Compare Raindrop, Instapaper, and Pocket: Which App is the Best?
Instapaper is a simple, no-fuss app for saving and reading articles offline. It's easy to use, looks clean, and helps you keep your reading organized. | Pocket was a popular read-it-later app with 20 M+ registered users. Now, it's shut down in July 2025. | A bookmark manager that's easy to use, looks good, and helps you keep all your links in one place. The free plan is generous, and there are extra features if you want to upgrade. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each app. |
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| Our Rating Prod Apps's expert review score for each app, based on hands-on testing and research. | 7.6 | 7.0 | 8.1 Winner in this category |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | — ⭐ | — ⭐ | — ⭐ |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the app. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free | Free |
| Android User rating and stats for the app on Android browser. |  Downloads | Downloads | Downloads |
| iOS User rating and stats for the app on iOS browser. |  | | |
| Features Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each app. | 7.5 Instapaper does what you need: save articles, read them offline, and organize with folders and tags. You can pay for extras like searching your saved stuff or adding more notes, but most people won't need that. Some things are missing or work better on iPhone than Android, and sometimes syncing is slow. But overall, it covers the basics really well. | 7.0 Not available anymore. | 8.0 Raindrop.io has lots of useful features:
We wish there were more ways to highlight and connect with other apps, but overall, it covers what most people need. 8 out of 10. Winner in this category |
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 7.5 Instapaper is fast and works well most of the time. We didn't have crashes, and reading is smooth. Sometimes syncing is slow or articles take a while to show up, especially on Android. But for everyday use, it's reliable. | 7.0 Not available anymore. | 7.8 Raindrop.io is fast and works well most of the time. Syncing is quick, and the app is stable. We did notice some slowdowns and small bugs with really big collections, but updates help keep things running smoothly. 7.8 out of 10. Winner in this category |
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 8.0 We like how Instapaper looks. It's clean and simple, so you can just read without distractions. You can change the font or switch to dark mode if you want. The Android app could look a bit more modern, but it's still nice to use. | 7.0 Not available anymore. | 9.0 We really like how Raindrop.io looks. It's clean, modern, and easy to get around. Custom icons and cover images are a nice touch. Even with lots of bookmarks, it's easy to find what you want. Sometimes the mobile app feels a bit crowded, but overall, it's one of the best-looking bookmark managers we've tried. 9 out of 10. Winner in this category |
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 7.0 The free version is great—you get all the basics and no ads. The paid plan costs more now and doesn't add a lot unless you really need the extra features. If you just want to save and read, stick with the free version. If you want more, think about if it's worth it for you. | 7.0 Not available anymore. | 7.5 The free plan is generous and works for most people. The Pro plan adds some powerful extras, but it might be a bit pricey if you just want the basics. If you use bookmarks a lot, the upgrade is worth it. We'd like to see more pricing options. 7.5 out of 10. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 8.0 It's really easy to get started with Instapaper. Saving and reading is simple, and you don't have to mess with a lot of settings. Sometimes it's hard to find certain features on Android, and syncing can be a bit slow, but most of the time it just works. | 7.0 Not available anymore. | 8.5 Raindrop.io is simple to use. Adding and sorting bookmarks is quick, and the app helps you get started right away. Even with a big collection, it's not hard to stay organized. Some advanced features take a little time to learn, and huge collections can get messy, but most people will have no trouble. 8.5 out of 10. Winner in this category |
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 7.5 Instapaper doesn't show ads or track you much, which we like. You do need an account to sync your articles, but we didn't see any big privacy problems. It's not the most private app ever, but it feels safe enough for everyday use. | 7.0 Not available anymore. | 8.0 We felt safe using Raindrop.io. The app only asks for the permissions it needs, and we didn't see any signs of it collecting too much data. You need an account to sync, but we didn't find any big privacy worries. We'd like even more control over our data, but overall, it feels secure. 8 out of 10. Winner in this category |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | If you want an app that just lets you save and read articles without any hassle, Instapaper is a great pick. It's not perfect—sometimes things are a bit slow or missing on Android, and the premium plan costs more now. But for most people, the free version is more than enough. We use it all the time and think you might like it too. | Pocket changed how we save and read content, but its story is coming to a close. The service was shut down in July 2025. If you're searching for a new way to save articles, don't miss our picks for the best Pocket alternatives. | Raindrop.io is a great tool for keeping your bookmarks tidy and easy to find. We liked how simple it is to save and organize links, and it works well on all our devices. The free version gives you a lot, and the Pro features—like searching everything and saving pages forever—are handy if you need more. The Pro plan could be cheaper, but overall, Raindrop.io is reliable and easy to use. If you want a good-looking app to manage your bookmarks, give it a try. |
| Our Recommendation | |||
