Pocket was the default read-it-later app for years. Instapaper is the closest living alternative — same core idea, different trade-offs. Here is an honest side-by-side for anyone choosing where to land in 2026.
Pocket is no longer available. This table compares what Pocket offered with Instapaper today and where PauseRead fits.
| Feature | Pocket (shut down) | Instapaper | PauseRead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Mozilla-hosted (service ended July 2025) | Hosted by Instapaper (instapaper.com) | Hosted — no server setup |
| Pocket import | N/A — Pocket is shut down | No dedicated Pocket import today; you need a file export from before November 2025 and manual migration | One-click import from a saved Pocket HTML export |
| Reader view | Yes — distraction-free article view | Yes — typography controls, offline reading, folders and tags | Yes — clean reader without nav or ads |
| Sync | Web, iOS, Android, and browser extensions (no longer available) | Web, iOS, and Android apps; third-party API | Web inbox; Chrome extension planned |
| Export | HTML export during the 2025 window only (now closed) | Export available; Premium adds permanent archive | JSON or Markdown export anytime |
| Price | Was free with optional Premium (~$45/year); service ended | Free tier; Premium $5.99/mo or $59.99/yr (instapaper.com) | Free tier (100 saves); Pro ~$4–5/mo for unlimited saves and full-text search |
Instapaper is a mature, hosted read-later app and a natural first stop for former Pocket users. Unlimited saving and sync are free; Premium ($5.99/mo or $59.99/yr on instapaper.com) adds full-text search, a permanent archive, PDF support, Send to Kindle, and enhanced text-to-speech. If you only need save-and-read, the free tier covers most of what Pocket offered.
PauseRead makes sense if you still have a Pocket HTML export file and want a hosted app built around that migration — one-click import, a clean reader, and full export so you are not locked in again. Instapaper is the better fit if you want a long-established app with mobile apps and Kindle delivery today; PauseRead is the better fit if Pocket import and data portability are your priorities.
Omnivore and other read-later projects have shut down or stalled since Pocket closed — hosted options with clear export matter more than ever.
Import your saved Pocket HTML into PauseRead, or start a fresh reading list — hosted, with full export when you need it.
Yes. Instapaper remains actively maintained with free unlimited saves, cross-device sync, and a familiar read-later workflow. Pocket shut down in July 2025, and Instapaper is one of the most direct replacements for people who mainly saved articles to read later.
Not directly from Pocket's servers — export closed November 12, 2025. If you downloaded a Pocket HTML export before then, check whether Instapaper or another tool accepts that format. PauseRead is built specifically for Pocket HTML import if you still have the file.
Pocket had broader discovery features and was free at scale for many users. Instapaper focuses on reading comfort — typography, offline access, and (on Premium) full-text search and Kindle delivery. Some Pocket features, like faster text-to-speech, now require Instapaper Premium.
If you have a Pocket export file and want hosted import plus guaranteed JSON/Markdown export without a long-term subscription, PauseRead is built for that path. Choose Instapaper if you want native mobile apps, Kindle digests, and a decade-old read-later product today.