Farewell to pocket: Time to Find a New Read-It-Later App
Teh popular read-it-later app, Pocket, is set to close its doors in just a week. If you’re still relying on it, now is the perfect moment to explore alternatives that can fill the gap.
As someone who has been using Pocket as its early days in 2007—when it was known as Read It Later—I felt a wave of nostalgia when I received an email back in May announcing its shutdown on July 8. It’s hard not to feel a bit melancholic about losing an app that has been part of my daily routine for so long.
A Fond Farewell and Personal Reflections
every year, I would receive those end-of-year emails from Pocket celebrating my status as one of their “top 5%” users. To be honest, though, I was more of a top saver than an actual reader. My habit involved saving countless articles each day but only managing to read a few here and there. Still, every time I opened the app, there was always something intriguing waiting for me.
With the news of Pocket's impending closure weighing on my mind, I decided it was time for some research into other read-it-later options available today.
Exploring Alternatives: A Wealth of Choices
The good news is that there are numerous alternatives out there! Some noteworthy options include Raindrop, Matter, PaperSpan (for Apple devices), Plinky (also Apple only), DoubleMemory (Apple devices), Recall, and Wallabag. After considering these choices carefully, I've opted for Instapaper—a service that debuted in 2008 just one year after Pocket came onto the scene.
Why Instapaper Stands Out
Instapaper offers similar functionality to what many users loved about Pocket; with just one tap or click you can save articles for later reading—whether online or offline at your convenience. After using Instapaper for several weeks now—and already accumulating quite the backlog of unread articles—I can confidently say it's an excellent substitute for Pocket.
The interface feels familiar enough that transitioning from Pocket is easy; everything works smoothly without any steep learning curve involved. Plus, if you're worried about losing your saved content from Pocket when making this switch—you can import all your saved articles into instapaper! Though, I'm choosing not to do this as honestly? It would take forever and I'd probably never get around to reading them anyway! Starting fresh with Instapaper feels liberating—and I'll also reclaim valuable storage space on my phone!
Simplicity Across Devices
You’ll find that setting up Instapaper is straightforward across both iOS and Android platforms. The syncing feature ensures you have access across all your devices—from smartphones to PCs—making it easy to pick up where you left off no matter where you are.
A Look at Pricing Options
If you're wondering whether you'll need the paid version or if the free option will suffice—the free version should meet most people's needs comfortably! However, if you're looking for additional features like full text search capabilities or unlimited notes along with text-to-speech playlists designed for listening ease—the premium subscription costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 annually.
Your Next Steps Await!
This transition may feel bittersweet as we bid farewell to our beloved pocket-sized companion—but fear not! With plenty of grate alternatives like Instapaper ready and waiting at our fingertips—we're sure you'll find something new that fits perfectly into your reading habits!
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