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Read-it-later app Pocket is shutting down — here are the best alternatives

Mozilla announced the shutdown of the read-it-later app Pocket in May 2025, citing changes in web browsing habits. Users must export their data by October 8, 2025. Alternatives include Matter, Instapaper, Raindrop.io, Plinky, and more, each offering different features and subscription models to help former Pocket users transition.

Key points

  • Mozilla will discontinue Pocket due to shifts in web usage, prompting users to export their data by October 8, 2025.
  • Matter offers an option to listen to articles and transcribe podcasts, with migration support for Pocket users.
  • Instapaper allows unlimited saving of articles for free and offers premium features like notes for $59.99 per year.
  • Raindrop.io functions as a bookmark manager and has a paid version ($33/year) for additional features like AI suggestions and reminders.
  • Plinky enables users to save various types of links and categorize them, offering discounts for Pocket users.
  • PaperSpan is a simple tool for reading lists and notes, but lacks recent updates that might impact reliability.
  • Readwise Reader integrates with various knowledge management apps, allowing for extensive organizational features after a free trial.
  • DoubleMemory allows easy saving of links across devices with iCloud syncing and a convenient interface.
  • Recall uses AI for content summarization and categorization, offered as both a free version and a paid subscription.
  • Wallabag is an open-source alternative for those seeking an affordable yearly subscription of €11.

Why it matters

  • The shutdown of Pocket reflects broader trends in software and app usage, where companies prioritize more innovative or integrated platforms.
  • Similar past instances include the discontinuation of popular tools (e.g., Google Reader) leading to industry shifts toward diversified reading apps.
  • 2025 IT Trends show a rise in AI integrations across applications, which many of the alternatives to Pocket leverage for enhancing user experiences.

The closure of Pocket signifies a pivot in digital reading and saving habits, prompting users to seek new tools with varied capabilities, reflecting ongoing trends in technological innovation and user engagement.