Kobo Royalty Calculator
Your earnings per sale on Kobo
Kobo is a major ebook retailer, especially strong in Canada, Europe and among library readers through OverDrive. Through Kobo Writing Life you earn 70% in the main price band. This calculator shows your per-sale earnings and where the rate changes.
How much does Kobo pay authors?
Through Kobo Writing Life, you earn 70% of the list price for ebooks priced roughly between $1.99 and $12.99, and 45% for books priced below that band. So a $4.99 ebook earns about $3.49, while a $0.99 book earns around $0.45. Kobo also runs frequent promotions authors can opt into.
Why publish to Kobo?
Kobo is the leading ebook platform in several markets where Amazon is weaker, including Canada and parts of Europe, and it feeds library lending through OverDrive, which reaches millions of library readers. For authors going wide, Kobo is one of the most valuable non-Amazon stores.
What is Kobo Plus?
Kobo Plus is Kobo's subscription reading service, similar in concept to Kindle Unlimited but not requiring exclusivity. Authors can enrol wide-distributed books and earn from pages read, which makes Kobo attractive to authors who want subscription income without locking themselves to a single retailer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Kobo pay authors?
70% of list for ebooks priced about $1.99 to $12.99, and 45% below that. A $4.99 book earns roughly $3.49.
Is Kobo worth publishing to?
Yes, especially for wide distribution. Kobo leads in Canada and parts of Europe and feeds library lending via OverDrive.
Does Kobo have a subscription like Kindle Unlimited?
Yes, Kobo Plus, and it does not require exclusivity, so you can stay wide and still earn from subscription reads.
Is this free?
Yes, and it runs in your browser.