Should I buy a Kindle or Kobo?

Choosing between a Kindle and a Kobo mostly comes down to where you buy books, whether you borrow from the library, and how open you want the device to be.

Choose an Amazon Kindle if:

• You’re already in Amazon’s ecosystem: If you buy most of your ebooks from Amazon, Kindle is usually the simplest and most seamless choice.
• You want the biggest mainstream store: Amazon’s ebook catalog is very large, especially for self-published books and Kindle Unlimited titles.
• You want the most frictionless Amazon-centered experience: Kindle is strongest when your reading is centered on Amazon services.

Choose a Rakuten Kobo if:

• You borrow from the library often: Kobo is a strong pick if you want easy library-book support, but the exact experience depends on your country and local library setup.
• You want more flexibility with files: Kobo is generally friendlier to sideloading books you already own, including EPUB files.
• You want more variety in hardware: Kobo has several models with physical page-turn buttons and ergonomic options.

Quick take

• Pick Kindle if you mostly buy from Amazon and want the smoothest Kindle-native store experience.
• Pick Kobo if you care more about library borrowing, EPUB sideloading, or a more open ecosystem.

Exact library and store features can vary by country and model, so if those matter to you, it’s worth checking the official Kindle/Kobo and library support pages for your region. If you want, I can also give you a one-line recommendation based on your country and whether you buy or borrow most of your books.