For those seeking an e-reader capable of purchasing pricey bestsellers from their nearby independent bookstores, the search will inevitably lead to Rakuten’s Kobo eReader. However, this reputation is predominantly founded on obsolete methods for acquiring Kobo titles, which require creating a Kobo account via the websites of the bookstores.

Although a few independent bookstores across the country still maintain Kobo support through this online route, most of that support has diminished over the years. I have found it impossible to obtain e-books for my newly acquired Kobo from any of my cherished local bookstores.

I aim to support these bookstores and prefer not to possess a physical copy of every book I read. Additionally, I favor using an e-reader over an Android or iOS application on a phone or tablet, as e-readers provide extended battery life, digital ink, and anti-glare screens. These features allow me to read comfortably for long periods, even outside, much like a physical book.

One potential solution for Kobo users, which was initially expected in 2025, involved a collaboration with Bookshop.org, an alternative to Amazon that supports local bookstores with each transaction. Bookshop.org currently provides e-books through its mobile application for iOS and Android devices.

That partnership was initially scheduled for 2025, then postponed to 2026, and briefly appeared earlier this year as though it might be delayed indefinitely.

After Bookshop.org modified the language on its webpage regarding Kobo support, changing “2026” to “sometime in the future,” I reached out for a status update.

Bookshop.org’s founder and CEO, Andy Hunter, informed me in an email response that progress with Kobo has now been achieved. The webpage has been revised, indicating that support is anticipated to be launched “later this year.”

“The Kobo integration is something both Kobo and Bookshop.org want to see happen,” Hunter stated.

The delay has stemmed from both business and technical aspects to ensure it is “executed in a manner that respects publisher demands for digital rights management. It took us some time to finalize the business arrangements and allocate the necessary engineering resources,” he clarified.

Hunter, whose company also competes with Amazon by offering physical books, stated that his engineers have been focused on enhancing the mobile app, which was launched approximately 15 months ago.

Their focus is now shifting back to Kobo support, though the timing remains uncertain. “We have recently agreed on business terms with Kobo, and we are confident that the collaboration will occur, but we cannot guarantee a specific launch date until the engineering work is more advanced,” Hunter noted.

Clearly, regardless of whether Bookshop.org successfully establishes Kobo support, Kobo users are not required to acquire all their books from the Japanese-based e-commerce giant Rakuten. Kobo users can access a wide array of digital rights management (DRM)-free titles on their readers, along with a substantial selection (though not all) of library books provided through Overdrive. The independent e-book retailer eBooks.com similarly offers DRM-protected books in a format compatible with Kobo, as they claim.

Another alternative, if your objective is to assist local bookstores through e-book purchases, is to opt for a different e-reader. An Android reader like Boox or Meebook that supports the Google Play app store should be able to download the Bookshop.org app, says the bookseller.

Nevertheless, like many other Kobo owners, I am hopeful for the Bookshop.org integration to come to fruition. Supporting local independent bookstores was my primary motivation for choosing this specific e-reader, as I was misled by my online research (and the assured guidance of ChatGPT).

Now that I have a Kobo Libra Colour, I truly appreciate its reading display, quick response time, and prolonged battery life. I also continue to keep my six-year-old Kindle for the same reasons.

Yet, I have a deep affection for local small-business bookstores, with their personalized suggestions, promotion of local authors, and genuine passion for literature. Here’s hoping that the leading e-commerce platform that champions local shops, Bookshop.org, will soon provide support for the widely used Kobo device, which boasts 12 million users across 190 countries.