LeafTrove
iPhone and iPad · iOS/iPadOS 17 or later
Bring your Kobo highlights back into your day
LeafTrove brings the highlights and notes on your Kobo eReader to your iPhone or iPad, where you can search them, keep favorites and reread them. A widget and reminders bring a passage back each day.
Importing by cable or web export is free and needs no sign-in. To import your own notes you need a compatible physical Kobo eReader and a USB cable that supports data transfer; an e-book account or a phone reading app alone is not enough. Check what you need.
The interface is available in English, Japanese, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Traditional Chinese.
Bring your Kobo highlights in: start with your iPhone or iPad
The two free ways need no sign-in and no subscription. Have a compatible Kobo eReader and a USB cable that supports data transfer ready, then choose by the port on your iPhone or iPad.
- USB-C iPhone (iPhone 15 or later)
- Including iPhone Air. Connect the cable and LeafTrove reads the eReader directly; check the preview, then import. No computer needed.
- See the cable steps (USB-C iPhone)
- iPad with USB-C
- iPad 10th generation or later, iPad Air 4th generation or later, iPad mini 6th generation or later, and USB-C iPad Pro models can read directly by cable too.
- See the cable steps (USB-C iPad)
- Lightning iPhone or iPad
- For example iPhone 11 to 14, iPhone SE (2nd or 3rd generation), or iPad 6th to 9th generation. Export on a computer in Chrome or Edge, then send the file to the device and import it. Nothing to install on the computer.
- See the web export steps (Lightning iPhone or iPad)
Not sure which model you have? Open Settings → General → About on the device and check “Model Name”. LeafTrove needs iOS or iPadOS 17 or later.
Use the corrected LeafTrove 1.3 app on a USB-C iPhone or iPad to set up supported readers. Computer Wi-Fi setup updates are being prepared. Do not use the published 0.7.5 assistant to install or update Wi-Fi tools.
From a highlight on your Kobo to a passage you reread
The library and widget screenshots show LeafTrove 1.2 in the Traditional Chinese interface, with books and notes that a reader imported; the thoughts screenshot shows LeafTrove 1.3 with its built-in sample. The app does not come with these books. The images are cropped; select one to see the full screenshot.
Find the line you are looking for
Search by title, highlight or note. Covers, authors and note counts are shown together, so a book you have read is easy to spot. Keep favorites, and group books or tags into “My collections” to come back to the same set of notes.
Notes and available covers are stored on the device and can be read offline. A book without a cover still shows its notes.
Write your own thoughts next to the line
Add “My thoughts” to any highlight and reread them together. Sort books into your own collections; with a subscription, tag notes and filter or search by tag.
Thoughts and collections are free and stored on this device; tags need a subscription. With a subscription, they sync between iPhone and iPad through your own iCloud.
A passage on your Home Screen, without opening the app
The Home Screen widget shows today’s passage and its book title; the extra large iPad widget has room for a whole paragraph. There are Lock Screen widgets as well.
The small widget is free; medium and larger Home Screen widgets and Lock Screen widgets need a subscription. iOS decides when widgets refresh.
Reminders at your own pace
The free version sends one reminder a day at a fixed time. With a subscription you can have up to 5 a day, with random time windows, separate hours for weekdays and weekends, and quiet hours. On a busy day, choose “Take today off”.
Changes are saved automatically. The number is a daily maximum; fewer are scheduled when there is not enough content or time.
Also in LeafTrove
- My thoughts
- Write your own thoughts on any highlight. They are stored encrypted on the device, can be searched and exported, and have their own backup.
- Today’s pick
- Each day LeafTrove picks a highlight or note worth rereading from the source you choose: all notes, favorites only or specific books. Tap “Another one” for a different passage, or exclude a note you would rather not see again.
- Notifications that are the passage itself
- A reminder shows the note excerpt and its book title. Tap it to open the same note.
- Take your notes with you
- Export books and notes as Markdown or JSON. Every note keeps its book title.
- Schedule for review (subscription)
- Add a note to your review list. With reminders on, it comes back in your reminders from time to time; you can pause it or remove it from the list.
- Note tags (subscription)
- Add your own topic tags to notes, then filter and search by tag, or build a collection from tags.
Start free; subscribe only if you need more
Once your own notes are imported, you can search them, keep favorites, read offline, write your own thoughts, and use the small widget and one reminder a day. Subscribe if you want to share the library across devices, schedule reviews, tag notes, or have more reminders and widgets.
Monthly or yearly subscriptionBoth plans have the same features, and eligible new subscribers can try either free for one month. The yearly plan costs less than twelve monthly payments; subscribe to it by December 31, 2026 for the launch price, which stays the same when you renew. Prices are shown in the App Store. You can buy, restore purchases and use the paid features on this device without creating a LeafTrove account.
| Feature | Free | Subscription |
|---|---|---|
| Import, read and organize | Import by cable or web export, with no sign-in. One library with search, favorites and “My collections”. Share notes and export to Markdown or JSON. | Everything in the free version. On compatible models, Wi-Fi wireless updates as well. |
| My thoughts | Write your own thoughts on any highlight: stored encrypted on the device, searchable, exportable, with backup. | The same, and finished thoughts sync through iCloud. |
| Note tags | Not included. Collections can still be built from books. | Tag notes, filter and search by tag, and build collections from tags. |
| Library across devices | Stored on this device. | iCloud sync between iPhone and iPad: library, favorites, covers, thoughts, tags and collections. |
| LeafTrove reminders | One a day, at a fixed time. | Up to 5 a day, with random time windows and quiet hours. |
| Widgets | The small Home Screen widget. | Medium and larger Home Screen widgets, and Lock Screen widgets. |
| Rereading | Today’s pick, and favorites for notes you want to find again. | Schedule for review: a review list that comes back in your reminders. |
After you cancel, your notes are still yours. When a subscription ends, the notes you imported can still be read, searched and exported. The price, currency and trial eligibility are the ones shown on Apple’s purchase screen. The subscription renews automatically each month or each year, depending on the plan, and can be cancelled in Settings → your name → Subscriptions.
A favorite keeps a note; a review brings it back
- Pick a note. Open it from Today’s pick or from your library.
- Tap “Add to review”. The note joins your review list.
- Manage it in “Review list”. You can pause a note or remove it. With LeafTrove reminders on, it comes back in your reminders from time to time.
The review list and reminder settings are kept separately on each device and are not synced through iCloud.
If you installed LeafTrove before version 1.2
Schedule for review, multiple reminders and every widget size stay free for you. Note tags, iCloud sync and Wi-Fi wireless updates need a subscription. The app shows what your installation includes.
Will it work with my Kobo?
What works with a Kobo depends on the eReader’s model, its firmware and the results of the checks. Go through the points below before you choose how to import.
- Free import
- USB-C iPhones and iPads can read the eReader directly by cable; for Lightning iPhones and iPads, export on a computer. Check your iPhone or iPad first. Both ways read the text highlights and notes on the Kobo and never change the eReader. If something goes wrong, tell us the model, firmware and error message.
- Wi-Fi wireless updates (comes with the subscription)
- Use the corrected LeafTrove 1.3 app on a USB-C iPhone or iPad to set up supported readers. Computer Wi-Fi setup updates are being prepared. Do not use the published 0.7.5 assistant to install or update Wi-Fi tools.
Text highlights and notes from EPUB/KEPUB books are supported. PDF, handwritten notes and book text are not.
What to prepare: phone, computer and cable
- iPhone or iPad: iOS or iPadOS 17 or later.
- For Lightning devices, use free, read-only web export in Chrome or Edge on a computer. USB import remains free and needs no subscription.
- Use the corrected LeafTrove 1.3 app on a USB-C iPhone or iPad to set up supported readers. Computer Wi-Fi setup updates are being prepared. Do not use the published 0.7.5 assistant to install or update Wi-Fi tools.
- Kobo model and firmware: on the eReader, see Settings → Device information.
Whatever Kobo you use, you can contact us for help; no subscription or trial is needed first. You can also send feedback from “Report your model and experience” in the app.
LeafTrove is an independent third-party app by HoMade Works. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Rakuten Kobo Inc.; the Kobo name is used only to describe compatibility.
Before you download
Can I use LeafTrove with my Kobo and my iPhone or iPad?
iPhone and iPad · iOS/iPadOS 17 or later. For Lightning devices, use free, read-only web export in Chrome or Edge on a computer. USB import remains free and needs no subscription. Use the corrected LeafTrove 1.3 app on a USB-C iPhone or iPad to set up supported readers. Computer Wi-Fi setup updates are being prepared. Do not use the published 0.7.5 assistant to install or update Wi-Fi tools.
Which notes can be imported? Are PDF or handwriting supported?
Only text highlights and notes from EPUB/KEPUB books on a Kobo. PDF, handwriting and whole-book transfer are not supported. Notes you make after importing by cable or web export need another read or export; with Wi-Fi wireless updates, you tap sync on the Kobo and then open the app to update.
Is a Kobo account or a phone reading app enough?
No. Importing your own notes needs a compatible physical Kobo eReader and a USB cable that supports data transfer. Without an eReader you can still download LeafTrove for free and look at the sample library, then import your own highlights once you have the eReader ready.
Can I try LeafTrove without a Kobo eReader?
Yes. After the free download, choose “See the sample library first” on the last page of the introduction. Without signing in you can read the sample content and try search, favorites and export; no computer or Kobo is needed. Changes you make in the sample are not kept after you leave it, and the sample does not connect to an eReader or turn on notifications or widgets.
Do new notes reach my phone by themselves?
No, you start each update yourself. With the free ways, read by cable again or export again on a computer. With Wi-Fi wireless updates, tap “拾讀 同步筆記” (LeafTrove: Sync notes) on the Kobo, check the result there, then open LeafTrove to update. iCloud syncs your library between iPhone and iPad; it does not import new notes from the eReader.
If I cancel the subscription, can I still read the notes I imported?
Yes. After the subscription ends, imported notes can still be read, searched and exported, and importing by cable or web export stays free. Other features follow the free version, or the early-user benefits the app shows. To cancel, open Settings → your name → Subscriptions on the iPhone or iPad; deleting your account or the app does not cancel the subscription.
What does iCloud sync cover?
With a subscription, your library, favorites, covers, thoughts, tags and collections sync between your iPhone and iPad through your own iCloud. Drafts of thoughts, the review list and reminder settings are kept separately on each device. Each device has to be signed in to the same Apple account with iCloud turned on; when a sync happens is decided by the system and the network.
Can I look back at my favorites only?
Yes. Under “Review source” in Settings, choose all notes, favorites only or specific books. Today’s pick is chosen again from the new source right away.
Does LeafTrove get my Kobo password?
No. LeafTrove does not ask you for your Kobo account password. Linking uses LeafTrove’s own authorization: a single-use grant written by cable from a USB-C iPhone or iPad, or a pairing code in the computer assistant flow.
Does deleting my LeafTrove account delete the books on my Kobo?
No. Deleting the cloud account removes that account’s cloud content and authorizations. It does not remotely delete the original e-books, highlights and notes on your Kobo, it does not delete “My Library” on this device or files you exported, and it does not cancel an Apple subscription. Before removing the app or clearing device data, read the Account and local data page.
Is LeafTrove made by Kobo?
No. LeafTrove is an independent third-party app by HoMade Works. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Rakuten Kobo Inc.; the Kobo name is used only to describe compatibility.
Which languages is the app available in?
The app follows your device language: English, Japanese, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish or Traditional Chinese. The computer assistant and the LeafTrove menu on the eReader are in Traditional Chinese for now.
Can LeafTrove import notes from books I added myself?
Yes, readable EPUB/KEPUB text highlights and notes can be imported, including books added yourself. PDF, handwriting and full books are excluded. If notes are missing on the reader, keep the data and check the support steps; recovery on Kobo cannot be guaranteed.
Your notes can be exported as Markdown or JSON, and every note keeps its book title. See exporting and removing data.
Keep what matters from every read
Download LeafTrove for free, choose how to import for your iPhone or iPad, and add your own Kobo highlights after checking the preview. No eReader ready yet? Look at the sample library first, without signing in.
Reading by cable and web export are free and need no subscription. Schedule for review, note tags, iCloud sync, more reminders and larger widgets need an active trial or subscription. Check the eReader requirements before you import.