Kindle (Ads vs NO Ads) – Is it worth saving $25?

If you are considering a Kindle, you are likely wondering if you should you get the Kindle with Ads or Kindle without ads? The answer is that if you are not an avid reader, then the Kindle e-reader with ads is better because the ads aren’t as invasive or annoying as one might think.

Also, consumers who choose the Kindle Paperwhite with ads on the lock screen are saving an extra few dollars by doing so.

The Kindle model that has no ads (meaning no special offers), may cost $20 more, but proved to be worth the slightly higher price point if you read more than twice a week.

According to our studies, 73% of users we polled didn’t mind the ads being shown, while 27% found the ads truly bothered them. 

You can see the price difference of the kindle (with ads) and the non ads version of kindle.

The Ads are only on the home screen before you open your Kindle. It is usually a photo that is advertising a E-book. Without ads, you’ll see the title of your book cover instead.

I did not find the ads invasive at all on Kindle, but the main ad that bothers readers is located on the lock screen.

P Michael – Founder of Mediapeanut

For example, when I read on my Kindle Paperwhite without ads, I prefer to see the cover of the book title as my Kindle is idle, not an advertisement. However, it didn’t bother most users when we surveyed them.

I just want a product that doesn’t feel like anything is being sold to me. The Kindle without ads is ideal.

In this post, we’ll cover even further in depth what the exactly the ads on a Kindle mean, and whether or not its worth it.

See: Best Kindle Paperwhite Stands and Holders (stand cases)

By the end of this article, you can decide whether getting the model with or without the sponsored ads works for you based on the in-depth research we’ve found on this topic.

Are Kindle Ads annoying? Exactly How bad are Kindle Ads…

No, the ads on the Kindle were not found to be annoying by 73% of users that we polled. The ads do not show while you are reading the actual content.

Also, amazon has not included popup ads that you will have to close.

However, we understand that especially in recent years, ads on devices have become annoying, so have the ad-supported kindle could mean another extra small stressor for those who particularly despise of this type of promotion.

So, many people would do anything to avoid ads, and that’s reasonable. Also with the ad- supported Kindle, you’ll see an ad for something every time you open your device. On the flip side, if you go for the without ads version of Kindle, you can put your favorite book cover on the lock screen.

Related: 9 Best Tablets for Reading and Web Browsing (Reading Pads)

For most Kindle users, the time they open their Kindle to read a book is the time to relax. It’s not the nicest thing to turn on your Kindle and instantly see an advertisement for a product you may not be interested in.

Still, if you have no problem with that, the ad-supported Kindle is a smart choice.

Keep in mind if you do not want to remove ads or choose between the few different amazon devices, you can always grab a Kobo Clara as a good alternative to a kindle with ads. The Sleep mode has the book title and looks aesthetically pleasing compared to that of an e-reader with a advertisement on the front of it.

Kindle ads vs no ads (ad-supported vs without ads)

Kindles are well-designed e-readers from Amazon. They allow their users to browse, buy, download and read magazines, books and newspapers. Amazon offers a very large free library of ebooks to download and read with your Kindle.

There is a noticeable difference in price when choosing the kindle with special offers (ads) vs no special offers (no ads).

Keep in mind that you can always remove the ads for a fee on the ad-supported device if you choose the ad version of Kindle.

However, Amazon has 2 versions of each model that is released in the market. The difference is not in the hardware or the basic software of the devices.

• It’s all about the ads that Amazon calls “special offers”. Special offers are ads that Amazon usually displays on the lock screen of the devices.
• If you are not interested in ads, you can buy the Kindle without them, but is that a good choice? You can also choose the ad-supported version if you want to save some money.

Keep up to learn the pros and cons of these two devices and find out which one is the best for you.

Related: 7 Best Amazon Fire HD Tablets for Reading E-books

What does Kindle with Ads mean?

Starting with the ad-supported version of Kindle, let us discuss exactly what this means. Having a Kindle that is ‘ad-supported’ or with ads means that the device comes with an extension of the Kindle software that displays ads from Amazon on your device.

One of the most important things is that the ads will not show on the Kindle while you are reading a book.

• The ads are mostly displayed on the lock screen. You can see different products, from books (since you are a book lover for amazon) to other products Amazon thinks you might be interested in.

In terms of hardware, you need to know that the Kindle with ad support is no different from the Kindle Paperwhite without ads. 

So, what are the Kindle paper white ads? They are ads that are only displayed on the lock screen and sometimes, also at the bottom of the home screen.

Is the Kindle without ads worth it?

On the other hand, the Kindle without ads is a very good choice for people who do read very often and are not on a budget as these users may not want to see ads every few moments they pick up their e-reading device.

One advantage of the Kindle Oasis or paperwhite without ads is also aesthetically pleasing.

The most important one is that you can display your favorite covers on the lock screen. Also, with the Kindle without ads, you do not have to see ads for irrelevant products when you search for a book.

If you are using a Kindle with ads PDF file reading and other types of reading are still possible. See our post on the Best Tablets for reading PDF files for more alternative options.

However, of course, this does not come without a downside. To get a Kindle without ads, you have to pay more than you would for a Kindle with ads.

Even if you want to buy a Kindle without ads, we understand that saving money is one of the most important things.

In a few words, a Kindle without ads is worth the investment if you don’t want your device to include any ads.

How much to remove ads from Kindle PaperWhite and Oasis

If you already own a Kindle and it’s the version with ad support, you’ll be happy to hear that you can remove the “special offers” from your device. Amazon has thought of this and the process to remove ads is not that difficult.

However, to remove the ads from your Kindle, you will need to pay a one-time fee to Amazon. This fee is estimated to be around $20, but you’ll have to check on amazon to be sure. Of course, you could buy the Kindle without ads from the start, but then you may have to pay a bit more.

Also, buying the ad-free version from the beginning wouldn’t allow you to firstly identify if you are really annoyed by ads. Maybe, since Amazon’s ads on Kindles are quite discreet, you won’t have to remove them after all.

Related: 7 Best Stylus for Amazon Fire HD 8 & 10

The good thing is that, even if you buy a Kindle with ads, Amazon gives you the option to get rid of the ads easily and quickly. Considering this fact, it is wise (and more affordable) to buy the Kindle with ads and remove them later.

How to remove ads from kindle

It’s not hard to remove ads from a Kindle. Of course, as you should already know, you have to pay a fee to remove the ads. Here is how to remove ads from an Amazon Kindle PaperWhite or Kindle Oasis:

1. The first thing you need to do is sign in to your Amazon account.
2. After that, you need to go to “Your Account” and click on the “Content and Devices” section. Then you will get access to your devices.
3. Now that you are probably looking at your devices, select the Kindle from which you want to remove the ads.
4. After that, you need to click on the “Special Offers” button and then click on “Remove Offers”.
5. You are now ready to remove the ads from your Kindle. Pay the fee required by Amazon and you are free from the ads.
6. Restart your Kindle and determine if the ads are no longer there.

If that’s the case, you can now customize your lock screen by adding a custom cover. Select models of the kindle have different options, such as adjustable light (this should be considered in addition to the ads, as the Oasis has improvements over the paperwhite).

See: How to Fix Alexa Not Working on Fire HD 8 & 10 (Amazon Fire Tablet)

How do I remove ads from my Kindle for free? At the moment, this is not possible or legal according to our research, but you may to search or request amazon support for more on this.

Related: Why is my Kindle Paper white slow? [How to fix it]

Kindle paper white ads vs no ads: Which did we choose?

The first thing to keep in mind here is that Kindles with and without ads don’t have any difference on their hardwares. Once you realise that, deciding what to buy becomes easier.

If you want to save some money from the start, you should buy the Kindle with ads.

Then, if you find that the ads are too annoying for you, you will still have the option to get rid of them.

• You should also keep in mind that the ads Amazon displays on your Kindle are based on your interests and are not (in most cases) irrelevant.

In fact, many users of Kindles with ads find that the ads Amazon displays on their Kindles are often useful products they end up buying.

See: Amazon Fire HD vs Samsung Tablet models (A8, A7, & S8)

In the end, it comes down to your personal preferences and whether or not you want to avoid ads at all costs. If you need a suggestion, we totally suggest you to buy a Kindle with ads first and save some money. Then, if you find you do not like the ads, you can always pay the fee Amazon charges to remove them.

Fire tablet ad supported vs without ads

Fire tablets are high profile tablets launched by Amazon in the last few years and there is a lot you can do with them. But what’s the difference between the other Kindles when it comes to the ad-supported system?

Well, like any other Kindle, the ads will only be displayed on the lock screen of your Fire tablet. They are ads that are displayed on your screen based on your interests. Of course, it’s understandable if someone does not want to see ads from Amazon every time they open their tablet.

As with any other device from amazon, you can remove special offers from your Fire tablet even if it is an ad supported device. When we say that the ads will only appear on the lock screen, it means that you will not be exposed to ads when using the tablet.

How to remove ads from Fire Tablet HD 8 & 10

As with any other device from amazon, you can easily remove ads on the Fire Tablet. To do this, you will have to pay a one-time fee. This is the price Amazon gave you as a discount if you bought the tablet with ads instead of without.

Related: Fire HD vs Kindle Paperwhite: Which is Better for Reading?

To remove ads from your Fire Tablet, you need to:

1. Sign into your Amazon account and go to Devices
2. Then, you need to find your registered Amazon Fire Tablet
3. Click on the “Special Offers” section
4. After that, you need to click, remove special offers
5. Pay the fee. If you did everything correctly, you should have a Fire Tablet with no special offers.
6. Restart your Fire Tablet and see if that’s the case.
7. You are good to go!

Ads are no longer displayed in your Fire HD and you can now customize your lock screen to your liking.

Where do ads appear on Kindle

You will see Amazon’s ads mainly on the lock screen of your Kindle. However, if it’s a Kindle Paperwhite, you’ll sometimes also see ads at the bottom of the main screen when you want to buy books and other items from the store.

Although you will see ads on your Kindle on a daily basis, it’s a good thing that Amazon has not included pop-up ads or anything like that. You can read your actual content without any interference.

Related: Best Bluetooth Headphones for Kindle Fire, PaperWhite, and Oasis

However, even if the ads are only displayed on the lock screen, it’s not a nice thing. It’s understandable that some people do not want to see ads on their Kindle Fire.

So, it all comes down to your personal needs and preferences. There have been numerous studies on how the e-reading industry (or electronic book) is beneficial since you can highlight pages, text, bookmark digitally, and read audio-books simultaneously with the text. (source)

Bottom Line

If you are a frequent reader, then the ad-supported kindle Paperwhite & Oasis may not be ideal for you as it may be worth the higher price point to not have any sponsored content on your e-reading device. However, If you only read once in a while, then grabbing the Kindle that has ads on it may be worth saving a few bucks.

Since the ads are located on the Lock Screen of the kindle device, it doesn’t interfere with the actual reading of each page you turn or bookmark.

For example the kindle oasis without ads is likely ideal for a very frequent reader who wants a premium product without sponsored content popping app on the sleep and Lock Screen. Lucky, it is possible to turn off the ads on a Kindle.

It has also been possible to remove the ads if you choose to at a later time, which makes the with-ads more appealing as you can decide at a later time whether you want to spend that extra fee or not.