- Pocket is officially being shut down today
- Today is your last chance to export your data before the app is shuttered
- There are several alternatives that you can use instead
Five months ago we heard the sad news that Mozilla would be closing down the popular Pocket app, which lets you save articles from the web so that you can read them later. Well, today is officially its last day, which means it’s time to find an alternative, if you haven’t already.
While the first phase of Pocket’s shutdown was on July 8, 2025, it’s been possible to export your saved articles since then. However, after October 8, 2025 (today) you’ll no longer be able to do that and your data will be permanently deleted.
If you still haven’t exported your data, it’s only takes a minute or so. Just go to Pocket’s Export page, sign into your account, then click the ‘Export CSV file’ button (see below). You’ll then see a notice saying “your export is on the way”, which also confirms that it could take seven days for the export to arrive.
You’ll also get an email confirmation that it’s being processed. If you run into any issues, you can find the answers to most questions on Mozilla’s guide to exporting your Pocket saves.
Why is this happening?
It’s a shame to see the end of Pocket. While many of the best browsers like Google Chrome have built-in bookmarking, Pocket was different in that it tweaked the experience to make reading more enjoyable. To that end, it added its own formatting so that articles appeared in a uniform, readable style, and it also let you to add tags and highlights for better organization.
In a blog post, Mozilla said the move was made to help it focus on its Firefox web browser, adding that “the way people save and consume content on the web has evolved, so we’re channeling our resources into projects that better match browsing habits today.” The company has also posted a more detailed guide to its decision and explained what will come next on its website.
As for Fakespot, its apps, website and extensions become unavailable on July 1, 2025. The Review Checker feature that’s built into the Firefox web browser also stopped working on June 10, 2025.
Sorely missed
I’ve used Pocket religiously for many years, and the move to shut it down came as an unwelcome surprise. Since I found out about the move, I’ve been looking for alternative apps that let me save articles and read through them at my leisure.
So far, I’ve seen Instapaper come highly recommended. It’s designed to help you save articles from around the web and display them in a simple, easy-to-read format. It can even speak articles aloud so you can listen on the go.
Another alternative is Readwise Reader. Like Instapaper, it’s great for saving from the web, but it also works with RSS feeds, X threads, PDFs, newsletters, YouTube videos, and more. There’s integration with Readwise’s highlighting capabilities, plus a beautiful design that’s easy on the eye.
There’s also Raindrop, which some of my TechRadar colleagues wholeheartedly recommend. This bills itself as a bookmark manager, so it helps with organizing almost anything you find on the web, not just articles. It’s built for teams and will automatically back up any files and web pages you add, ensuring you can keep reading even if the original source is lost.
Despite coming across these alternatives, I can’t say I’m not disappointed to lose Pocket. One of its best aspects was its suggested articles feature, which has helped me find an incredible array of fascinating stories that I’d otherwise never have discovered. Once it officially goes tomorrow, it’ll be sorely missed.
