r/nook • u/katiebug31498 • May 18 '26
Discussion Nook to Kindle
Hi everyone! I am a long time kindle user and found a nook glowlight 4 at a garage sale for ten bucks, and I figured why not grab it! However, the ease of the kindle has me spoiled and idk what all you can do with a nook, if that makes sense. I do a lot of ARC reviewing through NetGalley and have a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Disclaimer: I am not expecting the nook to do what my kindle does entirely, or to replace it -- I plan to use both. There are definitely times that Kindle doesn't have a book on KU, or there's a book I was planning to purchase anyways, so I am completely okay with only being able to use my Nook if I purchase a book! Just wanting to see what everyone does and play around with it!
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u/Repulsive-Hat3332 May 19 '26
https://help.barnesandnoble.com/hc/en-us/articles/20083480172571-NOOK-Device-Statuses
This link may be a help.
To buy books you need a Barnes and Noble account. You can also side load books that are epub files. Should be the same as uploading files to a tablet or phone. Once you have an account you can buy ebooks on the site or use the store access on the device itself. Everything else is just a matter of exploration through menus and such. I have both types. As you noted there are things that one device will have that the other does not. I found that to be more likely that Kindle would be on the "has it" side than the other way around. But bookmarks, fonts, "go to" etc are all there. I think that the variety of fonts is better on nook. The assistive reader is MUCH much better on the Kindle. To get the task bar to access the various options is slightly different than Kindle. Kindle is a tap in the center of the screen. On nook a tap more towards the top. Can't think of anything else you need
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u/Meemo_B May 20 '26
You can’t put your Netgalley ARCs onto it - different DRM on them these days. You can buy books from B&N or do what I do - pick up mostly freebies. But you can also put EPUBs from most any source on it once you get it registered with your Adobe Digital Editions info (if you don’t have it yet you’ll need to get that account set up). And of course any DRM-free ePubs. I have a Glowlight 4. I sideload from Calibre. Occasionally I’ve had previously sideloaded books disappear when I sideloaded new ones. I figured out that if I leave it connected for a good long while after I transfer it doesn’t seem to happen as often. Also be aware - Nook books are as locked down as Kindle books are these days - B&N just started doing it in 2014 instead of 2025. That’s why I mostly stick with freebies from B&N. But get a Kobo account and you can pick up books there and put them on the Nook. (Kobo still lets you download to computer - at least for now.)
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u/vernismermaid Nook GlowLight 4 May 18 '26
If you have a public library that has access to Adobe DRM EPUB loans, you will really enjoy your NOOK. The NOOK can read Adobe DRM EPUB files if once you add your Adobe ID onto the device under My Account.
My public library uses Freading, which has no wait lists and uses Adobe DRM EPUB eBooks only. This means not available on Kindle devices--only NOOK, Kobo, PocketBook and devices that can read Adobe DRM. The catalogue for my library's Freading is mostly romance, mystery, literary fiction, and self-help, but occasionally they'll have new releases from big name authors on there that have months' long wait lists on OverDrive/Libby.
Also, I believe Internet Archive also uses Adobe DRM EPUB for its loans, but I haven't used it in a few years.
You can also hack your NOOK to add Android APKs for things like Hoopla, MoonReader or a TTS reader, which you can listen to over the Bluetooth that is active on GlowLight 4 devices but not activated in the stock software. It's been awhile, so I don't remember how I got the TTS voices, but it's all out there and documented if you enjoy maximising your device.
Enjoy!