Kobo Introduces Monthly Fee for Personal Ebook Syncing

Kobo has launched a new paid subscription service called Stack, which allows users to store personal ebooks on the company's servers. The service costs money to use, marking a departure from the free syncing model employed by competitors.

The subscription enables readers to upload EPUB and PDF documents up to 200MB in size. Files can be added via a drag-and-drop tool on the Kobo website or by emailing a custom address. Once uploaded, the content, including reading progress and annotations, appears across all devices linked to the user's account.

This approach contrasts with Amazon's Send to Kindle feature, which permits users to upload a wide variety of files to their libraries at no recurring cost. Kobo positions Stack as a tool for dedicated readers who need frequent cross-device synchronization for their personal file libraries.

Stack is part of a version 6.0 software update currently available in beta. The official release is scheduled for the near future. Initial hardware support covers recent e-reader models, including the Clara BW, Clara Colour, Libra Colour, and Elipsa 2E. Kobo states that compatibility for devices manufactured between 2018 and 2024 will arrive soon.

The service is rolling out first in Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Spain. The United States is not included in this initial phase. Michael Tamblyn, Kobo's CEO, confirmed the geographic limitations on the social platform Threads.

Pricing varies by region, with the cost set at 3.99 Canadian dollars per month in Canada and 2.99 British pounds in the United Kingdom. New subscribers receive a 90-day free trial. After cancellation, users have a 60-day grace period to download their files and export notes before the data is permanently deleted from the Kobo Cloud.

The 6.0 update includes additional features beyond the subscription service. Users can now add multiple library cards to borrow books from several libraries through the Libby service. The update also reduces stylus latency on pen-supported devices, adds larger font options for accessibility, and supports EPUB files protected by LCP DRM.