# Omnivore alternatives: self-host it or pick a hosted app

Omnivore's hosted service ended, and the software lives on as a self-hosted project, so an Omnivore alternative means either running the server yourself or choosing a hosted app. [Raindrop](https://www.knowman.io/vs/raindrop), [Instapaper](https://www.knowman.io/vs/instapaper) and [Readwise](https://www.knowman.io/vs/readwise) Reader remain hosted options, while KnowMan offers hosted saving with [cited answers](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-knowledge-base), decision Memories and an MCP server your agents can use.

## What happened to Omnivore?

[Omnivore](https://www.knowman.io/vs/omnivore)'s cloud service was deprecated in November 2024, and its official repository now describes self-hosted software with continuing community updates ([official README](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/omnivore-app/omnivore/main/README.md)). The team joined ElevenLabs, announced October 29, 2024 ([announcement](https://elevenlabs.io/blog/omnivore-joins-elevenlabs)).

So an Omnivore alternative starts with a fork in the road: keep the software by hosting it yourself, or move to a hosted reading app. Both are legitimate; they differ in who runs the servers. For a side-by-side view, read [KnowMan vs Omnivore](https://www.knowman.io/vs/omnivore).

## Stay with Omnivore: self-hosted

The official repository includes a self-hosting guide, and the project documents full-text search across content, title, description and site with advanced filters, a web-beta rules engine that adds labels automatically, newsletter ingestion by email and native [RSS](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-rss-feeds) and Atom subscriptions ([search](https://docs.omnivore.app/using/search.html), [rules](https://docs.omnivore.app/using/rules.html), [feeds](https://docs.omnivore.app/using/feeds.html)).

This keeps the workflow you know and puts operations on you: a server, backups and updates. Review the self-hosting guide against your own environment before committing, since feature behavior in a new deployment should be verified rather than assumed.

## KnowMan: hosted, with cited answers and Memories

KnowMan is a hosted [knowledge base](https://www.knowman.io/guides/personal-knowledge-base): it reads [saved articles](https://www.knowman.io/guides/how-to-save-articles) in full, organizes them automatically and answers questions with citations you can open and check. Free includes unlimited saving, full-text search, unlimited highlights and annotations and five Ask questions a day; Pro adds [semantic search](https://www.knowman.io/guides/rag-vs-personal-knowledge-base), feeds, newsletters, ingestion rules and AI summaries.

Memories keep what you decided and why beside the reading behind it, and the [MCP server](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base) exposes six tools, kb_search, kb_get_item, kb_ask, kb_memories, kb_recent and kb_save, to Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client. Agents can read Memories but cannot write them. Pro is $12.99 per month or $99 per year, exports to Obsidian, Logseq and EPUB, and every account starts with 14 days of Pro without a credit card. KnowMan also lists Omnivore as an import source, so your retained library can come along; import is included on Free.

## Raindrop and Instapaper: simpler hosted readers

Raindrop documents collections, tags, visual layouts, a clean reader and Stella for meaning-based retrieval, with unlimited highlights on Free and full-text search on Pro ([official overview](https://raindrop.io/), [Stella](https://help.raindrop.io/stella), [plan details](https://raindrop.io/pro/buy)).

Instapaper focuses on calm reading with folders, tags, summaries, narration on Premium and an official [Obsidian](https://www.knowman.io/guides/personal-knowledge-management-system) plugin that syncs highlights and notes ([Premium](https://www.instapaper.com/premium), [connected accounts](https://www.instapaper.com/docs/connected-accounts)). Both are lower-cost hosted options when you do not need library-wide AI answers.

## Readwise Reader: research-grade hosted reading

Readwise Reader documents full-text search across library documents, RSS and newsletter support, and Global Ghostreader, which answers questions across your library with citations on web and desktop ([Ghostreader guide](https://docs.readwise.io/reader/guides/ghostreader/global), [pricing](https://readwise.io/pricing)).

Exports cover CSV, OPML, full-content ZIP, annotations and Send to Kindle ([exports](https://docs.readwise.io/reader/docs/faqs/exporting)). Among hosted options it is the closest in spirit to Omnivore's filters and automation, at a higher price.

## How to choose between them

The question underneath the Omnivore decision is who runs your reading infrastructure. If the answer is you, self-hosting keeps every capability the project documents. If the answer is someone else, compare the hosted apps on what happens after saving.

Whichever way you lean, verify with your own material: bring ten representative items, ask one real question in each candidate, and check which answers show their evidence.

- Full control, your server, community software: self-hosted Omnivore.

- Cited answers, decision Memories and agent access: KnowMan.

- Visual collections and Stella retrieval: Raindrop.

- Calm, affordable reading: Instapaper.

- Highlights, summaries and Kindle sends: Readwise Reader.

## Questions

### Is Omnivore still available?

Yes, as self-hosted software. Its official README says the cloud service was deprecated in November 2024 while the project continues with community updates and a self-hosting guide ([official README](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/omnivore-app/omnivore/main/README.md)).

### What is the easiest hosted Omnivore alternative?

Raindrop or Instapaper for [simple saving and reading](https://www.knowman.io/guides/best-read-it-later-app), Readwise Reader for research-style reading with cited library answers, and KnowMan when you want answers with citations plus decision Memories and agent access through MCP.

### Can I move my Omnivore export elsewhere?

KnowMan lists Omnivore as an import source, but accepted formats and field coverage should be verified with a sample. Keep your original export file untouched until the destination is confirmed.

### Did Omnivore have rules and newsletters?

Yes. Its documentation describes a rules engine that adds labels automatically, newsletter ingestion by email and native RSS and Atom subscriptions ([rules](https://docs.omnivore.app/using/rules.html), [feeds](https://docs.omnivore.app/using/feeds.html)).

## Related guides

- [Choose the best read it later app for your goals](https://www.knowman.io/guides/best-read-it-later-app)

- [Pocket alternatives: five honest places for your reading](https://www.knowman.io/guides/pocket-alternatives)

- [Raindrop alternatives: five options compared fairly](https://www.knowman.io/guides/raindrop-alternatives)

- [Readwise alternatives: four honest options](https://www.knowman.io/guides/readwise-alternatives)

- [Instapaper alternatives: four options compared fairly](https://www.knowman.io/guides/instapaper-alternatives)

- [How to save newsletters into a searchable archive](https://www.knowman.io/guides/how-to-save-newsletters)

- [Turn your AI news RSS feeds into knowledge you can use](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-rss-feeds)

- [Understand AI knowledge bases through the sources behind an answer](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-knowledge-base)

## More in this topic

- [Evernote alternatives: pick by what you actually used Evernote for](https://www.knowman.io/guides/evernote-alternatives)
- [Feedly alternatives: honest RSS reader picks](https://www.knowman.io/guides/feedly-alternatives)

## More for Omnivore

- [After hosted Omnivore, choose the workflow you want.](https://www.knowman.io/vs/omnivore)

## Hosted, so you never maintain a server

[Try KnowMan](https://app.knowman.io/signup) with 14 days of Pro, no credit card. Bring a few sources, ask a question and check the cited answer yourself.

[Start free](https://app.knowman.io/signup)

Every new account starts with 14 days of Pro. No credit card.

Source: https://www.knowman.io/guides/omnivore-alternatives