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Publishing · head to head

Affinity Publisher vs Kobo

Affinity Publisher logo

Affinity Publisher

Publishing

Desktop page layout application, free since the Affinity range was relaunched by Canva

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: Affinity Publisher it cannot open native InDesign documents, only IDML exports, so inherited client archives either come across imperfectly or have to be rebuilt from scratch.; 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: Affinity Publisher covers Master pages and text flow, Kobo covers E-ink devices.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Affinity Publisher and Kobo actually diverge.

Attributes where Affinity Publisher and Kobo differ
AttributeAffinity PublisherKobo
Pricing modelFree, no licence feeFree store and app; hardware sold separately; optional subscription
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, iPadOSiOS, Android, Web, Kobo e-readers

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

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 Affinity Publisher

  • Master pages and text flow
  • Prepress output
  • Unified application
  • IDML import
  • Data merge
  • Cross platform files

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.

Affinity Publisher

  • Freelance designers and small studios that cannot justify a monthly page layout subscriptionnot Kobo
  • In-house marketing teams producing brochures, reports and price lists for commercial printnot Kobo
  • Print buyers who need to check and correct supplied artwork without a design suite licencenot Kobo
  • Schools, charities and community publishers where a zero licence cost decides the toolnot Kobo

Kobo

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

Where each one falls short

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

Affinity Publisher

  • It cannot open native InDesign documents, only IDML exports, so inherited client archives either come across imperfectly or have to be rebuilt from scratch.
  • There is no scripting or plugin interface, so studios that automate catalogue or variable data production still need InDesign alongside it.
  • Signing in through a Canva account is now part of using the free application, which is a problem for regulated or offline environments that forbid cloud accounts.
  • The roadmap belongs to Canva, and the 2025 relaunch already reset the licence model that earlier perpetual buyers paid for, so long-term direction is outside your control.
  • Commercial printers and freelance collaborators still expect InDesign packages, so handoff usually means delivering flattened PDFs rather than editable files.

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

Affinity Publisher

Free
  • AffinityFree
    • Free for everyone since the 2025 relaunch
    • Layout, vector and photo tools in one application
    • Requires a Canva account to sign in

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 Affinity Publisher if

  • You need master pages and text flow.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iPadOS.
  • You also want prepress output.
Affinity Publisher 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 Affinity Publisher or Kobo better?
Neither clearly leads. Affinity Publisher 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, Affinity Publisher or Kobo?
Affinity Publisher starts at Free and Kobo at Free.
Does Affinity Publisher or Kobo run on more platforms?
Affinity Publisher runs on macOS, Windows, iPadOS. Kobo runs on iOS, Android, Web, Kobo e-readers.
Can I use Affinity Publisher for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Affinity Publisher best used for?
Affinity Publisher is most often used for freelance designers and small studios that cannot justify a monthly page layout subscription, in-house marketing teams producing brochures, reports and price lists for commercial print, print buyers who need to check and correct supplied artwork without a design suite licence, schools, charities and community publishers where a zero licence cost decides the tool. Of those, freelance designers and small studios that cannot justify a monthly page layout subscription and in-house marketing teams producing brochures, reports and price lists for commercial print are not what Kobo is typically brought in for.
What can Affinity Publisher do that Kobo cannot?
Affinity Publisher covers Master pages and text flow, Prepress output, Unified application, IDML import. Kobo covers E-ink devices, EPUB support, Built-in Libby integration, Kobo Plus.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Affinity Publisher: Is Affinity Publisher really free now?

Yes. Since the 2025 relaunch the unified Affinity application is free. Artificial intelligence features need a paid Canva plan.

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.

Affinity Publisher: Can it open InDesign files?

Only IDML interchange files, and complex layouts lose fidelity. Native INDD files cannot be opened at all.

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

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

Affinity Publisher: What happened to the perpetual licences people bought?

Canva made the relaunched application free to everyone, which superseded the paid version 2 licence model.

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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