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Publishing · head to head

Kobo vs Pressbooks

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
Pressbooks logo

Pressbooks

Publishing

Open source book production built on WordPress, and the default tool for open textbooks

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kobo the overall ebook and audiobook catalogue, especially exclusive or first-run titles, is smaller than Amazon can offer through Kindle and Audible.; Pressbooks self-hosting is free in licence terms only; it requires WordPress multisite administration, upgrades and backups, which is a real staff cost most institutions underestimate.
  • They diverge on capability: Kobo covers E-ink devices, Pressbooks covers Single source, three outputs.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kobo and Pressbooks actually diverge.

Attributes where Kobo and Pressbooks differ
AttributeKoboPressbooks
Pricing modelFree store and app; hardware sold separately; optional subscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Kobo e-readersWeb, Self-hosted

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 Kobo

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

Only in Pressbooks

  • Single source, three outputs
  • Cloning and adaptation
  • H5P interactive content
  • LMS integration
  • Open source under the GPL
  • Accessibility tooling

What people use each for

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

Kobo

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

Pressbooks

  • A university library replacing a commercial textbook by adapting an existing open textbook rather than commissioning a new onenot Kobo
  • A course team that wants readings delivered inside Canvas or Moodle with embedded exercises rather than as a static PDFnot Kobo
  • A research institute publishing reports that must exist as a web page, an EPUB and a printable document without maintaining three filesnot Kobo
  • A consortium standardising open textbook production across several institutions with a shared catalogue of adaptable titlesnot Kobo

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Pressbooks

  • Self-hosting is free in licence terms only; it requires WordPress multisite administration, upgrades and backups, which is a real staff cost most institutions underestimate.
  • Professional print PDF output depends on a commercial rendering engine that is licensed separately, so the genuinely free self-hosted route produces web and EPUB output but not press-quality print.
  • Design control is limited to the supplied themes unless someone writes custom CSS, so books tend to look recognisably like Pressbooks books.
  • There is no distribution, no ISBN service and no retail channel, so it produces files and web pages but plays no part in selling anything.
  • The editing experience inherits WordPress conventions, and authors working on long or heavily structured manuscripts find it slower than a dedicated writing application.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Pressbooks

Free
  • PressbooksFree
    • GPL licensed, self-hostable with no software fee
    • WordPress multisite administration is your responsibility
    • Print PDF export depends on a separately licensed rendering engine

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Pressbooks if

  • You need single source, three outputs.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want cloning and adaptation.
Pressbooks review

Questions people ask

Is Kobo or Pressbooks better?
Neither clearly leads. Kobo starts at Free and Pressbooks at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kobo or Pressbooks?
Kobo starts at Free and Pressbooks at Free.
Does Kobo or Pressbooks run on more platforms?
Kobo runs on iOS, Android, Web, Kobo e-readers. Pressbooks runs on Web, Self-hosted.
Can I use Kobo for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kobo best used for?
Kobo is most often used for a reader who wants dedicated e-ink hardware instead of reading on a backlit phone or tablet, someone who borrows heavily from a public library and wants overdrive integration built directly into the device, a reader outside the amazon ecosystem who wants an open epub-based alternative to kindle, someone who wants the option of both buying individual ebooks and an unlimited subscription from one store. Of those, a reader who wants dedicated e-ink hardware instead of reading on a backlit phone or tablet and someone who borrows heavily from a public library and wants overdrive integration built directly into the device are not what Pressbooks is typically brought in for.
What can Kobo do that Pressbooks cannot?
Kobo covers E-ink devices, EPUB support, Built-in Libby integration, Kobo Plus. Pressbooks covers Single source, three outputs, Cloning and adaptation, H5P interactive content, LMS integration.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Pressbooks: Is Pressbooks really free?

The software is GPL licensed and free to self-host. The hosted service is priced, and professional print PDF output requires a commercially licensed renderer, so budget accordingly.

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

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

Pressbooks: Can I sell a book made in Pressbooks?

You can sell the EPUB or the printed book through any distributor, but Pressbooks itself provides no ISBN, no storefront and no distribution.

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.

Pressbooks: Why do universities use it for open textbooks?

Because an openly licensed book can be cloned into another institution network and adapted for a different course, which turns a finished textbook into a starting point rather than a fixed artefact.

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