Kobo Review: What to Know Before You Buy
If you’ve landed here, you’re probably trying to figure out whether Kobo is worth your time—and more importantly, your money. Maybe you’re tired of Audible’s ecosystem lock-in, or you’ve heard Kobo’s audiobook store has better prices, or you simply want to know if the Kobo app can replace your current listening setup.
Here’s the honest answer: Kobo is a legitimate, increasingly competitive option for audiobook listeners, especially if you value ownership, flexibility, and avoiding Amazon’s walled garden. But it comes with trade-offs—particularly around selection and app polish—that matter depending on how you listen.
Let’s break down what Kobo actually offers, where it shines, and where it might frustrate you.
What Kobo Actually Is (and Isn’t)
Kobo is a Canadian company owned by Rakuten, and it’s best known for its e-readers. But the Kobo app and store also sell audiobooks, and that’s where this review focuses.
Here’s what you need to know upfront:
- Kobo is not a subscription service. Unlike Audible’s monthly credit model or Scribd’s all-you-can-listen approach, Kobo sells audiobooks individually. You pay per title, and you own it.
- Kobo uses open formats. Audiobooks purchased from Kobo are DRM-free MP3s or M4Bs. That means you can play them on any device, back them up, and keep them forever—even if you delete your Kobo account.
- Kobo has a subscription add-on. Kobo Plus is their separate subscription service, but it’s a different product from the main store. More on that below.
If you’re the kind of listener who hates the idea of losing your library if you cancel a subscription, Kobo’s ownership model is genuinely appealing.
The Biggest Reason to Consider Kobo: You Actually Own Your Audiobooks
Let’s talk about DRM, because this is the core differentiator.
Audible locks its audiobooks with DRM. You can listen to them in the Audible app, and you can use Whispersync to pair them with Kindle ebooks, but you can’t easily move them to another app or back them up as plain files. If Audible ever went away—or if you decided to leave Amazon’s ecosystem—your library would be stuck.
Kobo takes the opposite approach. When you buy an audiobook from Kobo, you get a DRM-free file. You can:
- Download it as an MP3 or M4B file
- Play it in any audiobook app (including Apple Books, Smart Audiobook Player, or Bookmobile)
- Back it up to a hard drive or cloud storage
- Keep it permanently, regardless of what happens to your Kobo account
For audiobook collectors who’ve spent hundreds of dollars building a library, this is a massive point in Kobo’s favor. It’s the difference between renting and owning.
Concrete example: Say you buy a 20-hour epic like The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson from Kobo. You can download the M4B file, drop it on your phone, and listen in whatever app you prefer. With Audible, that same title is locked to Audible’s app unless you go through the hassle of removing DRM with third-party tools.
What this means for your next purchase: If you’ve been hesitating to commit to Audible because you’re worried about being locked in, Kobo removes that risk entirely. You can buy a single title, download it, and walk away—no subscription, no ongoing commitment, no fear of losing access. That’s a genuinely different value proposition from any subscription service.
Try Audible Free for 30 Days — Start your free trial on Amazon and get two free audiobooks.
Kobo Plus: The Subscription Option, Explained
If you’re a high-volume listener, Kobo Plus might be the more relevant product. It’s Kobo’s subscription service, and it works differently from Audible.
- Kobo Plus costs $7.99/month for audiobooks only, or $9.99/month for audiobooks plus ebooks.
- It’s all-you-can-listen within Kobo’s catalog—no monthly credits to ration.
- The catalog is smaller than Audible’s. This is the critical caveat. Kobo Plus doesn’t include every title Kobo sells; it’s a curated selection, and it skews toward indie authors, self-published works, and older backlist titles.
If you listen to 10+ audiobooks a month and you’re not tied to specific bestsellers, Kobo Plus can be a phenomenal value. But if you’re waiting for the latest release from a major publisher, you’ll likely be disappointed.
The trade-off in plain terms: Audible gives you one or two credits per month for any title in their massive catalog. Kobo Plus gives you unlimited listening but only within a smaller pool. Which one is better depends entirely on what you want to listen to.
How to check if Kobo Plus is right for you: Before committing, browse the Kobo Plus catalog directly on their website. Search for three or four authors you actually listen to. If those names come up with multiple titles, the subscription will likely pay for itself. If you’re drawing blanks, you’re better off buying individual titles or sticking with Audible.
Kobo’s Audiobook Store: Selection and Pricing
Outside of Kobo Plus, the regular Kobo audiobook store sells individual titles. Here’s how it compares to Audible:
- Pricing: Kobo often prices individual audiobooks lower than Audible’s standard prices, especially for older titles. You’ll frequently see $10–$15 price tags for books that Audible sells for $20–$30 without a credit.
- Selection: This is where Kobo struggles. Audible has a massive catalog, including Audible Originals and exclusive content you can’t get anywhere else. Kobo’s store is smaller, and some major publishers’ audiobooks are missing or delayed.
- No credits: Kobo doesn’t have a credit system. You pay cash for each title. This is simpler, but it means you lose the “one credit = one expensive audiobook” value proposition that Audible users rely on.
Concrete example: A classic like Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir might cost $14.99 on Kobo versus $26.99 on Audible without a credit. If you’re buying one or two books a month with cash, Kobo’s pricing wins. But if you’re using Audible credits strategically, a single credit can cover a $30+ audiobook, which changes the math.
The practical takeaway: Do the math on your own listening habits before choosing. If you buy 2–3 audiobooks per month at full price, Kobo’s lower per-title pricing saves you real money. If you’re a subscriber who uses credits on expensive new releases, Audible’s credit system still gives you more purchasing power per dollar.
The Kobo App Experience: What It’s Like to Listen
The Kobo app (available on iOS and Android) is functional, but it’s not as polished as Audible’s.
What works well:
- Chapter navigation is straightforward
- Sleep timer is included
- Variable playback speed goes up to 3x, which is fine for speed listeners
- Library sync works across devices, so you can switch from phone to tablet without losing your place
What’s frustrating:
- The interface feels dated. Audible has invested heavily in making its app feel modern and intuitive. Kobo’s app is more utilitarian.
- No Whispersync equivalent. If you also read ebooks, Kobo has a feature that syncs your reading position between ebooks and audiobooks, but it’s not as seamless as Amazon’s Whispersync.
- CarPlay and Android Auto support exists, but it’s clunkier than Audible’s implementation.
If you’re the type of listener who sets playback speed, queues up a chapter, and hits play, the Kobo app will do the job. If you want a rich, feature-packed listening experience with social features, badges, and seamless device switching, Audible remains ahead.
One thing to verify before you buy: Check whether the specific audiobook you want is available in M4B format or just MP3. M4B files support chapter markers and bookmarking, which makes navigation much smoother. If a title only comes as a single MP3 file, you’ll lose chapter-level navigation in most third-party apps—a minor annoyance, but worth knowing upfront.
Kobo vs. Audible: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Kobo | Audible |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | DRM-free files you can keep forever | DRM-locked to Audible’s ecosystem |
| Pricing model | Pay per title, no credits | Monthly credits (1–2 per month) |
| Subscription option | Kobo Plus ($7.99–$9.99/month) | Audible Plus (catalog access) + Premium Plus (credits) |
| Catalog size | Smaller, some major titles missing | Massive, including exclusives |
| App quality | Functional but dated | Polished, feature-rich |
| Device compatibility | Any app, any device | Audible app only (without DRM removal) |
| Ebook pairing | Basic sync | Whispersync (seamless) |
The honest take: If you value ownership and flexibility, Kobo is the better choice. If you value selection and app polish, Audible wins.
Who Should Buy From Kobo (and Who Shouldn’t)
Choose Kobo if:
- You’re building a permanent audiobook library and want DRM-free files
- You’re frustrated by Audible’s ecosystem lock-in
- You listen to a lot of indie, self-published, or backlist titles available on Kobo Plus
- You prefer paying cash per title over managing monthly credits
Skip Kobo if:
- You need the latest bestsellers on release day (Kobo often gets them later or not at all)
- You love Audible Originals and exclusive content
- You rely on Whispersync to switch between ebooks and audiobooks
- You want the most polished listening app available
The mismatch to watch for: If you’re a genre devotee who follows a specific series, check whether Kobo actually carries the later installments before you commit. Some popular series—especially those with Audible-exclusive contracts—have gaps in Kobo’s catalog. Finding out that book three of a five-book series isn’t available after you’ve bought books one and two is a frustrating way to discover a limitation.
The Bottom Line on Kobo for Audiobook Listeners
Kobo is not a direct Audible replacement for everyone. Its catalog gaps and less polished app make it a tough sell for listeners who want everything in one place. But for a specific segment of the audiobook audience—people who care about ownership, dislike DRM, and want flexibility—Kobo is genuinely the better product.
If you’re on the fence, consider this: you can buy a single audiobook from Kobo and see if the app and the ownership model work for you. You’re not locked into a subscription, so the risk is minimal.
And if you’re currently using Audible and feeling trapped by your library, Kobo offers a way out—one purchase at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I listen to Kobo audiobooks on my iPhone?
Yes. Kobo audiobooks are DRM-free, so you can download the files and play them in the Kobo app, Apple Books, or any third-party audiobook player that supports MP3 or M4B files.
Is Kobo Plus worth it?
It depends on your listening habits. If you go through multiple audiobooks per month and the catalog includes titles you want, Kobo Plus at $7.99/month is an excellent value. If you’re waiting for specific bestsellers, you’ll likely be disappointed by the selection.
Does Kobo have a free trial?
Kobo Plus offers a free trial period, typically 30 days, so you can test the subscription before committing. Individual audiobook purchases don’t require a subscription.
Can I return a Kobo audiobook if I don’t like it?
Kobo’s return policy is less generous than Audible’s. Audible allows returns within a year under certain conditions, but Kobo generally doesn’t offer returns on audiobooks unless there’s a technical issue.
Are Kobo audiobooks cheaper than Audible?
Often, yes—especially for older or backlist titles. But Audible’s credit system can make new releases more cost-effective if you’re using credits strategically. It depends on what you’re buying and how often.
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