Instapaper and pocket are prominent read-it-later apps that might appear similar. It can be hard to differentiate between the two, and the user may be unclear about which one to pick.
Both Instapaper and Pocket give you a wide range of elective options, and they perform simple tasks like saving web articles for reading at a later time. It covers popular desktop browsers like Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome as their extensions.
The Instapaper and Pocket Apps on Android and iOS devices use the extension used through the share sheet menu. If you choose to listen to the reading of articles, you can choose Pocket.
On the other hand, if you want to write notes along with the highlights, Instapaper is a better choice. In this article, we will help you to pick the app that best suits your requirements.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Is One Better Than the Other
If you’re looking for a simple and streamlined reading experience, Instapaper might be your better choice. Pocket might be a better fit if you want more social features and a wider range of integrations.
Here’s a detailed comparison table for Instapaper and Pocket:-
| Features | Instapaper | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, Premium: $2.99/month or $29.99/year | Free, Premium: $4.99/month or $44.99/year |
| Platforms supported | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Chrome, Firefox |
| User interface | Simple and clean interface | Colorful and visually appealing interface |
| Offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading |
| Article archiving | Yes, articles can be archived and organized | Yes, articles can be archived and organized |
| Highlighting | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles |
| Tagging system | No, but users can organize articles in folders | Yes, users can organize articles with tags |
| Article discovery | No, Instapaper doesn’t suggest articles | Yes, Pocket has a “Discover” feature for articles |
| Integrations | Few, including IFTTT and Evernote | Many, including IFTTT, Evernote, and Trello |
| Social features | No, Instapaper doesn’t have social features | Yes, users can follow other users and share articles |
Common Features:-
When you come across an article, you cannot read as it is lengthy, and you don’t have the time to read it at that particular moment; you are busy doing something else.
You prefer to read it once free or have leisure time; this is when read-it-later apps come in handy. By using the browser extension or the share function available on your device, the article can be sent to Instapaper.
The article will be downloaded in a text-friendly manner and can be read even without the Internet.
The articles can also be sorted into folders, or they can also be read aloud if you want to listen to the article. This is interesting if you prefer reading articles or stories in your free time.
Pocket gives more emphasis on flexible organization and research. It can be used as a simple reading list and several other features to collect information on huge projects.
Instead of folders, the Pocket uses a tagging system where the articles can be sorted into several categories and easily found later.
The copies of the links will be downloaded by using Pocket premium. This is beneficial because the user can retain the information for his reference.
It can be used as a reference tool or for casual reading. Both these platforms are designed as a simple reading apps where the link can be saved for reading later.
Instapaper and Pocket web versions work well on both mobile devices and desktops. On the home screen, the saved articles list is beautifully designed via Instapaper and Pocket.
Instapaper has a newspaper approach, and Pocket has a modern approach. The navigation for both apps consists of linked or favorite articles, archives, videos, and Browse or discover.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Platforms
Both these apps support similar platforms. There are apps for iOS, Android and websites that enable you to read the saved article. The browser extensions are also available for browsers like Safari and Chrome.
The articles can be saved and read later on your device. A Kindle app for Amazon’s Readers allows users to read text-based versions of saved articles.
They can also be easily downloaded and transferred through USB. The articles can be read even when you don’t have an internet connection or are away from Wi-Fi. The pocket is available as a Standard Android app on the Kindle Fire.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Highlighting
Instapaper and Pocket permit the highlighting that comes with a caveat. Up to five highlights in a month can be made using the free Instapaper version.
Whereas with the Pocket app, three highlights per article are possible. If you have upgraded to premium, the number of highlights is unlimited.
In addition to the highlights, the Instapaper contains notes that allow the user to write down the notes or thoughts on the highlights.
This option is not available in Pocket software. This can be the main reason to decide whether to go with Instapaper or Pocket.
In Instapaper, the highlights can be shared as useful images for social media platforms like Twitter. The Pocket app does not provide this option.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Reading Appearance
The text appearances can be adjusted according to your preference in Instapaper and Pocket. The colors, fonts, margins, height, etc., can be upgraded in the premium feature of Pocket software.
Instapaper and Pocket have basic reading features where users can choose from various options. They have sepia color schemes, dark, and light, forming the custom brightness setting while reading, and the font options are also available.
Instapaper has multiple fonts, whereas Pocket has only one serif and sans-serif font. IOS devices have more font options than Android devices.
Instapaper and Pocket allow users to download articles from the websites to read at their convenience, like on a trip. They can do so even if there is no internet connection available.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Tagging
The difference between Instapaper and Pocket apps can be spotted using the tagging feature. Multiple tags can be added while you save an article to the Pocket app, but Instapaper lets you save in a single folder.
Suppose you want to save an article; while you save the article to the pocket, tags like combination or startup can be added. But in Instapaper, either combination or startup can be added to one folder.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Aesthetics
Instapaper and Pocket have many similarities in Aesthetics as they depict clean mobile and web interfaces. Instapaper is much simpler and minimalist.
Other than the blue selected tabs and article images, it is black and white that does not have another color. Pocket has more gradient color accents with more cheerful options.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Customization
Instapaper and Pocket apps offer more customized options like fonts, indentation, line spacing, and background colors.
Pocket has a simple strategy when it comes to customization to choose between two free fonts and three background theme colors. More font options require more premium to be paid.
The Pocket Website has a customization feature that is not available for Instapaper, where switching the display of the saved articles gives more emphasis on the article images. The list view is the only choice on the mobile app for both Instapaper and Pocket.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Organization
There is also a difference between how these apps arrange the saved articles. A simple folder is used to arrange the saved articles in Instapaper.
It is similar to the folders that are organized on a desktop computer. Folders can be created within Instapaper, and you can drag and drop the articles from the home page into these created folders.
The purpose of such folders is to store the saved articles. Subfolders cannot be created, unlike on a desktop. Pocket makes use of tagging for organizing the articles. Custom tags can be added to each article.
The purpose of adding a custom tag is to easily locate the article with the help of these tags under the tags tab. The Pocket is preferred for extensive research projects with several topics.
The level of organizing the articles is limited in Instapaper as the user can add a subfolder to it, thus making it difficult to categorize multiple topic articles.
An article can be easily tagged with multiple tags by using a pocket; it helps the user locate the article using these tags.
Both the apps Instapaper and Pocket work well to save web articles for reading later. If you are looking for an in-depth organizational research system, then you can better choose Pocket as the option.
Instapaper vs Pocket – Speed Reading
Instapaper has an extraordinary speed reading feature where the texts of an article display one word at a time. The speed of this feature can be regulated between two hundred to six fifty words per minute.
The free users can enjoy reading about ten articles monthly, whereas the premium users can enjoy unlimited reading. This is one of the unique features available in Instapaper but not in the Pocket app.
The feature is accessible online but unavailable on the Instapaper app for free. If you upgrade to premium, you can enjoy using this feature on your phone. You won’t find this element in Pocket; Instapaper is a better choice for speed reading.
Text to speech
With the Pocket app, the user can read the articles aloud while you are connected to the internet. But when the internet connection is lost, you can no longer listen to the article being read. When you read every new article, you must reconnect with the new article.
The pocket reading features come free. The Instapaper, too, has text-to-speech options with some limitations.
Both these apps have text-to-speech options that allow the user to listen to the articles like in a podcast. This feature is free in-pocket, whereas it must be paid in Instapaper.
In the Pocket app, the user can fast-forward or rewind the audio and select the narrator’s voice. It is certainly an improvement over the default robot voice.
It comes free for Pocket users, while the text-to-audio feature is priced for Instapaper users as the option is available only for premium users. When converting the text to audio, the pocket is the highlight.
Tabs are available for discovering new articles in both Instapaper and Pocket. In Instapaper, there are restrictions to the number of recommended articles in the browse tab. At the same time, the pocket has several or multiple frequently updated articles.
There are also social aspects present in every service that it provides. Instapaper lets users find friends through social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter and shares articles with them.
The same feature is available in the Pocket, where friends can be located using social media platforms or through the contact list. It also lets the user share their reading with friends.
Videos:-
A separate video tab is available to save the Vimeo and YouTube videos at the same place where the articles have been saved. Pocket is more competent at saving videos.
While you save a YouTube video link in your pocket, you can extract the thumbnail and video title. But when the same link is saved in Instapaper, it only replaces the title with the URL.
It did not extract the title or thumbnail. This might complicate things while watching the saved links, as you will not know which video belongs to which link.
Despite Pocket being on the higher side when viewing videos, in both the apps Instapaper and Pocket, videos cannot be downloaded for offline viewing.
So, this feature does not make much difference in choosing between the two apps as it is not a determining factor to consider.
Search Features:-
The article titles can be searched by using the free version of pocket. To enable the full-text search option, you must upgrade the app.
Limited search is allowed on Instapaper on mobile, whereas the free version is unavailable on the web.
Users can search full text on both mobile and the web if upgraded. Pocket offers limited free search, but there is no free search in Instapaper.
The users can enjoy certain unique features for free, but the search experience is priced.
In the free version, the pocket allows the user to search the title or any URL of the saved articles for free. The advanced features in search must be paid for. The premium option can search the article’s full text, keywords, and specific tags.
Instapaper has restrictions for search; in Instapaper premium, advanced search tools are also available, where you can filter the results, sort by date, find the matches, etc. The tag search feature is more helpful for locating organized articles.
Subscriptions and Prices:-
Instapaper comes as a cheaper option. The annual subscription is thirty dollars, whereas it is forty-five for a Pocket subscription.
With the higher price, the pocket premium comes with better features. The Instapaper and Pocket’s free and premium editions had plenty of features to offer their users.
Both platforms offer free versions. But if you want to make unlimited highlights while reading, then the premium would make a better choice.
Pocket allows for backup of all the saved articles even if the links are not accessible. It also has features like suggested tags, full-text search, etc.
In Instapaper, features like speed reading and full-text search are available if you upgrade to premium.
Instapaper is cheaper, whereas the Pocket app provides more options for users. In the free version, Instapaper allows users to save unlimited videos or articles, create folders, etc. Pocket also has these features but comes with a slightly higher price,
Should I go for Instapaper or Pocket?
Even though both Instapaper and pocket look similar, it has certain differences. Hence the user has to choose between the two depending on his requirements.
Suppose you frequently make notes as you read; Instapaper can be a better choice. If you are more into podcasts and prefer listening rather than reading, go for Pocket.
If you are looking at the price, then Instapaper would be a good choice. As these are read-it-later apps, it helps the user retain his reading habit, as reading the saved web articles in your leisure time can be enjoyable.
Being a passive reader to save web articles for future use, you can use any platform like Pocket or Instapaper, as both have unique features. Instapaper is much simpler to use.
If you want only the free option without spending on a paid premium version but also want to enjoy certain features, go for the pocket as it has several features in its free version, like highlighting, search capability, text-to-speech, etc.
Both platforms have different aspects to offer to their users. So, consider which feature you need in a save for a later app before deciding.
You can also check out this Awesome explanation about both apps.
The premium version of Instapaper offers several additional features that may be useful for heavy users. However, the free version still provides much value and is a great way to save articles for later reading.
Here’s a detailed comparison table for Instapaper’s free and premium plans:-
| Features | Instapaper Free | Instapaper Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $2.99/month or $29.99/year |
| Offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading |
| Article archiving | Yes, articles can be archived and organized | Yes, articles can be archived and organized |
| Highlighting | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles |
| Text-to-speech | No | Yes, articles can be read aloud |
| Full-text search | No | Yes, users can search for articles by keyword |
| Speed reading | No | Yes, users can speed up or slow down article reading |
| Advertisements | Yes, ads are displayed in the app | No |
| Advanced search | No | Yes, users can search for articles by title, author, or keyword |
| Unlimited highlights | No | Yes, users can highlight an unlimited number of articles |
| Text translation | No | Yes, users can translate article text into multiple languages |
Instapaper vs Pocket vs Raindrop:-
Instapaper is a simple read-later service providing a clean, distraction-free reading experience. Pocket offers a more robust feature set, including saving videos and images, a powerful tagging system, and a recommendations engine.
Raindrop is a newer read-later service that allows users to save and organize a wide range of content types and offers powerful tagging and integration features.
Here’s a detailed comparison table for Instapaper, Pocket, and Raindrop:-
| Features | Instapaper | Raindrop | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, Premium: $2.99/month or $29.99/year | Free, Premium: $4.99/month or $44.99/year | Free, Premium: $3/month or $30/year |
| Platforms supported | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Chrome, Firefox | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS |
| User interface | Simple and clean interface | Colorful and visually appealing interface | Modern and customizable interface |
| Offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading | Yes, articles can be saved for offline reading |
| Article archiving | Yes, articles can be archived and organized | Yes, articles can be archived and organized | Yes, articles can be organized in collections |
| Highlighting | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles |
| Tagging system | No, but users can organize articles in folders | Yes, users can organize articles with tags | Yes, users can organize articles with tags |
| Article discovery | No, Instapaper doesn’t suggest articles | Yes, Pocket has a “Discover” feature for articles | No, Raindrop doesn’t suggest articles |
| Integrations | Few, including IFTTT and Evernote | Many, including IFTTT, Evernote, and Trello | Many, including Slack, Google Drive, and Trello |
| Social features | No, Instapaper doesn’t have social features | Yes, users can follow other users and share articles | No, Raindrop doesn’t have social features |
Instapaper vs Pocket vs Readwise:-
If you’re primarily looking for a tool to save articles for later reading, Instapaper or Pocket might be the best fit. If you’re more interested in highlighting and note-taking, Readwise might be the way to go.
Here’s a detailed comparison table for Instapaper, Pocket, and Readwise:-
| Features | Instapaper | Readwise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, Premium: $2.99/month or $29.99/year | Free, Premium: $4.99/month or $44.99/year | Free, Premium: $8-$12/month or $72-$108/year |
| Platforms supported | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Chrome, Firefox | Web, iOS, Android |
| User interface | Simple and clean interface | Colorful and visually appealing interface | Simple and customizable interface |
| Offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading | No |
| Article archiving | Yes, articles can be archived and organized | Yes, articles can be archived and organized | No, but users can export their highlights |
| Highlighting | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles | Yes, users can highlight and organize highlights |
| Tagging system | No, but users can organize articles in folders | Yes, users can organize articles with tags | No, but users can create custom categories |
| Article discovery | No, Instapaper doesn’t suggest articles | Yes, Pocket has a “Discover” feature for articles | No |
| Integrations | Few, including IFTTT and Evernote | Many, including IFTTT, Evernote, and Trello | Many, including Notion, Evernote, and Roam Research |
| Social features | No, Instapaper doesn’t have social features | Yes, users can follow other users and share articles | No |
| Highlight syncing | No | Yes, highlights can be synced across devices | Yes, highlights can be synced across devices |
Instapaper vs Readwise:-
Instapaper focuses more on saving and reading web content later, while Readwise focuses on organizing and reviewing highlights and notes from various reading sources.
Here’s a detailed comparison table for Instapaper and Readwise:-
| Features | Instapaper | Readwise |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, Premium: $2.99/month or $29.99/year | Free trial, Premium: $8-$12/month or $72-$108/year |
| Platforms supported | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| User interface | Simple and clean interface | Simple and customizable interface |
| Offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading | No |
| Article archiving | Yes, articles can be archived and organized | No, but users can export their highlights |
| Highlighting | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles | Yes, users can highlight and organize highlights |
| Tagging system | No, but users can organize articles in folders | No, but users can create custom categories |
| Article discovery | No, Instapaper doesn’t suggest articles | No |
| Integrations | Few, including IFTTT and Evernote | Many, including Notion, Evernote, and Roam Research |
| Social features | No, Instapaper doesn’t have social features | No |
| Highlight syncing | No | Yes, highlights can be synced across devices |
Instapaper vs Matter:-
If you want to save and read articles from various sources, Instapaper might be the better choice. If you’re interested in in-depth, curated content from professional writers and journalists, Matter might be the better option.
Here’s a detailed comparison table for Instapaper and Matter:-
| Features | Instapaper | Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, Premium: $2.99/month or $29.99/year | Free trial, Premium: $5.99/month or $49.99/year |
| Platforms supported | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Web |
| User interface | Simple and clean interface | Minimalist and modern interface |
| Offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading | Yes, articles can be downloaded for offline reading |
| Article archiving | Yes, articles can be archived and organized | Yes, articles can be archived and organized |
| Highlighting | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles | Yes, users can highlight and annotate articles |
| Tagging system | No, but users can organize articles in folders | No |
| Article discovery | No, Instapaper doesn’t suggest articles | Yes, Matter has a “Discover” feature for articles |
| Integrations | Few, including IFTTT and Evernote | No |
| Social features | No, Instapaper doesn’t have social features | No |
✅FAQ’s
Is Instapaper any good?
Instapaper’s highlight option can be beneficial. The same goes for the notes; you can use five/monthly without paying. People like to highlight or make notes of the article when they read.
Is Instapaper still alive?
Pinterest acquired Instapaper on 23rd August 2016. The service is still functional, and the Instapaper staff operates for the development of both brands.
How much does Instapaper cost?
The cost of Instapaper may range from $2.99/per month to $29.99/per month. You will likely receive functions like text search, limitless notes, text-to-speech, ad-free websites, and speed reading.
Does Pocket still exist?
Pocket has been in vogue since 2017. It was previously known as Read It Later and began as an extension for firefox. It was acquired by Mozilla in 2017 when it became its app.
Can you use Instapaper offline?
Instapaper allows reading and saving anything from anywhere. It enables users to operate offline. It will sync all your articles on iPhone, iPad, Android, and Kindle devices.
Does Pocket work offline?
Yes, Pocket lets users access content through any device, even offline. You will not require an internet connection, especially on the flight. Offline access is an advantage that comes with using Pocket.
Does Instapaper have a Desktop app?
Storyvoid is an Instapaper app used for windows 10. You can read and save all articles using this through your Instapaper account. You can do this using both offline and online modes.
Can I send a PDF to Instapaper?
No, Instapaper does not support PDFs at present.
Where are Pocket files stored?
The Pocket links that you save are stored on Pocket’s server. In short, it uses cloud technology to keep its information. You can access your saved links if connected to any device through your Pocket account.
How do I use Instapaper on Chrome?
You can use the Instapaper browser extension if you want to use Instapaper through the chrome browser. You only need to click the ‘I’ while seeing an article. This way, you can read the article later on Instapaper.
Conclusion
The Internet has too many reading articles. The read-it-later apps allow users to save the articles from the website for later use. You can download the web articles to read conveniently and organize them for research.
Both Instapaper and Pocket, the read-it-later apps, offer different features for the users already discussed above. Instapaper and Pocket are popular read-it-later apps.
They might appear similar initially, and the user may be confused about which platform to choose. But, this article has given in-depth knowledge of both these apps so that the user can better understand which platform to select.
