iPad and iPhone half of a serious research database
Free tier + $2.99/mo or $19/yr
- App
Use case - Read-later
Best Read-Later Apps (2026)
With Pocket shut down by Mozilla in July 2025 - and its saved data deleted that October - millions of readers have been hunting for a new home for their reading queue. The good news: the read-later space is healthier than ever. Instapaper is still the minimalist classic, Readwise Reader is the power-user pick with highlights and RSS built in, Matter delivers the best listening experience on iOS, GoodLinks is a one-time purchase for Apple devices, Web Highlights turns any page into an annotated note, and open-source Wallabag and Shiori let you own the archive outright.
How they compare
| Tool | Price | Free tier | Type | Saves to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEVONthink To Go | Free tier + $2.99/mo or $19/yr | Yes | App | Its own library |
| GoodLinks | $9.99 one-time | No | App, Extension | Its own library |
| Instapaper | Free + $5.99/mo | Yes | Extension, App | Its own library · Kindle |
| Matter | Free + $8/mo | Yes | Extension, App | Its own library · Notion · Obsidian |
| Readwise Reader | $9.99/mo (annual) | No | Extension, App | Its own library · Notion · Obsidian · Evernote |
| Shiori | Free | Yes | Open source, App, Self-hosted | Your own server |
| Wallabag | Self-host free; €11/yr hosted | Yes | Open source, Extension, App, Self-hosted | Your own server |
| Web Highlights | Free + Premium | Yes | Extension, App | Its own library · Notion · Obsidian · Local files |
All 8 tools
Native Apple read-later app, one-time purchase
$9.99 one-time
- App
- Extension
Classic minimalist read-later service since 2008
Free + $5.99/mo
- Extension
- App
Polished iOS reader with high-quality text-to-speech
Free + $8/mo
- Extension
- App
Power-user reader with highlights, RSS, and newsletters
$9.99/mo (annual)
- Extension
- App
Simple Go bookmark manager with offline article archiving
Free
- Open source
- App
- Self-hosted
Open-source read-later, the main Pocket successor
Self-host free; €11/yr hosted
- Open source
- Extension
- App
- Self-hosted
Highlight and annotate web pages and PDFs
Free + Premium
- Extension
- App
FAQ
What is the best replacement for Pocket?
It depends on how you read. Instapaper is the closest like-for-like replacement with a free tier. Readwise Reader suits heavy readers who highlight and follow feeds. Wallabag is the open-source choice - Mozilla itself pointed departing Pocket users toward exporting their data, and Wallabag imports Pocket exports directly.
Are there free read-later apps?
Yes- Instapaper, Matter, and Web Highlights all have solid free tiers, and Wallabag is free if you self-host it (or about €11 per year hosted). Readwise Reader and GoodLinks are paid but frequently rated worth the money by heavy users.
Can I still export my Pocket data?
No - the export window closed when Mozilla deleted Pocket user data in October 2025. If you kept an export file, most apps here (Instapaper, Readwise Reader, Wallabag) can import it. Going forward, pick a tool with open export formats so a shutdown never strands your archive again.