# Kobo Writing Life

Kobo Writing Life is Rakuten Kobo's free self-publishing platform for ebooks and audiobooks that sells direct to the Kobo store, Kobo Plus and OverDrive libraries.

- Canonical page: https://kdp123.com/t/kobo-writing-life/
- Official site: https://www.kobo.com/writinglife
- Categories: Print & Distribution, Audiobooks
- Price: Free (Free to publish. Ebooks 70% of list price at $2.99 USD or more, 45% below, 20% for public domain. Audiobooks 45% a la carte (35% below the threshold), 32% for subscription tokens.)
- Platforms: web
- Outputs KDP-ready files: Not stated
- Touches your KDP account: No
- Official Amazon product: No
- Last checked: 2026-11-09

## Summary

Kobo Writing Life lets you upload ebooks and audiobooks directly to Kobo, with optional OverDrive library distribution and Kobo Plus, which Kobo says is non-exclusive. It is free to use. Ebooks earn 70% of list price at $2.99 USD or more and 45% below that; audiobooks earn 45% a la carte. Selling the same ebook here conflicts with KDP Select, which requires the enrolled ebook to be exclusive to Amazon.

## Pros

- No exclusivity, and Kobo Plus is non-exclusive too
- OverDrive library distribution from the same dashboard

## Cons

- Ebooks priced under $2.99 USD earn 45%, not 70%
- Reaches Kobo and its partners only, not other ebook stores

## Alternatives

- [Apple Books for Authors](https://kdp123.com/t/apple-books-for-authors/)
- [Google Play Books Partner Center](https://kdp123.com/t/google-play-books-partner/)
- [PublishDrive](https://kdp123.com/t/publishdrive/)

## Sources

- https://www.kobo.com/writinglife
- https://kobowritinglife.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058976032-What-will-my-earnings-be
- https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GD9PMU58BV24QFZ7