In the dynamic world of digital reading and listening, subscription-based services have become increasingly popular, offering users access to a vast library of content at the touch of a button. Two prominent players in this arena are Storytel and Kobo Plus, each catering to distinct preferences in the literary realm. Storytel vs Kobo Plus, which one should I choose? In this article, we will delve into the features and contents of both platforms to help you make decision based on your reading or listening preferences.
One-minute Review
Storytel
Although Storytel offers ebooks, it has carved a niche for itself by focusing primarily on the audiobook experience. With an extensive library of audiobooks spanning various genres and languages, Storytel aims to immerse users in a world of captivating storytelling. The subscription-based model allows users to pay a monthly fee, granting them access to a specified number of audiobooks each month.
Kobo Plus
Kobo, the parent company, is also known for manufacturing e-readers, creating a seamless ecosystem for users who prefer reading on dedicated devices.
Kobo Plus takes a different approach by focusing primarily on e-books. The service provides users with a subscription-based model for accessing an extensive library of e-books. However, it also offers the best audiobook subscription service via Kobo Plus. Users can decide to choose the book or audiobook subscription service or even opt for both.
Subscription Price and Availablity
Storytel
Storytel is a Swedish service that offers audiobooks and ebooks in more than 25 non-English speaking countries, including Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and more countries around the world. The trial period varies from 3 days to 30 days.
Subscriptions start at around €10 per month but vary by country. Its subscription service can be divided into three types: Storytel Unlimited (Single user account), Storytel Family (2 Storytel accounts), and Storytel Family+ (3 Storytel accounts).
Kobo Plus
The Kobo Plus Read or Kobo Plus Listen is $7.99 a month while the Kobo Plus Read & Listen is only $9.99. It offers the 30-day free trial.
Kobo Plus subscriptions are only available in select countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the US, UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, France, Italy and New Zealand.
Content Focus
With Storytel and Kobo Plus, you can read and listen to as many eBooks and audiobooks as you want each month for a fixed price. But they focus on different contents.
Storytel
Storytel is the largest audiobook company in Scandinavia, focusing on audiobook content that includes international bestsellers as well as local content in multiple languages. There are over 400 000 titles in more than 10+ languages. It offers access to more than 140,000 audiobooks and e-books in Sweden, and in India, it provides access to 100,000 titles. In many markets, it also offers access to more than 35,000 English-language titles.
Although Storytel show numerous titles on its website, not all of the Storytel titles are available in your region. The ebooks they offered lies in the richness of its audiobook collection.
Kobo Plus
Kobo Plus provides access to approximately 1.3 million ebooks and 100,000 audiobooks. Its library varies from country to country. Compared with the audiobooks, Kobo plus offers more ebook titles than audiobooks. Most of Kobo plus titles are best-sellers that are written or narrated by English. But the Stoytel provides content in different languages to cater to a diverse audience. This is the key difference between these two services on catalog.
Platform Compatibility
Storytel
There is no way to read and play Storytel on PC unless you download Storytel to your computer via Android emulator. With the Storytel for Android/iOS, you can read Storytel ebooks and listen to Audiobooks easily. However, if your subscription is expired, you cannot listen or read any Storytel books.
Kobo Plus
Kobo Plus ebooks is compatiable with Kobo eReaders, Kobo desktop application, and Kobo App for Android or iOS. As for Kobo Plus audiobooks, you can play them on Kobo for Andrid/iOS device, but you cannot listen to them on with the Kobo for PC/Mac. Some kobo ereaders, like Kobo Sage, Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Clara 2E, Kobo Elipsa 2E also support Kobo audiobooks.
Storytel vs Kobo Plus: Which One Should I Choose
When deciding between Storytel and Kobo Plus, you can consider your preferences regarding audiobooks versus ebooks. Storytel excels in delivering a rich audiobook experience, while Kobo Plus is tailored for those who prefer the world of e-books.
If you prefer to read or listen to your books in your local language, Storytel is a better choice than Kobo Plus.
Ultimately, the choice between Storytel and Kobo Plus boils down to individual preferences and reading habits. Whether you find solace in the narrated tales of audiobooks or prefer the visual immersion of e-books, both platforms offer unique features to enhance your digital reading or listening journey.
Pro Tip: How to Read Storytel on Kobo
If you have subscribed to Storytel but prefer using Kobo eReader due to its excellent e-reading hardware, you might wonder how to access Storytel content on your Kobo device. Fortunately, there's a straightforward solution – we've provided the best method for downloading Storytel in DRM-free EPUB format or mp3 audiobook format. This should address any concerns and allow you to enjoy your Storytel subscription seamlessly on your preferred Kobo eReader.
Follow the steps below to get your Storytel on Kobo.
1 Download Storytel to your computer via Android emulator.
2 Convert Storytel to drm-free epub or mp3 files with Epubor Telstory Converter.
3 Transfer Storytel to kobo ereaders with usb cable.
Pro Tip 2: How to Convert Kobo Audiobooks to MP3 format?
It is super easy to download kobo ebooks to your computer, but you may not find anyway to download kobo audiobooks to your computer, no mention to convert kobo audiobooks to mp3, right?
Please don't worry. Epubor released a new kobo converter which can help you convert kobo audiobooks to mp3 format, and convert kobo ebooks to drm-free epub files.
Iris Yan has been a passionate member of Epubor since 2017. Her mission is to enhance your ebook reading experience by sharing insightful tips and tricks. Join her on a journey towards reading excellence today!
