Kobo is preparing to launch a monthly subscription service called Stack, which will allow users to upload and sync their own ebooks and documents across various devices and apps. The service will sync reading progress, highlights, and annotations. While it functions similarly to Amazon’s free Send to Kindle feature, Kobo Stack will require a monthly fee of a few dollars.
The service is being introduced as part of a major 6.0 update to Kobo's e-reader software. This update is currently available as an optional beta upgrade before its official wide release. Users can upload EPUBs and PDFs up to 200MB in size by using a drag and drop interface on the Kobo website or by emailing a custom address provided upon subscription.
Once uploaded to Kobo Cloud, documents will be available on the Kobo website, the iOS and Android apps, and the company’s e-readers. Currently, e-reader support is limited to recent models, including the Clara BW, Clara Colour, Libra Colour, and the Elipsa 2E. However, Kobo’s website states that access for older devices "made between 2018 and 2024 will arrive soon."
Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn shared on Threads that the initial rollout of Kobo Stack will exclude the US, launching instead in Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Spain. The subscription costs $3.99 per month in Canada and £2.99 per month in the UK.
Kobo is offering a 90-day free trial for the service. If a user cancels, there is a 60-day grace period to download files and export notes and annotations. After those 60 days, all content will be permanently deleted.
The firmware update includes several other features, such as the ability to add multiple library cards for borrowing books through Libby, lower stylus latency for pen-supported devices, larger font options for accessibility, and support for EPUB files protected by LCP DRM.
