5 Best Kindle Alternatives in 2026 After Amazon’s Price Hike

Since Amazon's recent price hike for Kindles, alternative e-readers from Kobo, BOOX, and NOOK have become more attractive to potential buyers. These competitors offer a variety of features that make them appealing, including library borrowing, EPUB support, color screens, note-taking capabilities, and multi-ebook store access.

Kobo has released a $20 promotion on both Clara models, reducing their prices to $139.99 for the Clara BW and $159.99 for the Clara Colour. However, the regular list prices are higher at $159.99 and $179.99, respectively. Kobo's Clara BW, in particular, stands out as an ideal choice for those seeking a straightforward black-and-white e-reader without transitioning to a more closed platform.

Its 6-inch E Ink Carta 1300 display, 16GB storage, adjustable ComfortLight PRO, and IPX8 waterproofing provide features similar to mainstream Kindles. Additionally, Kobo supports various file formats natively, such as EPUB, EPUB3, PDF, MOBI, CBZ, and CBR, and offers built-in library borrowing through OverDrive and Libby.

For those who prefer color displays without paying the high cost of the Kindle Colorsoft, the Kobo Clara Colour emerges as a strong contender. Priced at $159.99, it is $110 less expensive than the new Colorsoft at $289.99. The Clara Colour boasts a 6-inch Kaleido 3 panel display, 16GB storage, IPX8 waterproofing, EPUB support, and library borrowing capabilities. While it lacks stylus support, it is a suitable option for readers who prefer colored covers, illustrations, comics, and highlighting.

The Kobo Libra Colour, priced at $259.99, surpasses the Paperwhite in terms of display size, offering a 7-inch Kaleido 3 panel display and 32GB storage. It also includes physical page-turn buttons, Google Drive and Dropbox integration, and compatibility with the Kobo Stylus 2 for handwritten annotations. Repairability is another advantage of the Libra Colour, as genuine parts are available from iFixit, including the battery and screen assembly.