Pocket is shutting down, and many loyal users are disappointed. It was a popular app by Mozilla that let you save articles, videos, and links to read later. People liked it because it was simple and worked across phones, browsers, and desktops. You could save anything and read it later without distractions. Now that it is going away, users are looking for good alternatives.
Mozilla has announced that Pocket will stop working on July 8, 2025. After that, users will only be able to export their saved content until October 8, 2025, after which all data will be permanently deleted. According to Mozilla, people just do not use save-for-later tools like they used to. Instead, they are focusing on adding smarter features directly inside Firefox, such as tab groups and better bookmarking. Some of Pocket’s article recommendations will also continue to appear in the Firefox browser, but the app itself will no longer exist.
So, what now?
If you are looking for a replacement, the good news is that there are plenty of great Pocket alternatives out there. Some even offer better features and modern interfaces. Here are the best ones to try, with details on how they compare to Pocket and what makes each one different.
Pocket Alternatives Comparison
| Feature / App | PaperSpan | Instapaper | Raindrop.io | Matter | Web Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platform | Web, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox | Web, Android, iOS, Kindle | Web, Android, iOS, Browser Extensions | iOS, Web (no Android yet) | Chrome, Firefox Extensions |
| Offline Reading | Yes | Yes | Yes (via apps) | Yes | No |
| Text-to-Speech | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (great TTS engine) | No |
| Article Highlighting | Yes | Yes | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes |
| Organizational Tools | Tags, folders, notes | Folders, highlights | Folders, tags, collections | Tags, “Read Later” queue | Highlights stored in Notion/Readwise |
| Note-Taking | Yes | Yes | Yes (Pro) | Yes | Yes (auto-syncs to Notion/Readwise) |
| Best For | Minimalist users, privacy-focused | Traditional readers, Kindle integration | Bookmark organizers, power users | News readers, podcast-style article listening | Researchers, knowledge workers |
| Pricing | Free | Free / Premium ($2.99/mo) | Free / Pro ($3+/mo) | Free / Premium ($7.99/mo) | Free (some features require Readwise) |
1. PaperSpan
PaperSpan is a newer read-it-later app that focuses on privacy and simplicity. It lets you save articles and web pages for offline reading without clutter or distractions. It also strips away clutter for a clean reading experience. It also offers features like text highlighting, note-taking, and even text-to-speech functionality. So, you can also listen to articles while on the go. Additionally, it provides insights into your reading habits, helping you understand your reading patterns and preferences.
PaperSpan supports offline access, which means you can read your saved content anytime, even without an internet connection. Its design is clean and straightforward. Unlike Pocket, PaperSpan keeps things simple and focuses on reading. This makes it a good option if you want a no-fuss app to save and read content quietly and privately.
In terms of platform availability, PaperSpan offers apps for iOS and Android devices, as well as browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
Best For: Privacy-conscious readers who want a minimal, distraction-free interface.
Highlights:
- Focused on reading and productivity with offline access, highlights, and TTS.
- Excellent for people who like to “listen” to saved articles.
- Free and privacy-respecting (no ads, no tracking).
- Syncs well across mobile and browser.
Limitations:
- Interface feels dated.
- No powerful integrations or smart recommendations.
2. Instapaper
Instapaper is one of the closest alternatives to Pocket in terms of features and overall experience. It has been around for many years and offers a clean, distraction-free reading mode that users appreciate. You can save articles with one click and organize them into folders. This makes it easy to manage your reading list. Instapaper also supports highlighting text and adding notes, which helps if you like to mark important parts while reading. Offline reading is fully supported, so it’s great for people who commute or travel. Instapaper’s user interface is simple and smooth. This makes it a strong choice for anyone who wants a familiar, reliable read-it-later app similar to Pocket. One key difference is the look and feel. Instapaper has a more minimal design and a smoother reading experience. Some users also find its highlighting and note features more polished. If you want something that feels familiar and is built for reading articles, Instapaper is a safe choice.
Best For: Users looking for a traditional Pocket-like experience with Kindle integration.
Highlights:
- Clean interface with distraction-free reading.
- Allows unlimited highlights and speed reading tools.
- Easily sends articles to Kindle.
- Offers both free and paid tiers.
Limitations:
- Development slowed down in recent years.
- Slightly less modern compared to Matter or Raindrop.io.
3. Raindrop.io
Raindrop.io is a more powerful and versatile tool that goes beyond just reading articles. It’s a polished bookmarking app that lets you save almost any kind of web content, from articles to images and videos. Raindrop.io helps you organize your saved content with tags and collections, which adds structure that Pocket users might miss. It also includes a clean reading mode to make reading saved articles easier. Collaboration features let you share collections with others, which is handy for teams or shared projects. Raindrop.io supports importing from Pocket, so switching is simple. If you want more control and organization over your saved content, Raindrop.io is a great fit.
Best For: Users who want powerful organization tools and save not only articles but also videos, PDFs, and more.
Highlights:
- Beautiful UI and powerful bookmarking tools.
- Great for managing different content types (not just articles).
- Tagging, full-text search, smart collections.
- Supports team collaboration.
Limitations:
- Not a pure read-it-later tool; more of a general-purpose bookmark manager.
- Some features (like nested folders or full-text search) require a Pro subscription.
4. Matter
Matter is a modern read-it-later app designed for serious readers who want a focused, calm reading experience. It offers features like highlighting, note-taking, and syncing across devices, making it ideal for knowledge workers or students. Matter allows you to follow your favorite writers and newsletters directly within the app, so it doubles as a content discovery platform. Its interface feels fresh and minimal, which helps reduce distractions. While it is newer than some other tools, Matter supports Pocket imports, so you can easily bring over your saved articles. If you want a stylish and thoughtful app for deep reading and learning, Matter is worth trying.
Best For: Those who treat reading like consuming media (audio articles, clean interface, personalized content).
Highlights:
- Modern UI with high-quality text-to-speech (feels like a podcast).
- Excellent highlighting and note-taking.
- Clean reading experience with curated reading lists.
- Syncs highlights to Readwise.
Limitations:
- No Android app yet.
- Slightly more expensive than others.
Download: iOS
5. Web Highlights
Web Highlights is one of the best tools if you love using Pocket for reading and organizing web content. It lets you highlight any text on a web page, save full articles, and open them later in a clean reading mode, much like Pocket. It even gives you a dashboard where you can see all your saved pages, notes, and highlights in one place. It is important to note that Web Highlights is a browser extension and is available for Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. It also offers additional features such as cloud synchronization, organization of highlights with tags and notes, and export options to formats like PDF, HTML, and Markdown.
While Pocket focused mostly on saving content for reading later, Web Highlights adds more tools for learning and research. It is especially useful for students, professionals, and curious readers who want to keep their highlights and notes organized.
Best For: Researchers and knowledge workers who want to highlight and send notes to Notion or Readwise.
Highlights:
- Highlight directly from the browser as you read (without saving full article).
- Auto-syncs to Notion, Readwise, and Obsidian.
- Lightweight, fast, and integrates into your knowledge system.
Limitations:
- Not a full read-it-later app (does not save full articles).
- Lacks offline support or a native mobile app.
Final Thoughts
Pocket was a great app for saving and reading online content. Even though it is closing, there are many good alternatives you can try. Each app has its own strengths, so you can pick one that fits your needs best. If you like highlighting and organizing what you read, Web Highlights is a strong choice. For a smooth reading experience with offline access, Instapaper works well. Raindrop.io is great if you want to save and organize different types of content. Matter offers a modern, focused space for serious readers. And PaperSpan is a simple, privacy-friendly option.
No matter which one you choose, switching now will help you keep saving and reading content without interruption. It’s a good chance to find a new tool that works better for you.
