Kobo Writing Life on the BookBird Author Score
Author Score · publishing platforms · #8 of 12
Best for: Wide authors reaching Kobo readers, Kobo Plus and libraries
66.9 of 100 points = 6.7 out of 10. How this score is calculated
Author jobs, from Kobo Writing Life’s own pages
- Yes: Ebooks
- No: Paperbacks (no)
- No: Hardcovers (no)
- Yes: Free to publish
- Yes: Royalty rate stated
- Not stated: Non-exclusive (not stated)
- Yes: Distribution to other stores
- Yes: Library distribution
- Not stated: Free ISBN (not stated)
Kobo Writing Life pricing
The platform takes a share of sales. There is a free plan. The plans as Kobo Writing Life’s own site listed them on October 7, 2026, in US dollars:
- Publishing account: Free
Free. Ebooks: 70% of suggested retail price at $2.99+ (and at least 20% below print), otherwise 45%; Kobo Plus pays 60% of a per-minute pool; audiobooks 45%/35%; OverDrive sales optional.
What Kobo Writing Life offers
From Kobo Writing Life’s own pages, checked on October 7, 2026:
- Publishes ebooks and audiobooks to the Kobo store in over 200 countries
- Reaches the ebook storefronts of Kobo's retail partners
- 70% royalty on ebooks at $2.99 and up, 45% below
- Opt-in OverDrive distribution to libraries and schools
- Opt-in Kobo Plus subscription, paid by minutes read
- Audiobook royalties of 45% (35% outside price rules)
Runs on: web. Needs an internet connection.
Who Kobo Writing Life suits, and what its pages do not say
Best for: Wide authors reaching Kobo readers, Kobo Plus and libraries.
Not confirmed on Kobo Writing Life’s pages when we checked: paperbacks, hardcovers, non-exclusive and free ISBN. That is what the vendor states, not a test; a feature can exist without being described, and the score only credits what is.
About 1,000 people a month search Google in the US for “kobo writing life”, up 10% over the past year (Google Ads data via DataForSEO).
Kobo Writing Life alternatives
| Software | Score | Price from | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP | 9.9 | No upfront fee | Authors selling mainly on Amazon, including Kindle Unlimited readers |
| IngramSpark | 9.6 | No upfront fee | Authors wanting print books in bookstores and libraries beyond Amazon |
| Lulu | 9.2 | No upfront fee | Authors selling print books direct to readers as well as on Amazon |
| Draft2Digital | 7.9 | $12 a year | Authors going wide with ebooks who accept a small activation fee |
| Blurb | 7.8 | No upfront fee | Illustrated and photo-heavy books sold in print |
Compare: All publishing platforms · All software for authors
Kobo Writing Life questions
How much does Kobo Writing Life cost?
No upfront fee.
What does Kobo Writing Life run on?
web, according to its own site.
How the score is computed: the formula, step by step. Prices and features were read from Kobo Writing Life’s own site on October 7, 2026; nobody pays to be listed.