iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Switching from Kindle to Kobo can make sense if Kobo’s device features and library-borrowing options better fit how you read. But a new eReader does not automatically bring your Kindle Store library with it: Amazon says DRM-protected books remain limited to Kindle apps and devices, while only qualifying DRM-free purchases may be downloaded as EPUB or PDF.
The right choice depends on your preferred screen and controls, how you use notes, whether your local library supports Kobo borrowing, and what formats your existing books use. Kobo Clara BW and Kobo Libra Colour are current supported models, but the title alone does not establish which device the author switched to.
What changes when you move from Kindle to Kobo?
The biggest change is not simply the eReader hardware. You are also changing stores, library options, and the way your existing book collection works across devices. Kobo’s current lineup includes models such as Clara BW and Libra Colour, but features differ by model and market. Check Kobo’s current eReader catalog for the device available where you live.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Before deciding, compare the particular Kindle and Kobo models rather than treating either brand as a single experience. Screen type and size, physical buttons, and annotation features can vary across devices.
#1 Best Overall
- 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥 - Read in colour with a 6” E Ink Kaleido 3 display to enjoy eBook covers, comics, graphic novels, illustrations, and more.
- 𝗡𝗢 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 - With multiple colours available at the touch of a finger, you can highlight your eBooks. Add, erase, or change colours as you go, and easily see all your highlights by chapter at a glance
- 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 – ComfortLight PRO automatically reduces blue light throughout the day, and you can personalize your reading settings via font size, line spacing, or even Dark Mode
- 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 – Full waterproof protection and meets requirements of IPX8 rating – waterproof for up to 60 minutes in up to 2 metres of water
- 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 - Made with recycled and ocean-bound plastic and repairability to waterproof protection
Which Kobo features might matter to you?
Black-and-white or color screen
A monochrome screen may be all you need for novels and other text-heavy reading. If you want color library views or colored highlights, Kobo documents those features on compatible color-screen eReaders. It also supports adding notes on compatible devices; check the exact model’s capabilities in Kobo’s color-screen guidance rather than assuming every Kobo offers the same tools.
Kobo Clara BW and Kobo Libra Colour are examples of supported models, not a recommendation that one will suit every reader. Use Kobo’s supported-model list to confirm device support, then compare the current catalog for features in your market.
Rank #2
- 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥 - Read in colour with a 6” E Ink Kaleido 3 display to enjoy eBook covers, comics, graphic novels, illustrations, and more.
- 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥 - With multiple colours available at the touch of a finger, you can highlight your eBooks. Add, erase, or change colours as you go, and easily see all your highlights by chapter at a glance.
- 𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗬 𝗢𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗘𝗬𝗘𝗦 - ComfortLight PRO automatically reduces blue light and personalize your reading settings via font size, line spacing, or even Dark Mode
- 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗙 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 - Full waterproof protection and meets the requirements of IPX8 rating – waterproof for up to 60 minutes in up to 2 metres of water.
- 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗕𝗬 𝗗𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡 - Made with recycled and ocean-bound plastic and repairability to waterproof protection.
Library borrowing
Borrowing may be a meaningful advantage if your library and the books you want are compatible. OverDrive says newer Kobo eReaders with built-in OverDrive can borrow and download eligible ebooks directly on the device. For other compatible eReaders, its guidance describes transferring library ebooks with Adobe Digital Editions on a Windows or Mac computer. Check OverDrive’s eReader setup guidance and your local library’s catalog; availability depends on both the library and the title.
Notes, highlighting, and controls
If you annotate often, confirm that the specific Kobo model supports the kind of notes and highlighting you want. Kobo’s documentation describes color highlighting and notes on compatible color-screen devices, not across every model. Likewise, check the model’s screen size and controls against your own reading habits instead of assuming a feature is standard throughout the range.
Rank #3
- BROWSE & READ EBOOKS IN FULL COLOR - Book covers, comics, graphic novels, illustrations, note-taking and more come to life. No glare in sunlight, no notifications - just you and your eBooks in full-color
- YOUR JOURNAL, DAILY PLANNER AND MORE - Dive into your stories with colorful markups. With Kobo Stylus 2* compatibility (*sold separately), annotate, highlight, and note take your eBooks in color
- READ COMFORTABLY, ALWAYS - Ergonomically designed with page-turn buttons, left/right screen rotation, full font size and margin customization, and landscape mode
- IPX8 WATERPROOF EREADER - Full waterproof protection and meets requirements of IPX8 rating - waterproof for up to 60 minutes in up to 2 meters of water
- BETTER BY DESIGN - Thoughtfully made with recycled and ocean-bound plastic and repairability to waterproof protection
Can you transfer Kindle books to Kobo?
Do not assume that changing eReaders transfers your Kindle purchases. Amazon says DRM-protected books are limited to Kindle apps and devices. Starting January 20, 2026, verified purchasers can download EPUB or PDF files for qualifying DRM-free titles. Kindle Unlimited and other borrowed books are excluded, and for DRM-free KDP titles published before December 9, 2025, the publisher must have enabled the download option. See Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing DRM guidance for the conditions.
In practical terms, review the format and DRM status of the books you already own before choosing a new device. Some eligible DRM-free Kindle purchases may be downloadable as EPUB or PDF, but DRM-protected and borrowed titles remain tied to Kindle access under Amazon’s stated rules. Do not treat a hardware switch as a way to export your entire Kindle library.
Rank #4
- 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗨𝗣. 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗪𝗡. 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗕𝗜𝗚. – Made for big thinkers and bundled with Kobo Stylus 2, the new upgraded Kobo Elipsa 2E is designed to help you focus and organize your thoughts. With an exterior made of recycled plastic and ocean-bound plastic, the eco-conscious Kobo Elipsa 2E eReader is designed to capture all your big thinking. An excellent choice for anyone who loves to read and wants a lightweight eBook reader that’s easy to use and take with them on the go!
- 𝗚𝗟𝗔𝗥𝗘-𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗘 𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗡𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗬 – Kobo Elipsa 2E has a 10.3” high-resolution E Ink Carta 1200 touchscreen with ComfortLight PRO providing a glare-free reading experience including adjustable brightness and colour temperature – so you can reduce blue light and write without your eReader keeping you awake longer than you’d like
- 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 & 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗨𝗣 𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 & 𝗗𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 – Write directly on your eBooks and PDFs with Kobo Elipsa 2E’s improved note-taking experience with the included ergonomically redesigned and rechargeable Kobo Stylus 2. As ideas come to mind, you can easily make highlights, underline, or write in the margins with your eReader with stylus compatibility. With Kobo’s patented markup technology, you’ll always see your annotations, even if you change your font size. Stay in the moment, without any ads or distractions
- 𝟯𝟮𝗚𝗕 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘, 𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗢 𝟮𝟰,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦 – With 32GB of storage, carry your entire library and all your notes wherever you go. You can store up to 24,000 eBooks or connect to Wi-Fi and access millions of eBooks and audiobooks through the Kobo Store. With up to several weeks of battery life* on a single charge, you can focus on your reading instead of being tethered to a power outlet *dependent on individual usage.
- 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣, 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 – At Kobo, we embody everything you love about your favourite local bookshop, perfected for your modern life. Our mission is to bring the power of reading to your world – because we’re booklovers, just like you. Why do we do it? Because we believe stories shape who we are, and words can enhance and transform the world around us.
How to decide whether Kobo is a better fit
Start with your own priorities, not a claim that one brand is universally better. Use this checklist to make the comparison concrete:
- Screen: Decide whether monochrome is sufficient or whether you will use color features available on compatible Kobo models.
- Reading controls: Compare the screen size and physical controls on the exact devices you are considering.
- Annotations: Check model-specific support for highlighting and notes if you mark up books.
- Library: Confirm that your library offers the titles you want and supports direct OverDrive borrowing on your device, or determine whether a computer transfer is required.
- Existing collection: Check whether your Kindle books are DRM-free and eligible for download, or remain accessible only through Kindle apps and devices.
- Store and transfers: Consider how you buy books and move files. Kobo describes USB or cloud transfer on select models; check the official catalog for the specific device and local availability.
If library borrowing, a particular Kobo screen, or its model-specific features solve a problem you have with your current setup, switching may be worthwhile. If most of your collection is DRM-protected Kindle content and you rely on it, factor in that those books will not simply migrate with the hardware.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
