Kobo Audiobooks — A Practical Guide
If you’ve been living in the Audible ecosystem but keep hearing whispers about Kobo Audiobooks, you’re not alone. Kobo has quietly built a solid audiobook catalog that integrates directly with your Kobo e-reader, and for many listeners, it’s a compelling alternative. But before you switch or add another app to your phone, let’s break down exactly how Kobo Audiobooks works, what it costs, and where it shines.
Why Kobo Audiobooks Deserves a Second Look
Kobo’s audiobook service launched in 2019, but it’s matured significantly since then. The biggest selling point? No DRM lock-in on many titles. Unlike Audible’s proprietary format that ties your purchases to Amazon’s ecosystem, Kobo sells audiobooks in standard MP3 and M4B formats for most titles. That means you can download your purchased audiobooks and play them in any app you like—or back them up to your own hard drive.
For listeners who’ve been burned by ecosystem lock-in, this is a genuine meaningful upgrade. You’re not renting access; you’re buying files you can keep.
That said, Kobo isn’t a perfect Audible replacement. The catalog is smaller, the subscription model is different, and you won’t find the same depth of exclusive content. But for a certain type of listener, Kobo is actually the better choice.
Kobo Audiobooks vs. Audible: The Honest Comparison
Let’s get the head-to-head out of the way. If you’re deciding between the two, here’s what actually matters.
Pricing Model
Audible operates on a credit system: you pay roughly $15 per month for one credit, which gets you one audiobook regardless of price. Kobo uses a similar model with Kobo Plus, but it’s structured differently.
Kobo Plus costs $9.99 per month for audiobooks only, or $12.99 for audiobooks plus ebooks. Instead of credits, you get access to a catalog of included titles—think of it like Spotify for audiobooks. You can listen to as many included titles as you want each month.
For heavy listeners, this is a massive value. If you burn through four or five audiobooks a month, Kobo Plus pays for itself quickly. For casual listeners who only finish one or two books monthly, Audible’s credit model might still win out.
Ownership vs. Access
Here’s where things get philosophical. With Audible, you use credits to buy individual titles you keep forever (in theory—they’re still DRM-protected). With Kobo Plus, you’re subscribing to a library. Cancel your subscription, and you lose access to those titles.
But Kobo also sells individual audiobooks outright, and those purchases come DRM-free. So you can mix and match: subscribe to Kobo Plus for your binge-listening, then buy the occasional title outright when you want to own it permanently.
Device Compatibility
Kobo’s biggest advantage is hardware integration. If you own a Kobo e-reader, audiobooks sync directly to your device. You can switch seamlessly between reading and listening on the same device—a feature that rivals Whispersync. The Kobo app also works on iOS and Android, so you’re not locked to a single device.
Audible, meanwhile, works on virtually everything but doesn’t integrate with Kobo hardware (obviously). Amazon’s ecosystem is broader, but Kobo’s is more open.
Try Audible Free for 30 Days — Start your free trial on Amazon and get two free audiobooks.
The Kobo Plus Catalog: What’s Actually Included
Kobo Plus launched with a modest catalog, but it’s grown to over 150,000 titles. That’s still smaller than Audible’s 200,000+ catalog, but the gap is narrowing.
What’s included tends to skew toward:
- Self-published and indie authors — Kobo has courted independent authors aggressively, and it shows. You’ll find a lot of genre fiction here that you won’t see on Audible.
- Classic literature — Public domain titles are well-represented, which makes Kobo Plus a great budget option for classics.
- Mid-list commercial fiction — Thrillers, romance, and mystery from established publishers are here, but you’ll notice gaps in the biggest bestsellers.
- Non-fiction — A decent selection, but not as deep as Audible’s.
The catalog is growing monthly, but if you’re a heavy reader of New York Times bestsellers, you’ll find yourself hitting “not included” more often than you’d like. That’s when you’ll need to buy individual titles.
How to Buy Audiobooks on Kobo Without the Subscription
Not interested in Kobo Plus? You can still buy audiobooks individually through the Kobo store. Here’s how the process works:
1. Browse or search the Kobo store for audiobooks. Look for the “Audiobook” filter to narrow results.
2. Check the price — individual audiobooks are priced similarly to Audible, usually $15–$30 for new releases.
3. Listen to a sample — Kobo offers audio samples on most titles, so you can vet the narrator before committing.
4. Purchase and download — After buying, you can download the MP3 or M4B file directly from your Kobo library. No proprietary app required.
That last point is worth repeating: you can download your purchased audiobooks as standard files. Play them in Apple Books, VLC, or any podcast app. Back them up to a hard drive. Share them with a family member (though you should check the specific license terms). This is a level of ownership that Audible simply doesn’t offer.
Kobo Audiobooks on Your E-Reader: The Listening Experience
If you own a Kobo e-reader, the integration is genuinely impressive. Here’s what the experience looks like:
- Sync across devices — Start listening on your phone during your commute, then pick up on your e-reader at home. Your progress syncs automatically.
- Read-and-listen switching — For titles that have both ebook and audiobook versions, you can switch between reading and listening without losing your place. It’s not quite Whispersync, but it’s close.
- Bluetooth support — Most Kobo e-readers support Bluetooth headphones, so you can listen without wires.
The trade-off? Kobo’s e-readers aren’t great for audiobook discovery. The store browsing experience is clunkier than the app, and you’ll likely find yourself browsing on your phone and then syncing to your device.
Where Kobo Falls Short
Kobo Audiobooks isn’t perfect. Here’s what you need to know before committing.
No Audible Originals equivalent. Audible’s exclusive content—podcasts, Audible Originals, and exclusive audiobook productions—is a major draw. Kobo has nothing comparable. If you love Audible’s exclusive content, you’ll feel the gap.
Smaller catalog, especially in niche genres. While Kobo Plus includes a lot of indie and self-published work, the depth in specific genres like LitRPG, cozy mysteries, or high fantasy is thinner than Audible’s. You’ll find the big names, but you’ll also find more gaps.
No family sharing. Amazon’s Household Sharing lets you share audiobooks with a partner or family member. Kobo doesn’t have an equivalent feature, so each person needs their own account and purchases.
The app is functional, not exceptional. Kobo’s mobile app works fine, but it lacks the polish of Audible’s. No sleep timer customization beyond basic options, no variable speed in some versions, and the library organization is basic.
Is Kobo Audiobooks Right for You? Three Scenarios
Choose Kobo Plus if: You’re a heavy listener (3+ books monthly), you read a lot of indie or mid-list titles, and you want unlimited listening for a flat monthly fee.
Choose Kobo outright purchases if: You value owning your files, you’re tired of DRM lock-in, and you don’t mind buying individual titles at full price.
Stick with Audible if: You’re invested in Amazon’s ecosystem, you love Audible Originals, or you want the largest catalog possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I listen to Kobo audiobooks on my phone?
Yes. The Kobo app is available for iOS and Android, and it supports background playback, variable speed, and sleep timers. You can also download purchased audiobooks as MP3 or M4B files and play them in any app.
Does Kobo Plus include ebooks?
Yes, but you’ll need the Kobo Plus plan that bundles both. The $12.99 monthly plan includes unlimited access to both the audiobook and ebook catalogs.
Can I cancel Kobo Plus anytime?
Yes, Kobo Plus is a month-to-month subscription with no long-term commitment. Cancel anytime, and you’ll keep access until the end of your billing cycle. You’ll lose access to included titles after cancellation, but any audiobooks you purchased outright remain yours.
Do Kobo audiobooks work on Kindle devices?
No. Kobo audiobooks are designed for the Kobo app and Kobo e-readers. However, since most purchases are DRM-free MP3 or M4B files, you can play them on any device that supports those formats—just not through the Kindle’s built-in Audible integration.
Is Kobo Plus worth it compared to Audible?
It depends on your listening habits. If you finish more than two audiobooks per month and the catalog has titles you want, Kobo Plus is a better value. If you prefer bestsellers and exclusive content, Audible’s credit system might be a better fit.
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