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Libraries · head to head

Hoopla vs Kobo

Hoopla logo

Hoopla

Libraries

Free library streaming app with instant borrowing, capped by a monthly checkout limit set by your library

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kobo logo

Kobo

Publishing

Rakuten e-reader hardware, app and ebook store, the reader-facing side of the Kobo ecosystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Hoopla the monthly borrow limit is a hard cap, so a heavy user runs out of checkouts partway through the month and simply cannot borrow more, unlike a queue they can wait out.; Kobo the overall ebook and audiobook catalogue, especially exclusive or first-run titles, is smaller than Amazon can offer through Kindle and Audible.
  • They diverge on capability: Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, Kobo covers E-ink devices.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hoopla and Kobo actually diverge.

Attributes where Hoopla and Kobo differ
AttributeHooplaKobo
Pricing modelFree with a participating library card, capped by monthly borrow limitFree store and app; hardware sold separately; optional subscription
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TViOS, Android, Web, Kobo e-readers
CategoryLibrariesPublishing

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Hoopla

  • Instant borrowing
  • Video and music
  • Monthly borrow cap
  • Comics and graphic novels
  • Kids mode
  • Offline downloads

Only in Kobo

  • E-ink devices
  • EPUB support
  • Built-in Libby integration
  • Kobo Plus
  • Kobo Store
  • Note-taking models

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Hoopla

  • A patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queuenot Kobo
  • A family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card appnot Kobo
  • A light-to-moderate reader whose habits fit comfortably inside a monthly borrow capnot Kobo
  • Someone using a Roku or Fire TV who wants library video content on the living room screennot Kobo

Kobo

  • A reader who wants dedicated e-ink hardware instead of reading on a backlit phone or tabletnot Hoopla
  • Someone who borrows heavily from a public library and wants OverDrive integration built directly into the devicenot Hoopla
  • A reader outside the Amazon ecosystem who wants an open EPUB-based alternative to Kindlenot Hoopla
  • Someone who wants the option of both buying individual ebooks and an unlimited subscription from one storenot Hoopla

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Hoopla

  • The monthly borrow limit is a hard cap, so a heavy user runs out of checkouts partway through the month and simply cannot borrow more, unlike a queue they can wait out.
  • Borrow limits and even Hoopla availability itself vary by library and can be reduced if a library needs to control its licensing costs, sometimes with little notice to patrons.
  • Because libraries pay per checkout, a library under budget pressure may cut its Hoopla limit or drop the service entirely, which is a risk outside the app.
  • The video and music catalogue is decent but noticeably smaller than Netflix or Spotify, so it is a supplement, not a replacement, for those services.
  • Audio and video quality and metadata are sometimes inconsistent, particularly for older or niche titles licensed from smaller distributors.

Kobo

  • The overall ebook and audiobook catalogue, especially exclusive or first-run titles, is smaller than Amazon can offer through Kindle and Audible.
  • Kobo Plus, the unlimited subscription layer, is not available in every country the hardware and store otherwise serve.
  • Hardware pricing for higher-end note-taking models runs into the several-hundred-dollar range, which is a real commitment against reading on a phone for free.
  • Software updates and app polish have historically lagged the Kindle app in some regions, particularly around syncing and highlighting features.
  • This is a distinct product from Kobo Writing Life, and readers looking for author or publishing tools need that separate platform, not this one.

Pricing, plan by plan

Hoopla

Free
  • HooplaFree
    • Free with an eligible library card
    • Monthly borrow limit set by your library, commonly 5 to 15 items
    • No holds queues, instant availability

Kobo

Free
  • Kobo app and storeFree
    • Free app and store, pay per ebook or audiobook
    • Hardware sold separately, from around $110 for entry e-readers
    • Full library of individual purchases
  • Kobo Plus$9.99/month
    • Unlimited access to a Kobo Plus catalogue
    • Available in supported countries only
    • Layered on top of the regular store

Which should you pick?

Choose Hoopla if

  • You need instant borrowing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV.
  • You also want video and music.
Hoopla review

Choose Kobo if

  • You need e-ink devices.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, Kobo e-readers.
  • You also want epub support.
Kobo review

Questions people ask

Is Hoopla or Kobo better?
Neither clearly leads. Hoopla starts at Free and Kobo at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Hoopla or Kobo?
Hoopla starts at Free and Kobo at Free.
Does Hoopla or Kobo run on more platforms?
Hoopla runs on iOS, Android, Web, Roku, Amazon Fire TV. Kobo runs on iOS, Android, Web, Kobo e-readers.
Can I use Hoopla for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hoopla best used for?
Hoopla is most often used for a patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queue, a family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card app, a light-to-moderate reader whose habits fit comfortably inside a monthly borrow cap, someone using a roku or fire tv who wants library video content on the living room screen. Of those, a patron who wants to watch a specific movie or listen to an album tonight without waiting in a queue and a family wanting streaming video and music alongside books in one library-card app are not what Kobo is typically brought in for.
What can Hoopla do that Kobo cannot?
Hoopla covers Instant borrowing, Video and music, Monthly borrow cap, Comics and graphic novels. Kobo covers E-ink devices, EPUB support, Built-in Libby integration, Kobo Plus.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Hoopla: Does Hoopla have holds queues like Libby?

No, everything is available instantly, but your library sets a monthly limit on how many items you can borrow.

Kobo: Is this the same as Kobo Writing Life?

No, Kobo Writing Life is the separate self-publishing platform for authors; this entry is the consumer reading app, store and hardware.

Hoopla: What happens when I hit my monthly limit?

You cannot borrow anything further until the limit resets, usually on the first of the next month.

Kobo: Can I borrow library books on a Kobo device?

Yes, many Kobo devices have built-in OverDrive/Libby integration for direct library borrowing.

Hoopla: Does Hoopla include movies and music, not just books?

Yes, that is one of its main differences from Libby, which only offers ebooks, audiobooks and magazines.

Kobo: Do I need a subscription to use Kobo?

No, you can buy ebooks and audiobooks individually; Kobo Plus is an optional unlimited add-on where available.

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