The Best Read Later Apps in 2026

The Quick Lowdown: The Best Read Later App Right Now

Read later apps - the ones that let you stash articles, videos, and web pages from all over the internet to devour in peace and quiet at your leisure - have been a thing for over 15 years now. But the landscape really changed when Pocket shut down in 2025 and millions of users had to scramble to find a new home for their years worth of saved content. So, if you’re one of those users or just on the hunt for the ultimate reading app to manage your ever-growing to-read list - you’re in the right place.

Linkflare - The Top Read Later App For 2026. Specifically, if you save a lot of links from different devices and want a future-proof archive that’s not going anywhere anytime soon. It’s got all the bases covered: articles, PDFs, videos - all in one tidy inbox. Plus, it’s really not too pricy at all.

Instapaper is still a solid choice if you’re a text-only kind of reader who just wants a simple, distraction-free reading experience. Readwise Reader is incredibly powerful, but also costs a whole lot more and is probably way too complicated for most everyday readers. Matter is slick and all, but its social discovery features can be a bit much for those who just want a quiet inbox.

At a Glance:

• Linkflare - Best all-around read later app for 2026 and the best app for users who want one place to stash all their links, articles, PDFs, and videos. Completely free, too. Ideal for power readers and knowledge workers who need to save content from all over the place.

• Instapaper - Simple, no-frills text-only reading goodness that’s still got a free version and a premium tier that won’t break the bank. Great for those who just want to focus on reading.

• Readwise Reader - AI-powered powerhouse that’s really geared towards power users and researchers who already make use of Readwise highlights. $9.99 - $12.99 a month is a pretty penny.

• Matter - The latest and greatest in discovery-driven apps, with social recs and everything. Good for those who like curated feeds and transcripts.

• Browser Reading Lists (Safari/Chrome) - Free and built-in, but not great for actually keeping track of all your saved content. Limited offline access and long-term organization.

What Exactly is a Read Later App and Why Do You Need One?

A read later app is exactly what it sounds like: a tool that lets you snag full articles, PDFs, and videos from the web and read them later in peace and quiet. These apps store articles for offline access and organization, making it easy to keep your reading material available and neatly arranged across all your devices. No more browser tabs galore, no more emailing yourself links - just one click and it’s saved for you to come back to when you finally have a chance to focus.

These apps first emerged back in the late 2000s when mobile internet was more of a novelty than a reality. The original Read It Later (which became Pocket) and Instapaper solved a very real problem: how to download a plain old article when your connection was dead. Readwise Reader burst onto the scene a bit later, bringing AI features and deep annotation workflows to the party.

Fast Forward to Today: Why You Need a Read Later App

The need isn’t just about getting at your saved content when you’re offline anymore - it’s about managing the sheer flood of web content that’s coming at you from all sides in all different formats.

Key Use Cases for Read Later Apps:

• Saving those long, long articles to read on the weekend

• Capturing research posts and how-to threads for future reference

• Storing newsletters and email articles in one searchable archive

• Bookmarking videos and lectures to watch later

• Keeping tabs on Twitter/X threads and social posts you want to revisit

• Building a personal knowledge base of resources you’ve actually read

Problems That Read Later Apps Solve:

• Getting crushed by tab overload that slows down your browser and your brain

• Losing important content because you forgot to bookmark it in the first place

• Getting completely sidetracked mid-task because something interesting caught your eye

• Not being able to find that one article from last month

• Having all your content scattered all over the place - email, bookmarks, notes, social saves - the works.

2026 and beyond are shaping up to be the Wild West of content - blogs, newsletters, social threads, video transcripts, PDFs - it’s a whole lot to keep track of. A unified read later hub like Linkflare becomes a whole lot more valuable when you’re trying to stash articles and links from a dozen different sources in one place.

So, What Makes the Best Read Later App in 2026?

After looking at the whole market - Instapaper, Matter, Readwise Reader, GoodLinks, Raindrop.io, browser reading lists, and more - there are a few key things that separate the good from the mediocre. The best read later apps include all the core features users expect, ensuring completeness and reliability. Here’s what to look for in a read later app:

• Capture Everywhere - Browser extensions for every major browser, mobile share sheet integration on ios and android, email forwarding for newsletters, RSS import, and connections to tools like Feedly or Reeder.

• Distraction Free Reading - Clean typography, dark mode, adjustable font size and line spacing, and a true “reader view” that strips out all the clutter from web pages.

• Offline & long-term access - Linkflare makes sure you can dive into your library anywhere, anytime, even when the service is down. And let’s be real, Omnivore’s gasp for air in 2024 is a pretty clear warning to anyone not thinking about how to get your data out of a service.

Organization at scale - With tags, filters, full-text search, saved views and lists - not to mention the power to handle your thousands of items with ease (not just the handful of bookmarks most apps stick with) - Linkflare is built for heavy users who need it to scale with their habits.

Cross platform sync - Not stuck in a browser or Apple ID, Linkflare lets your data harmonize between web, iOS and Android, and yes, there are even optional native desktop apps for when you need that kind of integration.

Highlighting & notes - Linkflare lets you leave lasting highlights, annotations, and exports that’ll let you take those ideas and turn them into your own personal knowledge base with tools like Notion, Obsidian, or Evernote.

Automation & integrations - There’s support for RSS, a basic API to let you build workflows on top of Linkflare and zap features for any to-do you can imagine (Send starred rss feeds items to your read later queue, perhaps).

Fair pricing & sustainability - Linkflare’s transparent pricing is already cheaper than some other power user tools and way more reliable than your average one-person hobby project that might disappear without a warning - and the best part? You can export your data at any time and move on.

Linkflare’s design is a direct response to the needs of people who devour a lot of different things across different devices and in different formats. Sometimes that’s about hitting the sweet spot between simplicity and power.

Note Taking and Read It Later Apps: How Modern Apps Bridge the Gap

The line between note taking apps and read it later apps is getting blurrier by the year—and that’s a good thing for anyone who wants to do more than just save articles for future reference. Today’s power readers expect more than a simple reading list; they want a distraction free reading environment where they can highlight, annotate, and organize their thoughts as they go.

Apps like Readwise Reader have led the charge, offering robust note taking features right alongside their core read it later tools. You can highlight passages, add comments, and even export your notes to other platforms for deeper knowledge management. Instapaper and Matter have also stepped up, making it easy to send highlights to your favorite note taking apps or keep everything organized within the app itself.

This convergence means you no longer have to choose between a tool for reading and a tool for note taking—modern apps let you do both, seamlessly. Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or just someone who likes to keep track of what you read, these hybrid features make it easier than ever to build a personal knowledge base. The result? A distraction free reading experience that’s perfect for power readers who want to capture insights, organize ideas, and always have important content ready for future reference.

Bookmarking Apps vs Read It Later Apps: What’s the Real Difference?

It’s easy to lump bookmarking apps and read it later apps together, but they’re actually built for different jobs. Bookmarking apps like Raindrop.io and Omnivore are all about storing links to web pages—think of them as digital filing cabinets for your favorite sites, recipes, or research. You save a link, tag it, and come back whenever you need to revisit that page.

Read it later apps, on the other hand, go a step further. Tools like Instapaper and Pocket don’t just save the link—they grab the full content of the web page, so you can enjoy offline reading in a clean, distraction-free format. This is a game-changer if you want to read articles on the go, without worrying about spotty Wi-Fi or losing access to important content.

Some modern apps, like Readwise Reader, are starting to blur the lines by offering both bookmarking and offline reading features in one package. Ultimately, the choice comes down to how you like to read and organize your web finds. If you just want to save links for future reference, a bookmarking app might be enough. But if you crave a focused, offline reading experience with the ability to highlight and annotate, a read it later app is the way to go.

Linkflare: the no-brainer read later app for saving everything in one tidy spot

Linkflare's an honest to goodness "inbox and archive" for your reading list and reference library and, unlike some other tools that try to straddle the line between being a research platform and a simple read later app, it really does hit that sweet spot between power and usability.

This section puts Linkflare firmly in its place as the go-to for just about anyone looking for a solid all-around read later experience. The rest of this review will break down other alternatives, but if you're short on time or just don't care, give this a shot first.

1 inbox for articles, videos, and PDFs

One of the biggest selling points of Linkflare is its ability to treat all your content types - whether that’s blog posts, PDFs, newsletters, or videos - as pretty much equal. You can save all these things into one single queue instead of having to juggle different apps for different types of stuff.

That’s a big deal because let’s be real, modern web content isn’t just about articles anymore. You might find a great research paper, a YouTube video, a Twitter thread or a blog post all in one sitting - and Linkflare lets you handle them all with ease. Linkflare makes it easy to save YouTube videos for later viewing, organize them alongside your other content, and even annotate or highlight key moments for better review and learning.

Fast capture from any device

The first step in speed reading your content is to speed saving it. Linkflare's got you covered here with browser extensions for Chrome, Edge, Brave and Safari that let you save links with a single click - plus a few other bonus features to make it all just that much faster.

• Got a keyboard? Use the optional keyboard shortcuts to save links without breaking stride.

• On your phone? Linkflare's got mobile apps for iOS and Android that integrate seamlessly with your system share menu.

• Even want to save links via email? Linkflare's got that covered too with an optional email-to-inbox address for newsletters and forwarded links.

Reader-friendly layout

When you are finally ready to settle in and read, Linkflare’s got a reader mode that strips away all the distractions and gives you nice clean text to focus on. The home screen acts as your personalized dashboard, displaying unread or saved articles for quick access so you can jump right into your content without extra navigation.

Customization options don’t stop there:

• You can change to dark mode, light mode or sepia themes to suit your style.

• Choose from all sorts of font sizes and line spacing to get the most out of your read.

• Got a preferred font? Linkflare’s got a bunch to choose from too.

• Plus, your reading preferences are synced across devices so whether you’re on your phone commuting or at home on your laptop - you get the same experience.

Link-first design

Unlike other apps built purely for longform reading, Linkflare is built from the ground up with links in mind - which means it's the perfect tool for capturing and categorizing any URL you might need later - be it a documentation page, a how-to thread or a product page.

Think of it as the perfect app for both reading and reference. Some links you'll dive deep into - others you'll just need to find again in a few months time. Linkflare does both of those use cases just fine without forcing you down a single workflow.

Smart organisation

As you start to build up your reading list, organisation becomes a major player - and Linkflare's got your back here with:

• Free-form tags that you define yourself (no forcing you to use templated categories)

• Tag suggestions that pop up based on domain or topic

• Saved filters like "long reads over 15 minutes", "work research", or "2026 AI articles" to get you organised in no time

• A powerful search that works across all titles, domains and even notes.This approach scales beautifully from dozens to thousands of items and doesn't condemn you to a simple chronological list that rapidly turns into a nightmare to navigate after just a few months.

Reliability - The legacy of Pocket and Omnivore

When Pocket announced in 2025 that it was shutting down, users pretty much freaked out scrambling to export their data and find new alternatives. And then there was Omnivore which closed abruptly in 2024, leaving many without access to their saved content.

Linkflare prioritizes sustainable pricing and robust data export options so you can download your saved links and metadata (in HTML, CSV, or JSON) at any time. If you ever decide to bail, your data comes with you. This is about data ownership and privacy – your reading history is your own.

A Privacy-focused Architecture

Linkflare doesn't sell your reading data, you get settings to control link previews and tracking. In an era where every app seems to be making a buck off of your user behaviour, this is a meaningful differentiator for users who actually care about their privacy.

Fair Pricing for Normal People

Unlike Readwise Reader which is a pretty hefty ~$9.99–12.99/month price tag, Linkflare aims to be affordable for people who just want to save and read content without breaking a sweat or getting bogged down in complex academic workflows.

Linkflare offers:

• A generous free tier for casual users with no strings attached

• A single reasonably priced paid tier (well under $10/month) that unlocks all the goodies

• No complicated multiple subscription levels or feature gates to confuse you

This pricing structure works just fine for knowledge workers, researchers and founders who read a lot online but don't necessarily need all the bells and whistles of heavy AI features or flashcard systems.

Key Linkflare features that make it the top read later app

Let’s take a look at the concrete feature set for readers comparing Linkflare to Instapaper, Readwise Reader, Matter, Reeder and GoodLinks.

Browser Extensions

Save from Chrome, Edge, Brave and Safari with just one click. If you prefer, you can use optional keyboard shortcuts to save instantly without losing your train of thought. The extension also gives you a quick confirmation so you can see for yourself that the link has been saved.

Mobile Apps & Share Sheets

The iOS and Android apps accept links from any app via the standard share menu. Reading a great article in Safari? Just share it to Linkflare. See something interesting in your Twitter feed? Same process. The mobile apps also support offline reading for saved content.

The Reading Experience

Typography controls let you customise the text size, line spacing and font family to your heart’s content. Choose between light, dark and sepia themes or just pick the one that suits your style. Each piece of content also shows an estimated reading time so you can pick items that fit your available focus time.

Queue and Archive

Your ‘Inbox’ holds new items waiting to be read. ‘Archive’ stores completed reads for future reference. You can mark items as favourites or pin them for quick access. This simple structure keeps your list from getting out of hand - a common problem with many other apps.

Tags and Filters

Create free-form tags that match your own thinking. Filter by unread/archived status, content type (article, video, PDF), or source (browser, email, RSS). The tag suggestions help you maintain consistency across your library.

Notes & Highlights

Inline highlights let you mark important passages or key points, and marginal notes are perfect for capturing your thoughts. Export options make it easy to move your highlights into Notion, Obsidian or other note taking apps. This seamless integration supports efficient writing workflows, letting you quickly move from reading and annotation to content creation or research writing in your preferred platform. While Readwise Reader has more advanced flashcard and spaced repetition features, Linkflare covers the core annotation needs most readers have without being too complicated.

Search

Fast search by title, URL, tag and note content. While Readwise Reader offers full text search across all content, Linkflare optimises for speed and simplicity for everyday reading - so you can find what you need without having to wait for complex indexing.

Collaboration or Sharing

Share a link collection or specific items with colleagues or friends - perfect for when you’re working on a project with others or want to share resources with people who have similar interests.

Backups and Data Export

You can export your saved links and metadata as HTML, CSV or JSON files, and store them in your backup system of choice. This capability is not just nice to have - it’s essential, especially in an era where service shutdowns are more common than ever.

Linkflare vs Instapaper, Matter, and Readwise Reader

We're not trying to diss our competitors here, but we do want to explain why Linkflare is the better default for most people.

Instapaper

The classic read later app that's all about text and nothing else. Instapaper offers Kindle support for reading on e-readers and a low-cost premium plan ($2.99–5.99/month in recent years). It's simple and reliable, and if you mainly read text articles and want extreme simplicity - it works.

However, Instapaper struggles with PDFs and videos compared to Linkflare, and its folder-based organisation looks a bit outdated compared to our tagging and filtering system. Product development has slowed a bit too, compared to newer entrants. If you just want to read text articles and keep things super simple - Instapaper is probably enough for you. But if you've got mixed content and want the flexibility to archive things for the long term, Linkflare's got you covered.

Matter

A sleek iOS and web app with social recommendations and article summaries. Matter is brilliant for discovery and podcast transcripts - and the interface looks modern and polished.

But Matter is more geared towards discovery than long-term archiving, and it doesn't have all of the features that Linkflare offers - so if you want to save and read content for the long haul, Linkflare is still the better choice.But the Discovery Feed can be a noise-maker for people who just want a clean inbox. Matter falls short on the broader link-management front that Linkflare has nailed. If you're one of those folks who enjoy recommendation algorithms & social reading, Matter might just be the ticket for you. On the other hand, if you're after a calm, focused reading queue, then Linkflare's probably the one to go for.

Readwise Reader

This is a seriously powerful tool for power users - think AI chat (Ghostreader), really deep highlight workflows & support for books, PDFs, and YouTube transcripts. All of that for a monthly price tag of ~$9.99-12.99 - it's aimed squarely at researchers & the like. If you're already invested in the Readwise ecosystem or you need those super-advanced annotation features, then Readwise Reader is probably the way to go. But, for most users who just want to save & read the odd web article, it's pricey & probably overkill. Oh, and let's not forget the learning curve - it's a bit steeper than Linkflare's, which is nice & streamlined.

GoodLinks & Reeder

Native Apple experiences that are super-focused on RSS and manual organisation. GoodLinks brings the tagging, highlights & a beautiful interface on both Mac and iPad, while Reeder is a really well polished app that combines RSS and read later in one go.

BUT, here's the catch - they're limited to the Apple ecosystem. If you're using Android at all, or switching between Mac and Windows, then you're stuck using Linkflare for that cross-platform convenience.

Browser reading lists (Chrome, Safari)

Free and built right into your browser. Perfect for the occasional saving.

But, let's be real - limited offline support, no export or backup, weak search and poor long-term organisation make them a bit of a joke for anyone who's saving more than a few links a week.

If you want one app to save everything and not have to think about tools again, Linkflare is probably the safest, most balanced choice.

The best read it later apps at a glance (including a few alternatives)

Here's a neutral overview for readers who want to compare quickly:

App	Best For	Price Range	Key Strength
Linkflare	Heavy web readers & knowledge workers	Free + paid under $3.99/month	Unified inbox, balance of simplicity & power
Instapaper	Text-only readers who want to keep things simple	Free + ~$2.99-5.99/month premium	Distraction-free reading, Kindle export
Readwise Reader	Researchers & power users	~$9.99-12.99/month	AI features, deep annotation workflows
Matter	Discovery-oriented iOS users	Free tier + ~$8/month premium	Recommendations, social reading
Browser lists	Light, occasional users	Free	No setup required

Deep dive: how the major read later apps stack up

This section gives you a thorough review of each major app other than Linkflare, written fairly and based on real-world realities - yes, Pocket is shutting down in 2025 & Omnivore closed down in 2024, which has seriously shaken up the landscape.

Linkflare is still our recommended default, but some readers may prefer a specialized alternative depending on platform, budget, or workflow.

Instapaper: the classic minimalist

Instapaper has been around since around 2008 - it was one of the original read later apps launched by Marco Arment. It basically pioneered the concept of a clean, text-only reading view stripped of all web clutter.

Platforms: iOS, Android, web & Kindle delivery

Key features:

• offline reading with full article caching

• speed reading mode that highlights words sequentially

• folders for organisation (which may start to feel a bit dated, to be honest)

• highlights & notes on saved articles

• Kindle delivery for e-reader fans

Pricing: free plan with limits, or ~$2.99-5.99/month premium for full text search, unlimited notes and a few extra features.

Strengths:

• super-fast reading experience that's free from distractions

• lightweight apps that don't drain your battery

• supports automation via Zapier and & RSS-to-Instapaper workflows

• reliable service with years of track record

Downsides:

• a bit weaker handling of PDFs and videos compared to Linkflare or Reader

• that folder-based organisation thing? It's starting to feel a bit dated.

• slower product evolution - fewer new features in recent years

• limited collaboration or sharing options

Best for: users who mainly read text articles and want something nice & simple. If you need mixed content support & long-term archiving, Linkflare is probably more flexible.

Readwise Reader: the power user's choice

Readwise Reader is a premium reading app from the Readwise team, designed for power readers who want to save & deeply process books, articles, PDFs & more.

Key features:

• AI chat (Ghostreader) for summarization and Q&A

• all the advanced highlighting & annotation features

• PDF & EPUB support with full highlighting

• YouTube transcript highlighting (because why not?)

• newsletter integration

• keyboard-driven interface for speed

Pricing: ~$9.99-12.99/month billed annually - often bundled with a Readwise subscription after a 30-day trial.

Strengths:

• seriously feature-rich - handles almost any content type

• super useful for researchers, students & academics* Really tight integration with Readwise's spaced repetition and note exports - it all just works together as one

• Full-text search across absolutely everything you've saved - no need to remember where anything was

• Popular and regularly updated with new features - it feels like the devs are really invested in the product

Downsides:

• The learning curve is pretty steep and there's a lot of features to get used to

• The interface can feel overwhelming to casual users who just want to read things later

• The focus is more on knowledge management than just "read later" - which is great but also a bit different than some other apps

• It's pricier than Instapaper, Matter, and Linkflare

Best for: If you're already deep into Readwise and just want that to work even better, Reader is probably your best bet. For the rest of us, Linkflare is a more straightforward read later option that's cheaper and easier to use.

Matter: making reading a social thing

Matter is a relatively new take on the read later app. It tries to turn it into a social and discovery-driven experience.

Key features:

• Article summaries and recommendations from other readers

• Podcast transcript support (you can listen as well as read)

• You can speed up or slow down the text to speech - and manage your audio queue too

• They have a free tier and a premium option for around $8/month - which is pretty reasonable

• The interface is super clean and easy to use, with swipe gestures to help you triage things

Strengths:

• It looks great - really modern and visually appealing

• The recommendation engine is really good at suggesting new things to read - based on what you already like

• Ideal for people who enjoy a bit of social reading and discovery - and who want to find new authors and publications

• They have a built-in audio player - which is super convenient and integrates well with your volume controls

Downsides:

• The discovery feed can be overwhelming - with too many suggestions all at once

• Not as many advanced features as Readwise Reader - which might be a problem if you need that stuff

• It's not as focused on being a universal link manager as Linkflare is

• You can reorder your audio queue - but only up to a point

Best for: Reading fans who enjoy a bit of social discovery and curation in their read later experience. If you mainly want a simple, no-frills read later app, Linkflare is a better bet.

Your browser's reading list (Chrome & Safari)

Your browser has a built-in read later feature - which is nice and simple to use.

Safari Reading List:

• You can save things offline - which is really handy if you're somewhere without a connection

• They have a built-in Reader Mode - which just strips away all the clutter and gives you a clean reading experience

• It syncs via iCloud - so you can pick up where you left off on any Apple device

Chrome Reading List:

• You can access it from the new tab page - which is super convenient

• It also syncs via your Google account

• The offline option is a bit more limited than Safari's - but still pretty useful

Benefits:

• It's completely free - no sign-up or subscription needed

• You can use it right away - on any device

• Great for saving the occasional article or two - but not much beyond that

Limitations:

• No tags or notes - so it's hard to keep track of what you've saved

• You can't export your archive - so if you want to keep your stuff safe, look elsewhere

• The search function is pretty weak - so you might end up digging through lots of irrelevant results

• There's a risk of link rot or losing context if you save things for too long

• And of course, it only syncs within your browser of choice - so if you switch to a different one, you're out of luck

Best for: Casual users who only save a few articles a week and don't need any of the bells and whistles of a dedicated read later app.

Other tools people use as read later apps (and when they make sense)

Lots of people use note taking apps, bookmarking apps, or even rss reader tools as a substitute for a dedicated read later app. Here's how they compare:

App Name	Platform(s)	Key Features	Limitations	Best For
Evernote, OneNote, Notion	Cross-platform	Clipping, annotating, adding comments	Slower and clunkier for pure reading	Users who want rich text annotation and note-taking
Raindrop.io	Web, Mobile	Visual bookmark manager, nice interface	Not designed as a read later app, less polished	Visual organizers
GoodLinks	iOS, macOS	Tagging, highlights, export options	Locked to Apple ecosystem	Apple users wanting native app experience
Self-hosted options (Linkding, Wallabag)	Self-hosted	Full archiving, data control	Requires technical know-how	Power users valuing data privacy and ownership

Content Overload and Management: Taming the Modern Reading Firehose

Let’s face it: the sheer volume of web content today can feel overwhelming. Between newsletters, articles, social threads, and research papers, it’s easy to lose track of what matters most. That’s where read it later apps come in—they’re the ultimate tool for taming the modern reading firehose.

By letting you save content for future reference, these apps help you cut through the noise and focus on what’s important. Features like tagging, folders, and full text search make it easy to organize your reading list and find exactly what you need, when you need it. Advanced tools like Readwise Reader even let you highlight key passages and take notes, so you can extract insights and build your own knowledge base as you read.

With powerful organizational features and distraction-free reading modes, today’s read it later apps are more than just digital junk drawers—they’re essential tools for anyone who wants to save content, manage information overload, and make the most of their digital reading time.

Getting started with Linkflare as your new read-later app

Ready to give Linkflare a spin? Here's a simple onboarding process:

1. Sign up at linkflare.io

Get an account, choose a plan - free or paid - and set a few settings like your time zone and default theme. Should only take a minute or so.

2. Install the browser extension

Get Linkflare on Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Safari. Stick it in your toolbar, so you can save stuff in one click. Give it a test by saving this article.

3. Install the mobile app

Get Linkflare on your phone - iOS or Android - and turn on share-sheet integration in your phone's settings. Now you can send any article from Safari, Chrome, Twitter, email, or wherever to Linkflare with just two taps.

4. Import your existing reading list

You're coming from Pocket, Instapaper, Omnivore, or Raindrop.io? Export your links (html, json, or csv) and bring them into Linkflare. Better safe than sorry, especially with Pocket shutting down and your old data getting harder to get to.

5. Set up some basic tags

Create a starting set of tags that you actually use:

• Work

• Ideas

• Deep dives

• How-tos

• Reference

Tag a few items to see how the filter system works. You can always tweak as you go, and find what actually works for you.

6. Start building a reading habit

Carve out 15-30 minutes a day to open Linkflare's inbox and tackle 3-5 items. Archive what you've read, tag what you want to find later. Keep your queue in check.

Once you've got it set up, Linkflare just kind of hums in the background - capturing links and bringing them up when you're ready to read - so you can get on with the learning, not the tool management.

The Future of Read It Later: What’s Next for Digital Reading?

The world of read it later apps is evolving fast, and the next few years promise even more innovation. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are already making waves, with apps like Readwise Reader introducing smart features like text to speech, automated highlighting, and personalized reading recommendations. These tools are making it easier than ever to consume and process information, whether you’re at your desk or on the move.

Mobile apps are also taking center stage, giving users the freedom to save and read content anywhere, anytime. As more people demand seamless offline access and cross-device sync, expect to see even more powerful mobile experiences from the best read it later apps.

And with growing concerns around data privacy, users are looking for apps that put them in control of their reading data. The next generation of read it later tools will likely offer enhanced privacy settings, transparent data policies, and robust export options—so your reading habits stay yours.

In short, the future of digital reading is smarter, more mobile, and more secure. As new features roll out and user needs evolve, read it later apps will continue to empower readers to save, organize, and enjoy content on their own terms.

Key takeaways

• Read later apps let you save web content to read in your own time, without distractions

• Pocket shutting down in July 2025 was a game-changer

• Your ideal read later app should handle articles, PDFs, and vids in one neat inbox

• Linkflare is the one to beat, with its balance of simplicity, power, and sustainability

• Instapaper is good for minimalist readers, but it's a bit ancient in terms of features

• Readwise Reader is basically just too bloody expensive and complicated for the average user

• Browser reading lists are fine for the odd occaisional use, but they just don't scale

• Data export and portability matter more than ever, ever since all the shutdowns

Start saving smarter right away

The read-later space has really come on since Instapaper launched back in 2008. Today we need tools that can handle mixed content, work on all sorts of platforms, and not just disappear overnight

Linkflare hits the sweet spot. It's powerful for pro users and researchers, simple for everyday folk, and priced just right for people who don't want to pay an arm and a leg for personal productivity

Get your free Linkflare account going and see how quickly all that tab overload just melts away. Import your old reading list, get the browser extension installed, and start building a reading archive that actually lasts.