After 17 years as a favorite for saving articles, Pocket is shutting down on July 8, 2025. Owned by Mozilla since 2017, the app helps millions save and organize web content for later reading. Mozilla cites changing web and browsing habits as reasons to end Pocket. Mozilla wants to focus resources on projects better aligned with today’s digital needs.
Users still have until October 8, 2025 to export their saved articles before data deletion. This deadline means longtime users must transfer their content to alternative services to avoid losing access.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Saving and Transitioning Pocket Content
Pocket has already been removed from app stores but remains accessible for those who previously downloaded it. Users can export their saved lists by visiting Pocket’s export page, verifying their email, and requesting an HTML export file. Mozilla notes the file may take up to 24 hours to arrive.
Subscribers to Pocket Premium will receive prorated refunds for unused subscription time beyond the shutdown date. Mozilla has already processed these refunds, so users need not take further action.
Why Shutdown Pocket Now?
Mozilla hasn’t shared specific details beyond general shifts in web use. However, the rising popularity of AI-powered tools that assist with saving and organizing articles may have played a role. Pocket was Mozilla’s first acquisition and remains an integral part of its legacy.
Reactions and Alternatives
With Pocket’s closure, alternatives like Raindrop.io and Instapaper are gaining traction. Raindrop.io, a bookmark manager for diverse content types, reports a three-to-fourfold surge in new user registrations and subscriptions since the shutdown announcement.
Raindrop.io’s founder, Rustem Mussabekov, told PCMag that while Pocket’s closure is sad, it allows users to discover platforms that better suit their current needs. He views this as an opportunity to showcase Raindrop.io’s active development and welcome new users.
Instapaper offers a similar reading experience to Pocket, with easy syncing and formatting across devices. Both platforms support importing Pocket content, making migration smoother.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Pocket’s shutdown is the end of an era for many readers who relied on it to manage web content. As digital reading habits change, services like Raindrop.io and Instapaper offer fresh options for saving and organizing online material.
Users should act quickly to export their Pocket data and explore new tools tailored to modern browsing. Mozilla’s focus shifts toward innovative projects that better reflect today’s internet usage.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech