Kobo Books vs Ubook

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.

Ubook is a streaming subscription service for audiobooks, ebooks, and other digital content, available on Android, iOS, and the web. Its catalog lists more than 500,000 items, including podcasts, documentaries, series, newspapers, magazines, and music. Subscribers can download audiobooks, ebooks, series, and podcasts for offline access. Playback speed controls and markers for favorite passages support listening; where a title has both formats, users can choose to read or listen. Ubook says activity can synchronize across devices, so a session started on a phone can continue on a computer or tablet. A 30-day trial offers unlimited reading and listening at no charge, after which users can cancel or accept a subscription offer. Premium costs 24.90 BRL a month and includes the Premium catalog and offline mode. Premium+ costs 39.90 BRL a month and adds a partner app subscription and one extra book per month; named partner examples include Deezer, Looke, and NBA. Content visibility can vary by location, marketplace, and plan. Ubook is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.