Instapaper: a good idea with real limitations
Instapaper is one of the pioneers of read-it-later. Since its launch in 2008, it has allowed users to save articles and read them later on any device, often offline. Its reading interface is clean and it has a loyal user base.
That said, Instapaper has limitations that are hard to ignore. Its best features (full-text search, unlimited highlights, text-to-speech) are locked behind the Premium subscription, priced at €55/year. The free tier still works but is noticeably cut down. The app has also had an unsettled history: acquired by Pinterest in 2016, then sold off again in 2018, leaving its long-term future uncertain.
Some alternatives
Several services offer a read-it-later experience:
- Readwise Reader is feature-rich (RSS, highlights, notes, sync) but its pricing, around €96/year, makes it a tool for the most committed users.
- Matter was a well-regarded app for its design, but its development has been put on hold.
- wallabag.it is an open-source alternative, hosted in Europe, that covers the essentials without the inflated pricing.
Meet wallabag.it
wallabag.it is the hosted version of wallabag, an open-source read-it-later app. It was built around one simple idea: your reading list should belong to you.
Full article storage
Unlike tools that only save a link or partial content, wallabag fetches the full text of the page, cleaned up and ad-free. Even if the original website disappears, your copy stays intact.
Privacy by design
wallabag does not track you, sell your data or clutter your reading with ads. It is open-source software, run by people who believe in user freedom.
Hosted in Europe
All data on wallabag.it is stored on servers located in Europe, protected by strict EU privacy laws and fully GDPR-compliant.
Offline reading
Sync your saved articles across all your devices (phones, tablets and even e-readers like Kobo) and read them without a connection.
Tags, annotations and search
Organise your articles with tags, take notes, and quickly find past reads with full-text search. All these features are included in the base subscription, at no extra cost.
Easy migration from Instapaper
Leaving Instapaper is straightforward: wallabag.it provides an import tool that preserves your articles and their metadata.
Pricing comparison
| Service | Yearly cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| wallabag.it | €11/year | All features included, open source, hosted in Europe |
| Instapaper Premium | €55/year | Full-text search, unlimited highlights, text-to-speech |
| Readwise Reader | €96/year | RSS, notes, highlights, very complete but very expensive |
wallabag.it offers the best value: a complete reading experience for €11/year, with no features gated behind a higher tier. You can also support development with the supporter plan at €30/year, or try the service for €4 over 3 months.
Final thoughts
If you are looking for an Instapaper alternative that is reliable, respectful of your data and affordable, wallabag.it is a solid choice. You will not have to wonder whether the service will still be around in two years, or pay five times more to unlock search in your own articles.