When comparing ReadEra vs Kobo Books, the Slant community recommends ReadEra for most people. In the question“What are the best eBook readers on Android?” ReadEra is ranked 4th while Kobo Books is ranked 13th.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Open and read book files in EPUB, PDF, DOC, RTF, TXT, DJVU, FB2, MOBI and CHM formats
Pro Very fast
Pro Completely free, no ads anywhere and anytime
Pro Supports chapters, bookmarks and page style
Pro Supports TTS
Pro Attractive interface
Looks well made and not just a txt editor or something.
Pro Kids mode
Makes it easier for kids to use the app.
Pro Offers separate Adobe Digital Editions downloads
The Kobo eBook store offers a separate file download (most of the time) from within a users browser. this file is called and .ascm file and is what is used to add an .epub to the Adobe Digital Edition software.
Pro Send eBooks as gift
Kobo Books eBook store allows users to send eBooks as gifts to their friends and loved ones.
Pro Self publish
Kobo offers a way for users to self publish their own eBooks with a service called Writing Life.
Pro Many coupons
Kobo often offers a lot of coupons for their eBook store. Some being as high as 80% off coupons. Though most only work on non agency eBooks, so not that great if the user only reads the newest of releases.
Cons
Con No light mode
No light mode for the menu. Unusable if you have astigmatism.
Con Not many settings
Con Slow animations
Con Image sizing is wrong compared to other readers
Con Images aren't has sharp as other readers
Images don't look like they are supposed to unless you full screen the image.
Con Not all eBooks sold on the site are Adobe Digital Editions compatible (.epub)
For some reason not all the eBooks available on the Kobo eBook site are downloadable as .ascm files. Most likely Kobo leaves this up to the publisher, as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt does not have a single book on the Kobo store that offers a separate .ascm download. What most users are unaware of is that the Kobo store is not primarily an .epub bookstore. Kobo uses a proprietary format called .kepub that only works on their own Kobo branded devices. Many of the books they sell do offer a separate .ascm file download, but not all. What exacerbates this issue is that there is currently no way for a user to know if an .ascm will be offered until after purchase.
Con Kobo randomly changes prices
Depending on whether a user is logged in, different prices will be shown on non agency eBooks. Non agency eBooks allow for Kobo to set the price of the title instead of the publisher and sadly it does appear as though Kobo has taken advantage of this to entice new users into thinking their books are priced lower than they actually are.
Con Desktop app doesn't function
