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Kobo Books App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024
Kobo Books app received 140 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using Kobo Books? Can you share your negative thoughts about kobo books?
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Kobo Books for Negative User Reviews
✓ Great reading appKobo was my favourite reading app. It is still in the top two, but the latest update has made it worse. The lowest brightness setting is much brighter so it’s significantly less comfortable to read at night. Other that, no complaints. EDITED TO ADD you can go to Settings > Experimental features and turn off the new reading experience. My app works properly again with this switched off. However I’m worried it might become not optional in future and so I tried to send feedback but that doesn’t work. With the Experimental mode on the app crashed, it kept changing text size. It cut the end off of chapters until I shrink the text size to tiny. And it’s way too bright. Basically it’s terrible and made it really hard to just read..Version: 10.1.4
✓ Annoying BugsWhile the phone app is convenient, the app frequently loses it’s place when you come back to it. It also often goes to the start of the chapter just finished instead of the next chapter. Frequently it will present you with half a page and you need to kill the app to fix it. Often having to relocate where you were because of the other bugs. Page numbering is by chapter rather than by book. Which makes it harder to find your position again or to know how much of the book is left. Even more annoying is the stock standard answer developer response below. That doesn’t actually address any of the issues I raised above. Very poor customer experience. A better response would be “we’re sorry you’re having these issues, we’re aware of them and working to fix them”..Version: 9.12.2
✓ Note taking & high lighterI am not an avid ebook reader, but with the current times, I have found myself increasingly turning to it. I am starting to use this more for studying various texts, and so, i like to take notes & high light passages often. The very frustrating component is that almost every other time i highlight a passage, the app freezes and, also tries to pop-up the dictionary definition for the word my finger tapped on (to start the highlighting process). So i either have to wait a few minutes, or, more often than not, restart the app. Argh! I really want to love this app (as an alternative to the “other” app(s)) but this may keep me from continuing my use :( Thus 3 instead of more stars. I do enjoy the audiobook set up very much. It’d appreciate if you could let me know if I’m missing on some specific instruction or “fix” issue somehow for use-friendliness. Thank you..Version: 9.18
✓ Mildly AnnoyingIt’s a great app, (although I wish you could scroll and purchase thru the app and not a website )but the most annoying part and I’ve had this happen multiple times in multiple books where I’ll download the book at home be listening to it at work and then all of a sudden it stops playing. I click play and I get a message “something went wrong please try again.” I reached out and they told me to log out then back in again and when I do I have to redownload the book all over again. I’ve gotten so tired of it I stopped reaching out since obviously they aren’t fixing it. It’s a great app when it is working. If they fix that issue it’s a 5 star..Version: 9.16
✓ More problems. Cannot use anymoreSo… I already had issues but now I have encountered one that means I cannot use kobo anymore. Prior issues: Double page flip Portrait in landscape mode alignment Font hugeness Loss of reading position Not able to calculate position in book Finally the deal breaker: Can’t get to a particular chapter. Restarting, and all manner of tricks failed to get me there. Goodbye. I’ll check in at some point in the future to see if you’ve sorted yourselves out..Version: 10.1.4
✓ The AppI agree completely with Jodzta. To have an app without the ability to buy books is clunky. And then to try and access buying being told there is already an account in your name after you were just told your account doesn’t exist, beats all. I give up! I’ll try the other book app....Version: 9.9
✓ Frustrating.I have been using Kobo e-readers for the last 7 years and it all started out great. But then for no reason at all I cannot sync my other devices to my library of purchases. This has been an issue for the last few years and no matter how many times I log in and out or email kobo, nothing helps. It’s a shame. The devices are great but I want to be able to whip out my phone and continue reading on the go. I guess I’ll have to jump ship to Kindle..Version: 9.4.2
✓ Could be easily improvedGreat selection of books but the payment model and app could both be tweaked to improve UX. Firstly, the option to ‘add another credit’ would be great - I had to create a new account and buy another subscription to download extra audiobooks one month, then cancel it. Stupid. Secondly, there really needs to be a way to purchase through the app, or browse titles, or, AT THE VERY LEAST, a link to the website from the app. You need the app to read/listen to the books, but you have to use the website to browse and purchase. This is clunky, confusing, off-putting, and unnecessary. Just my 2 cents x.Version: 9.6.1
✓ Not the greatestThe app lost my library and attempts to recover the literally hundreds of books for my account have not yielded any results. No sense having the app when support tells Me to just go to the web site and access them there..Version: 10.5.1
✓ New update glitchesPlease fix!!! Multiple issues with new update. Pages randomly go backward 1-5 pages and skip around. I enthusiastically down-loaded this morning’s update hoping it was fixed, only to discover its even worse! Now every time I leave the app it goes back to the beginning of the book and I have to search through to find my spot, and this is made even more frustrating with it randomly going backwards. Before this update I have enjoyed reading more than 500 books over the last several years with only minor bugs. My previous rating was 5 STARS..Version: 10.2
✓ Inaccessible with iphone and voiceoverVery disappointing that visually impaired customers cannot access books this way.Version: 9.14
✓ Don’t Like This Version at AllI have been using the kobo reading app for years and this version is the worst. Once or twice a week I have to uninstall and reinstall the app because the screen is blank when the app is opened. Tapping the pages to turn them often takes you back to the previous page or stays on the current page. You have to constantly check the page numbers make sure that you are on the right page. The font in the new version looks amateurish and unprofessional and you are unable in this version to check item details without having to close the book first. Please fix these problems ASAP as it is truly frustrating..Version: 10.1.4
✓ Not workingI have purchased over 300 books from Kobo - less than 100 of them are showing up in my app, both on iPad and iPhone. I have tried resetting my devices, redownloaded the app, reset my password, tried to repair my account, dealt with the useless AI chat help, spent an hour with the human chat help that was unfortunately equally useless and broke when I tried to look at my app as instructed. It is still broken - every time I try to sync my account I get the error ‘cannot sync library’. I am beyond frustrated with this broken, buggy mess. What the hell else can I do except hope you fix it? (Besides download all my books and sideload onto Kindle instead, which frankly is looking like an option).Version: 10.0
✓ Problems.Have been using this app for some time on iPad and iPhone and no problems until about two weeks ago when I began to get problems with continuity. Whilst reading a book it often will not open at the same place as I had previously shut it. Not so bad if I’m at the beginning or end of a chapter but otherwise I end up having to scroll through pages to find my place 😡.Version: 9.30.1
✓ Getting frustratedWill not let me sign into my account.Version: 10.5.1
✓ Tout partoutY a-t-il quelqu'un qui peut m'aider?? J'ai mes livres sur mon iPad mais je ne suis pas capable de les avoir sur mon iPod! Comment faire pour les récupérer? Super app , partout ou je vais l'app Kodo vient avec moi... Sauf que; Update,, je comprend pas pourquoi je perd mes livres et je ne supprime rien!! Ou puis-je les récupérer??? Quelqu'un peut m'aider??? Je ne retrouve plus TOUS mes livres que j’ai telechargé dans le passé... j’ai changé de tablette et je ne les ai plus!!! Svp aidé-moi à les retrouver!!!.Version: 9.18
✓ Need improvement!Love my Kobo, but let’s face it, the app need heavy improvement, everything is mixed, it’s sometimes hard to know what is my pid book, the sample book or book I could buy. Also we cannot buy from this app. So when during the day I am interested about a book, I have to mark it on this app and later at home I have to remember to buy it on my kobo tablet. Please make this app efficient! So far I barely have the use of this app as I do read on my tablet amd I am looking up books on google ad impossible to buy from the app..Version: 10.5.1
✓ Looks glossy but doesn’t workAudiobooks wouldn’t download and no recommended solution fixed the problem. The live chat feature didn’t work either so had no option to speak to staff, only read the website. Unable to stream audiobooks without the download starting so no possible way to listen to them. Spent hours trying to resolve the problem and no solution forthcoming so was forced to delete the app and cancel subscription. Very disappointing all round, would not recommend..Version: 9.7.1
✓ All my books gone?!Kobo Inc Help is no help - hours spent “chatting” with them, with nothing resolved. “Repairing library” found that library can’t be located. With no way to fix it after following all the suggestions by Kobo Help Don’t buy from Kobo, they stole all my books!.Version: 10.1.4
✓ Feels slow since latest updateFeels very laggy and slow since the latest update. I dislike that I can’t link to google from the app anymore. Less pleased than I was a few weeks ago. Still very convenient..Version: 10.5.1
✓ Worst app everI’ve never seen such a dysfunctional app. It refuses to sync between devices. Worse, when I bookmark a page (where I finished reading) it loses the bookmark on reopening. And, worse than that, it just to an entirely different chapter. There is a possibility that it’s my copy of “The Monk” bought from Booktopia (who say they get it from Kobo). It will load on one iPad but not on another despite having no restrictions on the number of devices. Even if it just the particular book, that shouldn’t happen. Never had any such problem with Kindle, Apple Books, etc. This app is a disgrace and will damage the sales of companies that use it..Version: 10.2
✓ I shouldn’t have to work so hard to read.I am used to scrolling up and down when I read. I read for a couple of hours every evening and I am now, exclusively, a e-reader. The look of the pages and the setting options are all great. They give you an option to mark your book as finished, which I really like. The ONLY thing I don’t like is the page turning process. You tap right or left to turn the page forward or back. The problem is you tap to move forward and you are back at the beginning of the chapter you just read. There’s no fast forward, you have to Tap to turn each page. Even when I pay very close attention, it’s still happening and I can’t figure out why. I’m a fast reader, I can read at almost 500 words a min... if I can get to the correct page. Even though I really like everything else about this application, I won’t be using it again. It very distracting and just way too much work to just read a book. If anyone knows what I am doing wrong, I’d appreciate feedback. If I can get this resolved, I’ll gladly use this e-reader!.Version: 9.14
✓ Tricky Tricks to keep you subscribedThey have tricky ways to keep you subscribed, I deleted my account on the app. Then for some reason it needed 48 hours to delete (even though most places it’s instant). Then I get an email sent to my spam folder saying I need to confirm by email I want to remove my account which obviously I did as why would I sign in to it on the app and go delete otherwise. I was charged 2 more months without knowing. Asked for refund yet to get one..Version: 10.2.1
✓ Cancel subscriptionIv been trying to cancel my subscription, have asked for reset password email & nothing has shown yet. Unsure how to get any help assistance to manage my cancellation...Version: 9.35
✓ Kobo AppIt’s ok but how do we access our Wishlist?.Version: 9.11.2
✓ Terrible - RefundI would like a refund. Purchased the ebook 24 hours ago and I still only have access to a preview. I’ve tried to sync the app, nothing happens. I’ve read the FAQ’s and troubleshooting guides such as ‘fix common kobo reader problems’. For example, under ‘settings’, I’m supposed to have ‘device information’ and other options; I have none of these! I needed the book for an event and I did not have access, after it was purchased and when I needed it. Even when I’m accessing the preview (in desperation), the words are jumbled on the page! Therefore this purchase could not be accessed, was not fit for purpose and I would like a REFUND..Version: 10.1.3
✓ KoboTerrible on iPhone.Version: 10.5.1
✓ Affordable subscription serviceThe phone ap works great, it’s a very affordable subscription service. However, and this is a big thing for me…it is extremely annoying that I can’t listen on computer while I’m working because you can only listen to your books with the phone/tablet app. Unlike audible, you can’t switch between computer and app. I guess it’s a copyright protection thing, but it’s really extremely annoying to be paying for a service and have no control over how I use the books, and you can’t even use a computer to put the audiobooks you’ve bought onto another of your devices using the computer app. The 3 stars is because the management of the subscription is not as versatile as other audiobook subscriptions and I just do not agree with how limited it is..Version: 10.1
✓ What the heck happened to my books??!!!!!About 4 or 5 months ago I got an email from Kobo saying something about my app account, but before I got to read it, I accidentally deleted it. Then a few weeks later when I went to read a few of my books, they wouldn’t open. Only one book I have been able to open and that one I’ve been reading everyday. Then I thought, maybe if I delete the app and redownload it, that would fix it. WRONG!!! It made it worse!! Now I can’t even read the one book I could read! The books now open, but there’s no words, it’s just a bunch of jibberish of symbols. Would somebody please tell me what’s going on and how to fix this! I have paid for these books and now I can’t read any of them. I’m about to get my attorneys involved. Not happy! Pam D.Version: 10.1.3
✓ Would not recommendPaid on the Kobo website and downloaded a book but could not access it via the app (due to it being blocked by a preview and synopsis window). Contacted customer service but it was hopeless because they ask you to leave the conversation to see if the problem is fixed - and then as soon as you leave the conversation you are unable to return and have to start the whole process again. It doesn’t make sense and is beyond frustrating. On the plus side, after wasting too much time and head banging frustration resulting in total failure, I emailed them and asked for a refund which they honoured within 24 hours. But I would never recommend this painstaking process to anyone..Version: 9.15
✓ Terrible app on the iphoneI like to have Siri read my books and it is a constant struggle. It can only start from page 1. If you hear to page 200 and close Siri. Next time you have to scroll to page 200. Horrible! That doesn’t happen with kindle books..Version: 9.18
✓ Blank pageAfter the iOS16 update app opens to a blank page with the only things on top and bottom of page inoperable. Only solution is to delete app and reinstall. Pain in the back end having to do this every time I want to read a few pages of my book. After reinstalling the app won’t send me the email link to reset my password either. Wasted money buying the book which doesn’t appear in my account either. Not happy at all. If I could give it zero stars I would.Version: 10.1
✓ Unuseable on iPad, barely useable on iPhoneEdit: Have discovered the problem lies with the new “Experimental Features” setting. The developer warns that using this setting may may make the app unstable, yet has the setting turned on by default and it can’t be turned off unless you do a fresh install. Nowhere is this documented - I found out by trial and error. I’m posting this here in case it helps someone out - the canned responses by the developer below leave a lot to be desired. Previously: Won’t respond to any screen taps, can’t dismiss items to access basic settings, can only swipe left and right but can’t even see the complete page. iPhone slightly better but still can’t use it properly. Have deleted and reinstalled, turned device on and off, still unresponsive. I’m on the free trial - this is a very poor first impression..Version: 10.4
✓ Wow: it’s all in Chinese!I just downloaded this app. I don’t have anything in my ‘library’ yet. The suggested titles contained current best-sellers, as expected. I went to the search, and entered my current favorite author (‘Sanderson’), hoping to find a book to download. All of the items found were in Chinese. I closed that sidebar, and a whole line of suggested Chinese titles showed up on my home page. I am not using a VPN or anything that might indicate that I am not in the USA; I have no idea why they decided to show me books in Chinese. The suggestions may have been appropriate, subject-wise, but I don’t read Chinese, so they weren’t actually helpful. My physical Kobo will arrive in two days. I do hope that it isn’t limited to Chinese-language books. (Ok, maybe it’s all in Japanese. Sorry, I can’t tell.).Version: 9.34.1
✓ Oh, what have you done to the bookmark?!I normally love this app, and I don't seem to have the same problems that other people do. I know how to repair my account in help, and I keep things synced pretty well with my account. I save side-loading for my Kobo Clara HD. I have two complaints about your latest updates. Firstly, collection syncing has stopped working well. I've even had to delete collections and then start them over again to get them to sync with my Kobo ereaders. Please look into that. Lastly, I have taken away two stars for my review because I absolutely abhore, no, despise the new bookmark method. I liked the dog ears. I hate this fiddly little icon. Please give us the option to have the dog ears. Don't force this new method on us. The target zone is smaller it seems. I end up turning the page instead of hitting your tiny bookmark zone. I far preferred the previous method. Not a great improvement. Different is not always better..Version: 10.2.1
✓ Latest update? My entire Audiobooks Library disappeared… over 400Uhm… where did Every. Single. Audiobook I’ve purchased over the years go? I updated the app and now POOF! I “have no audiobooks to display” and customer support is a joke as you can never speak to a live person. Please, in the name of all that is efficient and worthy, tell me how to get my audiobooks back or cancel my subscription PLUS refund the HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IVE SPENT OVER THE YEARS I have an audiobook reviews website and I’ll also be cautioning all to Avoid Kobo like the PLAGUE Earlier review which still holds true: Forget about how very long it takes the audiobooks to download, the files are way too massive. I simply don’t have the storage capacity for them. I’ll probably be canceling my membership and go back to audible where files don’t run into the thousands of MBs for a single audiobook. Too bad. I have over 300 audiobooks from Kobo and several credits but I just can’t use it all.Version: 10.2.1
✓ Books KoboKobo is a bit cheaper than some other audiobook subscription survives. I began reading Anne of Avonlea as an audio book and the audio is good enough, kobo has an easy to use design and I like that they show you how far you are in the book by a percentage below the title/cover icon. However, I also realized that when I got Anne of Avonlea when I clicked through to the audio display, the cover of the book is blurry for some reason, not so much that I couldn’t see the art or title but enough for it to ruin the aesthetic of the cover. I don’t know if this is a problem w the app itself or not but it makes it look kind of cheap tbh. That’s why I’m giving this three stars, not amazing but also not too bad. I can’t complain too much as it is cheaper than audible.Version: 9.9
✓ Worst app I’ve ever usedNothing works on this app. I have a brand new iPad and all of the additional features other than simply turning pages don’t work. Kobo is a pathetic app. Take my advice and use something else. Find your books elsewhere too. You would think with the money they’re raking in they can provide a better service than they do..Version: 9.19
✓ I loved this app until its last major update. Now it’s awfulI was reading a book a day until the latest update. It’s glitchy and horrible. Sometimes you turn 2-3 pages instead of one page. The font sizing won’t stay the same. There used to be a small dot at the bottom, you could easily changes sizes, brightness and switch from bright-mode to dark. Now you’ve got to find the sweet spot to tap near the top and hope you don’t flick forward in whatever you are reading. I’ve also found the end of chapter disappear, I was reading the latest Scholomance, and entire paragraphs would be left off the end of chapters. I had to change to the tiniest font, and even then, I’d be left with half a sentence and then the next page would be a new chapter. I have no idea what has gone wrong. I’ve updated the app, I’ve made sure I am on the latest iOS. I’ve deleted and reinstalled the app. This is clearly a Kobo problem and I hope the fix it. It’s like the spent all this effort into Kobo Plus and the entire usability of the app has fallen away..Version: 10.1.4
✓ En français svpBonjour, j’aimerais vraiment avoir la possibilité de choisir français seulement lorsque je cherche des livres. Pour éviter d’avoir des propositions de livres en anglais..Version: 9.20
✓ Basic reader, not consistentThis App has changed multiple times and results are not always beneficial. Looking up words offline requires you to download the app dictionary, however it will not always work. Not good for looking up more than one word. It took Kobo over 12 Months to stop me being charged in USD when buying through Australian Site. Be careful if you are combining or changing your account emails. Read the small print every time, it is easy to loose all your points if not careful. I don’t believe joining the club to earn discounts and points is valid. A decent new book will require in excess of 3,500 points. The help sites are not always simple to navigate. If you are having problems with the app I recommend contacting support via chat, you will have a record of issue, date and recommendations. Very useful if the problem continues. App updates have led to atrocious spelling errors in books already purchased..Version: 9.6.3
✓ Constantly crashesThis app has been great up till the last update, now it just crashes with no books and inability to navigate. Uninstall then reinstall fixes problem till the next time you come to use it and it crashes again, you can sign in or out as you can’t navigate the app. Hope this is fixed soon otherwise looking for a new book app, though will loose all the purchased books. Having been in touch with the support team and it appears to be a known issue with the app and IOS16, they were unable to get the app working hoping for an update to be issued shortly.Version: 10.1
✓ Audiobook player really needs bookmarking featureThere is no way to bookmark in the audiobook player, nor is there a way to export the audiobook to use in another player with that critical feature. If you set the sleep timer for example, and fall asleep before playback stops, it’s not easy to figure out where to restart from. The location scrubber is nice (big improvement over other players’ fixed 30-second skips), but there should be a way to snap back to the location you started scrubbing from. So if you are trying to find where in the 30-minute sleep timer window you should restart from, it’s a guessing game and very easy to go way off track. I haven’t used the ebook reader so no review on that part, though I know it does have a bookmarking feature..Version: 10.5.1
✓ App glitchesIf you have a lot of annotations the boom will take forever to load. On top of that all my annotations are some how filed under the “contents” section of my book and not the actual chapters. It doesn’t track where I am in my book in the contents tab. I’m about four chapters in and the red check continues to show that I am on the first page. I also don’t like how true page numbers aren’t available. It only tells you what page your on within the chapter. Not what page your on within the whole book. Page numbers are very important how am I suppose properly quote the book if I don’t know the page number? This app doesn’t have a dictionary built in It seems like a pretty useful feature to have especially for an ebook app. In my opinion you’re probably better off using Apple Books. Small glitches are fine but when you have several of them it gets annoying and Apple Books offers more features anyway..Version: 9.12.2
✓ Removed.I did not like the size of the font - the smallest size was still too big, and only having one column is clumsy. The amount of words on the page mean# having to turn them too often. I thought I’d give it a try, but much prefer my Kindle app. Although I was interested to read the free book offered, I deleted the app after reading a few pages, & going through the settings tryin* to improve the readability. 😕.Version: 9.20
✓ It needs to be made available in Apple Store tooArgh.Version: 9.24
✓ Getting thereThe replacement of the truly awful Merriam Websters dictionary in the APP has resulted in the ability to actually look things up without wanting to throw the device at a wall (lost a couple of the original kobos that way) - well done Still a bit too intrusive with the 'join this, try that, would you like..." and all the monitoring and statistic gathering which you cant switch off, but a lot more bearable than the Vox, which i gave away and bought an Ipad largely due to the over intrusiveness. All we need now is for the industry to catch up with the 21st century on the licensing front (i get apoplectic when i see a digital library saying 'out of stock').Version: 9.6.3
✓ Do they not want you to buy books or what?There’s no easy/obvious option to purchase books from the app on iPhone. I always have to do it on my kobo which is not super convenient.Version: 10.5.1
✓ Utterly uselessWhen I open one of the many books I have read in the past, the black text appears against a very dark grey background, making it unreadable. I am also unable to find commands to close the book, access the library, etc. I have used this many times in the past. What have you done? UPDATE - having received an email suggesting that I troubleshoot my app, the link provided gives unreadable, overprinted words. I have attempted to follow whatever instructions I can read, but it refers to symbols I cannot see on the app because the whole page is covered in dark grey. Please can I downgrade my rating to no stars. UPDATE 2 - a further email received, suggesting I contact the app author. Again, all pages on the links are overtyped and unreadable. I found a "contact us" link, but after the "contact us" heading, the page is blank. This app worked fine a few months ago, so I reiterate my query - what have you done? Star rating downgraded to -1 for totally ignoring my previous statements..Version: 9.18
✓ Rubbish app and supportDecided to buy an ebook using the Kobo app on ios. Having paid for it I tried to read the book. It kept showing “downloading”. After 35 minutes it’s still not completed downloading - if it has been downloading anything at all! It’s only a 320 page book. Trying to get support either by ringing the 800 helpline or the chat app seems to be completely useless. The helpline is forever busy so you’re forever listening to annoying musak. The chat doesn’t actually enable you to chat to someone but rather you have to follow through a series of questions. If your enquiry doesn’t match your problem you will be directed to send an email. How long will it take to get any response?.Version: 10.0
✓ Poor quality appI use this app to read books across a number of devices and it almost never synchronises where I am in a book and I end up having to do it myself. What is the point of having an app like this if it can’t even do basic things right. It also has a habit of when I get to the end of a chapter it mistakenly starts the chapter again. Since ios14 it now has a bug where closing the app in one orientation and then opening it in another gives either a blank page and you can’t change page, or gives you the page but when you select the next page it immediately returns you to the first page. Closing and reopening the app is the only way to reset it..Version: 9.30.1
✓ Bad appApp is glitchy and doesn’t work well.Version: 9.35
✓ AwfulIt recommends genres you don't like. About to delete it.Version: 9.15
✓ Disappointing experience on iPadI am using Kindle, iBooks and Libby (overdrive) frequently and your app has (sorry to say!) disappointed much. Landscape Mode Where is the landscape setting for reading two pages, side-by-side? I could not find it within the app. I must admit, I haven’t looked yet in iPadOS settings for the app. Highlighting I marked a word. I expected to see a dictionary and options to highlight. I can see the highlight options. I use frequently three different colours. I have to tap twice to get to the colour chooser and than choose my colours. That is much better UX with other apps. All colours are shown as default. Your focus on sharing text passages online is not what I personally use most. Dictionary The worst thing is, as I am not an English native speaker, I use the dictionary a lot. This did work only erratically. Sometimes the dictionary window would blink (pop up and disappear right away), sometimes it wouldn’t appear at all. I couldn’t figure out how it’s supposed to work. If it worked, the pop up dictionary window is so narrow, that it shows only two-three lines of text of the iPadOS system dictionary. I have to scroll through it, to get to my dictionary position and then see only two-three lines. Please check out how Libby and Kindle have solved those problems. Their UX is much better, that is why I decided today that I won’t join Kobo as my new ebook provider, sadly. I see that your last app update was 7 months ago! So you’re not fixing bugs and releasing a new version frequently? Device: iPad8,7 OS Version: 13.3 App Version: Kobo Books 9.14.Version: 9.14
✓ Free samples shorter than elsewhere...It's not bad app. A side some sporadical temp bugs there is one big problem. Free samples are too short and shorter at least twice than the ones offered by the biggest competitior. Firstly it reduces Kobo sell rate as users read longer samples in the kindle app and after finishing it is so easy to tap there "buy" button, done! -> Kobo lost another purchase... Secondly with short samples I'm often not sure yet if I like to buy the book, which usually ends up in not buying it or buing from competition which allowed me to read at least twice longer sample there. I do really hope it can be improved as it would be more convenient for me to buy books from Kobo as I prefer and own Kobo eReaders..Version: 10.3.1
✓ Not Good Enough Alternative to KindleAll the books I bought from Sony when they ran an ebook store got moved over to Kobo, so I downloaded this app to read a book. The app just is not that great. There are great ideas here, but the execution is terrible. The good thing I like about it is the reading stats which are compelling. The layout of the app outside of reading is also pretty good and useful. But, all of this is lost because of usability issues. The app cannot keep sync at all. I will read on my iPhone and come back to my iPad to find that the Kobo app on my iPad is still stuck where I left off on the iPad. Sometimes, the app syncs and brings me to where I actually am, but it doesn’t happen much. Though the app shows me the percentage of how far I am in a book before I enter the book, there’s no indicator in the book itself. All that I see are pages in the section/chapter that I am in. There’s no way to see how far I am in the book itself while I am reading. The layout options when reading are woefully lacking. I want to like Kobo because I think there should be an alternative to Kindle, but Kobo has a ways to go before this can even come close to being a decent alternative. All of this is strange because the Libby app from Overdrive (which is own by Rakuten, who owns Kobo) is a fantastic reading app that has none of the issues that the Kobo app does..Version: 9.6.1
✓ Not worth itWould have been good if you can make notes or high light... def the half word on the next page is a downer... cant print out pages either. Was not worth the money buying ebook on here!.Version: 9.12.2
✓ Highlighting glitchThis app is decent but when I’m trying to highlight words the whole thing freezes and makes me want to throw this stupid thing through a wall!!! It freezes when I want to highlight more than one word 🙄 also spams when you’re at the words right on the edge of the right side of the pages. To pick the colour also you’ve got to click EXACTLY where the tiny circle is otherwise you’ve got to highlight the whole thing again..Version: 9.20
✓ Kobo appWon’t open the books I have ordered :/. Edit: Found a fix, bought the book on Apple Books and it worked first time even jumping to the exact page I left the book at on my other devices..Version: 9.32.3
✓ Terrible. repurchased elsewhere insteadPurchased two books. Had to download the whole first book again 2GB (which took about a day) then the second book keeps failing.. after 5 further attempted downloads I’m still unable to get half way into my book. Not to mention it’s used about 15GB of my data - awesome.... No reply from kobo. Went and repurchased the book in audiobooks - a much more functional & friendly app & I can finally finish my book! The End..Version: 9.19
✓ App needs workWorst problem is that there aren’t enough speed options. If you spend half your life listening to audiobooks like I do being able to vary the speed depending on the story, the reader, the quality of the book is crucial. The Kobo app goes from 1.0 speed then jumps to 1.25. then 1.5. Clearly the people who designed the app have never listened to audiobooks! Secondly the file size is far far too big. 1.3 GB for a 9 hour book is nuts. On Audible the file size would be less than a quarter of that. I’ve had to delete things off my phone because kobo tells me it doesn’t have enough space. Using the app was an extremely frustrating experience. Otherwise I appreciate the range of books, including some titles Audible does not have due to the maddening and bizarre world of global copyright which which is frustrating when you’re happy to pay for a book but you can’t access it easily..Version: 9.15
✓ How dare they? 😡Recent updates of the App place themselves on the shelf of my iPad—iPad Air 2, iOS 11.2 in the section which normally dynamically displays the last three apps used. Delete that icon and you delete the app from your device. You can copy it, but who wants a copy of it elsewhere? It shouldn’t be fixed there in the first place. If I could give zero stars for this app, I would. I am deleting it. Goodbye Kobo, I’ve enjoyed some of the books I’ve read, but I’ll move over to other systems that respect my right to choose what goes where on my devices!.Version: 9.2.1
✓ Annotations gone :/Update: Support is very responsive and really try to help, however, they couldn’t resolve the technical issue with the app. The biggest one was when my annotations disappeared. Smaller one constantly loosing bookmark. The support promptly refunded the cost of the book. But I am a little scared to buy an e-reader or more books as I use these to create summaries. Really preferred to get kobo e-reader, but for me it had some technical glitches, which are sadly deal breaker, that hopefully can be worked out in the future The overall app is well designed, but the issues bring it down to two stars.Version: 10.1.3
✓ Terrible servicePaid over $30 for a book that I can’t view, sent. Various emails had nothing in return!!! Going back to kindle and iBooks want a refund!.Version: 9.9
✓ Amazing AppI am an avid reader, and love audio books. This app is simple to use, the online list of books is inexhaustible, and to top it all off, they have great, great deals on premium audio books. Ive listened to hundreds of hours at this point, but I have encountered a problem. Randomly, my books have begun to stop playing, and I get this message “something went wrong, please try again”. Which... for an app where I have products that I BOUGHT is very discouraging. So I went to their help line at the site, and did the recommended actions- Clear local history, log out, log back in. Which works, but A) It’s annoying to re-download my books and B) the problem comes back after about 5 hours of listening. Now, again I say that this is an AMAZING app for listening and reading books. Really cant beat the price on their audio books bundle option. But what brought me to write the review was the hopes that the developers see my issue and can fix it! Im changing to 5 stars if an update comes out in the future addressing my issues. Thank you for reading, and I hope you have great adventures in many books to come!.Version: 9.15
✓ Not easy to get aroundSpent over an hour trying to purchase and download two books. Getting back to my library is impossible on one device and have to go to another to do this. Not as good as Apple and Kindle is way way ahead, both Apple and Kindle are very easy to follow. Came to Kobo as the books I wanted were a lot cheaper. Wish I hadn’t bothered and bought elsewhere. Cannot even open an account as I am informed that this is unavailable at present so had to join and sign in via Google..Version: 9.19
✓ Useless interfaceI have been using kobo for years and always found it hard to get along with but the latest iPhone app is almost unusable when it comes to downloading a book. I have spent 15 mins trying to find a method to buy a book but can’t do it. The interface has recently changed and I can’t find a way to get to the book store. This is crazy. Go to help, select “learn how to purchase” all you get is “You can buy direct from the kobo store”. Well that is helpful. How do I go to the kobo bookstore on an iPhone? Nothing in the home screen. Search takes me to a preview only if the book I want..Version: 10.4.1
✓ WorthlessYou purchase a book and cannot download it!!! Adrian de Graaf.Version: 9.9
✓ TerribleToo buggy for words…..why the hell is there no downgrade option back to a working version? You released a product before it was ready….the other question is why are we being held prisoner by the App Store with no ability to choose the version we want. Very poor work. I will be investigating moving to another platform….oh and by the way, don’t bother relying here Kobo, that ‘I can reach out’ to you…I already have…you are incapable or unwilling to give us the solution… (the previous working version)..Version: 10.2
✓ Poor download proceduresBought three books for a long trip. Went to read but they were not downloaded. So pushed Download button, first problem, if you don’t stare at the screen “download failed” message won’t be seen. This message box should stay until acknowledgment. Second problem, the button went to “Read” but hey nothing downloaded, so stuck there until closing the window. Next issue go back to download to try again but just hangs no message either. Fourth in order to try again you actually need to reboot the iPAD. So other than the procedure issues it appears that you can’t download everywhere in the world. That is disappointing. I don’t have any download issues with Kindle, even in China..Version: 9.14
✓ FrustratedI purchased 4 books total and when I open them they are not the right content. Langs Return of the Morgan’s Run series is Kyles Journey when I open it. Really wanted to read the second one so I decided to buy books 1-3 the same night. Well when I opened them it was 4-6!!!! So frustrated!!!! Chatted with one person and they said someone would get back to me and they didn’t. Tried to call today and you aren’t accepting calls. I then tried to chat with someone else and in order to get help I had to sign up for a free trial assistance thing, of which I’m not going to do. There has got to be a better way to help people. Ive used this site for a while now and have not had problems but now that I have, customer service is very poor. Definitely need phone service to be better help for your clients..Version: 9.23
✓ Please fix this new version!I loved using my Kobo app for iPad for years and years, but with this newest version, you have really messed things up. Page turning is now more of a challenge, as you’ve moved the page turning points to the top of the page, which is also where you bookmark a page, and once you manage to get the top ”dock” to come down with all of your options (and this, too, is a challenge), you can’t get it go back up unless you close book and come back, or touch persistently near the middle of the page … which then prevents you from getting the top dock to come back down! Oh, and when you close a book, the app tries to change orientation on you to its default portrait orientation. <sigh> All in all, this version is quite wonky and needs some real work. Sorry for the sarcasm, but my initial reaction to this update is “Thanks for making my latest reading session a thoroughly frustrating experience.” 👎.Version: 10.0
✓ Yesterday, Five Stars. Today, I’d give negative if I could.I don’t write reviews (this is my first one), but I am livid at the last update on this app. I’ve been a Kobo customer for over a decade (i.e., since I was forced to become a Kobo customer when Kobo bought out Sony reader—so, yes, I’ve been a customer for a long time). I’ve generally been happy, but this last update has single-handedly lost me as a customer. It’s unnavigable. Literally, you can’t read a book—unless you want to read the same page over and over. You can’t even change to the next page successfully, let alone do something like change font size or (heaven forbid!) check a footnote. I have hundreds of books purchased through Kobo and I’m now looking at going through another book app. When your “update” means a reader can’t even successfully navigate to the next page, you’re going to lose customers. And you lost one here..Version: 10.1.3
✓ Good appI like the app but books are a little expensive. I was going to down load a book called breadcrumbs but it cost 7.somthing dollars 💵 then I looked online and found it for a whole dollar cheaper. I still read previews for books then decide if I want them. Some books are cheaper though. All the free book are not suitable for all younger readers..Version: 9.0.1
✓ Communication failI bought a book online but was unable to download it or open it. The online support was no help and I could not ring anyone to help me resolve this problem. Am very unhappy.Version: 9.16
✓ Bug needs to be fixedHi, I’m a big fan of your reader and software. Of late though, the iOS app has a bug. I’m on an iPhone 13Pro with the app updated and everytime I log back in to commence reading, the page is blank white. I can turn the pages, but they have no text. I have to press back to go out of the book, but then when I go back into the book it takes me to the beginning of the chapter that I’m on. Please fix..Version: 10.0
✓ Frustratingly useless appAbsolutely terrible. This app is so frustrating to use. Many times I have seen a book I would love to purchase but unable to. It should be a simple easy process as this is what the app suggests it does. But it doesn’t and there’s always an excuse. Well I’m done. Thanks but no thanks..Version: 9.22
✓ Taken direct debit after I cancelled accountThis account was cancelled 28th last month and you have taken money out of my bank account after I cancel account on app not happy I want a refund back to my account asap Still no help spent most of my evening repeating the same thing to four different agents on line a n still they have taken money out of my account after I cancelled it weeks ago DISGUSTING company When I asked for a number they told me to ring America This company has made contact with me a few days ago and still nothing has been has been done Fed up with repeating my self.Version: 10.1.4
✓ Clunky on an iPadI don’t find this an improvement on the previous version, wished I hadn’t updated. I use it on an iPad Pro, feel clunky, menu at the top of the page can be hard to open up. Page swipe sometimes goes in the wrong direction. For me this is a step backwards and I’m disappointed with it. I’ve had to reinstall on a number of occasions as it will open with a blank page and nothing then works, hence I have to delete the App and startover..Version: 10.1.4
✓ Horrible Kobo ExperienceI was given a free ebook via Times+. I simply had to download Kobo app, create an account, ensure that the app was open when I redeemed the offer. Simple! Except it isn’t. After the thick end of 20minutes spent following the steps, including the dreaded input email address twice and create password stage, the offer appears to have expired. Even though it is dated until 4th August. Life is too short for this silliness. App deleted and mental note to self to not darken the Kobo shop doorway again. No doubt it all works fine for others, but I’ll stick to paid for books from real bookshops thanks..Version: 9.35
✓ Just keeps getting worse….So the new update was supposed to fix a number of bugs but nope. Still finding that it cuts off the ends of some chapters, but not in any consistent manner. The page turning response has been inconsistently bad. Sometimes turns the page, sometimes doesn’t. Just this evening as I went to switch to the dark mode, everything but the actual page turned dark. Still missing the cyan page colour. Still wish I could have the previous version back. Unfortunately, I have too many books to give up on it completely..Version: 10.5.1
✓ Not a patch on Kindle/AudibleHaving gotten used to the fabulous function between the Kindle e-reader app and Audible, whereby the two sync with each other such that no matter which app on which device you are always at your most recent bookmark, I am incredulous that this app doesn’t match the competition. There is also Kobo’s dogged refusal to download a whole Audiobook such that halfway through your journey, out of internet/wifi range, your story stops mid-sentence. And there’s nothing you can do about it. Another problem Audible doesn’t lob you with..Version: 9.19
✓ Missing basic featuresNo app wide dark mode. When your whole app is white and black, how do you not have a native dark mode option!? No default ebook settings. Can’t import books from files. Sure I understand there’s no store access, but could i at least be able to browse and create a wish list!? And be able to tailor the recommended books to what i want to look for. Free books have no filters or search function. Doesn’t sync added files from app to desktop. I can understand not wanting to host the file data, but i should at least be able to see that I’ve added a file to my account, and maybe where it is. Why two stars? It opens books way faster than kindle and there isn’t a lot UI bloat. Homepage is customizable. It looks sleek, but like, there’s just nothing to do. I really want to like it and get away from the rainforest, but it’s just so… empty. (Most if this also applies to the PC app. Like seriously, I can’t add files to ‘my ebooks’ in preparation for my kobo to arrive!?).Version: 10.4.1
✓ Getting worse not betterI enjoy reading and have loved having my books available on the Kobo app on my iPhone but lately there have been so many bugs it is frustrating when I try and read a book. Maybe the kobo readers are not having issues and if that is the case I would prefer going back to a basic app for iPhone that works rather than any of the new features..Version: 10.2
✓ FrustratedI have used the kobo book app for years. It has always been my favorite reading app but in the last few updates they messed up the algorithm or something. It doesn’t remember where you have read to it glitches back to a previous spot so many times that you can’t get through the book. A few days ago I had to refind my spot about 20 times in one day. I spent so much time finding my spot I hardly read a single chapter. It continues to go back to the beginning of a chapter even if you are half or almost done with a chapter. Then if you have passed that chapter it will skip ahead or to a previous spot. It’s been so bad today again I have opened it up to be on the wrong spot at least 7times. 🤨🤬.Version: 10.2
✓ UnreliableI like to listen to books while I fall asleep and I always set a 30 minute sleep timer. One time it turned off and I thought “that couldn’t possibly be 30 minutes already” and when I looked, it was still counting down. It had only been 15 minutes. I tried to press play to start the audiobook again and it would play for a split second then pause again. Over and over I tried it but would only ever play a split second until I fully exited and closed the app and restarted. If that isn’t happening then sometimes it ignores the sleep timer all together. 2 nights in a row it didn’t stop after the 30 minute sleep timer. I woke up hours later and my audiobook was still going. The first time it happened I thought maybe I did forget to set the time but the second night I KNOW it was set. It has happened at least 2 other times since that back-to-back night. I can always scroll back to where I last remember but it’s kind of a pain to be woken up because my audiobook can’t obey a sleep timer..Version: 9.9
✓ New app not so muchI can’t get the new update screen off the app when I open it I’ve tried swiping and pinching screen…help I want to read my book!!.Version: 10.1.3
✓ Leave ‘em wanting more...Is there anything more frustrating than being denied the last hour of your audiobook? Probably, but this is still really frustrating!! 59 minutes away from the end and the app tells me I have to finish downloading the book in order to keep listening. This download is unending! I try removing the app, turning my phone off and on, signing out than back in, removing the book from my list and then reinstating it, but nothing is fixing the issue. I just want to finish my book! Thank goodness this was a trial book..Version: 9.15
✓ Cant find my books. Would not have upgraded but forced to.Cant find my books. Would not have upgraded but forced to..Version: 9.0.2
✓ The new updateThe new update is glitchy. The app stops responding after some time and just gets stuck..Version: 10.1.3
✓ Doesn’t Hold up to KindleI usually use my actual Kindle, sometimes my Kindle app, but downloaded this to read a Kobo exclusive. It just does not hold up to the features I like on my Kindle, such as changing the “page count” view to show either the page number you’re on, percentage of book you’re through, or time left in either chapter or book (which I use the most and this doesn’t seem to have that option at all). Also when I switch out of the app and go back later it often freezes and the page is blank and I have to completely close out the app and reopen it. If you navigate to another part of the book, you can’t always easily get back to where you left off reading (hope you remember what page you were on!). I wanted to give this a good shot but it just doesn’t compare to Kindle..Version: 9.31
✓ When?Application is great but until they fix their issue with IOS 13 it will be a 1 rating. I haven’t bought a book since this problem came up. I want to be able to read my books on my IPad and or IPhone.Version: 9.18
✓ Designed by committee, not for readersThe Kobo app seems like a perfect showcase for why kobo is not now and unfortunately won’t be the leader in the ebook world. Font selection and control is basic and finicky. Even after a decade of iPads and tablets, it has no support for showing two pages side by side in landscape — holding your iPad in landscape just shows you one long horizontal page, as if that’s how anyone reads. Every few years, I need to replace my eink reader and I take a look at what’s out there. A companion app where I can pick up my book is essential, and the kobo app remains a millstone around its platform’s neck. It’s a shame, because I — and I’m sure lots of voracious readers — would love to switch from platforms like Amazon’s kindle..Version: 9.25
✓ Lots of glitchesI admit my favorite reading app is the Apple Book app, followed by the Kindle app, which I would rate as a 4 out of 5. My rating is based on comparing my experiences with Kobo against the other two apps. I also read primarily nonfiction. In black background mode the text is very faint. Highlighting text takes too many steps and doesn’t cross pages. I also have to be extremely precise with my finger to highlight and too often, the last word is cut off in the highlighting. Opening footnotes also finicky. Adding notes is a terrible experience, too. The GUI doesn’t show the text where I am adding a note and the note space at the same time. It is a frustrating app to use and detracts from my reading enjoyment. I’m not even sure my local bookstore received any benefit from my purchase through the app..Version: 9.22
✓ Lost everything!!I’m now super angry with this app!! First it would let me download my pre purchased book to find out it won’t even let me download a free book. To signing out to hopefully re connect or something but lost everything!!!! Grrrrrrr I just want to read my book!!!!!.Version: 9.14
✓ Weird tech issuesSolid reader. Never sign out, though! It does warn you that logging out will remove all your downloads. It does not warn you that, after signing out, there is no option to sign back in! I signed out because, after I spent $25 on a new audiobook, the app told me it could not update my library. I thought signing out and back in might fix it. Now I seem to have none of my books, since - again - there is no “sign in” option! Update: Deleting the app and reinstalling it allowed me to log in again and update my library. Still frustrating that there was no in-app way to easily sign out and then sign back in..Version: 9.32.2
✓ App IssuesSince the app update over two weeks ago, I am unable to adjust the text size on books I have imported myself through iTunes and the text size is tiny! Also the widget doesn’t work at all. I have contacted kobo support and was told ‘we are aware of the issues and you’ll have to wait for a future release to fix the problems, but there isn’t a timeframe for this!’ I have been using the Kindle app and hoping for a release to correct these issues but I’m now thinking of transferring my reading over to Kindle permanently. It’s a shame as I did like Kobo - you would think that when an update causes issues, they would be sorting out a release asap to correct the faults and not simply telling you there isn’t a timeframe for an update..Version: 9.30.1
✓ Fix the app !Latest version at the time of writing this review is a disaster. Every time I leave the app and then come back it’s just a black screen. There’s nothing that can be done. The only way to get it working again is restarting my phone. Also as others have noticed, problems with font/font size randomly changing. It’s a mess. It wasn’t like this before so something went terribly wrong in the last update..Version: 10.1.4
✓ Smooth app, poor supportApp seems to work well and I realize that with Apple changing the rules that "in app" purchases are not allowed. Unfortunately, during my first purchase, whilst I was able to spend my money on a book, I have since been unable to download it after several hours and attempts. I am a technophile and a book-lover and was hoping this would meld the two. As I have yet to buy a paper book, with over 1300 books at home, that I am unable to open and read this is definitely a turn-off. Sharpen up guys. You are meant to represent the cutting edge of easy-to-use tech but you failed this one..Version: 5.0.1
✓ Why can’t I purchase a book😖Rubbish, there is no option to purchase books..Version: 9.26
✓ Not great, to be honestNot terrible, but not great either. - takes a good number of taps and navigating to make notes or to find then - options to change fonts, line spacing and margins is limited (unlike on my h2o, where there are a lot of options) - background color choice is very limited, and text color cannot be changed - bugy: i get notified that i have opened my book on another device when i know i have not. another time my book got marked as read half way through without me intending to do it. and a couple of suggestions: - how about a setting that would allow the reader to keep page numbers regardless of font size. say a particular book is 200 pages in print. i would like the option to have those pages marked on my e reader as well. this 100% system of marking progress is really clumsy. - i would also like the option to read while holding my device in a way that my finger rests on the screen without highlights or notes or other helpful things popping up. there could be a way to activate and deactivate it easily - say by long pressing in one corner of the screen, and while activated, the device would only react to a gesture to turn the page, which would be elaborate enough so it would not be activated by accident... - changing font size would be nicer using buttons to incrementally increase/decrease. the current slider is clumsy and not as effective. doubt this will be read or considered by a human, but on an off chance.. good luck!.Version: 9.13.2
✓ Update 10.0 needs to be eliminatedI have been using the Kobo app for years and have over 2,000 books on it. I was reading and a notification popped up showing Kobo updated and is now using a new bar across the top of the page similar to Kindle. This would not be an issue as I also have books on my Kindle app and am familiar with using it. When the update returned to the page I was reading there was NO BAR (allowing font change, background color change, brightness change, etc.) ANYWHERE ON THE PAGE!!! I have tried touching the center of the screen (and all over the screen) which would normally bring up this help bar - absolutely nothing happens! I am able to turn the page by sliding left or right across the top of the screen and occasionally the bookmark pops up. I am unable to close the current book, access the Home Screen, etc., etc. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM EXTREMELY DISPLEASED WITH THIS UPDATE AS I AM NO LONGER ABLE TO ACCESS A LIBRARY OF OVER 2,000 BOOKS PURCHASED THROUGH KOBO!!! Please correct this very large issue ASAP. Any further ebook purchases I make will be through Kindle until this issue is corrected!! FYI: I am using an IPhone 6S to run this application and it is current on updates..Version: 10.0
✓ Poor AppThis app is plagued with problems. I am currently reading a book that always reverts to chapter 2. I have to memorise where I signed off each time. This is just the latest issue for months I could not get the app to show text when accessing it. I would have given up except I have invested in an extensive book collection. I use kindle and audible books when this app does not work. The authors of this app should be taken out and sacked!.Version: 10.2
✓ Errors that force the app to be deletedThe app has had fatal glitches where it won’t longer work and needs to be un and then reinstalled and all downloaded files are lost, otherwise app is fantastic. But that waste of data and time isn’t excusable. Second time reviewing, received bad customer service twice about an error their system created (it somehow removed an E book I paid for and after 3 hours with customer service they were not able to arrest the issue. There isn’t a way to efficiently fully download a book if you are going to be leaving reception (you have to keep going back to it opening it up where it ends for it to resume downloading. Otherwise all else is fine.Version: 10.1.4
✓ A Class Action Lawsuit Waiting To HappenThere are three major E-book readers and services in English - Kindle, Nook, and Kobo. Kobo is my choice of the three and I've used it for a number years now and have LOTS of experience with it. The biggest problem Kobo is there are many, many, many duplicate entries in its book database, where the exact same edition of the same book is listed two or even more times, frequently with different prices. What if you happen to buy a more expensive instance of a particular book? Well, unless you catch it and demand the difference in price be returned to you, Kobo will happily pocket your extra money. For years and years they have let this go on and on and take no discernible action against this fraudulent practice even though they could and should easily fix the problem quickly. Its like Kobo is just so negligent they won't bother to fix their issues until forced to by a lawsuit. It's a class action lawsuit just waiting to happen..Version: 9.24.1
✓ I cannot payIt is hopeless.Version: 9.12.2
✓ Instability of Kobo AppI am having to delete and reload this app two to three times DAILY just to read the books that I have already purchased. I won’t purchase any more and will stop using Kobo.Version: 10.1.4
✓ Complete works of T E LawrenceCan’t download all of the book.Version: 9.32.3
✓ Better audiobook playback speeds and sleep timer neededGenerally okay app but desperately need more audiobook speeds; having nothing between 1x speed and 1.25x speed is so frustrating. 1.1x and 1.2x speed would be a lovely option. Also being able to choose the exact length of time for the sleep timer would be really helpful - having no option shorter than 15 minutes is infuriating, being able to set it to 3 or 7 or 12 minutes or however many I want would be a godsend - not being able to do this is something that makes me want to use audible instead, but I’d rather not have to do that..Version: 9.35
✓ Give us continuous scrollingEver since the most recent update the app has been super glitchy. First time I open the app the screen is completely blank so I have to close and reopen it. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling like the article suggested but that didn’t work. Can’t figure out how to contact support. Super bummer. Look I love Kobo and I love that I can support my local indie with Kobo and the Kobo app is definitely better than the Libby app, but this is not the best reading app and I just want continuous scrolling. It is so much easier to use while reading on a phone. Every time this app updates I hope that it will now have continuous scrolling and it does not. Dear lord please I beg you..Version: 10.1.3
✓ WHERE ARE MY BOOKS???I deleted the app for a short while and when I got re-downloaded it using my same account, the 15 books I purchased earlier were no longer there. I’m not getting any assistance in retrieving them. I am very upset. Horrible!.Version: 9.19
✓ Suddenly cannot access books - no customer serviceHave been a Kobo customer for more than ten years with a large library of ebooks. A few months ago I tried to access my books, as per normal, through the app and they were showing a content error. This happened on every single book (‘customer support’ made me check every title). I have now been back and forth to customer support for almost 2 months trying to sort this out and they keep telling me the same thing by different people: delete the app, re-download the app, update the app, repair the app, delete the title (it’s every title), re-download the title, check your settings. They keep telling me to do the exact same thing over and over and I am getting nowhere. I will never spend another dollar on Kobo books or products. I have wasted thousands of dollars and have no support from their so-called customer support team..Version: 10.4.1
✓ Crashes and resets pagesStill having issues with app crashing while trying to read. When re-entering the app, it takes me back 20-50 pages from where I left off..Version: 10.2.1
✓ Confusing appI find it strange that you have created an app where one is unable to buy books from ? For example you have a Wishlist feature on the app but you are unable to search for books to add - apart from the free books that you can choose from. At least add a link to a website that one can purchase books from ? Very clunky to use and limited functionality..Version: 9.30.1
✓ Newest app update is crap!Persistent problems ever since recent update. Doesn’t remember page after closing and returning. Pages missing at end of chapters. I think this has been going on far too long, and kobo should consider rolling back to previous version..Version: 10.2.1
✓ Lost the incentive to use this product.July 2022 Still unable to use and I now have a new iPhone and iPad. I have tried signing in via Apple, Facebook and directly with no luck. As I have audible books now which can only be listened to on the app, I am extremely annoyed. Help is unhelpful, though they do try. After a day of PC aggravation I was finally able to get the website up by installing chrome, as edge would not open the website. I am downloading all my books to a hard drive to be on the safe side as I have lost faith in this website. As I still cannot use either my iPad or iPhone app to open kobo and read my recently purchased books, I am not feeling very impressed. This used to be my second favourite website to purchase books but every time we have an update I find it harder to use. Some will find this a great app but after using this for years, I have had problems for the last 12-18 months and am tired of spending time sorting out other peoples ideas of improvement. I use my PC and apps on my apple iPhone and iPad..Version: 9.35
✓ KoboNew version very slow to load and even has to reload every time you put it down. Very annoying. Very finicky turning pages. Old version had it’s problems but wasn’t this frustrating..Version: 10.5.1
✓ Slow narration unbearableI’ve downloaded a few and heard the samples of several others and they all seem to narrate so slowly. I don’t have this problem with Audible where the narrators seem to have better pace on the whole. I don’t know I there’s a direction to do this or if it’s just chance with those I’ve picked, but I’m not enjoying hearing the stories. 1.25 speed is a better pace, but sounds a bit wrong..Version: 9.14
✓ App still sucks 6 years laterWhen I close my iPad or fall asleep while reading, the app closes the book and no longer remembers where I was! How useless, I know it did not have this issue like three years ago, so why has the app regressed to be so inconvenient it should have gotten better not worse!.Version: 10.2.1
✓ Not as good as the e-readersI have owned Kobo e-readers for many years and have been very satisfied. The iPad app, however, leaves something to be desired and makes reading and annotating frustrating. Specific criticisms: (1) Highlighting and other annotations do not sync with the e-reader. I’m not a software engineer, but would think that in 2020, annotations should sync. I highlight books frequently, and am frustrated that if I do not have my Kobo device and read on my phone or iPad, the highlighting will not sync. (2) Text selection does not work well. If I try to select specific text in order to highlight it, it frequently will not select a full word when I lift my finger off the screen. Although the selection has “handles,” suggesting that the selection can be modified, the handles do not work. If you try to touch or drag the handles, the selection disappears and you have to try again, more often than not with the same works fine on the e-reader. (3) Unable to select text across page breaks. On the e-reader this is possible. On the phone/tablet apps, it is not..Version: 9.16.1
✓ Poor customer service. Took away my purchases.I had a subscription which purchased me book credits, but because of COVID and the scare of income loss, I canceled my subscription after a year of having it. Because of the world issues, Reading was the last thing on my mind, so when I recently decided to use my last two credit, I found they took my credits away. I talked with customer service and they were very unkind saying that that’s the agreement and they couldn’t change it. Being the most subscription companies have been kind to offer half price or even free services during this time, I don’t see how they could just not reinstate my two credits. This is stealing. I purchased the credits. This is 2020 and we live in a technological age. They could just reinstall it, but they refused I do not recommend KOBO at all..Version: 9.19
✓ Cannot Open BooksAfter the iOS 13.1 update, the Kobo app will not open most books..Version: 9.14
✓ Needs FixingI have contacted Kobo, and I am sure this issue will be fixed but... when readers stop reading a book the next time you want to read it you have to download it. This means that the app is pretty useless once you leave home..Version: 9.4.2
✓ Misleading “unabridged” audiobook descriptionsMy son has a learning/reading disability and really needs audio narration to accompany his reading (he reads along while the book is being read aloud). I can no longer read aloud to him due to medical issues/surgeries, leaving me with a severe speech impediment and pain after prolonged speaking. Audiobooks have been an incredible help for him. Came across Rakuten/Kobo and purchased one audiobook which was fine, but our second purchase - the book details listed “unabridged”. Turned out that the “audiobook” was just a radio show performance and was not the full book - it was just the dialogue and skipped over the majority of the book. Worse part - found out that the radio performance of the book is available online on public archives?!? The book details and description this app/company used was incredibly misleading - feel cheated..Version: 9.14
✓ No syncing between ereader and mobile appLazy devs can’t be bothered to implement the most basic features that have been on their competitor platforms for years.Version: 9.32.1
✓ Doesn’t sync wellThis app never seems to update with books I’m reading on my kobo e reader.. so if all I have with me is my phone while out, I cannot continue reading the book I’m reading at the time. Having said that my kobo e reader itself is fantastic and syncs books from overdrive very quickly and easily..Version: 9.31
✓ Really difficult to useI am finding this app really difficult to use to buy books. I have asked it how to do this but the reply was in no way helpful. Am beginning to think the struggle is not worth it when there are other places which are easier to use. Now I have received help to buy books feeling more positive about this app although still think it is not as easy to navigate as some others..Version: 9.22
✓ Kobo reviewI enjoy reading evoke. However, whereas I used to get a heads up if I had already read a book that I was about to purchase, I no longer receive this, which has resulted in my purchasing several individual books, that I have already bought, and two days ago, purchasing a 3 book series where I had read two of the three..Version: 9.18
✓ Just ok!The best part of this website is that they have books that were written along time ago. If you’re looking to read the entire Harry Bosch series you’ll find it here. It’s not cheap! One credit equals $10, but in the scheme of things many websites are higher. My biggest complaint is that you can’t bookmark your location. If you don’t screenshot where you are before you close your app you may have to search for your place in the book. My next complaint is that you have to purchase in one app or website and read in another. It’s annoying! I try to use their service as little as possible!.Version: 9.32.1
✓ What happened to my books?Haven't read on kobo for a while and when I tried I was informed I had none! Can't remember my password but there seems to be no option for recovering it. Are my books lost?.Version: 9.4.2
✓ Will get 5 stars when audiobooks stop sporadically skipping chaptersAudiobooks continue to randomly skip chapters in this version. It's not often, which I assume is why they haven't caught this bug yet, but it's incredibly annoying when driving long distances and to miss a few chapters. This is especially bad when you don't notice it until a character references an event that you thought hadn't happened yet... It gets you paranoid. Is the author messing with me? Did time skip in the story? Or did the audiobook reader skip ahead? How many chapters have I missed? What was the last chapter I clearly remember listening to? Annoying!.Version: 9.6.2
✓ KoboSpent a lot of money in downloads to have them all disappear. Don’t put anything on here that you don’t want to keep, like knitting patterns.Version: 9.5.2
✓ It’s okayI am using my iPad and not a actual kobo… I can’t buy anything from the app I have to go online or on my lap top to do any purchases… a little annoying.Version: 10.5.1
✓ Kobo appTerrible app. I keep losing it. That is, touch a book I’m reading and I get a blank page. I wish I had bought my books on kindle..Version: 10.1.4
✓ New interfaceI hate it. Put it back to the old version. I miss the reading bar at the top and moving to the next page only works half the time. The “new” version took away the feature i liked and was use to. NOT an improvement..Version: 10.5.1
✓ Something is wrongSomething is wrong with this latest update. Page turns are slow.Version: 10.5.1
✓ Better book info pretty please?I do love reading on the Kobo app. What bugs me is that when I want to choose my next book to start on I don’t get all of the information like we do on the website. What am I talking about? I want to know how many pages, read the blurb, see it’s ratings etc. Especially the # of pages... if I want something for a quick read or a long holiday filler I want to know how big a book is. This doesn’t seem to be available anywhere in the app. Currently this app is totally useless. It won’t load any of my downloaded books..Version: 9.30.1
✓ Font minuteNever had a problem until a couple days ago, now however, the font has literally shrunk to the size of fine print on a medical drug side effect label. Trying to resize the font has absolutely no affect. I’ve spent a small fortune with Kobo and I effectively have indecipherable scrawling to show for it. Not impressed..Version: 9.30
✓ Ok app, fair number of issuesIt's nice for reviewing the books i've got, and listening to audiobooks is okay on the app. the stats don't work, though. apparently i've read 129% of my books, though each one takes me- according to the app- six years to finish. the awards do not register or show up, and finding new books outside of the recommended column is for some reason impossible?.Version: 9.14
✓ Blows donkey ballsRecently updated the app and now I can’t purchase books with in the app. Missing a lot of things with this update..Version: 9.4.2
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