Popular read-it-later app Instapaper today received a significant update for iOS 8, bringing a redesigned user interface, enhanced saving capabilities, and deeper integration with notifications. The app is also now available for free, as users also have the option to pay for premium features.

instapaper_ios8
Users can now save content to Instapaper from any application that supports iOS' built-in share functionality by way of a new app extension. The app also includes text-to-speech functionality, and curates saved articles in iOS 8's Notification Center on a daily basis. A $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year subscription to Instapaper Premium unlocks a number of other features, including full-text search, unlimited highlighting in articles, and text-to-speech playlists.

Instapaper is a free app for iOS devices and can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

blairwillis Avatar
149 months ago
So those of us that paid for the app before won't have access to the paid features now without paying more?

No thanks. I'll stick with Safari reading list. There are an increasing number of what I'd consider $3-5 apps getting into this subscription model and I just don't see $30 a year being worth it. Hopefully effective competition will balance the playing field.

Currently paying subscription fees on Simplenote and Wunderlist, but about to cut one or both of them, too.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Frosties Avatar
149 months ago
If you don't have time to read an article you really need to organise your life better. Another fine example of laziness and stupidity and people pay for it - what fools.

Eh, on a plane, being in an area with spotty 4g etc etc. Start to think and stop being lazy.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lincolntran Avatar
149 months ago
I just hate software that force users in to subscription. Sometimes it legitimate but most of the time it's a cheap shot of squeezing money from your own users who supported you in the first place.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rigby Avatar
149 months ago
Anyways, on topic: Is Instapaper relevant in times of Pocket and Reading List and also Reader mode in Safari?
Pocket is quite similar to Instapaper, but the latter has IMO the better reading options (font selection and themes). But this is largely a matter of taste.

Reading List has one big flaw in my experience that makes it pretty much unusable for me: Saving the page for offline reading is not reliable. I have often tried to save some pages to the Reading List to read offline on a long flight, only to be told "Safari cannot open the page" as soon as I actually tried to read it offline.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Glassed Silver Avatar
149 months ago
Weird to live in times when the first thing you think of a free app is:
Okay, which horrible business model ruins this otherwise potentially decent app?

Anyways, on topic: Is Instapaper relevant in times of Pocket and Reading List and also Reader mode in Safari?
I'm genuinely interested, since I think I might be missing something big here.

Glassed Silver:mac
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WilliamLondon Avatar
149 months ago
If you don't have time to read an article you really need to organise your life better. Another fine example of laziness and stupidity and people pay for it - what fools.

What a wonderful gem of judgment.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...