Kobo Plus vs Kindle Unlimited: Which Is Better for Readers?

If you love subscription reading but want an alternative to Amazon, there is a very real one:

Kobo Plus.

Kobo Plus gives readers unlimited access to a large subscription catalog of ebooks and audiobooks without requiring a Kindle, an Amazon account, or even a Kobo eReader.

And if you are comparing Kobo Plus vs Kindle Unlimited, there are some important differences in price, devices, borrowing limits, available books, and how the programs work for authors.

The short version?

Kindle Unlimited has the larger catalog. Kobo Plus costs less, does not impose KU’s 20-title borrowing limit, offers an inexpensive ebook-and-audiobook plan, and allows participating authors to sell their ebooks elsewhere.

Which one is better for you depends on how you read.

Let’s break it down.

Does Kobo Have a Subscription Like Kindle Unlimited?

Yes.

Kobo Plus is Kobo’s answer to Kindle Unlimited.

You pay a monthly subscription and get access to ebooks, audiobooks, or both from the Kobo Plus catalog.

In the United States, Kobo currently offers:

Kobo Plus Read
Over 1.5 million ebooks
$7.99/month

Kobo Plus Listen
Over 150,000 audiobooks
$7.99/month

Kobo Plus Read & Listen
Over 1.5 million ebooks + over 150,000 audiobooks
$9.99/month

New U.S. subscribers currently receive a 14-day free trial.

START A KOBO PLUS FREE TRIAL →

Kindle Unlimited currently costs $11.99/month in the United States.

So Kobo Plus Read costs $4 less per month than Kindle Unlimited.

That is $48 less over a year at the regular subscription prices.

Even Kobo’s combined ebook and audiobook subscription is currently $2 per month less than Kindle Unlimited.

Kobo Plus vs Kindle Unlimited: Quick Comparison

Here are the biggest differences.

Kobo Plus

• $7.99/month for ebooks
• $7.99/month for audiobooks
• $9.99/month for ebooks + audiobooks
• over 1.5 million ebooks
• over 150,000 audiobooks
• add as many Kobo Plus titles as you like
• works on Kobo eReaders
• works through the free Kobo Books app
• does not work directly on Kindle eReaders
• participating indie authors do not have to be exclusive to Kobo

Kindle Unlimited

• $11.99/month in the U.S.
• over 5 million digital titles in its broader catalog
• ebooks plus selected audiobooks, comics, manga, and magazines
• up to 20 borrowed titles at one time
• works on Kindle eReaders
• works through the Kindle app
• ebooks enrolled through Amazon’s KDP Select program must remain exclusive to Amazon during the enrollment period

Neither service is automatically “better.”

They are built differently.

And the better choice depends largely on which authors you read.

Can I Read Kobo Plus Books on My Kindle?

No, not on a Kindle eReader.

This is important because it is one of the most common questions readers have when considering Kobo Plus.

Kindle eReaders such as the:

• Kindle Paperwhite
• Kindle Scribe
• Kindle Colorsoft
• standard Kindle

cannot install the Kobo Books app.

Kobo Plus subscription books therefore cannot simply be downloaded onto a Kindle eReader.

But that does not mean you need to buy a Kobo device.

You can install the free Kobo Books app on:

• iPhone
• iPad
• Android phone
• Android tablet

Then keep using your Kindle for your existing Amazon books and use the Kobo app for Kobo books.

There is no rule saying you have to choose one reading ecosystem and ceremonially throw the other device into a volcano.

Use both.

If you want a more detailed explanation of your device options, read Do I Need a Kobo to Read Kobo Books?.

Do I Need a Kobo eReader to Use Kobo Plus?

No.

You can start Kobo Plus without buying another device.

The free Kobo Books app lets you read Kobo Plus ebooks on supported phones and tablets.

If you eventually decide you want a Kobo eReader, you can certainly add one.

But you do not need to make that investment just to test the subscription.

That makes Kobo Plus fairly low-risk to try.

Use the free trial.

Search for authors you already enjoy.

Add books.

Read.

Then decide whether the catalog works for you.

Is Kobo Plus Cheaper Than Kindle Unlimited?

At current U.S. regular pricing, yes.

Kobo Plus Read is $7.99/month.

Kindle Unlimited is $11.99/month.

That makes the ebook-only Kobo plan $4 cheaper each month.

Even Kobo Plus Read & Listen, which includes both ebooks and audiobooks, is currently $9.99/month, still below the regular U.S. Kindle Unlimited price.

Of course, both companies can run promotions and subscription pricing can change.

But at the current regular rates, Kobo has the lower monthly price.

Does Kobo Plus Really Have Unlimited Books?

This is one of the differences I particularly like.

Kindle Unlimited lets subscribers borrow up to 20 titles at one time.

When the shelf is full, you have to return a title before borrowing another one.

Kobo takes a different approach.

Kobo tells subscribers they can add as many Kobo Plus titles as they like to their books.

So if you discover an enormous alien romance series and immediately decide every dragon warrior belongs in your library?

Kobo does not make you decide which twenty get through the door.

Add them.

Future You can deal with the consequences.

How Do I Find Kobo Plus Books?

Books included in the subscription are identified on Kobo as available to Read with Kobo Plus or with similar Kobo Plus labeling.

You can search Kobo by:

• author
• title
• series
• genre
• ISBN

When you find an eligible book, add it to your Kobo library.

There is no traditional library-style due date.

You have access while the title remains available through Kobo Plus and your subscription remains active.

If you cancel Kobo Plus, you lose subscription access to books you have not separately purchased.

Does Kobo Plus Have More Books Than Kindle Unlimited?

No.

Kindle Unlimited currently advertises a larger overall digital catalog.

And this is one area where KU can have a major advantage.

Amazon’s KDP Select program is particularly popular with independent authors in romance, fantasy, and science fiction.

When an author puts an ebook into KDP Select, it automatically becomes eligible for Kindle Unlimited.

But there is a catch.

The ebook must remain exclusive to Amazon during the enrollment period.

That means some books available in KU cannot simultaneously be sold as ebooks on Kobo, Barnes & Noble, an author’s own direct store, or other retailers.

So the two services do not simply contain smaller and larger versions of the same library.

They contain different books.

That is why the most important question is not:

Which subscription has the biggest number?

It is:

Which subscription has the books I actually want to read?

Is Kobo Plus Better Than Kindle Unlimited?

For everyone?

No.

If many of your favorite authors publish exclusively through Kindle Unlimited, KU may be the better fit for you.

It has a huge catalog and remains especially strong in indie romance, fantasy, and science fiction.

But Kobo Plus has advantages of its own.

You may prefer Kobo Plus if you want:

• a lower monthly subscription price
• an inexpensive ebook + audiobook subscription
• no 20-title borrowing shelf
• a reading ecosystem outside Amazon
• authors and books you may not be discovering through KU
• the ability to read through a free phone or tablet app
• a service that does not require participating indie authors to make their ebooks exclusive

I would not recommend cancelling a service you already love based on a comparison chart.

Try Kobo Plus first.

Search for your favorite authors.

Browse the genres you actually read.

Load your library with possibilities.

Then compare the experience for yourself.

Why Are Different Indie Authors on Kobo Plus and Kindle Unlimited?

This is one of the biggest differences readers often never see.

Kobo Plus does not require ebook exclusivity from participating authors.

An independent author can make an ebook available through Kobo Plus and still sell that ebook:

• directly from their own website
• through Kobo itself
• through Barnes & Noble
• through other ebook retailers
• through other eligible distribution channels

Amazon’s KDP Select program works differently.

When an ebook is enrolled in KDP Select, the ebook must remain exclusive to the Kindle Store during the 90-day enrollment period, with Amazon’s stated exception for distribution through public libraries.

That exclusivity is one reason Kindle Unlimited developed such a large ecosystem of books readers cannot find in competing ebook stores.

It is also one reason Kobo Plus can appeal to authors who prefer publishing wide rather than placing their digital books exclusively with one retailer.

Readers get more choices.

Authors get more choices.

I am rather fond of that arrangement.

Does Reading Through Kobo Plus Support Authors?

Yes.

Kobo Plus is a subscription program, not a giant pile of books Kobo has quietly decided to give away.

Participating Kobo Writing Life authors are paid based on subscriber reading activity, including minutes read.

So when you are still reading one of my alien romance books at two in the morning because sleep has become less important than finding out whether the enormous winged alien gets the girl...

Yes.

That reading supports the author.

Please continue.

For science.

Can I Read Miranda Martin Books on Kobo Plus?

Yes.

Many of my books are available through Kobo Plus, and I have been expanding my catalog outside Amazon.

Want to try one right now? Alien Warrior’s Captive Bride is currently available with Kobo Plus.

You will find books from multiple Miranda Martin worlds there, including alien romance, sci-fi romance, dragon warriors, fated mates, and more.

If you are new to my books and alien warriors are your particular weakness, you can also explore my Sci-Fi & Alien Romance E-Books to see the different worlds and series I write.

Can I Use Kobo Plus and Kindle Unlimited at the Same Time?

Absolutely.

There is no reader exclusivity contract.

You can subscribe to both if the cost makes sense for you.

You can also:

• keep Kindle Unlimited and buy occasional Kobo books
• use Kobo Plus while continuing to purchase Amazon books
• keep a Kindle eReader and use Kobo on your phone
• use Kobo Plus alongside library borrowing
• buy books directly from authors and read them through other apps

Your reading life does not need corporate borders.

Choose the combination that gives you the books you want at a price that works for you.

Can I Read These Books Free Through My Library?

This is not technically a Kobo Plus feature, but it is another useful option if you are trying to read more without buying every single book.

Public libraries offer enormous ebook collections through services such as Libby and OverDrive.

Some Kobo devices also support integrated OverDrive library borrowing in supported regions.

If you want to add library ebooks to your reading mix, I have a full guide here:

HOW TO BORROW MY BOOKS FREE FROM YOUR LIBRARY →

Subscription reading plus library reading can make a very effective budget-saving combination.

Your TBR may object.

Your wallet probably will not.

What If I Want to Own My Ebooks Instead?

Subscription books are borrowed access.

If you cancel the subscription, you do not keep those books unless you separately purchased them.

Prefer to own your ebooks instead of subscribing? You can also buy my ebooks directly and read them on Kindle, Kobo, phone, tablet, or computer.

I sell my ebooks directly from my store, and they are delivered through BookFunnel.

You do not need an Amazon account, Kobo account, or special eReader to buy from me.

If direct ebooks are new to you, I explain the entire process here:

HOW TO READ EBOOKS YOU BUY DIRECT →

Or you can simply browse my Sci-Fi & Alien Romance E-Books and choose your next world.

Kobo Plus vs Kindle Unlimited: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Kindle Unlimited if:

• most of your favorite authors are KU-exclusive
• you want the larger overall catalog
• you already live happily inside the Kindle ecosystem
• Amazon’s selection matches the genres and authors you read most

Choose Kobo Plus if:

• you want a less expensive ebook subscription
• you want ebooks and audiobooks together for less than KU’s current regular U.S. price
• you dislike KU’s 20-title borrowing limit
• you want to discover authors publishing outside Amazon
• you want an alternative reading ecosystem
• you prefer supporting a subscription model that does not require participating indie authors to be exclusive

Or do the delightfully unreasonable reader thing:

Use whatever combination gives you the most books.

Want to Try Kobo Plus?

You do not need to buy a Kobo eReader first.

You can start with the free Kobo Books app on your phone or tablet and see whether the catalog works for you.

START YOUR KOBO PLUS FREE TRIAL →

Then search Kobo for Miranda Martin and look for the Kobo Plus option beneath the books.

Add anything that catches your eye.

Dragon warriors are encouraged. 🐉

I am working to make my books available in more places because I believe readers should be able to choose where they buy, where they subscribe, and how they read.

Your books should not come with a required retailer.

And neither should your favorite authors.