The short answer
Kobo sells audiobooks and includes them in Kobo Plus in many countries.4,5 They play in the Kobo Books app on Android and iPhone (with CarPlay) and on recent Kobo eReaders over Bluetooth, but not on a computer or other eReaders.1,2 Kobo’s audiobooks are MP3, kept inside its apps and eReaders.3
- eReaders
- Sage, Libra, Elipsa, Clara (recent)
- You need
- Bluetooth headphones
- Phones
- Kobo Books app
- Computers
- Not supported
Where Kobo audiobooks play
| Plays Kobo audiobooks | How | |
|---|---|---|
| Kobo Sage, Libra 2, Libra Colour | Yes | Bluetooth headphones or speaker |
| Kobo Elipsa, Elipsa 2E | Yes | Bluetooth headphones or speaker |
| Kobo Clara 2E, Clara Colour, Clara BW | Yes | Bluetooth headphones or speaker |
| Older Kobo eReaders, other brands | No | – |
| Android phone or tablet | Yes | Kobo Books app, Android 6.0 or later |
| iPhone, iPad | Yes | Kobo Books app, iOS 12 or later; CarPlay |
| Windows or Mac computer | No | Not in Kobo Desktop or the Windows app |
Only Bluetooth headphones and speakers pair with a Kobo eReader. On a phone, pair the phone to a car or home speaker instead.1,2
Kobo Plus
Kobo Plus is Kobo’s subscription: “read and listen to as many eBooks and audiobooks as you want each month for a fixed price,” on select eReaders and in the Kobo Books app.4 Prices differ by country and are shown on Kobo’s Plus page; US, Taiwan and Hong Kong customers get a 14-day free trial (Quebec residents get none).5 Kobo Plus is offered in over thirty countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa; which plans include audiobooks can differ by country, so check Kobo’s Plus page for yours.5 During the trial, up to 15 Kobo Plus books can be opened offline before you need to reconnect.6
Subscription ComparisonCompare what Audible, Spotify, Libro.fm, Everand and the library would cost for the hours you actually listen.Open the toolWhat format Kobo audiobooks are
“Audiobooks from Kobo are in MP3 format.”3 They are still tied to Kobo: they play in its app and on its eReaders, and Kobo doesn’t offer them as files to take elsewhere. On the publishing side, Kobo takes MP3 from authors and compresses most audio to about 64 kbps.7
Audiobook Web PlayerPlay your own MP3 and M4B audiobooks in any browser, with chapters, a sleep timer and your place remembered. Nothing is uploaded.Open the playerMore players, by platform: the best audiobook player apps. Kobo’s rules for publishers are on store requirements; formats across every store in audiobook formats.