Kobo is the most important non-Amazon retailer for wide distribution authors. It dominates the Canadian market and holds significant share across European markets where Amazon is weaker — ignoring Kobo means leaving real revenue on the table.
30%
Kobo royalty rate (below $2.99)
#1 retailer
in Canada
Free to publish
no setup cost
Kobo is the #1 ebook retailer in Canada — wide authors in Canada see significantly better Kobo results than US-focused strategies assume.
Kobo has strong market share in the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and NZ — markets where Amazon is weaker.
Subscription reading program (similar to KU) — books in Kobo Plus earn per-read income from subscribers without requiring exclusivity.
Authors can apply for Kobo's promotional programs — featured placement, discount deals, genre promotions.
Kobo's relationship with OverDrive gives wide authors library reach that KDP Select can't access.
Unlike KDP Select, Kobo has no exclusivity requirement — you can be on all platforms simultaneously.
| Factor | Kobo Writing Life | Amazon KDP |
|---|---|---|
| Market dominance | Canada, parts of Europe | US, UK, global |
| Royalty rate | 70% (>$2.99) or 45% (<$2.99) | 70% (within price range) or 35% |
| Subscription program | Kobo Plus | Kindle Unlimited (exclusive only) |
| Exclusivity | None required | KDP Select = exclusive |
| Promotions | Kobo promos (apply separately) | Kindle Countdown, KDP Free Days |
| Library reach | Strong via OverDrive | Limited without Ingram |
Wide distribution authors need review momentum on launch day just like KDP authors. ARC programs that get your book reviewed before it goes wide protect your ranking across all platforms.
Kobo Writing Life is the self-publishing platform operated by Rakuten Kobo. It allows independent authors to publish and sell ebooks directly through Kobo's global retail network, including Kobo's own store and partner retailers. It's free to use with no setup fees.
Kobo Writing Life pays 70% royalties on books priced at $2.99 or above, and 45% on books priced below $2.99. There are no delivery fees or other deductions — the royalty percentage is applied directly to the list price.
Kobo accepts EPUB and MOBI files, with EPUB being preferred. Your EPUB should be well-structured with a proper table of contents, clean metadata, and embedded fonts if needed. Tools like Vellum, Atticus, or Calibre can produce Kobo-compatible EPUB files. Kobo also accepts Word .docx files, which it converts to EPUB automatically — though direct EPUB upload gives you more control over formatting.
Kobo Plus is Kobo's subscription reading program, similar in concept to Kindle Unlimited. Subscribers pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to participating titles. The critical difference: Kobo Plus does NOT require exclusivity. You can enroll your book in Kobo Plus while simultaneously selling on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and everywhere else. Kindle Unlimited requires 90-day exclusivity to Amazon.
Kobo Promotions are applied for through the Kobo Writing Life dashboard. Once your book is live, you can submit it for consideration for featured placements, genre spotlights, and discount deals. Kobo's editorial team reviews submissions. Having strong reviews and a well-designed cover improves your chances of being selected.
Kobo is particularly valuable for authors with readers in Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand — markets where Kobo has strong or dominant market share. For authors based in or targeting these markets, Kobo is often the second most important platform after Amazon, sometimes the first. Wide distribution strategies that skip Kobo leave significant revenue on the table in these regions.
