Kobo Books vs Libby
Kobo Books
kobo.com
Libby
overdrive.comSide by side
| Figure | Kobo Books | Libby |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $7.99/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Spec score · News & Reading Apps | 8.1 (#5) | 7.8 (#7) |
| Spec score · Best Reading & E-book Apps | 8.0 (#6) | 7.7 (#8) |
| Spec score · Audiobook Apps | 8.0 (#12) | 7.7 (#21) |
| Founded | 2009 | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Canada | Cleveland, Ohio, USA |
| Privacy | Kobo says it collects personal information when people use an account, interact with its services, order content, access content, or contact customer care. | OverDrive says it does not sell users’ personally identifiable information or use or disclose it for third-party advertising. |
| Support | Kobo says customers can get Kobo Plus help and troubleshooting through its Help Center. | Users can contact technical support from within the app through Menu > Help & Support. |
Plans
In their own words
Kobo Books
Kobo Books is a digital platform for buying and listening to audiobooks, with apps for iOS and Android and playback on select Kobo eReaders with Bluetooth. The mobile app lets listeners pause, fast-forward, rewind, and resume playback. Downloaded audiobooks can be played on a smartphone or tablet without an internet connection, and Bluetooth headphones or speakers can be used with the app. Kobo Plus Listen costs $7.99 a month after a 14-day free trial, plus applicable taxes. Kobo Plus Read & Listen costs $9.99 a month after the trial, plus applicable taxes. These subscriptions include audiobooks, or eBooks and audiobooks in the latter plan, but neither includes every title. Subscription credits also apply only to eligible audiobooks. Audiobooks cannot be played in the Kobo Desktop app or on a laptop or desktop computer. On iOS, audiobook purchases must be made through Kobo.com because the app does not support in-app purchases. Kobo Plus members can open up to 15 books offline in an eReader or app during a 30-day period before reconnecting and syncing. Kobo is based in Toronto and was founded in December 2009.