Kindle vs Kobo
Amazon Kindle
Amazon's 2026 Kindle, Paperwhite, and Colorsoft readers, plus Kindle Scribe.
Best for books you buy from Amazon
Choose a Kindle if you want Amazon's bookstore on a dedicated reader. The 6-inch Kindle starts at $149.99 with 16GB and up to 6 weeks of battery, and Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof with up to 12 weeks, from $199.99. Eligible US public-library Kindle books come through OverDrive. Choose a Kobo if you want EPUB on the device and built-in Libby browsing and borrowing. Kobo Clara BW is $159.99 and Kobo Libra Colour is $259.99. There is no winner.
Deciding factor: Kindle for Amazon's store, including a $149.99 6-inch reader, a waterproof Paperwhite, and US public-library books through OverDrive. Kobo for EPUB on the device and built-in Libby.
Key fact: Kindle from $149.99 with up to 6 weeks, Paperwhite up to 12 weeks, Kobo Clara BW $159.99, Libra Colour $259.99.
Best fit for Amazon's bookstore: Kindle. The 6-inch model starts at $149.99. Paperwhite is waterproof and has up to 12 weeks of battery, from $199.99. Eligible US public-library Kindle books come through OverDrive. Best fit for EPUB on the device and built-in Libby: Kobo. Clara BW is $159.99. Libra Colour adds a 7-inch color screen and page-turn buttons at $259.99. Libby browsing and borrowing is built in on Libra Colour, Clara Colour, Clara BW, Elipsa 2E, and Sage in the listed countries. There is no single winner.
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Key Differences at a Glance
- Bookstore:Kindle store on the device vs Kobo Store on the device
- EPUB:Send to Kindle accepts EPUB vs EPUB on the eReader
- Library loans:US OverDrive loans. Checkout is on the library website vs Built-in Libby browsing and borrowing on listed models and countries
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Key Facts & Figures
1 numeric metric compared
| Metric | Amazon Kindle | Rakuten Kobo | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest new price | 6-inch Kindle from $149.99 | Clara BW $159.99. Refurbished from $79.99 |
Sourced from publicly available data ·
Key Differences
5 attributes compared head-to-head
- Kindle store on the deviceBookstoreKobo Store on the device
- Send to Kindle accepts EPUBEPUBEPUB on the eReader
- US OverDrive loans. Checkout is on the library websiteLibrary loansBuilt-in Libby browsing and borrowing on listed models and countries
- 6-inch Kindle from $149.99Lowest new priceClara BW $159.99. Refurbished from $79.99
- Colorsoft from $289.99Color readerClara Colour $179.99, Libra Colour $259.99
- Bookstore
Amazon Kindle
Kindle store on the device
Rakuten Kobo
Kobo Store on the device
- EPUB
Amazon Kindle
Send to Kindle accepts EPUB
Rakuten Kobo
EPUB on the eReader
- Library loans
Amazon Kindle
US OverDrive loans. Checkout is on the library website
Rakuten Kobo
Built-in Libby browsing and borrowing on listed models and countries
- Lowest new price
Amazon Kindle
6-inch Kindle from $149.99
Rakuten Kobo
Clara BW $159.99. Refurbished from $79.99
- Color reader
Amazon Kindle
Colorsoft from $289.99
Rakuten Kobo
Clara Colour $179.99, Libra Colour $259.99
Full Comparison
| Attribute |  Amazon Kindle | Rakuten Kobo |
|---|---|---|
| EPUB | Send to Kindle accepts EPUBTie | EPUB on the eReaderTie |
| Lowest new price | 6-inch Kindle from $149.99Tie | Clara BW $159.99. Refurbished from $79.99Tie |
| Mid black-and-white | Paperwhite from $199.99, waterproof, up to 12 weeks | Clara BW $159.99, 6-inch Carta 1300, waterproof |
| Color model | Colorsoft from $289.99, 16GB. Signature Edition $319.99, 32GB | Clara Colour $179.99, 6-inch Kaleido 3. Libra Colour $259.99, 7-inch Kaleido 3 |
| Handwriting | Kindle Scribe: 11-inch, 5.4 mm, 400 g, pen included | Libra Colour and Sage take a Kobo Stylus. Elipsa 2E includes Stylus 2, 10.3-inch, $399.99 |
| Public library | Eligible US public-library books through OverDrive. Checkout is on the library website | Built-in Libby browsing and borrowing on listed models, in listed countries |
| Waterproof | Paperwhite is waterproof. Colorsoft is Waterproof (IPX8) | Libra Colour, Clara Colour, Clara BW, and Sage |
Show 1 more attributeBattery 6-inch Kindle up to 6 weeks. Paperwhite up to 12 weeks Kobo rates battery life in weeks | ||
Amazon KindleShow 1 more attribute
Pros & Cons
8 pros·5 cons across both
Amazon Kindle
Pros
Cons
Rakuten Kobo
Pros
Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
6 questions
Send to Kindle accepts HTML, RTF, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PDF, and EPUB. Web uploads are 200 MB or smaller, and the service is at no additional cost. A Kobo eReader supports EPUB, EPUB2, and EPUB3 on the device, plus PDF, FlePub, and MOBI.
Eligible Kindle books can be borrowed from US public libraries through OverDrive. You need a library card and a PIN, you check the book out on the library website, and you send it to the Kindle. Libby by OverDrive on a Kobo eReader can browse, borrow, and place holds with a library card and Wi-Fi. That built-in feature covers Kobo Libra Colour, Clara Colour, Clara BW, Elipsa 2E, and Sage, among other models, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries. Libby may not be available at your library. Audiobooks borrowed through Libby cannot be played on Kobo eReaders.
Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof and has an adjustable warm light. Amazon lists Kindle Colorsoft as Waterproof (IPX8). Libra Colour, Clara Colour, Clara BW, and Sage are waterproof. Elipsa 2E is not waterproof.
Kindle Colorsoft is paper-like color, from $289.99 with 16GB, and a Signature Edition at $319.99 with 32GB. Kobo Clara Colour is a 6-inch color E Ink Kaleido 3 and Kobo Libra Colour is a 7-inch color E Ink Kaleido 3. Clara Colour is $179.99 and Libra Colour is $259.99.
New Kindle models: 6-inch Kindle 16GB from $149.99, aluminum 32GB at $189.99, Paperwhite 16GB from $199.99, Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB at $249.99, Colorsoft 16GB from $289.99, Colorsoft Signature Edition 32GB at $319.99, and Kids versions starting at $179.99. Kindle Scribe is an 11-inch model. New Kobo models: Clara BW $159.99, Clara Colour $179.99, Libra Colour $259.99, Sage $269.99, Elipsa 2E $399.99. Certified refurbished Kobo readers are $79.99, $109.99, $159.99, and $279.99.
Kindle Scribe is the notebook Kindle: 5.4 mm and 400 g, with an 11-inch glare-free display, a pen that does not need charging, and Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive import. Libra Colour and Sage work with a Kobo Stylus, and Elipsa 2E includes Kobo Stylus 2. Elipsa 2E is $399.99 with a 10.3-inch screen. Clara Colour and Clara BW are not stylus eReaders.
Analysis: Amazon Kindle vs Rakuten Kobo
Choose a Kindle if the books you buy are in Amazon's Kindle store and you want a dedicated reader for them. Eligible US public-library Kindle books come through OverDrive, with checkout on the library website. Choose a Kobo if you want EPUB on the device and built-in Libby browsing and borrowing. There is no winner.
What each lineup is
The 2026 Kindle lineup is a redesigned Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Colorsoft, plus Kids versions. The 6-inch Kindle has 16GB, up to 6 weeks of battery, and starts at $149.99 in Ube and Graphite. An aluminum version has 32GB at $189.99. Kindle Paperwhite is waterproof, has an adjustable warm light, and up to 12 weeks of battery. It starts at $199.99 with 16GB. The Signature Edition is $249.99 with 32GB, an aluminum rear, an auto-adjusting front light, and pogo-pin dock charging. Kindle Colorsoft starts at $289.99 with 16GB. Its Signature Edition is $319.99 with 32GB. The 6-inch Kindle and its aluminum version are available. Paperwhite and Colorsoft are on preorder on a rolling basis.
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Kobo's current US lineup is Libra Colour, Clara Colour, Clara BW, Sage, and Elipsa 2E. Clara Colour and Clara BW are 6-inch. Libra Colour is 7-inch color E Ink Kaleido 3 with page-turn buttons and 32GB, up to 24,000 eBooks or 150 Kobo audiobooks. Clara models have 16GB, up to 12,000 eBooks or 75 Kobo audiobooks. Sage is an 8-inch E Ink Carta 1200 with 32GB. Elipsa 2E is a 10.3-inch E Ink Carta 1200 with 32GB and includes Kobo Stylus 2. New prices are Clara BW $159.99, Clara Colour $179.99, Libra Colour $259.99, Sage $269.99, and Elipsa 2E $399.99. Certified refurbished Kobo readers are $79.99, $109.99, $159.99, and $279.99.
Files
Send to Kindle accepts HTML, RTF, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PDF, and EPUB, and delivers them to the Kindle library. A Kobo eReader supports EPUB, EPUB2, EPUB3, PDF, FlePub, and MOBI, plus CBZ and CBR comics. Sideloaded books do not sync across devices or appear in the Kobo Books app.
Library borrowing
Eligible Kindle books can be borrowed from US public libraries through OverDrive. Checkout is on the library website, then the book is sent to the Kindle. Kobo includes built-in Libby browsing and borrowing on Libra Colour, Clara Colour, Clara BW, Elipsa 2E, and Sage, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and several other countries.
Notes and ads
Kindle Scribe is the writing Kindle: 11 inches, 5.4 mm, 400 g, and a pen that never needs charging. Kobo puts handwriting on Libra Colour, Sage, and Elipsa 2E. Every Kobo eReader is free of ads.
Who should buy which
Buy a Kindle if your library of purchased books is already in Kindle format and you want Amazon's store on the device. Among new models, the 6-inch Kindle at $149.99 is the lowest new Kindle, and Kobo Clara BW at $159.99 is the lowest new Kobo. Refurbished Kobo readers start lower, at $79.99. Paperwhite is waterproof, with up to 12 weeks of battery.
Buy a Kobo if EPUB files on the device and built-in Libby matter more than the Kindle store. Clara BW at $159.99 is the black-and-white 6-inch model. Libra Colour at $259.99 is the 7-inch color model with page-turn buttons. Kobo rates battery life in weeks.
Resources & Learn More
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Where to Buy
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External Resources
Amazon 2026 Kindle lineup (opens in new tab)
6-inch Kindle from $149.99, Paperwhite from $199.99 and waterproof with up to 12 weeks, Colorsoft from $289.99.
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft (opens in new tab)
Kindle Colorsoft is Waterproof (IPX8), tested for immersion in 2 meters of fresh water for 60 minutes.
Amazon Kindle Scribe post (opens in new tab)
11-inch display, 5.4 mm, 400 g, pen included.
Send to Kindle help (opens in new tab)
HTML, RTF, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PDF, and EPUB. Web uploads 200 MB or smaller. No additional cost.
Kindle public library books (opens in new tab)
Eligible Kindle books from US public libraries through OverDrive. Checkout is on the library website, then the book is sent to the Kindle.
Kobo US eReaders (opens in new tab)
Clara 6-inch, Libra Colour 7-inch, Sage 8-inch, Elipsa 2E 10.3-inch. Kobo rates battery life in weeks.
Kobo US eReader store (opens in new tab)
New: Clara BW $159.99, Clara Colour $179.99, Libra Colour $259.99, Sage $269.99, Elipsa 2E $399.99. Certified refurbished: $79.99, $109.99, $159.99, and $279.99. Every Kobo eReader is free of ads.
Kobo file formats (opens in new tab)
EPUB, EPUB2, EPUB3, PDF, FlePub, and MOBI on the eReader.
Kobo library borrowing (opens in new tab)
Built-in Libby browsing and borrowing on listed models, in listed countries.
About the Libby app (opens in new tab)
Audiobooks borrowed through Libby cannot be played on Kobo eReaders.
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