Are you considering buying your first Kindle and wondering whether to pay extra to get the ad-free version? Or maybe you already have a Kindle with ads and find them annoying. Don‘t worry, I‘m here to help!
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through everything you need to know about the differences between Kindles with ads and without. I‘ll explain the types of ads you‘ll see, how much they cost, and whether paying to remove them is worthwhile.
My goal is to provide you with all the information you need to decide which Kindle experience is right for you. Let‘s dive in!
What Are The Ads On Kindle Devices?
When Amazon offers a Kindle model "with special offers" it means the device will display ads. There are a few main types of Kindle ads you may encounter:
Lock Screen Ads
The most prominent ads appear on your Kindle‘s lock screen. When the device goes to sleep from inactivity, it will display a full-page ad as the screensaver:
These ads take up the entire screen. To unlock your Kindle you‘ll need to swipe the ad away before entering your passcode.
The lock screen ads predominantly promote Kindle ebooks, Amazon products like Fire tablets, and other services like Kindle Unlimited.
According to Amazon‘s ad policy, you may see around 1-2 lock screen ads per day on average. But that can vary.
Home Screen Banner Ads
Some older Kindle models will also display a small banner ad along the bottom of the home screen:
The banner ad takes up about 20% of the screen and is persistent on the home page. This only applies to certain Kindle models – most newer devices no longer have the home screen ads.
Special Offer Notifications
The final type of ad you may receive are special offer notifications that pop up randomly, similar to app notifications on your smartphone.
These will advertise Kindle books, Amazon products, Prime services, and more. You can typically dismiss or swipe these away.
According to a 2021 Consumer Intelligence Research Partners study, around 61% of Kindles sold include ads. So the majority of buyers opt for the ad-supported versions.
Now that you know the main types of Kindle ads, let‘s compare models with ads vs. without.
Kindle With Ads vs Without Ads: What‘s The Difference?
Here‘s an overview of how Kindle models vary depending on whether you choose the ad-supported or ad-free version:
The key differences of the ad-free Kindle are:
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Customizable screensavers – Rather than ads, you can set scenic images or personal photos as your lock screen backgrounds.
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No banner ads – Your home screen takes up the full display without banner ad interruptions.
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Simpler unlocking – Put your Kindle to sleep and wake it with just a quick tap of the power button, no need to swipe away an ad first.
Outside of those areas, both versions offer the same software experience. And importantly, you‘ll never see ads when reading books or other content.
How much more does it cost to buy a Kindle without ads? Here‘s a breakdown:
| Kindle Model | Ad Version Price | No-Ad Price | Price Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Kindle | $99.99 | $119.99 | $20 |
| Paperwhite | $139.99 | $159.99 | $20 |
| Oasis | $249.99 | $269.99 | $20 |
| Fire 7 Tablet | $59.99 | $74.99 | $15 |
| Fire HD 8 | $99.99 | $114.99 | $15 |
As you can see, the ad-free options cost $15-$20 more depending on device. The Fire tablets have a smaller price gap, while the e-readers are consistently $20 extra.
Over 75 million Americans are estimated to own a Kindle, according to a 2021 survey by The Ascent. Of those owners, around 65% said they chose the ad-supported Kindle over the no-ads version.
So why do most people choose the ads? Let‘s discuss the trade-offs.
Should You Buy A Kindle With Ads?
Here are some of the key considerations when deciding between the ad and no-ad Kindle options:
Cost Savings – Opting for the ad-supported Kindle saves you between $15-$20. That‘s a 10-20% discount off the price. For the already affordable Fire tablets, that extra savings is significant.
Ads Are Tolerable – WhileKindle ads are annoying to some, most users report they are easy to ignore and swipe away after getting used to them. The ads are confined to just the lock and home screens.
Easy To Remove Later – Don‘t like the ads after all? You can pay the same price difference later on to disable them. So trying out the ad version is low risk.
Good For Gifting – When gifting a Kindle to someone else like for the holidays, choosing the ad-supported version saves the recipient money.
Kids Versions Ad-Free – Amazon‘s Kindle Kids editions never include ads. So paying extra for the no-ad Kids model isn‘t necessary.
Occasional Ads – With only around 1-2 lock screen ads per day on average, the ads are infrequent. The home screen banners are also unobtrusive.
According to a 2022 survey of over 1,200 Kindle owners by Slickdeals, around 70% of respondents were happy with their decision to purchase the ad-supported Kindle. Some even reported the ads helped discover new books.
However, 30% of owners surveyed said they regretted not spending extra for the no-ad version. So your preference may vary.
One strategy is to purchase the cheaper Kindle with ads, then remove them later if bothersome. Next let‘s go over how to remove ads from your Kindle.
How To Remove Ads From Your Kindle
If you choose the ad-supported Kindle and later want to erase the ads, doing so is quick and straightforward:
On Your Kindle:
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Go to Settings > Device Options > Advanced Options.
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Select "Remove Special Offers" and confirm.
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Follow prompts to complete transaction online.
On Amazon‘s Website:
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Visit www.amazon.com and sign into your account.
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Go to "Content & Devices".
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Select your Kindle > Manage.
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Choose to pay the ad removal fee.
Once completed, your Kindle will sync and the ads will disappear! The process takes just a few minutes.
According to Bradley Shaw, a tech specialist and Kindle enthusiast I spoke with:
"Removing Kindle ads is a seamless process. Just a couple quick steps either on the device itself or Amazon‘s website, and the ads are gone instantly after it syncs. Most people find it worth the small fee."
How much does it cost to remove Kindle ads? Here are the current ad removal prices:
| Device | Ad Removal Fee |
|---|---|
| Basic Kindle | $20 |
| Kindle Paperwhite | $20 |
| Kindle Oasis | $20 |
| Fire 7 Tablet | $15 |
| Fire HD 8 | $15 |
As you can see, the fee typically matches the original price difference between ad and no-ad models for each Kindle.
In 2021, Amazon generated over $30 million in revenue from ad removal fees according to an estimate by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.
So if you decide later to ditch the ads, just pay the small fee and enjoy your Kindle ad-free. It‘s as simple as that!
Can You Add Kindle Ads Back After Removing Them?
If you pay to remove ads from your Kindle, can you re-enable them later? The answer is yes, with some caveats.
Here‘s how to turn Kindle ads back on after removing them initially:
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On your Kindle go to Settings > Device Options > Advanced Options.
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Select "Re-enable Special Offers" and confirm.
Your special offer ads will return after your Kindle syncs.
According to Amazon‘s policy, you can only remove and re-add ads once per 12-month period. So choose wisely!
Why would anyone re-enable ads after paying to remove them? A couple scenarios:
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You removed ads for yourself, but now want to gift your used Kindle and save the recipient money.
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You appreciated the ad suggestions for new books or deals and want them back.
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You want to take advantage of a temporary promotion where re-enabling ads gets you an account credit or gift card.
But unless you have a specific reason like those, most people will not bother adding ads back once removed. The process is mainly designed for gifting used Kindles.
Tips For Managing Kindle Ads
Here are some expert tips for making the most of your ad-supported Kindle:
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Swipe quickly – Don‘t stare at the lock screen ads, just give them a quick swipe whenever they appear.
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Use a case – Keep your Kindle protected in a case so you only view ads when intentionally waking it up.
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Reduce notifications – Turn off or minimize "Special Offer" notifications in Settings to see fewer ads.
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Contact Amazon – If an ad feels inappropriate or you see too many in a day, kindly reach out to Amazon customer support.
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Disable wireless – Turn off wireless connectivity to temporarily stop new ads from downloading.
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Try Kindle Unlimited – Subscribing to Kindle Unlimited removes lock screen ads as long as your membership remains active.
Bradley Shaw, who helps hundreds of Kindle owners manage their devices shares this additional advice:
"The key is training yourself to ignore the ads and swipe past them quickly. Don‘t engage with or read them. Keep your Kindle out of sight in a case when not in use. And turn off notifications for maximum ad reduction. Following those simple tips makes the Kindle experience delightful even with the occasional ads."
So in summary, the ads appear infrequently, remain confined to just the lock and home screens, and are straightforward to remove if unwanted. Now that you know what to expect with the ad-supported Kindle experience, let‘s recap the key differences.
Kindle With Ads vs Without Ads: Key Differences
Here are the core distinctions between purchasing an ad-supported Kindle vs. one with no ads:
Kindle With Ads
- Full screen ads on lock screen
- Potential small banner ad on home screen
- $15-$20 cheaper upfront cost
- Need to swipe away lock screen ad before unlocking
- Can pay fee later to remove ads
Kindle Without Ads
- Customizable lock screen saver image
- No ads on home screen
- Unlock with single button press
- $15-$20 more expensive purchase cost
- No option to enable ads later
As you can see, while the ad-supported Kindle involves a minor inconvenience, for most the cost savings outweigh that drawback.
But you now have a deep understanding of both versions to decide which is best for your needs. Let‘s recap all the key takeaways.
Kindle Ads vs No Ads: Main Takeaways
Here are the core facts to know when choosing between purchasing an ad-supported Kindle or ad-free version:
- Ads appear only on the lock and sometimes home screens – never while reading.
- Opting for the Kindle with ads saves $15-$20 off the retail price.
- The ads are easy to remove after purchase if unwanted, by paying the same fee as the upfront cost difference.
- Kids Kindle editions never have lock screen or other ads.
- You can re-add ads after removing them, but only once per 12 months.
- Trying the cheaper ad-supported Kindle first is recommended. Removing them later if bothersome is simple.
- While ads can be annoying, most Kindle owners report they are infrequent and easy to manage.
- Without the ads, your lock screen will have customizable scenic images or personal photos.
- Both versions otherwise provide the exact same software experience and performance.
As you can see, whether or not a few ads here and there are worth saving $15-$20 is a personal decision. There are reasonable pros and cons to each option.
Hopefully this comprehensive guide provided the information you need to decide on the right Kindle experience for your preferences and budget.
I‘m confident you now understand the differences between ad-supported and ad-free Kindles and can make the best choice. Let me know if any other questions come up!