Skip to main content

Ebook company Kobo set to go head-to-head with Audible in the audiobooks market

Kobo Aura One ebook reader
Image used with permission by copyright holder
You can finally look beyond Audible if you’re in the market for an audiobook. This week, Canadian company Rakuten Kobo, known for its ebook readers and library, expanded its offerings by diving into the audiobooks marketplace. So if turning physical pages is too much for your fingers and reading epaper screens is too much for your eyes, rest assured that you can still consume literature thanks to this new service.

Subscriptions to the new service start at $10 a month, or more casual readers (or listeners) have the choice of buying titles a la carte. Promising books across a wide range of genres, including bestsellers like Into the Water by Paula Hawkins, Truly Madly Guilty by Lianne Moriarty, and the Harry Potter series; Kobo notes that its expansive library could make a bibliophile out of just about anyone.

“We have more books than time, always. Audiobooks let our readers fit the books they love into more parts of their day,” Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn said. “Audio lets you be in two places at once — exploring the galaxy on the daily commute, solving a crime while doing the laundry, or wherever you want your favorite story to take you.”

Tamblyn continued: “Last year, we built the Kobo Aura ONE eReader with the help of our best customers, and our new offering is no different. What we unequivocally heard was that they wanted the best deal on audiobooks, and we are pleased to offer the lowest subscription price available.”

Both audiobooks and ebooks from Kobo can be accessed via the Android or iOS app in an intuitively designed player. You can easily swipe through an audiobook and keep tabs on exactly where you are in a narrative. Plus, Kobo promises that you can see how much time is left in a book at a glance, and also select your narration speed. If you tend to use audiobooks as lullabies, you can even set books to turn off after a set amount of time so you’re lulled to sleep by a reader, but won’t snore through major plot points.

Like other services, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Kobo audiobooks, and also download your first audiobook for free.

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Buy a Kindle today and get three free months of Kindle Unlimited
Amazon Kindle (2022) Dark Mode

One of the better Kindle deals at the moment doesn't actually discount the Amazon Kindle, but it does give you three months of Kindle Unlimited entirely for free. Head to the Amazon site now and you can buy the Amazon Kindle for $100 and you'll also get three months of Kindle Unlimited entirely for free. Just remember to cancel the subscription before the three months are up to avoid paying fees. If you're still a little uncertain about buying a Kindle, keep reading while we explain why they're so worthwhile. Avid readers are sure to be impressed.

Why you should buy the Amazon Kindle
One of the best Kindles for anyone seeking the budget option, the Amazon Kindle provides a simple yet delightful reading experience. It's the lightest and most compact Kindle yet while offering a 300 psi high-resolution display so you get sharp text and images as you read. The display is glare-free and paper-like so there's no added strain for your eyes. There's an adjustable front light along with a dark mode to help make reading effortless, regardless of the lighting around you.

Read more
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: best $1,200 phone?
Renders of the iPhone 15 Pro Max next to the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best smartphones of 2023. It’s one of our favorite phones to carry because of the versatile camera system, good battery life, and excellent display.

But there’s a new challenger in town – the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The new Apple iPhone brings better optical zoom capabilities to challenge the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’s also got a design update with build materials that are solid for long-term use. Here’s how the iPhone 15 Pro Max compares to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, based on everything we know so far.
iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Galaxy S23 Ultra: specs

Read more
The Galaxy Tab A7 is down to just $110 because of this deal
alaxy Tab A7 Lite

Go straight to the source and Samsung has one of the best tablet deals for anyone looking for a great bargain. Through Samsung's own website, you can buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite tablet for just $110 so you're saving $50 off the regular price of $160. Ideally suited for someone who wants a simple tablet for web browsing or other basic purposes, we're here to break down more about what you need to know before you hit the buy button.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
One of the big names in the best Android tablets world, Samsung knows how to develop reliable tablets. The Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is designed with entertainment in mind. Its 8.7-inch display is great for streaming all your favorite shows via the many streaming apps around. It has a slim design yet a sturdy metal frame so you can easily pass it to your child before undertaking a long journey. Alternatively, it's a good bet for browsing the internet from the couch or listening to music thanks to its Dolby Atmos support.

Read more