When comparing PocketBook - PDF, EPUB reader vs Kobo Books, the Slant community recommends PocketBook - PDF, EPUB reader for most people. In the question“What are the best eBook readers on Android?” PocketBook - PDF, EPUB reader is ranked 3rd while Kobo Books is ranked 13th. The most important reason people chose PocketBook - PDF, EPUB reader is:
Pocketbook is a very nicely designed eBook reader for Android that has a simple and intuitive interface.
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Pros
Pro Beautiful user interface
Pocketbook is a very nicely designed eBook reader for Android that has a simple and intuitive interface.
Pro Crop page margins for pdf books
PocketBook allows manually or automatically cropping page margins to better fit text on screen.
Pro Free
Pocketbook is a completely free eReader with zero in app purchases.
Pro Lock screen orientation
The app allows for users to lock the screen orientation of the device in order to prevent the screen from switching while in the middle of reading. This is very helpful for those that read in bed and change positions a lot.
Pro Works with Adobe DRM on .epubs and .pdf
PocketBook is compatable with e.pub and .pdf Adobe DRM files.
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 Asks to send you "offers"
Very suspicious.
Con It asks for access to ALL your files in order to complete the install
ALL FILES? WHY??? Not just some prescribed folder, but everything, everywhere. Who would grant that kind of access?
Con Most recent update removed features
No longer recognizes my TTS no longer has a sleep timer.
Con Buggy
Pocketbook is still a bit buggy, where it sometimes does not open books or just opens to a blank screen.
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.