Pocket is dead. The read-later landscape has shifted. If you need the backstory on what happened to Pocket and Omnivore, we covered that separately. This is the honest feature comparison you need to pick your next app.
We'll cover the four main contenders — Instapaper, Readwise Reader, Matter, and Gleamr — with real pros and cons for each.
Quick Verdict
| Instapaper | Readwise Reader | Matter | Gleamr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simplicity | Power users | Newsletter readers | Pocket refugees |
| Price/year | $59.99 | Paid only | Free core | $49.99 |
| Free tier | Unlimited saves | 30-day trial | Yes | 50 articles |
| Full-text search | No | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Pocket import | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
If you just want the short answer: Instapaper if you want the simplest possible experience, Readwise Reader if you live in Obsidian/Notion and want every feature imaginable, Matter if you mostly read newsletters on iPhone, and Gleamr if you want one-click Pocket import and a searchable reading library with no lock-in.
Now let's dig into each one.
Instapaper — The Original
Price: Free (unlimited saves) / $59.99/year for Premium
Instapaper has been around since 2008. It practically co-invented the read-later category alongside Pocket, and it's still here — which says a lot. When Pocket shut down in 2025, Kobo chose Instapaper to replace it on their e-readers.
What it does well:
- Rock-solid text parsing that handles most articles cleanly
- Folder-based organization that's easy to understand
- Speed reading mode for skimming long pieces
- Kobo and Kindle integration for reading on e-ink
- The most generous free tier — unlimited saves, no catch
Where it falls short:
- No full-text search (you can only search titles)
- Development pace is slow — the app hasn't changed much in years
- No tagging system (folders only)
- Browser extension works but feels dated
- Limited highlight and annotation features
Honest take: Instapaper is the Toyota Corolla of read-later apps. It's reliable, it works, and it won't surprise you. But if you have hundreds of saved articles and need to find something specific, the lack of search is a real problem.
Readwise Reader — The Everything App
Price: Paid Readwise Full subscription — 30-day free trial
Readwise Reader launched as a reading app for people who take notes seriously. It's since grown into a Swiss Army knife that handles articles, newsletters, RSS feeds, PDFs, YouTube transcripts, and Twitter threads.
What it does well:
- Deep integration with Obsidian, Notion, Roam, and Logseq
- Highlight syncing that actually works across all your tools
- RSS feed reader built in — replace Feedly too
- Newsletter inbox so you can read subscriptions in the app
- AI-powered summaries and ghostreader features
- Full-text search across everything
Where it falls short:
- A paid Readwise Full subscription is steep, especially with no free tier beyond the trial
- Feature overload — the UI can feel overwhelming
- Slow on older devices due to feature density
- Overkill if you just want to save and read articles
- Learning curve to set up all the integrations
Honest take: If you're already deep in the Obsidian/Notion ecosystem and your reading workflow is part of a larger knowledge management system, Readwise Reader is hard to beat. But if you just want to save articles and read them later, you're paying for a lot of features you'll never touch.
Matter — The Newsletter Reader
Price: Free (core features) / Premium available
Matter started as a social reading app and has evolved into a strong option for newsletter-heavy readers, especially on iOS. They offered 50% off to displaced Pocket users, which was a smart move.
What it does well:
- Excellent text-to-speech for listening to articles
- Built-in newsletter inbox
- Social highlights and discovery features
- Clean, well-designed iOS app
- Generous free tier for basic reading
Where it falls short:
- No Android app — iOS and web only
- Web app feels like an afterthought
- No Pocket import
- Limited search capabilities
- Browser extension is basic compared to others
- Smaller development team, slower feature rollout
Honest take: If you're on iPhone and consume a lot of newsletters, Matter is genuinely excellent. But the lack of Android and a weak web experience make it a non-starter for anyone who reads across multiple platforms.
Gleamr — Pocket Import + Searchable Library
Price: Free (50 articles) / $8/month or $49.99/year
Gleamr launched specifically to fill the gap left by Pocket and Omnivore. It's built around the features that Pocket users actually missed most: full-text search, clean reading, and not losing your data.
What it does well:
- Full-text search across all saved content — find any article by what it said, not just the title
- One-click Pocket import that preserves your tags
- Clean reader view without distractions
- Browser extension for fast saving
- Full data export (JSON) at any time — no vendor lock-in
- Unlimited storage on paid plans
Where it falls short:
- Newer app — smaller community and fewer integrations
- No native mobile apps yet (responsive web app)
- No highlight sync with external tools
- Free tier limited to 50 articles
- No RSS reader or newsletter inbox built in
Honest take: Gleamr pairs one-click Pocket import with a searchable, portable reading library. The full-text search and Pocket import are genuine standouts. The trade-off is that it's younger than the competition, so it has no native mobile apps or highlight sync today. If you want your reading library searchable and portable from day one, it delivers on that.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Instapaper | Readwise Reader | Matter | Gleamr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price/year | $59.99 | Paid only | Free core | $49.99 |
| Free tier | Unlimited saves | 30-day trial | Yes | 50 articles |
| Full-text search | No | Yes | Limited | Yes |
| Pocket import | Yes (tags become folders) | Yes | No | Yes (preserves tags) |
| Browser extension | Yes | Yes | Basic | Yes |
| Mobile apps | iOS + Android | iOS + Android | iOS only | Web (responsive) |
| E-reader support | Kobo + Kindle | Kindle | No | No |
| RSS/newsletters | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Highlight sync | No | Obsidian, Notion, Roam | No | No |
| Data export | CSV | Markdown, CSV | Limited | JSON |
| Text-to-speech | No | Yes | Yes (HD) | No |
| Offline reading | Yes (mobile) | Yes (mobile) | Yes (mobile) | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Best For Your Use Case
"I just want to save articles and read them"
Pick Instapaper. It's simple, reliable, and has the most generous free tier. You won't get full-text search, but if you read things promptly, that might not matter.
"I take notes on everything I read"
Pick Readwise Reader. The highlight syncing to Obsidian and Notion is unmatched. Yes, it's expensive, but if note-taking is central to your workflow, nothing else comes close.
"I mostly read newsletters on my iPhone"
Pick Matter. The newsletter inbox and text-to-speech are excellent for this specific use case. Just know you're locked into the Apple ecosystem.
"I had Pocket and want something similar"
Pick Gleamr. One-click Pocket import, full-text search, and a familiar save-and-read workflow give you a searchable reading library you own. Start free with 50 articles
"I want the cheapest option"
Pick Instapaper (free unlimited) or Matter (free core features). Gleamr's free tier is limited to 50 articles, and Readwise has no free tier at all.
"I need to read on a Kindle or Kobo"
Pick Instapaper. It has the best e-reader integration, especially now that Kobo has officially partnered with them.
You don't have to pick just one. Many people use Readwise Reader for deep research and a simpler app like Instapaper or Gleamr for casual reading. Use what fits your workflow.
The Elephant in the Room: Trust
After Pocket (Mozilla, 35 million users) and Omnivore (open-source, beloved community) both shut down, trust matters more than features.
Here's what to look for:
- Business model transparency: If you're not paying, you're not the customer. Both Pocket and Omnivore were free, and both disappeared.
- Data export: Can you get your data out in standard formats? If not, walk away.
- Track record: How long has the service been around? Is it actively maintained?
Every app in this comparison lets you export your data — that's table stakes at this point. But ask yourself: does this company have a sustainable way to keep the lights on?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Instapaper still free?
Yes. Instapaper offers unlimited free saves with no catch. The premium plan ($59.99/year) adds full-text search, highlights, and speed reading, but the free tier is genuinely usable.
Which read-later app has full-text search?
Gleamr and Readwise Reader both offer full-text search across all saved content. Instapaper only searches titles unless you pay for premium. Matter has limited search.
Can I import my Pocket library into another app?
Yes, if you have a Pocket export file. Gleamr and Instapaper both support Pocket import. Gleamr preserves your tags; Instapaper converts the first tag per article into a folder.
Still deciding? The best approach is to try your top two picks for a week each. Import a few articles, test the reading experience, and see what clicks. Your reading list deserves a searchable home you can export from. If you're a developer, check out our developer-focused comparison for API access, export, and technical content handling.
Ready to try Gleamr? Walk through the getting started guide, or jump straight in and import your Pocket library if you have an export.
Start with 50 free articles