Kobo Writing Life guide for authors who want strong ebook reach beyond Amazon
Kobo Writing Life is the self-publishing service for the Kobo store. This guide covers who it suits and how to prepare.
What Kobo Writing Life is
Kobo Writing Life lets you publish ebooks and audiobooks to the Kobo store and to Kobo readers and apps. Kobo is strong in Canada and has readers in many other countries.
It is a good second store for authors who have started on Amazon. It also offers promotion tools. Check the current ones in your dashboard.
Who it suits
- Authors whose readers are in Canada, the UK, Australia or other Kobo markets
- Authors who want a strong ebook store beyond Amazon
- Authors who want to publish direct and manage their own pricing
- Authors who want to join store promotions
What to prepare before you upload
- A valid EPUB file that passes checks
- A cover that meets the store's size rules
- Metadata and a description that match your other platforms
- Prices for each country you want to sell in
- Payment and tax details
- Clear rights for any images and fonts
Things to weigh up
- Royalty tiers depend on price and territory, so read the current rate table
- Promotions may need you to keep prices in a given range
- Do not send the same title through an aggregator and direct
- Terms change, so check them in your dashboard
Free tools for Kobo Writing Life
Each tool runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded. Results are planning estimates, so confirm the final figure on Kobo Writing Life itself.
- Royalty & Print Cost CalculatorCompare the profit on a Kobo ebook with other stores.
- Book Description BuilderWrite a clean description for the store page.
- Metadata Manager & CheckerKeep details the same on every platform.
Common questions
Is Kobo Writing Life free?
There is no charge to publish. Kobo keeps a share of each sale. Check the current royalty table in your dashboard.
Does Kobo ask for exclusivity?
No. You can publish elsewhere. Remember that KDP Select requires ebook exclusivity while you are enrolled.
Should I go direct to Kobo or use an aggregator?
Going direct gives you control of pricing and promotions. An aggregator saves set-up time. Choose one route per store.
Official pages
Disclaimer. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Platform terms, fees and rules change, so confirm them on Kobo Writing Life's own pages before you publish. Book Recommendations is independent and is not affiliated with Kobo Writing Life. See the full disclaimer and our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.