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Free, paid from $8.33/moFree plan
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Apple BooksApple's built-in place to buy, read and listen to books
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Free, with paid extrasFree plan
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EverandAudiobooks and ebooks in one monthly subscription
AudiobooksEbook readers
From $11.99/mo30-day free trial
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Google Play BooksBuy books, upload your own EPUBs and PDFs, read on any device
Ebook readersAudiobooks
Free, with paid extrasFree plan
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Serial ReaderRead classic books for free in short daily bites
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Free, with paid extrasFree plan
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Who it's for

Kobo eReader owners
Readers who want an alternative to Amazon

Skip it if: Anyone looking only for free books.

Pricing

Free plan
Free, with paid extras

The Kobo app is free, and books are sold one by one. Kobo Plus is an optional monthly subscription with a 14-day free trial in the US. You sign up on kobo.com.

Prices can vary by country. Checked 16 Oct 2026.

What people like

  • Big store outside the Amazon world
  • Subscription option with a free trial
  • Works well alongside a Kobo eReader

Watch out for

  • Kobo Plus can't be started or managed in the iPhone app
  • Search filters could be better
  • Subscription price varies by country

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Questions people ask

Is the Kobo app free?

Yes. You pay for the books you buy, or for Kobo Plus if you subscribe.

Can I get Kobo Plus in the iPhone app?

You start it on kobo.com, then read its books in the app. Kobo says subscriptions can't be managed in the iOS app.

Do I need a Kobo eReader?

No. The app works on its own on iPhone, iPad and Android.