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Pocket alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Pocket: no longer available: all apps and extensions are shut down, and saved libraries had to be exported before the closure. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Pocket, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Instapaper currently ranks first.

Pocket has been discontinued. Mozilla shut Pocket down in 2025, retiring the web, mobile and macOS apps and the browser extensions.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Readwise Reader logoReadwise ReaderPaidNoWeb, iOS, Android +35 of 562.6
2Raindrop.io logoRaindrop.ioFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android +35 of 555.3
  1. Readwise Reader logo

    1. Readwise ReaderTop pick

    Best for: Heavy readers and researchers who highlight a lot and want one inbox for every format

    PaidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Pocket

    A richer reading app that also handles PDFs, newsletters and RSS, with strong highlighting.

    Pros

    • One library for articles, PDFs, EPUBs, newsletters and RSS
    • Excellent highlighting with export to note-taking apps
    • Keyboard-driven, with AI summaries and text-to-speech
    • API, CLI and MCP server for automation

    Cons

    • No free plan once the trial ends
    • So many features that the interface takes time to learn
    • Highlight review is a separate product unless you buy the bundle
    Visit Readwise Reader Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Readwise Reader a good Pocket alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Reader-only price
    $7.99/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Full Readwise price
    $9.99/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days, no credit card
    Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Supported formats
    Articles, PDFs, EPUBs, email, YouTube, RSS
    Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026readwise.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Raindrop.io logo

    2. Raindrop.io

    Best for: People who collect lots of links and want tidy collections with a free plan that has no caps

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Browser extension

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Pocket

    Good if you used Pocket mostly as a bookmark pile and want collections and tags with a generous free plan.

    Pros

    • Unlimited bookmarks, collections and devices for free
    • Nested collections, tags, highlights and reminders
    • Apps on every major platform plus an API
    • Can share collections publicly or with collaborators

    Cons

    • Full-text search and permanent copies need Pro
    • Hosted only; no self-hosted version
    • Reading view is less focused than dedicated read-later apps
    Visit Raindrop.io Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Raindrop.io a good Pocket alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Unlimited bookmarks and devices
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro features
    Full-text search, permanent copies, backups
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Refunds
    30-day money-back guarantee
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Desktop apps
    macOS and Windows
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Open-source apps
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026raindrop.io(opens source in a new tab)

The best Pocket alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Instapaper logo

Best Pocket alternative for most people

Instapaper

The closest like-for-like replacement: a long-running read-later service with a free tier and Premium extras.

wallabag logo

Best Pocket alternative for a free option

wallabag

Open source and self-hostable, with a Pocket importer and an affordable hosted option.

Matter logo

Best Pocket alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Matter

A polished iPhone, iPad and web reader with natural-sounding text-to-speech, much like Pocket's listen feature.

Karakeep logo

Best Pocket alternative for open source

Karakeep

Self-hosted, with AI tagging and a Pocket importer for people who want to own their archive.

wallabag logo

Best Pocket alternative for self-hosting

wallabag

Open source and self-hostable, with a Pocket importer and an affordable hosted option.

Readwise Reader logo

Best Pocket alternative for Mac

Readwise Reader

A richer reading app that also handles PDFs, newsletters and RSS, with strong highlighting.

Raindrop.io logo

Best Pocket alternative for Windows

Raindrop.io

Good if you used Pocket mostly as a bookmark pile and want collections and tags with a generous free plan.

Instapaper logo

Best Pocket alternative for iPhone and Android

Instapaper

The closest like-for-like replacement: a long-running read-later service with a free tier and Premium extras.

Instapaper logo

Best Pocket alternative for working in the browser

Instapaper

The closest like-for-like replacement: a long-running read-later service with a free tier and Premium extras.

Pocket alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Pocket?

Instapaper ranks first right now. The closest like-for-like replacement: a long-running read-later service with a free tier and Premium extras. Readwise Reader and Matter follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Pocket?

Yes. Instapaper (free plan + paid), Matter (free plan + paid), wallabag (open source) and Raindrop.io (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Pocket?

Yes: wallabag and Karakeep. wallabag and Karakeep can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Pocket?

The complaints we hear most: no longer available: all apps and extensions are shut down; saved libraries had to be exported before the closure.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Pocket, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.