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What kind of reader are you? Do you look for recommendations from friends with good taste before diving into a book to read it cover-to-cover? Are you easily allured when your favourite author releases a new book? Or do you dabble between a few books all at once so you have something to match your mood at any given time?
No matter your reading style, eBooks and eReaders have brought new flexibility for us to have our favourite book in our hands with just a few taps on a screen.
The problem, at least for the more voracious readers, is this hobby can add up. Sure, a great book is worth the price. But slogging through a bad one, just because you already paid for it is no fun.
If you're a bookwork or an audiobook aficionado in Canada, then Kobo Plus should be on your radar. It's like Netflix for books. A subscription service that gives you all you-you-can-read (or listen) access to a massive library.
And while you may not want to add yet another monthly subscription to your credit card, if you love to read, then this may be worth considering. I've been an avid book lover since childhood. A Kobo eReader customer for more than 5 years. And within the last year I have been a Kobo Plus subscriber. Every time I look to trim my monthly spending, I just can't bring myself to pause this subscription. Here's why.
Do You Need A Kobo eReader To Use Kobo Plus?
Let's get this out of the way first. You don't need an eReader to use Kobo Plus.
Kobo makes eReaders. But they also have an app that works on smartphones and tablets, meaning you can access your Kobo library, including your Kobo Plus subscription through the app.
Overall, I gravitate to using my Kobo eReader as my primary device for enjoying eBooks. However, for times that I'm travelling, or if I am just listening to an audiobook, I love the flexibility of being able to dip into my library (and pick up where I left off) right from the app on my phone.
Kobo Plus Memberships: Which is the best one?
Kobo has three different membership tiers depending on how you like to enjoy your books. Let's breakdown each so you can figure out which makes the most sense for your story consumption.
Kobo Plus Read: The Digital Library in Your Pocket
If your idea of a perfect afternoon involves curling up with an eReader and losing track of time, Kobo Plus Read is your go-to. For $9.99 per month, you get unlimited access to over 1.5 million eBooks. There are no limits on how many books you can read in a month, and the library is packed with everything from gripping thrillers and steamy romances to those "how-to" guides where successful people tell you their secrets of how they rose to the top. It's an amazing way to discover indie authors and hidden gems you might have otherwise missed, since you can dabble in a title from an unknown author without the risk of shelling out full price for an eBook.
Kobo Plus Listen: For the On-The-Go Storyteller
Maybe you prefer to "read" while you're commuting, doing the dishes, or hitting the gym. That's where Kobo Plus Listen comes in. Also priced at $9.99 per month, this tier swaps the text for over 150,000 audiobooks. The beauty of this plan is the freedom it gives you. You can listen through your Kobo eReader (if it has Bluetooth support) or simply use the Kobo app on your smartphone. I personally have a massive library of audiobooks that I bought on a different platform over the years, and I wish this was an option when I first started building out my audio library. It's a fantastic value for heavy listeners who usually find themselves burning through multiple credits on other platforms. Because I got the Kobo Plus subscription I was able to cancel my other audiobook subscription and just buy titles on an individual basis if they're not available in the Kobo Plus Listen collection.
Kobo Plus Read & Listen: The Ultimate All-Access Pass
Can't decide between reading and listening? If you like to do a little of both, it's an easy upgrade to go with the Kobo Plus Read & Listen plan. For $12.99 per month, you get the best of both worlds: the full library of 1.5 million+ eBooks and the 150,000+ audiobooks. For just three dollars more than a single-format plan, you're covered no matter how you're feeling. You can read a few chapters of a mystery novel at breakfast and then switch to the audiobook version while you're walking the dog.
Is Kobo Plus Worth It?
Not every book is on Kobo Plus as soon as it hits the traditional bookstore. And the genre that seems most represented is romance. So if you need to have the new Dan Brown or Susan Choi book at release, then you'll end up needing to buy it through the Kobo Store.
Kobo Plus
With options for eBooks, audibooks, or both, Kobo Plus can be an inexpensive way for various readers to enjoy a massive digital library. The titles can be accessed through your eReader or the Kobo app on your smartphone or tablet.
I am often surprised by the variety of titles that I find when browsing (everything from Tim McGraw's motivational book to a massive collection of Agatha Christie mysteries) and I like how the search functions allow you to look specifically for titles that are included for free with your Kobo Plus membership. If you read or listen to at least one or two books a month, the service easily pays for itself.
Plus, if you're on the fence, Kobo usually offers a 30-day free trial, so you can dive into the library and see if your favourite tropes and authors are represented before you spend a dime. It's also nice that you can go month-to-month, so if you're in the midst of a busy time of year with little time for pleasure reading, or you rent a cabin in the woods for a month, you can adjust your membership to match your reading time.
If you're a person who just loves to read and are open to discovering new authors and books (rather than relying on the current New York Times Best Seller List) then you'll love the massive library that Kobo Plus unlocks in the world of eBooks and audiobooks.
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