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Pocket Shutting Down: Top Read-It-Later Alternatives

May 27, 2025
Pocket Shutting Down: Top Read-It-Later Alternatives

Mozilla to Discontinue Pocket Read-It-Later Service

In May of 2025, Mozilla revealed its decision to cease operations of the widely-used Pocket application. The company initially acquired Pocket in 2017, though the financial details of that transaction were never publicly disclosed.

Despite Pocket’s success in enabling users to save and explore a vast number of articles, Mozilla cited evolving web browsing habits as the primary reason for the shutdown. The organization intends to redirect its efforts and funding towards alternative initiatives.

Exporting Your Saved Content

Pocket users are granted until October 8, 2025, to export their accumulated saved articles and associated data. This includes lists, archived items, favorited content, personal notes, and highlighted passages. Consequently, users will need to identify and adopt a different service for managing their reading lists.

To facilitate this transition for its user base, a selection of alternative applications has been compiled for consideration.

Alternatives to Pocket

  • Consider exploring other read-it-later services to maintain your saved articles.
  • Ensure a smooth transfer of your reading lists before the October 8, 2025 deadline.
  • Evaluate different apps based on features like cross-platform support and tagging options.

The discontinuation of Pocket marks a shift in Mozilla’s strategic priorities, focusing on future web technologies and user experiences.

Matter: A Pocket Alternative

Matter is a company supported by Google Ventures, offering both an iOS application and browser extensions compatible with Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. Its core functionality centers around enabling users to listen to articles and providing transcriptions for podcasts.

While the application is available for free, a yearly subscription of $79.99 unlocks enhanced features.

Premium Features

  • Improved transcriptions are available for both podcasts and YouTube videos.
  • Users gain access to tools for customizing reading speed.
  • Additional integrations are provided with popular applications such as note-taking apps, Gmail, and Kindle.

In March of 2025, Matter integrated an AI-powered co-reader. This feature allows users to receive answers to questions regarding the content they are currently reading.

Ben Springwater, a co-founder of Matter, has extended an offer to Pocket users. They can contact him directly at ben@getmatter.com to receive a personalized discount link.

A streamlined discount offering will soon be available directly within the Matter application. Furthermore, a dedicated migration process is being developed to assist Pocket users in transitioning to the Matter platform.

Instapaper

Established in 2008 by software developer Marco Arment, Instapaper stands as a long-standing read-it-later application. The service is accessible on both the iOS and Android platforms.

Users are permitted to save an unlimited number of articles and videos without incurring any subscription costs.

Pinterest completed the acquisition of Instapaper in 2016.

Premium Features

A yearly subscription of $59.99 unlocks additional functionalities. These include the ability to annotate saved articles.

Furthermore, a permanent archive of your saved content is maintained within your account.

The premium tier also provides a text-to-speech playlist feature for audio consumption of articles, alongside comprehensive full-text search capabilities across all saved items.

Sending articles directly to your Kindle device is another benefit offered with the premium subscription.

Migration from Pocket

Instapaper facilitates the import of accounts from the Pocket platform via instapaper.com/user.

As an incentive, users migrating from Pocket will receive an email containing an offer for a complimentary three-month trial of Instapaper Premium.

Raindrop.io

Raindrop.io functions as a robust bookmark management solution designed for use with web browsers. Beyond browser extensions, dedicated mobile applications are available for both iOS and Android platforms, enabling access to saved articles and PDFs whenever needed.

The platform’s free tier provides unlimited bookmark storage, alongside compatibility with automation tools such as Zapier and IFTTT.

Premium Features

An annual subscription of $33 unlocks a suite of advanced capabilities. These include AI-driven recommendations to enhance content organization, comprehensive full-text search functionality, bookmark reminders, and tools for identifying duplicate or broken links.

Furthermore, the paid version increases the monthly file upload allowance to 10GB.

read-it-later app pocket is shutting down — here are the best alternativesPlinky

Developed by former Twitter engineer Joe Fabisevich, Plinky serves as a platform for users to archive and organize links of various types. These can include articles, video content, recipes, and even image macros. The application is accessible on all devices running Apple’s operating systems, and browser extensions are also available for convenient link saving.

Upon registration, Plinky empowers users to categorize saved links through the use of folders and tags. Furthermore, the system allows for the scheduling of reminders to revisit links at a designated future time.

Free vs. Pro Features

The free tier of Plinky permits the saving of up to 50 links, the creation of three folders, and the application of five tags. Restrictions on these limits can be lifted through a subscription.

Subscription options include a monthly fee of $3.99, an annual cost of $39.99, or a one-time purchase price of $159.99. Pro users benefit from unlimited link storage, an unrestricted number of folders, unlimited tag usage, and the ability to set an unlimited quantity of reminders.

A dedicated Reader Mode is currently under development for the Plinky application, responding to the impending closure of Pocket. Additionally, a 50% discount on the Pro subscription is being offered until the end of May 2025.

Paperspan: A Cross-Device Reading Solution

Paperspan functions as a straightforward application designed to facilitate a reading list that synchronizes across multiple devices.

Users are provided with the capability to incorporate personal notes while reading, and the app also features integrated text-to-speech functionality.

Core Features and Subscription Details

While the application itself is available at no cost, a premium subscription is offered at $8.99 monthly.

This subscription unlocks enhanced features, including advanced search capabilities, the creation of reading playlists, detailed reading statistics, and the option to transfer articles directly to a Kindle device.

App Status and Availability

Despite its functionality, Paperspan has experienced a period without updates.

This lack of recent maintenance could potentially indicate uncertainty regarding its future development and support.

Currently, the application is accessible for download on both iOS and Android platforms.

It provides a convenient way to manage and enjoy reading materials on the go.

Readwise Reader: A Comprehensive Overview

In 2021, Readwise, known for its note-taking and highlighting capabilities, introduced its dedicated Reader application.

This application provides a centralized platform for consuming content from various sources, including RSS feeds, YouTube videos, and Twitter threads.

Content can be imported for convenient reading and review, offering a streamlined experience.

Key Features and Integrations

A significant advantage of the Reader app lies in its seamless integration with the core Readwise service, unlocking robust annotation functionalities.

Furthermore, the app incorporates offline text search, enabling access to information even without an internet connection.

An integrated AI assistant is also available to enhance the user experience.

The Reader app facilitates connectivity with popular knowledge management systems.

  • Obsidian
  • Notion
  • Roam Research
  • Evernote
  • Logseq

These integrations allow for a fluid workflow between reading and knowledge organization.

Pricing and Accessibility

A 30-day free trial is offered to new users, allowing them to explore the app's features.

Continued access requires a Readwise subscription, priced at $9.99 monthly.

Readwise is actively assisting users migrating from Pocket, offering a solution to import their complete Pocket archive into the Reader application.

The Reader app boasts support for a wider range of formats and features than Pocket previously offered.

These include support for PDFs, ePubs, posts from X (formerly Twitter), AI functionalities, and advanced filtering options.

DoubleMemory: A Read-It-Later Solution

DoubleMemory represents a recently developed independent application designed specifically for devices within the Apple ecosystem. It features dedicated native applications for both macOS and iOS platforms.

Utilizing a streamlined workflow on Mac, users can effortlessly preserve any web link or piece of content by executing a double press of the Cmd + C key combination. The captured content is then presented in a visually organized, tile-based interface reminiscent of Pinterest.

Key Features and Functionality

Beyond simple saving, DoubleMemory facilitates offline reading capabilities. Furthermore, it enables comprehensive searches encompassing text, personal notes, and assigned tags.

Account creation is not a prerequisite for initial use of the application. For users operating across multiple devices, content synchronization is achieved through integration with iCloud.

Seamless Synchronization: Your saved items are automatically kept up-to-date across all your Apple devices.

Pricing and Availability

DoubleMemory is available for free, with optional in-app purchases to unlock additional features. A monthly subscription is offered at a price of $3.99.

Alternatively, an annual subscription can be obtained for $17.99, providing a cost-effective option for long-term use.

Recall: An Intelligent Content Saving Tool

Recall functions as both a browser extension and a mobile application, enabling users to archive a wide variety of web content. This includes articles, PDFs, blog posts, podcasts, Wikipedia entries, YouTube videos, and even recipes.

However, Recall distinguishes itself from conventional "read-it-later" applications through its integration of AI. This technology automatically condenses content, organizes it into categories, and proactively presents it to you when it aligns with your current learning interests.

Enhancing Information Retention

The primary goal of Recall is to improve your capacity to retain information. Users can revisit condensed versions of their saved content, drawing from a personalized knowledge base.

This review process is facilitated by a spaced repetition schedule, optimizing learning and memory consolidation.

Pricing and Accessibility

Recall offers a free tier, allowing access to up to 10 AI-generated summaries.

Beyond this initial allowance, the application can still be utilized as a standard read-it-later service.

Alternatively, users can subscribe to a premium plan at $7 monthly, unlocking unlimited AI summaries and additional functionalities.

Wallabag

Wallabag represents an open-source application designed for saving articles to read at a later time. Alternatively, a hosted subscription is offered at a cost of €11 annually for those who prefer a managed service.

The application is designed for cross-platform functionality, operating seamlessly across various web browsers and mobile devices.

Key Features

  • A dedicated reader mode is incorporated to enhance the reading experience.
  • Wallabag facilitates the import of data from competing platforms, including Pocket, Instapaper, and other similar services.

This allows for a smooth transition for users seeking alternatives to existing read-it-later solutions.

read-it-later app pocket is shutting down — here are the best alternativesReadeck: A Self-Hosted Web Content Organizer

Readeck is an open-source web application created to facilitate the organization of online content for future access. This encompasses a wide range of materials, including articles, videos, images, and other web-based resources.

The platform allows users to not only save content but also to perform actions like text highlighting and article exporting to e-book formats.

Key Features and Functionality

Beyond simple saving, Readeck provides tools for enhanced content interaction. Video transcripts can be preserved, offering a convenient record of spoken information.

Readeck functions through a browser extension, enabling seamless bookmark saving during web browsing sessions.

Deployment and Future Development

While users have the option of self-hosting Readeck, a hosted version of the service is planned for release in 2025.

Furthermore, development is currently underway on a dedicated mobile application to expand accessibility.

Obsidian Web Clipper: A Detailed Overview

The Obsidian Web Clipper is a browser extension designed for effortless saving of web content. With a single click, users can highlight and capture web pages for storage within the Obsidian note-taking application.

This service offers a streamlined method to archive information directly from the internet.

Customization Through Templates

A key feature of the Web Clipper is its support for templates. These templates allow for tailored saving of different web page types.

Template Examples

  • Articles are automatically saved including their citations and footnotes.
  • Recipes are captured with ingredients, preparation steps, and nutritional information.
  • Users can create personalized templates for their frequently visited websites.

This level of customization ensures that saved content is organized and presented in a useful format.

Open Source and Free to Use

Being an open source application, the Web Clipper is available for use without any cost. This accessibility allows users to freely highlight text, images, and content blocks.

Captured information is then seamlessly integrated into the Obsidian note-taking environment.

read-it-later app pocket is shutting down — here are the best alternativesKarakeep: A Detailed Overview

Karakeep is a bookmarking application designed for efficient saving and organization of web links, personal notes, and images.

Leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, the platform automatically categorizes saved items, significantly streamlining the retrieval process.

Key Features and Functionality

Beyond basic bookmarking, Karakeep offers a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance user experience.

  • List Creation: Organize bookmarks into thematic lists for improved clarity.
  • Bulk Actions: Perform operations on multiple bookmarks simultaneously, saving time and effort.
  • Dark Mode: Reduce eye strain with a visually comfortable dark interface.
  • Full-Text Search: Locate specific information within saved items using robust search capabilities.

These features contribute to a more productive and user-friendly bookmarking experience.

Platform Availability and Support

The Karakeep application is built on an open-source foundation, promoting transparency and community contribution.

It is accessible across multiple platforms, including native applications for both iOS and Android operating systems.

Furthermore, browser extensions are available for popular browsers such as Chrome and Firefox, enabling seamless integration into daily workflows.

Users interested in supporting the ongoing development of Karakeep can find options to contribute financially to the developer.

read-it-later app pocket is shutting down — here are the best alternativesDewey

Dewey functions as a comprehensive archiving application, designed to preserve a wide range of online content. It enables users to save and categorize web links, videos, and images sourced from various platforms.

This includes content originating from social media networks such as X, TikTok, Bluesky, Threads, Reddit, Instagram, and LinkedIn, among others.

read-it-later app pocket is shutting down — here are the best alternativesOrganization is facilitated through integrated features like folders and tags. Furthermore, Dewey incorporates AI-powered bulk tagging capabilities and keyboard shortcuts for efficient workflow.

Key Features

  • Automatic synchronization with Notion is provided.
  • Data export functionality is available.
  • A customized RSS feed is offered.

Dewey’s pricing structure includes several subscription tiers. The most basic plan begins at $7.50 monthly, with an annual payment option offering a $30 discount.

Please note that this compilation is not all-inclusive, and will be continually updated as new tools are identified.

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