# Pocket alternatives: five honest places for your reading

Pocket shut down on July 8, 2025, and Mozilla disabled exports on November 12, 2025, so a Pocket alternative now means picking where your reading lives next. [Raindrop](https://www.knowman.io/vs/raindrop) suits visual collections, [Instapaper plain reading](https://www.knowman.io/guides/instapaper-alternatives), [Readwise](https://www.knowman.io/vs/readwise) Reader highlighted study, self-hosted Omnivore full control, and KnowMan turns [saved reading](https://www.knowman.io/guides/ai-article-saver) into a knowledge base your AI agents can search.

## What happened to Pocket?

[Pocket](https://www.knowman.io/vs/pocket) closed on July 8, 2025. Mozilla's closure notice also dates the end of exports and API access to November 12, 2025 ([closure notice](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/future-of-pocket)). If you requested a CSV export before that date, keep the original file untouched and work from a copy.

That deadline shapes how you read this guide. A Pocket alternative in 2026 is not a place to sync your old saves; it is the home for your reading from today onward. Any migration of old material starts from the export file you still have, and per-field coverage should be verified with a sample before you rely on it. For information about Pocket's closure, read [After Pocket: exports and next steps](https://www.knowman.io/vs/pocket).

## Raindrop: visual collections with AI retrieval

Raindrop organizes saves into collections and tags with Grid, Headlines, Masonry and List layouts, and includes a clean article reader that retains article text ([official overview](https://raindrop.io/)). Its Stella assistant retrieves by meaning rather than just keywords ([Stella](https://help.raindrop.io/stella)).

Unlimited highlights are included on the Free plan, while full-text search requires Pro ([plan details](https://raindrop.io/pro/buy)). Raindrop also documents an official hosted [MCP server](https://www.knowman.io/guides/mcp-server-knowledge-base), so agents can be part of the comparison too ([MCP documentation](https://help.raindrop.io/integrations/mcp)). If you think in [collections and visual layouts](https://www.knowman.io/guides/raindrop-alternatives), this is the closest continuation of that habit.

## Instapaper: distraction-free reading at a low price

[Instapaper](https://www.knowman.io/vs/instapaper) focuses on the reading itself: folders and tags, browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Safari with highlighting on the open web, and an official [Obsidian](https://www.knowman.io/guides/personal-knowledge-management-system) plugin that syncs highlights and notes ([extensions](https://blog.instapaper.com/post/752995536017178624/bringing-highlights-to-the-open-web), [connected accounts](https://www.instapaper.com/docs/connected-accounts)).

Premium costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year and includes full-text search, unlimited highlighting and narration voices; free highlighting is limited ([Premium](https://www.instapaper.com/premium)). Summaries run five per month on Free and unlimited with Premium ([summary announcement](https://blog.instapaper.com/post/748647273401139200/summaries-custom-article-actions-obsidian)).

## Readwise Reader: highlights plus library-wide answers

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

Its export documentation covers CSV, OPML for feeds, full-content ZIP, annotation exports and Send to Kindle ([exports](https://docs.readwise.io/reader/docs/faqs/exporting)). Reader is sold separately from Highlights, so check which subscription a workflow actually needs before paying.

## Omnivore: self-hosted software you run yourself

Omnivore's hosted cloud service was deprecated in November 2024, but the software lives on as a [self-hosted project](https://www.knowman.io/guides/omnivore-alternatives) with publicly available code and an official self-hosting guide ([official README](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/omnivore-app/omnivore/main/README.md), [repository](https://github.com/omnivore-app/omnivore)).

It documents full-text search with advanced filters, a rules engine that can add labels automatically, newsletter ingestion by email and native RSS subscriptions ([search](https://docs.omnivore.app/using/search.html), [rules](https://docs.omnivore.app/using/rules.html)). Choose this route if you want full control and are willing to maintain a server.

## KnowMan: a knowledge base your agents can read

KnowMan keeps saved articles in full, organizes them automatically and answers questions with citations you can open and check. Free includes unlimited saving, full-text search, highlights and annotations without limits, plus five Ask questions a day. Memories store what you decided and why, next to the reading behind each decision.

Its [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, so Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client can search, ask and save on your behalf. Export goes to Obsidian, Logseq and EPUB on Pro, and every new account starts with 14 days of Pro without a credit card.

## Questions

### Did Pocket exports really close?

Yes. Mozilla's notice dates the shutdown to July 8, 2025, and the closure of exports and the API to November 12, 2025 ([closure notice](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/future-of-pocket)).

### What does a retained Pocket export contain?

Mozilla's final documented export was a CSV covering saves, archives and favorites, and it excluded article body text. Inspect your own file before treating it as a complete archive ([export documentation](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/exporting-your-pocket-list)).

### Which alternative works with AI assistants?

KnowMan exposes an MCP server with six tools, so connected Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client can search your library, ask questions with citations and save new links. Raindrop also documents an official hosted MCP server ([MCP documentation](https://help.raindrop.io/integrations/mcp)).

### Can KnowMan import my old Pocket file?

KnowMan lists Pocket as an import source, and import is included on Free. Accepted formats and coverage of tags, highlights and archive state should be verified with a small sample before relying on a complete transfer.

### Raindrop vs Pocket: which is better?

Pocket closed on July 8, 2025, so the choice is which alternative fits you. Raindrop organizes saves into collections and tags with Grid, Headlines, Masonry and List layouts; its reader keeps article text, Stella retrieves by meaning, and the Free plan includes unlimited highlights. Full-text search requires Pro, and Raindrop documents an official hosted MCP server.

## Related guides

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

- [How to save articles in KnowMan and find them again](https://www.knowman.io/guides/how-to-save-articles)

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

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

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

- [Omnivore alternatives: self-host it or pick a hosted app](https://www.knowman.io/guides/omnivore-alternatives)

- [What is a personal knowledge base, and how do you build one?](https://www.knowman.io/guides/personal-knowledge-base)

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

## More in this topic


## More for Pocket

- [After Pocket, start with what you still have.](https://www.knowman.io/vs/pocket)
- [How to Move From Pocket to KnowMan (2026 Guide)](https://www.knowman.io/blog/pocket-to-knowman)

## Give your reading a place that keeps working

Start KnowMan with 14 days of Pro, no credit card. [Create your account](https://app.knowman.io/signup), bring what you still have, and turn saved reading into answers you can cite.

[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/pocket-alternatives