Kobo Plus Review: The Best Kindle Alternative for Students & Book Lovers in 2025

Let’s be real: if you love reading, you’ve probably felt the frustration of Kindle’s closed ecosystem. Can’t read ePub files. Can’t borrow easily from your local library. Can’t switch devices without losing your books. Sound familiar?

Kobo Plus changes all of that. Backed by Rakuten — one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies — Kobo has quietly built the best open reading ecosystem available today. And for Canadians, it’s not even close.

In this deep-dive Kobo Plus review, we’ll cover everything: how it compares to Kindle, whether the free trial is worth it, which devices are best for students, and why audiobook lovers are making the switch in droves. By the end, you’ll know exactly whether Kobo is right for you.

What is Kobo Plus?

Kobo Plus is Rakuten Kobo’s unlimited digital reading subscription. Think of it like Netflix — but for books and audiobooks. For a flat monthly fee, you get access to an enormous rotating library of over 6 million ebooks and audiobooks, readable on any device.

Unlike Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited, Kobo Plus doesn’t lock you into proprietary hardware. You can read on your Kobo eReader, your iPhone, Android phone, tablet, or right in your web browser. The content travels with you.

Rakuten Kobo was founded in 2009 and acquired by Rakuten in 2012. Today, it’s the second-largest ebook retailer in the world after Amazon, with a particularly strong presence in Canada, where it partners natively with Canadian bookstores. If you value supporting Canadian businesses and the broader reading ecosystem, Kobo is the easy choice.

Kobo vs. Kindle: Which is the Better Kindle Alternative?

This is the question we get asked most. And the answer isn’t as simple as you’d think — because both platforms have genuine strengths. Here’s our honest comparison after months of hands-on testing:

7 Major Benefits of Using Kobo

Still on the fence? Here’s why hundreds of thousands of readers switch to Kobo each year — and why so few go back.

Best Features of Kobo eReaders

Kobo’s hardware has matured significantly. The current lineup — led by the Libra Colour and Elipsa 2E — punches well above its weight class. Here’s what you actually get:

ComfortLight PRO

Kobo’s frontlit display technology includes an adjustable color temperature that shifts from bright white during the day to a warm amber glow at night. Multiple sleep studies have linked blue-light reduction to better sleep quality, and Kobo has baked this science into every display in their lineup. You can set it to change automatically based on sunset time in your location.

Waterproofing (IPX8 Rated)

The mid-range and premium Kobo devices are rated IPX8 waterproof — meaning they can survive submersion in up to 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes. Reading by the pool, in the bath, or on a rainy porch has never been safer.

Carta E-Ink Display

Kobo uses the same E-Ink Carta technology found in premium Kindles. The result is a paper-like display that’s gentle on eyes, readable in direct sunlight, and draws almost zero power — giving you weeks of reading on a single charge.

Full Customization

Font choice, font size, line spacing, margins, brightness — Kobo puts all of this in your hands. You can even sideload custom fonts. For readers with dyslexia, Kobo natively supports OpenDyslexic font, which makes reading significantly easier.

The Kobo Plus Free Trial: Everything You Need to Know

One of the most frequently asked questions we get is: “Is the Kobo Plus free trial actually free?” The short answer is yes — here’s the long version:

What Can You Access During the Trial?

• Full Kobo Plus ebook library (6+ million titles)
• Full audiobook catalog (if on Read & Listen plan)
• Personalized reading recommendations
• Reading stats and goal tracking
• Cross-device sync (app + eReader)

The free trial is genuinely one of the best risk-free ways to decide if digital reading subscriptions are worth it for you. We strongly recommend using it to test the audiobook + ebook combo experience specifically — it’s what convinces most people to stay.

Who Should Use Kobo Plus?

Not every reading subscription is for everyone. Here’s our honest breakdown of who gets the most from Kobo Plus:

Kobo Plus Pricing & Subscription Plans

Kobo Plus offers two core plans. Both offer the same reading experience — the difference is whether you want audiobooks included.

Kobo Plus: Honest Pros & Cons

We don’t believe in puff pieces. Here’s what we genuinely love about Kobo — and where it still needs to improve.

Best Kobo eReader Devices in 2025

Kobo’s current hardware lineup is the strongest it’s ever been. Here’s what’s available and who each device suits best:

Kobo’s Audiobook Features: A Deep Dive

Kobo’s audiobook experience is one of its most underrated features. While Audible charges $14.95 per month for a single credit (one audiobook), Kobo Plus Read & Listen gives you unlimited audiobooks for less. Here’s what makes it special:

Seamless Read-to-Listen Transition

Kobo’s flagship feature is the ability to switch between reading and listening to the same book. Start reading in the morning, switch to listening during your commute, and the app picks up exactly where your eyes left off. This “WhisperSync-style” sync works flawlessly across devices.

Variable Playback Speed

Listen at 0.75x for complex non-fiction or ramp up to 2.5x for novels you’ve already read. Kobo’s playback controls are clean, intuitive, and work with any Bluetooth headphones.

Sleep Timer & Chapter Navigation

Fall asleep to your book without losing your place. The sleep timer pauses playback automatically. Chapter navigation lets you jump around easily — great for reference books and non-fiction.

Why Students Love Kobo: A Closer Look

Students have specific needs that most ebook services overlook. Kobo has quietly become the go-to reading platform for university students across Canada. Here’s why:

Annotation & Highlighting

Kobo eReaders let you highlight passages, add notes, and export your annotations to study from later. The Kobo Elipsa 2E even supports stylus input for freehand notes directly on PDFs — a game-changer for students studying from digital textbooks.

Reading Goals & Productivity

Kobo’s built-in reading goals feature lets you set daily page targets and tracks your average reading speed. Many students use this to maintain consistent reading habits during exam periods, with gentle daily reminders that don’t feel intrusive.

No Distraction Reading

Unlike a phone or laptop, a Kobo eReader does one thing: displays books. No notifications. No Instagram. No rabbit holes. For students who struggle with focus, reading on a dedicated eReader is transformative.

Pinterest-Worthy Reading Setup Ideas with Kobo

Reading is an aesthetic experience — and Kobo fits beautifully into any style of reading setup. Whether you’re building a cozy reading nook or a minimal student desk, here are setup ideas that double as perfect Pinterest content:

The Classic Kobo Reading Desk Setup

Kobo eReaders — particularly the Libra Colour — are a natural fit for the popular “dark academia” and “cozy reading” aesthetics trending on Pinterest. The recommended setup: warm Edison bulb desk lamp, a linen or wool blanket, a ceramic mug, and your Kobo propped on a small wooden stand.

Student Reading Routine Idea

Many students are building reading routines around Kobo’s goal-setting feature. The idea: set a 30-minute daily reading goal in the Kobo app, keep your device on your desk beside your water bottle, and read before opening your laptop each morning. Small habit, significant results over a semester.

Final Verdict: Should You Subscribe to Kobo Plus?

After 90 days of daily use, testing every major feature across three devices, and comparing it directly against Kindle Unlimited, Scribd, and Audible — here’s our definitive take:

Frequently Asked Questions