What is Kobo Plus, and is it worth it?
By the Best Reading Apps editors · Published 30 October 2026 · Checked 30 October 2026 · Desk research
Kobo Plus is Rakuten Kobo's reading subscription. In the US there are three plans: Kobo Plus Read for ebooks at $7.99 a month, Kobo Plus Listen for audiobooks at $7.99 a month, and Kobo Plus Read & Listen for both at $9.99 a month, each with a 14-day free trial. It works on Kobo eReaders, in the Kobo Books app and in the Kobo Web Reader. It is worth it if you own a Kobo eReader and read a few books a month from its catalog.
Kobo Plus plans and prices
| Plan | What it covers | Price a month |
|---|---|---|
| Kobo Plus Read | Ebooks from the Kobo Plus catalog | $7.99 |
| Kobo Plus Listen | Audiobooks from the Kobo Plus catalog | $7.99 |
| Kobo Plus Read & Listen | Ebooks and audiobooks | $9.99 |
Where can you use Kobo Plus?
Kobo says Kobo Plus works across your devices with your reading progress synced: on Kobo eReaders, in the Kobo Books app for iPhone, iPad and Android, and in the Kobo Web Reader in any browser. The app adds fonts, Night Mode, a sleep timer for audio, CarPlay and text-to-speech Read Aloud on select ebooks.
Kobo Plus vs Kindle+
Both are borrowing subscriptions tied to one company's store. Kindle+ costs $11.99 a month plus tax in the US and covers ebooks with thousands of audiobooks and companion narration. Kobo Plus is cheaper, starting at $7.99, and lets you pick ebooks only, audiobooks only, or both for $9.99.
The real deciding factor is your e-reader. Kindle+ belongs on a Kindle, Kobo Plus on a Kobo. For a full comparison of reading subscriptions, see Everand vs Kindle+ and our reading app price index.
Does Kobo Plus track your reading?
Kobo now syncs your Currently Reading progress to The StoryGraph if you connect the two accounts. Kobo's help page says progress is shared as a percentage and StoryGraph converts it to pages or minutes; highlights, notes and back-syncing are not supported yet. See our note on the Kobo and StoryGraph sync and the best reading tracker app.
Is Kobo Plus worth it?
- Yes, if you own a Kobo eReader, read at least two books a month, and are happy reading from a catalog rather than choosing any new release.
- Maybe, if you mostly listen: Kobo Plus Listen at $7.99 is cheaper than most audiobook memberships, but check that the audiobooks you want are in its catalog during the free trial.
- No, if you read one or two specific new releases a month. Buying them, or borrowing from Libby for free, may cost less.
How do you get the most from the Kobo Plus free trial?
- Check the catalog first. Before you start the 14-day trial, look up three books you actually want and confirm they are in Kobo Plus.
- Pick the right plan. Choose Read & Listen only if you will switch between formats; otherwise Read or Listen alone costs $2 a month less.
- Set a reminder. Put a note in your calendar a day or two before the trial ends, so you decide on purpose.
- Read across devices. Progress syncs between your Kobo eReader, the app and the web reader, so a trial week of commuting on your phone still counts.
Questions
- How much is Kobo Plus in the US?
- Kobo Plus Read and Kobo Plus Listen are $7.99 a month each, and Kobo Plus Read & Listen is $9.99 a month, after a 14-day free trial.
- Can I use Kobo Plus without a Kobo eReader?
- Yes. Kobo says it works in the Kobo Books app and the Kobo Web Reader as well as on Kobo eReaders.
- Does Kobo Plus include audiobooks?
- With Kobo Plus Listen or Kobo Plus Read & Listen, yes. Kobo Plus Read covers ebooks only.
- Is Kobo Plus cheaper than Kindle+?
- Yes, on list price: Kobo Plus starts at $7.99 a month and Kindle+ is $11.99 a month plus tax in the US.
- What devices does Kobo Plus work on?
- Kobo eReaders, the Kobo Books app on iPhone, iPad and Android, and the Kobo Web Reader in a browser, with your progress synced across them.
Sources
- Rakuten Kobo, Kobo Plus eBook & Audiobook Subscription (US), read 2 November 2026.
- Apple App Store (US), Kobo Books & Audiobooks, read 2 November 2026.
- Amazon News, Kindle Unlimited is now Kindle+: Everything you need to know (updated 22 October 2026), read 2 November 2026.
- Kobo Help, Sync Your Kobo Reading Progress with StoryGraph, read 30 October 2026.