Kobo Charges Monthly Fee for Personal Ebook Cloud Syncing

E-reader manufacturer Kobo has introduced a paid cloud storage option for personal digital files, marking a departure from free synchronization models used by competitors. The service, named Stack, is part of a major software update that changes how users manage their own ebook libraries across multiple devices.

The new subscription allows users to upload EPUB and PDF files up to 200MB in size to Kobo's servers. Once synced, these documents, along with any reading progress, highlights, and annotations, become accessible via Kobo's web interface, mobile apps for iOS and Android, and supported e-ink devices. This functionality mirrors Amazon's Send to Kindle tool, which provides similar file uploading services at no additional cost to the user.

Kobo has set regional pricing for the service, starting with a monthly fee of 3.99 Canadian dollars in Canada and 2.99 British pounds in the United Kingdom. To lower the barrier to entry, the company is offering a free 90-day trial for new subscribers. Hardware support for the initial rollout is limited to recent models, including the Clara BW, Clara Colour, Libra Colour, and Elipsa 2E. The company stated that compatibility for devices manufactured between 2018 and 2024 will arrive soon.

The service is currently rolling out in a beta phase as part of a version 6.0 software update. A wider official release is planned for the near future. Geographic availability for this first wave includes Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn confirmed the absence of the United States from this initial group of markets in a post on the social platform Threads.

Users who cancel their subscription receive a 60-day grace period before their data is removed. During this window, subscribers can download their files and export notes or annotations. After the 60 days elapse, Kobo will permanently delete all uploaded data from its cloud servers. This retention policy is a key difference from some free alternatives that may store files indefinitely without a subscription.

The version 6.0 update includes several other improvements alongside the new Stack feature. The software now allows users to add multiple library card credentials, facilitating borrowing from several public libraries through the Libby service. The update also reduces stylus latency on compatible devices and expands accessibility options with larger font sizes. Additionally, the platform now supports EPUB files protected by LCP DRM.