Pocket Alternatives (2026): 9 Apps Compared

Pocket was the simplest way to park an article and come back to it later, and Mozilla has now shut it down. If you relied on it for client research, industry reading or the long pieces you never have time for at your desk, you've probably been hunting for somewhere new to keep them.

Here are nine Pocket alternatives in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. I've mixed smaller and open-source apps with two long-running names, and every description comes from each tool's own website and directory listings, plus Mozilla's own support page on the shutdown. If you keep your notes elsewhere, my comparison of note apps you could pair with a reading list may help too.

Read-later apps side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site says there's a permanent free tier, or the software is free and open source (some of those need you to run your own server). Trial only means there's a free trial but no ongoing free plan. No means neither is stated, so check the site before you commit.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Cubox	Read-later library	Saving pages, newsletters and highlights	Yes
GoodLinks	Apple read-later app	Private reading on iPhone, iPad and Mac	No
Instapaper	Read-later service	A simple queue of articles to read	Yes
Karakeep	Self-hosted bookmark app	Saving links, notes and images with auto-tags	Yes
Linkwarden	Shared bookmark manager	Team collections and archived copies of pages	Yes
Raindrop.io	Bookmark manager	Bookmarks plus a reading view	Yes
Readeck	Self-hosted read-later app	A simple private reading list you control	Yes
Readwise Reader	Reading and highlighting app	Articles, newsletters, PDFs and feeds in one inbox	Trial only
wallabag	Open-source read-later app	Self-hosting or hosted reading list	Yes

Nine read-later apps to try after Pocket

Cubox

Best for: People who want one tidy library for articles, clipped snippets and newsletters, with highlights kept alongside the source.

GoodLinks

Best for: Apple users who'd rather buy a single app that syncs through iCloud than sign up for another account.

Instapaper

Best for: Anyone who wants a plain, familiar read-later queue that syncs across the web, iPhone and Android.

Karakeep

Best for: Tinkerers happy to run their own server who want everything they save collected, tagged and searchable in one place.

Linkwarden

Best for: Small teams and researchers who want shared collections and a saved copy of every page in case it disappears.

Raindrop.io

Best for: People who save articles, videos and sites alike and want them sorted into tidy collections.

Readeck

Best for: Readers who want a calm, minimal reading list stored on their own server rather than in someone else's cloud.

Readwise Reader

Best for: Heavy readers who want articles, newsletters, PDFs and feeds in one place, with highlights they can review later.

wallabag

Best for: Anyone who wants free, open-source software for saving articles, either on their own server or through a hosted service.

What to look for in a read-later app

Saving an article is easy. What decides whether you keep using the app is everything around it. These are the points worth checking before you move your reading list.

• Saving from everywhere. Check for a browser extension, a share button on your phone and, if you read newsletters, an email address you can forward them to.
• A clean reading view. The best read-later apps strip out adverts and clutter so long articles are comfortable to read on a small screen.
• Offline reading. If you read on trains, planes or in patchy signal, make sure saved articles still open without a connection.
• Highlights and notes. Useful if you're collecting quotes for a report, newsletter or client work.
• Search and tags. Your list will grow. Folders, tags and search keep it from becoming a pile you never open.
• Import and export. A good read-later app lets you bring your old list in and take it out again later.

Questions to ask before moving your reading list

• Do I only want to read articles later, or do I also want to keep bookmarks, notes and files in the same place?
• Which devices do I read on, and does the app work on all of them?
• Am I happy to rely on a company, or would I rather host the app myself so nobody can switch it off?
• Can I get my saved items back out as a file if I change my mind?
• Do I need to share collections with a colleague or a client?
• Will a free tier be enough, or do I need the extras a trial shows me?

Which type of read-later tool suits your work

• Simple read-later services suit people who just want a queue of articles and nothing to learn.
• Bookmark managers suit anyone who saves sites, videos and tools as well as articles and wants them in tidy collections.
• Reading and highlighting apps suit researchers, writers and consultants who collect quotes and want to review them later.
• Self-hosted and open-source apps suit people who value control over their data and don't mind some set-up.
• Apple-only apps suit anyone fully settled on iPhone, iPad and Mac who wants everything to sync quietly in the background.

If reading time is what's stopping you, my reading time calculator shows how long an article will take before you save it, and my roundup of productivity tools covers other ways to keep your working day tidy.

Moving your saved articles from Pocket

Mozilla's own support page says Pocket has shut down, so the first job is to find out whether you still hold a copy of your list. Most read-later apps can import the kind of file Pocket used to export, and some can read other apps' exports too.

• Look for an export file you saved earlier, and keep it safe before you try anything else.
• Check the new app's import page to see which file types it accepts.
• Import a small batch first and make sure titles, tags and dates came across.
• Don't reconnect old accounts to tools you no longer trust, and read what access any import service asks for.
• If you can't find an export, start fresh and save only what you'll really read.

Read-later mistakes to avoid

• Saving everything and reading nothing. A list with hundreds of unread items stops being useful.
• Choosing an app that can't export, which leaves you stuck the next time a service closes.
• Relying on one tool for everything when a simple read-later app and a separate note app might serve you better.
• Ignoring how a self-hosted app is looked after. You become the person who updates and backs it up.

Why a smaller read-later app can be worth a look

Smaller and open-source tools often do one job with care, and several are built so you can export your data whenever you like. That matters after a shutdown like Pocket's, because it's the best protection against being caught out again.

Before you rely on one, check it's still being updated, that it works on the devices you use, and that its free plan or trial is described clearly on its own site.

Do you make a read-later, bookmarking or reading app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Settling on your next read-later app

Pick two apps that match the way you read, whether that's a simple queue, a bookmark library or a highlighting workflow. Use each for a week with real articles, check that saving works on your phone and laptop, and keep whichever one you open without thinking.

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Pocket?

Mozilla has shut Pocket down, and its own support page explains what that means for saved items. If you still hold an export file, most read-later apps can import it.

What is the closest thing to Pocket?

A simple read-later service with a browser extension, a phone share button and a clean reading view is the closest match. Bookmark managers and open-source apps cover similar ground with extra features.

Is there a free read-later app?

Yes. Several tools on this list have a permanent free tier or are free, open-source software, though some of the open-source ones need you to run your own server. Check each tool's own site.

Can I move my saved articles to a new read-later app?

Often, yes. Many apps accept an exported file from other services, so check the import page of the app you're considering and try a small batch first.

Should I host a read-later app myself?

Only if you're comfortable with updates and backups, or happy to ask someone technical to look after it. A hosted app takes that work off your hands.