Compare Perplexity AI and Instapaper: Which App is the Best?
A smart search app that gives you direct answers with sources, instead of just showing you websites to visit. It is a good alternative to ChatGPT. | 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. | |||||
| 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. | 8.2 Winner in this category | 7.6 | ||||
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 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 | ||||
| Android User rating and stats for the app on Android browser. |  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. | 9.0 Perplexity has all the features you'd want from an AI search tool, plus some nice extras that make it really useful. What We Like Most:
Winner in this category | 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. | ||||
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 8.0 The app runs smoothly most of the time. We tested it on different devices and network conditions, and it usually responds within a few seconds. The voice recognition works well even with background noise. Search results load quickly, and the app handles complex questions without crashing or freezing. The sync between devices works reliably, so you can switch between your phone and computer seamlessly. We did notice some slowdowns during peak hours, and occasionally the app would take longer to respond to very complex questions. Some users have reported connection issues, but we didn't experience any major problems during our testing. Overall, it performs well for an AI app. The occasional hiccups are minor and don't really affect the user experience. Winner in this category | 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. | ||||
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 8.0 The app looks clean and modern, which makes it easy to use. We really like how simple the interface is - there's no clutter or confusing buttons.
There have been some recent updates that confused users at first, but the design team seems to be listening to feedback and making improvements. Overall, it's a good-looking app that's easy on the eyes. Winner in this category | 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. Winner in this category | ||||
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 8.0 The free version is surprisingly good. You get most of the core features without paying anything, which is rare these days. We tested the free version extensively and found it works great for everyday use.
What we really like is that the free version doesn't feel like a limited trial. You can use it indefinitely without feeling like you're missing out on essential features. That's refreshing compared to other apps that constantly push you to upgrade. For most people, the free version is all you need. Only upgrade if you find yourself hitting the limits or need the advanced features. Winner in this category | 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. | ||||
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 9.0 This might be the easiest AI tool we've ever used. You literally just open it and start asking questions - no setup, no learning curve, no complicated menus. We tested it with people who aren't very tech-savvy, and they figured it out immediately. The voice feature is especially intuitive - you just tap the microphone and start talking. The app responds quickly, and the conversation flow feels natural. You can ask follow-up questions without having to repeat yourself, which makes it feel like talking to a real person. Everything is where you'd expect it to be:
That's why we gave it a 9 out of 10. It's so simple that anyone can use it, but it still has enough features to be useful for power users. Winner in this category | 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. | ||||
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 7.0 Security and privacy get a 7 out of 10 from us. The app uses standard security practices like encryption, which is good. The privacy policy is clear about what data they collect and how they use it. You have some control over your data:
However, some users have concerns about how much data is being collected for AI training. The privacy controls could be more detailed and easier to access. We'd like to see more options for users who want to limit data collection. Overall, it seems safe to use, but we'd recommend reading the privacy policy if you're concerned about data collection. | 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. Winner in this category | ||||
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | We've been using Perplexity for a while now and honestly, it's become our go-to when we need quick, reliable answers. It's super easy to use and the fact that it shows you where it got its information from is really helpful. The free version is great for most people, but if you use it a lot, the Pro version is worth considering. If you want a search tool that actually gives you good answers instead of just links, definitely give Perplexity a try. | 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. | ||||
| Our Recommendation | ||||||
