Amazon is the most dominant player in the e-reader and e-book space with a commanding lead worldwide. The global number two player is Rakuten Kobo, which also manufactures its digital reading hardware. Kobo has several software-based enhancements that make it easy for users to do things they can’t do on a Kindle. Kobo offers Overdrive/Libby integration, allowing users to attach their digital library card to the reader, browse their local branch’s digital collection, and read books directly on the device. The second central system was Pocket, which is a read-it-later service. Web articles can be sent to the reader and are available to read in a format not dissimilar to an e-book. Mozilla announced that it would shut down Pocket in July, and Kobo users are not happy.
Pocket said in a statement to Good e-Reader, “We’ve made the difficult decision to shut down Pocket on July 8, 2025. Thank you for being part of our journey over the years—we’re proud of the impact Pocket has had for our users and communities. ”
The “read it later” service was a key factor that made Kobo unique in the e-reader space. With it going away, many Kobo users are up in arms and are begging the company for a replacement such as Instapaper, Wallab, Readwise, or a myriad of others. If Kobo does not engage in a new partnership or buy it outright, this will be a severe blow to making Kobo distinct in the market. This could have a cascading effect, where users may even switch to other brands, such as Pocketbook, Tolino, Onyx Boox, or even the dreaded Kindle.
With Pocket being discontinued and no replacement being announced, how will this affect your decision to buy a Kobo for the first time or buy a new one to replace an older model? Did you see Pocket as a service that you used regularly, or did you not use it at all?
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.