Comparison of eBook flat rates

eBook flat rates are practical and are becoming increasingly popular. In this comparison, we present the most well-known providers of eBook flat rates.

1. eBook flat rate from Skoobe

Skoobe is a German provider of eBook flat rates. The eBook rental company founded by some major German publishers in 2010 has been asserting itself on the electronic book market for several years now.

• Books: The range includes over 170, 000 books, the majority in German. Most eBooks come from the house of the founders, such as Holtzbrinck and Bertelsmann. There are also more than 50, 000 foreign language titles.
• Selection: The largest categories are fiction, non-fiction, advice and children & youth.
• Read offline: In offline mode you can read for different lengths of time depending on the selected subscription. The range extends from 24 hours to 30 days. If the offline time has expired, you have to go online briefly and then continue reading offline undisturbed.
• Loan restrictions: Skoobe allows you to read as many books as you like. However, only a certain number at a time, which is between three and fifteen books.
• Costs: Depending on the membership - Skoobe offers three subscription models - it costs you around 10 to 20 euros per month.
• Testing: In addition to a test phase, Skoobe also offers special offers, such as the first month at half price or the first 30 days of free membership via an invitation code.
• Notice period: You can cancel at any time. Your reading stands will remain intact even after you cancel.
• Readers: You can read Skoobe eBooks on iPhone and iPad as well as on Android devices and Kindle Fire.

2. Onleihe eBook flat rate

You can get a slightly different e-flat rate from the divibib GmbH online loan - the abbreviation stands for "digital virtual library". The online library, which has been in existence since 2005, is the digital branch of your library.

• Books: How many books you can access depends on which library you are signed in to.
• Selection: From the non-fiction book to the children's book you will find everything, just like in the real library.
• Read offline: In the online library you can download the borrowed eBooks and then read them offline.
• Limitation of borrowing: In the online loan, the "borrowing time" for an eBook is generally a maximum of 14 days. When the time has run out, the eBook is automatically deleted. The number of books to borrow at the same time depends on your library.
• Costs: The costs vary from library to library. All you have to do is apply for a library card and pay the corresponding annual fee. However, your library must also be a member of the online library. You get access to the online loan with your valid library card. Other costs are not incurred. Since the membership fees are usually very manageable, the e-flat rate of the online loan is one of the cheaper e-flat rate providers.
• Reading devices: You can read the eBooks on the Android as well as on devices with iOS or as a PDF, for example on a notebook.
• Special feature: The ebooks are limited just like in the real library. In other words, if the library can only lend the thriller in 5 copies, you have to be patient until one is available again. You can, however, be noted down and will be informed as soon as the eBook is available again. This usually takes a maximum of 14 days.

3. Readfy eBook flat rate

Readfy is a relatively new company. The eBook rental company has been online since February 7, 2014.

• Books: To date, the book inventory is over 60, 000 eBooks and around 2, 000 eBook series.
• Selection: You will find science fiction works as well as fantasy eBooks, biographies, business & career books, guidebooks, crime fiction and fiction.
• Offline reading: With Readfy you can read books offline for up to 30 days, depending on the payment method.
• Rental restrictions: So far there are no restrictions, the flat rate is unlimited.
• Cost: The eBook flat rate at Readfy is free. To ensure that the offer is still profitable for the operator, advertising is displayed while reading. However, this means that you can only read the eBooks online. If you would like to read a book offline and free of advertising, you can also do so. You have to pay an amount for a rental period of 30 days, which is between around one and four euros depending on the eBook.
• Readers: You can read the eBooks on both Android and iOS devices. You can download the apps from Readfy.

eBook flat rate from Amazon

Since the end of 2014, Amazon has also been offering an e-book flat rate in Germany, which the online shop has dubbed Kindle Unlimited.

• Books: over 1, 000, 000 eBooks, including many foreign language titles. At first, the number of books appears to be quite large. The impression, however, is somewhat relativized when you consider that there are also many works by unknown authors. The eBook flat also includes self-publishing works.
• Selection: The range of eBooks ranges from science fiction & fantasy to novels and crime novels to business and career as well as children's and youth books. With the eBook flat rate, however, you do not have access to all books offered by Amazon. You can recognize the available books for the flat rate by the "Kindle Unlimited" logo.
• Read offline: You can also read Amazon's eBooks offline at your leisure.
• Lending restrictions: In principle, you can borrow as many books per month as you like with the Amazon e-book flat rate. There is a small limitation, however, that there can only be ten eBooks at a time.
• Cost: Membership of Kindle Unlimited costs you around 10 euros per month.
• Test: You can browse the first 30 days free of charge in the book selection. But be careful: If you do not cancel the free subscription in good time, it will automatically be extended into a paid e-book subscription. In our instructions, we therefore show you how to cancel Kindle Unlimited.
• Notice period: You can cancel the Amazon eBook flat rate at any time.
• Readers: You can of course read Amazon's eBooks on all Kindle and Kindle Fire devices as well as on Windows Phone and on the PC. In addition, using the Kindle app on Android and iOS devices.