The readers that open EPUB files natively, no conversion needed. Kobo, PocketBook and Boox compared.
EPUB is the standard ebook format used by almost every bookstore and library outside Amazon. If most of your books are EPUB files, the easiest life is a reader that opens them directly. Every device in this guide does. If you only want the short version:
Already own a Kindle? You do not need to switch. EPUBKit converts any EPUB for Kindle for free and sends it to your device in one click. This guide is for readers choosing a new device, or who want EPUB with zero conversion.
| Model | Price | Screen | Storage | Waterproof | Color | Library |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kobo Clara BW | around $160 | 6" E Ink Carta 1300, 300 ppi | 16 GB | Yes (IPX8) | No | OverDrive built in |
| Kobo Clara Colour | around $180 | 6" E Ink Kaleido 3 color | 16 GB | Yes (IPX8) | Yes | OverDrive built in |
| Kobo Libra Colour | around $260 | 7" E Ink Kaleido 3 color | 32 GB | Yes (IPX8) | Yes | OverDrive built in |
| Kobo Elipsa 2E | around $400 | 10.3" E Ink Carta 1200 | 32 GB | No | No | OverDrive built in |
| PocketBook Verse Pro | around $170 | 6" E Ink Carta 1200, 300 ppi | 16 GB | Yes (IPX8) | No | Via apps / sideloading |
| PocketBook Era Color | around $230 | 7" E Ink Kaleido 3 color | 32 GB | Yes (IPX8) | Yes | Via apps / sideloading |
| Boox Go 7 | around $250 | 7" E Ink Carta 1300, 300 ppi | 64 GB | No | No | Any Android app (Libby, Kindle, Kobo) |
| Boox Go Color 7 (Gen II) | around $290 | 7" E Ink Kaleido 3 color | 64 GB | No | Yes | Any Android app (Libby, Kindle, Kobo) |
| Boox Palma 2 | around $280 | 6.13" E Ink Carta 1200, 300 ppi | 128 GB | No | No | Any Android app (Libby, Kindle, Kobo) |
Prices are approximate US list prices and vary by country and retailer. Kobo, PocketBook and Boox devices are regularly discounted, so always check the current price.
Best for: Readers who want a small, waterproof EPUB reader with library borrowing at the lowest price.
Check price on AmazonBest for: The cheapest color E Ink reader on the market. Great for book covers, comics and highlights.
Check price on AmazonBest for: Almost everyone. Physical page-turn buttons, color, waterproofing, optional stylus and native EPUB.
Check price on AmazonBest for: Students and note-takers who want a large EPUB reader with a stylus included for annotating.
Check price on AmazonBest for: European readers who want the widest format support (EPUB, PDF, MOBI, FB2, DJVU and more) plus audio.
Check price on AmazonBest for: A color alternative to the Libra Colour with a built-in speaker for audiobooks and no store lock-in.
Check price on AmazonBest for: Power users who want Android: install Kindle, Kobo, Libby and any reading app on one E Ink device.
Check price on AmazonBest for: Same Android freedom as the Go 7, in color, with stylus support for notes.
Check price on AmazonBest for: Readers who want a phone-sized E Ink device that fits in a jeans pocket and runs any app.
Check price on AmazonAll three read EPUB natively, but they are built for different kinds of reader.
Kobo is the closest thing to a Kindle that opens EPUB. It has its own bookstore, a subscription service (Kobo Plus), OverDrive library borrowing built into the device, and the hardware is polished, waterproof and repairable. If you want something that just works, start here.
PocketBook is the European favorite. It has no strong store of its own, which is exactly the point: it supports more file formats than anyone else (EPUB, PDF, MOBI, FB2, DJVU, CBZ and more), has a built-in speaker for audiobooks, and never pushes you toward a shop. Ideal if your library is already on your computer.
Boox devices run full Android on an E Ink screen. That means you can install the Kindle app, the Kobo app, Libby for library books and any other reader, all on one device. The trade-off is that they are not waterproof, the software is less polished, and battery life is shorter than on a dedicated reader.
Get the Kobo Libra Colour, or the Clara BW if you want to spend less. OverDrive is built in, so you sign in with your library card once and borrow directly from the device.
Get a PocketBook Verse Pro or Era Color. Drag your files over USB or send them by email and they just open, whatever the format.
Get a Boox Go 7. It is the only kind of reader that runs the Kindle app and reads EPUB on the same screen, so you never have to pick a side.
Get a Kobo Libra Colour or Boox Go Color 7. Both use the same Kaleido 3 color panel; the Kobo is simpler and waterproof, the Boox runs any comic app you like.
Get the Kobo Elipsa 2E. The 10.3-inch screen fits a full page, the stylus is included, and your notes export as EPUB-friendly files.
Get the Boox Palma 2. It is the size of a phone, with an E Ink screen, 128 GB and any reading app you want. The Kobo Clara BW is the dedicated-reader alternative.
Kindle is the best-selling eReader in the world and has excellent hardware, but it is the one brand that does not open EPUB files directly. That is not a reason to rule it out: converting an EPUB to Kindle's AZW3 format takes a few seconds with EPUBKit's free converter, and the file can be sent straight to your Kindle wirelessly.
If you are deciding between the two ecosystems, our Kindle vs Kobo comparison goes through stores, formats and library support in detail, and our Best Kindle devices guide covers every current Kindle model.
Kobo, PocketBook, Boox, Tolino and Nook all read EPUB natively. Kindle is the only major brand that does not, although you can convert EPUB to AZW3 for free with EPUBKit.
For most people, the Kobo Libra Colour: native EPUB, page-turn buttons, waterproofing, color and library borrowing built in. On a budget, the Kobo Clara BW. For maximum flexibility, a Boox Go 7 running Android.
Yes. Kobo devices have OverDrive built in, so you can borrow directly on the device. Boox devices run Android and can install the Libby app. PocketBook readers accept library EPUB files loaded via Adobe Digital Editions or sideloading.
For EPUB files, yes: Kobo opens them directly, Kindle does not. Kindle still has the larger store and tighter Amazon integration, and converting EPUB for Kindle takes seconds with EPUBKit, so either works depending on where you buy your books.
Kobo, PocketBook and Tolino support Adobe DRM EPUB, the kind sold by most non-Amazon bookstores and libraries. Boox devices can read them through Android apps. DRM-free EPUB files work on all of them.