Mozilla Shuts Down Pocket, Sparking Demand for Alternative Read-It-Later Apps

In May 2025, Mozilla announced the shutdown of Pocket, a popular read-it-later app it acquired in 2017. This closure has led to a surge in interest for alternative applications that allow users to save online content, particularly lengthy articles, for later reading.

As Mozilla exits the read-it-later market, it cited changing web browsing habits as a factor in its decision. In the wake of Pocket’s discontinuation, apps like Matter, Instapaper, and Raindrop.io have gained increased adoption, alongside the development of new indie alternatives.

Users wishing to transition from Pocket have until October 8, 2025, to export their saved articles, lists, archives, favorites, notes, and highlights before the service is permanently unavailable.

Alternatives to Pocket

Here are several notable alternatives to Pocket:

Matter

Matter, a GV-backed company, offers an iOS app and browser extensions for Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. The app allows users to listen to articles and transcribe favorite podcasts. While free to use, premium features are available for $79.99 per year.

Instapaper

Founded by Marco Arment in 2008, Instapaper is one of the oldest read-it-later services. Available on both iOS and Android, it enables unlimited article and video saving at no charge. Paid features include note-taking and permanent article archive for $59.99 annually. Instapaper also provides a three-month free trial for new users importing from Pocket.

Raindrop.io

Primarily serving as a bookmark manager, Raindrop.io allows users to read saved articles and PDFs on mobile apps for iOS and Android. A free version offers unlimited saving, while a premium subscription at $33 per year provides additional features like AI-powered content organization.

Plinky

Developed by ex-Twitter engineer Joe Fabisevich, Plinky lets users save and categorize various types of links. Free users can save up to 50 links, while subscription tiers starting at $3.99 per month unlock additional features like unlimited saving and folder creation.

Paperspan

Paperspan offers a simple interface with cross-device reading lists and add note functionality. The app is free, with a $8.99 monthly subscription for advanced features, though it has not been updated recently.

Readwise Reader

Launched in 2021, the Readwise Reader app enables users to import various content types for annotation and note-taking. It has a 30-day free trial but requires a $9.99 monthly subscription afterward, supporting imports from Pocket.

DoubleMemory

A newer indie app, DoubleMemory, offers seamless link saving across Apple devices. It provides a Pinterest-style interface for saved links and offers subscriptions for additional features.

Recall

Recall distinguishes itself through an AI-driven summarization feature, organizing content for easy retrieval. A free trial allows for ten AI-generated summaries, with unlimited options available on a $7 monthly plan.

Wallabag

As an open-source application, Wallabag supports multiple platforms and allows users to export saved data in various formats. It includes features like a reader mode and tagging and is available for an €11 annual subscription.

Readeck

Readeck is designed to help users organize content for future reference, with a browser extension for saving bookmarks. The app will offer a hosted version in 2025 and is currently developing a mobile application.

Obsidian Web Clipper

This tool from Obsidian enables users to highlight and save web pages directly to their note-taking app via customizable templates.

Karakeep

Karakeep allows users to save links, notes, and images with automatic tagging using AI. Available as a browser extension, it is designed for easy organization across platforms.

Dewey

Dewey enables saving and organizing a wide range of web content with built-in organizational tools and offers plans starting at $7.50 per month.

Folio

Reminiscent of Pocket, Folio allows users to filter articles and offers features like text-to-speech and highlights for free. The app is available on web, iOS, and Android.

Burn 451

This unique approach allows users to save articles, but requires them to read or tag saved content within a day or face deletion.

Omphalis

Omphalis leverages AI to enhance user experience by summarizing and structuring various media formats, offering free and pro plans.