Kobo to launch paid service for syncing personal ebooks

Kobo has announced a new monthly subscription service called Stack that will allow customers to upload their own ebooks and documents to the Kobo Cloud and have them synchronised across devices, the company said. The service will cost $3.99 per month in Canada and £2.99 per month in the UK and is initially available in Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Spain, according to details shared by Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn on Threads. A free 90‑day trial is offered, followed by a 60‑day grace period for cancelling before any uploaded files are permanently removed.

The rollout forms part of a major 6.0 update to Kobo’s e‑reader software, which is currently in beta as an optional upgrade ahead of a wider release. Users can upload EPUB or PDF files up to 200 MB via a drag‑and‑drop interface on Kobo’s website or by emailing them to a custom address provided on subscription. Uploaded content syncs to any device logged into the Kobo account, including iOS and Android apps, the website and supported e‑readers such as the Clara BW, Clara Colour, Libra Colour and Elipsa 2E, with older models “made between 2018 and 2024 will arrive soon,” according to Kobo’s website.

Michael Tamblyn said the 90‑day trial gives users two months to download and back up any files and to export notes before the 60‑day grace period ends and the data is deleted. The firmware update also adds the ability to store multiple library cards for borrowing via Libby, reduces stylus latency on pen‑compatible devices, expands accessibility with larger font options and adds support for EPUBs protected by LCP DRM.