Bookshop.org expects Kobo e-reader support later this year

Bookshop.org, an online bookstore and competitor to Amazon that supports local independent bookshops, is moving forward with its planned integration for Kobo e-readers. Kobo is an e-reader brand owned by the Japanese-based e-commerce giant Rakuten. According to Bookshop.org founder and CEO Andy Hunter, the two companies have recently settled on business terms for the collaboration, which both parties want to make happen. While the partnership was originally promised for 2025 and subsequently delayed to 2026, the rollout is now expected to occur later this year. Hunter explained that progress has been made, though the company is not yet ready to commit to a firm timeline. “We have recently settled on business terms with Kobo, and we are confident the collaboration is going to happen, but can’t promise a specific launch date until the engineering work is further along,” Hunter said.

The delay in launching the integration stemmed from both business and technical challenges. Hunter explained that the process required time to negotiate terms and allocate engineering resources, while ensuring the system respects publisher requirements for digital rights management (DRM). DRM refers to access control technologies used to restrict the use of proprietary hardware. Over the past year, Bookshop.org’s engineering team has been focused on improving its mobile device app, which launched about 15 months ago. With those updates completed, the company is returning its engineering focus to the Kobo integration.

While Kobo users await the official integration, alternative options exist for digital readers who want to support independent bookstores. Bookshop.org states that Android-based e-readers that support the Google Play app store, such as Boox or Meebook, should be able to download the Bookshop.org app. This alternative could serve some of the digital reading market as Kobo currently claims 12 million users across 190 countries. Additionally, a handful of independent bookshops nationwide still support Kobo through older website-based account linking methods. Kobo users can also read DRM-free books, access library books through Overdrive, or purchase DRM-protected books from eBooks.com, an independent e-book store that delivers books in a format supported by Kobo.

Why it matters

This integration represents a significant expansion for Bookshop.org, aiming to bridge the gap between independent booksellers and the millions of users who rely on Kobo hardware. Establishing this direct channel would allow the platform to reach Kobo’s established user base as an alternative to Amazon’s Kindle.