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Pocket vs Wallabag

A side-by-side look at Pocket (the paid SaaS) and Wallabag (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.

Pocket Wallabag
Tagline Save and read articles later (Mozilla). Self-hosted read-it-later and article archiver.
License Proprietary SaaS MIT
Pricing Free with Premium from $44.99/year. Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan
Self-host option No Yes — difficulty 2/5
Hosted cloud available Yes (only option) Yes
Desktop apps Varies by product Web only
Mobile apps Official apps typically available iOS, Android
Ad slot — between tables

Best for

Self-hosted Pocket replacement with full-text article archive.

Wallabag strengths

  • Mature Pocket-style experience.
  • Browser extensions for all major browsers.
  • Full-text archival of saved articles.

Wallabag weaknesses

  • UI polish lags commercial competitors.
  • Setup requires PHP stack.
  • Mobile apps rely on your self-hosted instance.

What's the catch with Pocket?

  • Future uncertain after ownership transitions at Mozilla.
  • Limited export formats for your saves.
  • Cloud-only — losing the service means losing the library.

Still unsure?

Check the full list of alternatives to Pocket: see Pocket alternatives, or learn more about Wallabag on its project page.