Ask HN: Does a good "read it later" app exist?

9 points by buchanae 103 days ago | 20 comments

I feel crazy to ask. Over my lifetime, I have seen endless bookmark and read-it-later apps come and go. I've done research today, and most of the things I come across are dead and gone, or seem abandoned somehow. I'm aware of Instapaper. I haven't tried it (yet).

Here are some thoughts on what might fit my personal taste: - lightweight - very cheap - self-hosting might be nice, since I have a VPS currently - I'd like to easily dump an open tab into a backlog, and get reminded about it later: maybe I go to the app, maybe I get a daily email of suggestions. If I don't feel like reading the page, I can "snooze" it or otherwise put it back in the backlog (or drop it)

I think that's all I really want. I don't need notes or AI summaries or multiple apps for multiple devices, etc.

I might just build it, but curious if anyone has something they love.

Thanks!

randomor 103 days ago |

This is an inherent value trap that’s really not sustainable for VC backed startups. Which will inevitably burn to the ground as the revenue dwindles. Pocket, Omnivore, Upnext, your next favorite server based read-later app. One of the reason I believe is the market is saturated with undifferentiated apps that’s all free.

While I think self-hosting is great, you probably want to solve mobile capturing and consumption, hosting a server, then paring a modern maintained mobile app that you can configure so it connects to your self-hosted server. Omnivore maybe your best shot? Although maybe vibe code may get you there sooner?

If you are on Apple ecosystem though, there is another self-sustainable way that doesn’t require you to host anything on your VPS, that works with mobile, which is iCloud/Cloudkit based apps.

There are at least a dozen options here. I made one of these:

- no account, no server, no tracking

- Liquid Glass Mac app that launch from menu bar.

- Separate iOS app purposefully designed for mobile

- Doesn’t use a browser extension, but monitors double copies from clipboard.

- Shows all the cards in a waterfall grid, so you don’t have to click into these cards to see what the link is about. Every website you use, from TikTok to GoodReads, will show up as well designed cards.

- Uses Apple Intelligence on device to auto-tag links.

- free to capture without limit, has a one time purchase option (that removes the sub nudge) as well as affordable subscription option with PPP in 10 territories (purchase power parity pricing).

I believe it’s the sweet spot in this category, and with the subscription revenue we have, it will never shutdown as long as Apple still offers iCloud, plus, you own the binary.

It’s at https://doublememory.com if this sounds interesting to you.

buchanae 103 days ago | |

Hm, leveraging CloudKit is smart. I am fully assimilated into the Apple world.

I'm a little wary of something watching my clipboard, honestly. A lot of passwords and sensitive information goes through there.

Drag-and-drop into a menu bar icon is super clever though.

Well done. It might be a little more than I need, but I'm cheering you on nonetheless.

mario_lopez 103 days ago |

I’m working on a platform like this - a Pocket (RIP) alternative with some added features.

The kicker is multi-platform support, since I also want the ability to browse from mobile and web, with the extension to easily add while browsing and native Share To to save links on mobile.

I’m working on reminders and daily emails for myself. I’ll prioritize this.

Site is up as well as Chrome Extension. Apps are built and ready to be published, just need some time to get them submitted to their respective stores.

https://backpocket.my/

brightbed 103 days ago | |

That looks great. I’ll check back when Firefox and iOS are working.

What are you thinking for pricing? Any thoughts on open source + self-hosting?

zetanor 103 days ago |

Since 2019, I've used SingleFile (or equivalent; browsers' Save to HTML and Print to PDF features) to keep potentially ephemeral pages in a folder that I pick stuff out when I feel like it, pruning entries that have lost relevance or appeal. Good articles sometimes get moved into my permanent files. The "system" is exactly as reliable as its operator. No reminders included, but I don't want my computer beeping at me (and maybe you don't want really want that either).

hamsterbase 103 days ago |

Feel free to try out my product: https://hamsterbase.com/

Supports self-hosting via Docker.

https://hamsterbase.com/docs/install/install-with-docker.htm...

junaid_97 102 days ago |

This is not the ideal solution, I know. But, this is what I do:

- I own a Kindle. I also have the Kindle chrome extension. - Anytime I came across an interesting article/blog, I use the extension and send the article to my kindle - Pro: I end up actually reading the articles - Con: My library is filled with hundreds of articles

al_borland 103 days ago |

After seeing a comment here on HN, I gave up on the idea of read-it-later services. I’ve tried most of them. They are where my good intentions go to die. If something isn’t worth reading in the moment, I’m probably never going to read it, so I just avoid the shame and guilt these apps brought me.

buchanae 103 days ago | |

I can relate to that. I have a ton of bookmarks and open tabs that I've been meaning to read for weeks or months now. I guess that's why I'm hoping a daily reading list might give me a bite-sized chunk to work through.

al_borland 103 days ago | | |

That problem I found is that each day brings more potential things to read. The slow news days where one can dip into their backlog of articles seems to be a thing of the past.

The key would be having something that could surface what is worth your time, and finding a way for those items to take priority over the new things coming at you… which would also need to be evaluated for whats worth your time.

carlosjobim 102 days ago |

The first question is: are you looking for a solution or looking for a problem?

If you're looking for a solution: Use dotepub and send articles to a Kindle or Kobo to read.

If you're looking for a problem: Then you're on the right track with self hosting or FOSS.

rfarley04 103 days ago |

I moved to a self-hosted Wallabag (https://wallabag.org/) after Pocket shut down. Not the sexiest but does everything I need it to. It has Chrome/Firefox extensions for saving open tabs.

0xCE0 102 days ago |

Print to PDF + throw it to /TOREAD, which you will never open, but at least the content is there. Maybe add some relevant keywords in the filename (keep the original name also), so you can quickly grep/find what you need.

davis 103 days ago |

I've been using Readwise's Reader and have been really happy with it. It's great: https://readwise.io/read

dostoynikov 98 days ago |

Try ln.ht . It is also nice to see other people’s bookmarks

gadders 98 days ago |

Mozilla is busy buying them and closing them down.

dhruv3006 103 days ago |

I think no - all are pretty bloated.

raw_anon_1111 102 days ago |

Instapaper is the granddaddy of Read it Later apps. It was first written and published by Marco Arment - the co founder of Tumblr - in 2008. He sold it off because he started seeing dwindling sells.

These days, I just star articles in my RSS newsreader - NetNewsWire free and open source for the Mac and iOS - or just favorite the submission if I come across it on HN first

nicbou 103 days ago |

Instapaper is how I queue up stuff on my iPad for bedtime reading. It does what it should with minimal fuss and enshittification.

seansean 103 days ago |

readwise I think