Read-later app Pocket is shutting down, and I’m super sad about it

DGIX

May 24, 2025

Summary

Mozilla is shutting down Pocket on July 8, 2025.
Content exports can be done until October 8, 2025.
The app has already been pulled from app stores.

Mozilla has revealed that it’s shutting down its extremely useful

read-later app Pocket
. According to the company, Pocket will stop operations on July 8th, 2025 so that Mozilla can concentrate its “resources into projects that better match their browsing habits and online needs” — it’s unclear what that actually means, though.

After that date, you’ll only be able to export saves until October 8th, 2025.

Mozilla
says it will then delete all saved content. Subscriptions are in the process of being canceled and refunds will be sent to subscribers currently on Pocket’s annual plan. Pocket’s web extension and app have already been removed as of May 22nd, 2025, though if you already have the app on your phone, it will continue to function. You’ll also still be able to re-download the app until October 8th, 2025 as long as you’ve already downloaded it before.

OpenAI and Jony Ive’s mysterious AI device will probably suck (but it’ll look cool)

It’s almost like dedicated AI hardware devices don’t make sense, at least in part because AI itself isn’t as entirely useful for the average consumer.

Mozilla says the internet doesn’t need read-later apps anymore

Mozilla says that it’s shutting down Pocket because “the way people save and consume content on the web has evolved.” My assumption is that despite Pocket’s popularity with a small subset, use has dropped significantly over the past few years, especially as

Google’s AI Search
overview continues to slowly destroy the internet. Along with Pocket, Mozilla is also shutting down its fake reviews detector, Fakespot.

”This shift allows us to shape the next era of the internet — with tools like vertical tabs, smart search and more AI-powered features on the way,” writes Mozilla in a recent blog post about the closure.

I’ve been using Pocket since roughly 2010, way back when it was still called Read It Later (Mozilla acquired Read it Later in 2017). It’s been a great tool for saving stories throughout the day to read in the evening, whether on my iPad or even my Kobo (the e-reader has had direct integration with the app for years). The Firefox plugin has also been extremely useful, giving me the near-instant ability to save any story I want when I don’t have the time to read it during the work day.

…until then, I’ll enjoy the last few weeks Pocket is around.

It’s going to be really weird for the app not to be around anymore in a few weeks, especially since I have it installed across nearly every device I use, including my MacBook Pro, iPhone 16 Pro, Kobo Libra Colour, and the myriad of smartphone review devices I have floating around my house.

I’ll likely make the jump to Instapaper at some point (I have vague memories of using the read-later app way back in 2008), but until then, I’ll enjoy the last few weeks Pocket is around.