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⚠️ Pocket Shutdown Timeline
May 22, 2025
Pocket removed from app stores
New account signups disabled
July 8, 2025
Pocket shuts down completely
Export-only mode begins
October 8, 2025
Final date to export data
All accounts permanently deleted
Act now: You have limited time to find an alternative and migrate your saved articles. Don't lose years of saved content!
Open Source Read-It-Later Tools
Unlike proprietary services that can shut down without warning, these open source tools give you control over your data and reading experience. Each can be self-hosted or used with various hosting providers.
📚 Wallabag
Most PopularA mature, feature-rich read-it-later application. Wallabag has been actively developed since 2013 and offers comprehensive article management, tagging, annotations, and mobile apps. The most established option with the largest community.
✨ Key Features
- 📱 Mobile apps (iOS, Android)
- 🏷️ Advanced tagging and organization
- 📝 Annotations and highlighting
- 📤 Multiple export formats
- 🔌 Browser extensions
- 📊 Reading statistics
- 🌐 Multi-user support
- 🎨 Customizable themes
🏠 Hosting Options
Official Hosting (wallabag.it)
€11/year (~$12/year)
Hosted by the Wallabag team themselves
Visit wallabag.itThird-Party Hosting
$10-15/year
Various providers offer Wallabag hosting
🔄 Alternatives with Similar Features
$30+/year
Other services offering read-it-later functionality
⚡ Readeck
Modern & FastA modern, lightweight read-it-later service focused on simplicity and speed. Readeck offers a clean interface and efficient article processing without unnecessary complexity. Perfect for users who want a streamlined experience.
✨ Key Features
- 🚀 Fast, lightweight interface
- 📱 Responsive web design
- 🏷️ Simple tagging system
- 📤 Standard export formats
- 🔌 Browser bookmarklet
- 🐳 Easy Docker deployment
- 🔍 Full-text search
- 📖 Clean reading mode
🏠 Hosting Options
Third-Party Hosting
$10-12/year
Limited providers currently available
Note: No official hosted version currently available
🔖 Linkding
MinimalA minimal bookmark manager that can serve as a read-it-later tool. Linkding focuses on fast bookmark management with archiving capabilities and a clean, distraction-free interface. Great for users who prefer simplicity.
✨ Key Features
- ⚡ Minimal, fast interface
- 📦 Automatic archiving
- 🏷️ Tag-based organization
- 🔍 Full-text search
- 📱 Mobile-friendly design
- 🔌 Browser extension
- 📊 Basic statistics
- 🌙 Dark mode support
🏠 Hosting Options
Third-Party Hosting
$12-15/year
Growing number of hosting providers
Note: No official hosted version currently available
📖 Shiori
SimpleA simple bookmarks manager written in Go. Shiori is designed to be a simple and fast bookmark manager that can archive web pages. It offers a clean web interface and is easy to deploy.
✨ Key Features
- 🚀 Written in Go (fast performance)
- 📦 Automatic content archiving
- 🏷️ Tag support
- 🔍 Search functionality
- 📱 Responsive web interface
- 📤 Import/export bookmarks
- 🔌 Browser extension available
- 🐳 Docker support
🏠 Hosting Options
Note: No hosted versions currently available from any provider
🦉 Omnivore
Feature-RichA complete, open source read-it-later solution for serious readers. Omnivore offers advanced features like newsletter subscriptions, PDF support, and powerful organization tools. Recently open-sourced and gaining popularity.
✨ Key Features
- 📧 Newsletter subscriptions
- 📄 PDF support and annotation
- 🏷️ Advanced labeling system
- 🔍 Powerful search and filters
- 📱 Mobile apps (iOS, Android)
- 🔌 Browser extensions
- 📊 Reading progress tracking
- 🤖 AI-powered features
🏠 Hosting Options
Note: Self-hosting is complex and not recommended for beginners
📰 RSS Readers with Read-Later Features
Dual PurposeMany RSS readers include read-it-later functionality, allowing you to save articles from your feeds for later reading. This can be a great alternative if you primarily save articles from news sites and blogs that offer RSS feeds.
🛠️ Available Tools
- Feedbin: Premium RSS with read-later integration
- Feedbin Mini: The essentials of Feedbin, including read-later integration
- Inoreader: Feature-rich RSS service
🏠 Hosting Options
Official Services
$30-50/year
Premium RSS services with read-later features
Third-Party RSS Hosting
$15/year
Open source RSS readers with hosting
Hosting Provider Comparison
Don't want to self-host? Here are the main providers offering hosted open source read-it-later tools:
Official Project Hosting
Hosted by the project creators
- Wallabag.it: €12/year
- Omnivore.app: Free
✅ Directly supports development
✅ Most reliable updates
❌ Limited to specific projects
CloudBreak
Specialized FOSS hosting
- Wallabag: $10/year
- Readeck: $10/year
- Linkding: $12/year
✅ Multiple FOSS tools
✅ 10% profits to projects
✅ Data export guaranteed
PikaPods
General app hosting platform
- Wallabag: ~$15/year
- Linkding: ~$15/year
- Many others: Various pricing
✅ Wide selection of apps
✅ Pay-per-use pricing
❌ Higher costs for heavy usage
Elestio
DevOps automation platform
- Wallabag: ~$20/month
- Various tools: Higher pricing
✅ Professional DevOps features
✅ Multiple cloud providers
❌ Expensive for personal use
Hetzner
European & US VPS provider
- VPS starting: $4.50/month (US servers)
- Dedicated CPU: $7.60/month
- Storage boxes: Available
✅ Excellent price/performance
✅ US & European data centers
❌ Requires technical setup
Self-Hosting
Run it yourself
- VPS costs: $5-20/month
- Setup time: 2-8 hours
- Maintenance: Ongoing
✅ Complete control
✅ No vendor lock-in
❌ Technical knowledge required
🔄 Easy Migration from Pocket
Free tools to help you migrate your data to any open source alternative:
1. Export from Pocket
Use Pocket's export feature (available until October 8, 2025) to download your saved articles.
2. Convert Format
Use this free conversion tool to transform your Pocket export into a format that works with most tools.
3. Import to Your Tool
Upload your converted data to your chosen service. Most tools support importing from the converted format.
Total migration time: Usually under 30 minutes
🔒 Privacy note: The conversion tool runs entirely in your browser - your data never leaves your device
🔓 Why Choose Open Source?
🛡️ No Vendor Lock-in
Your data is always exportable. Switch between hosting providers or self-host anytime.
🔍 Transparency
Open source code means no hidden tracking, data mining, or surprise changes.
🌱 Community-Driven
Features are built for users, not advertisers. Active communities ensure long-term development.
💪 Resilience
Even if one hosting provider disappears, the software lives on. No more Pocket-style shutdowns.
🛡️ Protection Against Corporate Takeovers
Worried about Pocket or other services being acquired? Open source protects you from corporate acquisitions and shutdowns:
🔒 Can't Be "Bought Out"
Open source projects can't be acquired and shut down like proprietary services. The code remains free forever.
🌐 Distributed Development
Multiple contributors and forks mean no single entity controls the project's future.
📦 Self-Hosting Option
Even if all hosting providers disappear, you can always run the software yourself.
Unlike centralized services, these tools are immune to corporate takeovers and sudden shutdowns.
Quick Comparison
Best for: Feature-rich experience
Mobile Apps: ✅ iOS, Android
Hosting: $10/year (CloudBreak)
Self-Host: Medium
Best for: Modern, fast interface
Mobile Apps: ❌ Web only
Hosting: $10/year (CloudBreak)
Self-Host: Easy
Best for: Minimal bookmark manager
Mobile Apps: ❌ Web only
Hosting: $12/year (CloudBreak)
Self-Host: Easy
Best for: Simple Go-based solution
Mobile Apps: ❌ Web only
Hosting: Self-host only
Self-Host: Easy
Best for: Advanced features, PDFs
Mobile Apps: ✅ iOS, Android
Self-Host: Very Hard
💡 Consider your priorities:
Both approaches have their merits. Choose based on your priorities: control and transparency vs. polished features and support.
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