Kobo

Kobo Writing Life for Indie Authors

Kobo Writing Life (KWL) is the self-publishing arm of Rakuten Kobo, giving indie authors direct access to a massive international eBook market. For authors seeking to diversify beyond Amazon and tap into non-U.S. readerships, Kobo is a powerful partner with a user-friendly platform, generous royalty terms, and unique promotional tools. When paired with data insight platforms like ScribeCount, Kobo becomes an essential piece of a wide publishing strategy.



The Evolution of Kobo Writing Life

Kobo was launched in Canada in 2009 as a competitor to Amazon’s Kindle and has always emphasized accessibility and global expansion. Kobo Writing Life officially launched in 2012, with a mission to empower authors by giving them control over pricing, scheduling, and distribution. The platform is available in over 190 countries and supports multiple languages, making it an ideal route for international reach.

Through strategic partnerships with global retailers and library systems—including Walmart in the U.S.—Kobo Writing Life continues to position itself as a flexible and forward-thinking publishing solution for indie authors.

Why Kobo Matters in a Wide Publishing Strategy

In the wide publishing model, authors distribute across multiple platforms to reduce risk, increase income streams, and reach more readers. Kobo’s strength lies in its international presence, particularly in Canada, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. Unlike Kindle Unlimited, which requires exclusivity, Kobo allows authors to publish widely without penalty.

Kobo users tend to be tech-savvy, loyal readers who are invested in their devices and willing to explore diverse genres. Kobo’s seamless integration with e-readers, tablets, and mobile apps ensures a consistent and enjoyable user experience. For authors, that translates into better reader retention and sales.

What Kobo Writing Life Offers Indie Authors

Kobo Writing Life provides a direct and simple publishing dashboard, where authors can upload ePub files, set global prices, and schedule preorders. Authors retain full rights and have access to real-time sales reporting. The platform’s interface is intuitive and accessible, even for beginners.

Standout features include:

• Global pricing control: Set region-specific prices in local currencies.

• Preorders: Schedule releases up to 12 months in advance.

• Promotional opportunities: Kobo frequently runs merchandising campaigns and offers select discounts via email newsletters and storefront features.

• Library distribution: Authors can opt into OverDrive, enabling library sales and increased discoverability.

ScribeCount integrates seamlessly with Kobo to aggregate daily sales data, visualize trends, and support better marketing and pricing decisions.

Kobo’s Terms and Royalties

Kobo offers a transparent royalty structure:

• 70% royalty on eBooks priced $2.99–$9.99.

• 45% royalty for books priced below $2.99 or above $9.99.

There are no delivery fees or exclusivity clauses. Royalties are paid monthly, usually within 45 days of the end of the sales month, via direct deposit.

Kobo supports a variety of territories and currencies, allowing authors to optimize pricing strategies and experiment with promotional discounts across regions.

Kobo vs KDP: A Comparison

Pros and Cons of Using Kobo Writing Life

Pros: Kobo’s international scope is a standout advantage. Authors retain full control, access merchandising opportunities, and benefit from Kobo’s marketing reach. Royalty transparency, coupled with compatibility with tools like ScribeCount, makes tracking performance efficient and stress-free.

Cons: The primary drawback is visibility. Without Amazon's sheer volume of readers, Kobo authors must work harder to drive traffic and build readership. Merchandising slots are curated, so competition is high. Some promotional tools are only available by invitation or through Kobo's internal marketing team.

Still, for authors thinking long-term and globally, Kobo’s reach and author-first philosophy make it an ideal platform to complement Amazon and others.

Using ScribeCount with Kobo

ScribeCount aggregates Kobo sales data alongside other platforms, allowing indie authors to:

• Compare performance across storefronts

• Track international sales by region

• Visualize revenue by book or series

• Discover optimal pricing strategies

Authors using ScribeCount gain a clearer picture of how Kobo fits into their overall publishing business. This insight makes long-term planning and ROI analysis far more actionable.

Kobo can be seen in your ScribeCount sunburst chart in Kobo Red



Conclusion

Kobo Writing Life is a powerful tool for any indie author pursuing wide publishing. Its international network, author-friendly royalties, and preorder tools give it a strategic advantage for those looking to expand globally. Combined with the analytical power of ScribeCount, Kobo becomes more than just a distribution channel—it becomes a data-rich pillar in your indie publishing business.

Authors willing to invest in learning Kobo’s market and optimizing their presence there will find long-term, sustainable returns. When managed alongside Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, and others, Kobo Writing Life ensures your books are where readers around the world are looking.