Quick answer: The best Pocket alternatives on iPhone are Safari Reading List (free, built in), Instapaper (closest to classic Pocket), Raindrop.io (a bookmark manager for any device) and Readwise Reader (for heavy readers). If you mostly saved links to find again rather than to read, Snugit fits better.
Updated October 2026.
Pocket was the default read-later app for over a decade. Mozilla shut it down in July 2025, and the window to export saved articles closed later that year. Here's what to use now, depending on how you used Pocket.
The short comparison
| App | Best for | Highlights | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safari Reading List | A few articles a week, Safari only | No | Free, built in |
| Instapaper | Classic save-now, read-later | Yes | Free, paid Premium tier |
| Matter | A polished reading queue and newsletters | Yes | Free, paid tier |
| Readwise Reader | Heavy readers who highlight and take notes | Yes | Paid subscription |
| GoodLinks | Reading and tagging on iPhone and Mac | Yes | Paid app |
| Raindrop.io | Organizing many links on any device | Paid tier | Free, paid Pro tier |
| Snugit | Links plus notes, screenshots and files, found by search | No | Free for 10 items, Pro subscription |
Pricing models as of October 2026. Check each app's App Store page for current prices.
First: what did you use Pocket for?
- Reading articles later in a clean, distraction-free view. Look at Reading List, Instapaper, Matter or Reader.
- Collecting links to come back to: research, recipes, products, tools. Look at Raindrop.io or Snugit.
Safari Reading List: free and already there
In Safari, tap Share (on iOS 26 with the compact tab bar, tap the More button first), then Add to Reading List. Turn on Automatically Save Offline in Safari's settings to keep copies for when you have no signal. It has no tags or highlights and only works for pages opened in Safari, but for light reading it's enough. Reading List vs Bookmarks, explained.
Instapaper: the closest thing to Pocket
A long-running read-later service with a clean text view, offline articles and highlights. It catches links from any app's share sheet. If your Pocket habit was "save now, read on the train", start here.
Matter and Readwise Reader: for serious readers
Both are built around reading, highlighting and keeping notes, and both can pull in newsletters. Reader is the most complete reading workflow on iPhone, with a subscription to match. Matter is lighter and more polished for a casual queue.
GoodLinks: a one-time-purchase favorite
A well-designed iPhone and Mac app for saving, tagging and reading links, without a subscription. Good for Apple-only users who want something nicer than Reading List.
Raindrop.io: if Pocket was really your bookmark manager
Collections, tags and search across iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac and the web. Choose it if you organized hundreds of links and need them on non-Apple devices. How it compares with Snugit.
Snugit: for saving things to find, not to read
Snugit isn't a reader. It's for people whose Pocket was really a pile of links they wanted to find again, alongside notes, screenshots and PDFs. Save from any app's share sheet in one tap and search everything together. Everything stays on your phone, with no account needed.
Did you export your Pocket data?
If you downloaded your Pocket export before the deadline, keep that file. Several read-later and bookmark apps, including Instapaper and Raindrop.io, can import it, so you don't have to start from zero.
How to choose
- Read a few articles a week: Safari Reading List.
- Read a lot, love a clean reader: Instapaper or GoodLinks.
- Highlight and take notes on everything: Readwise Reader.
- Organize lots of bookmarks across devices: Raindrop.io.
- Save links plus everything else, and find it fast: Snugit.
How we picked
We only included apps that are actively maintained, work well on iPhone, and can save from other apps' share sheets. We left out apps that have shut down, like Omnivore in 2024, and tools that are mainly for desktop browsers. Pricing changes often, so we describe each app's model rather than exact prices.
Common questions
Is Pocket coming back?
There has been no announcement of a return. Mozilla shut Pocket down in July 2025, and saved data is no longer available to export, so plan on using another app.
What is the best free Pocket alternative?
Safari Reading List if you only read pages from Safari. For saving from any app for free, Instapaper and Raindrop.io both have free tiers, and Snugit is free for up to 10 items.
Which app is most like Pocket?
Instapaper. It has the same save-now, read-later flow, a clean reading view and offline articles.
Can I still import my Pocket saves?
Only if you downloaded your export before the deadline in 2025. If you have that file, Instapaper and Raindrop.io can import it.
Try Snugit free if what you really miss is one place to save links and find them again.