Linkpoche and Instapaper both save links for later, both can be used for free, and both use swipes to sort. Instapaper uses a free account to sync your saved articles across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, the web, and e-readers. Linkpoche runs on iPhone only, needs no account, stores your links on your iPhone, and brings older links back to you each day.
What is the main difference?
Instapaper is a read-later service that follows you across devices, including Kobo e-readers and, with Premium, Kindle. Linkpoche is a single-iPhone app focused on saving a link in one tap, sorting it with one swipe, and getting it back later.
Do I need an account?
For Instapaper, yes. Creating an account is free, and your saved items sync through it.
For Linkpoche, no. There is no sign-up, no email address, and no password. Tap Share in any app and choose Linkpoche.
Where is my data stored?
Instapaper stores your saved items in your Instapaper account and syncs them across your devices.
Linkpoche has no server. Your links and screenshots are stored on your iPhone. When you save a link, your iPhone fetches that page directly for its title, picture, description, icon, and article text, and the text is used for the read time and summary, then discarded. Screenshots are read on your iPhone and not uploaded. The Linkpoche app has no analytics, no ads, and no tracking.
Which devices does each one run on?
Instapaper has apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Vision Pro, and Android, plus a web app, a browser extension, and Kobo support. Sending to Kindle is a Premium feature.
Linkpoche runs on iPhone with iOS 16 or later and has no sync between devices. To move to a new iPhone, export a zip file and import it, or use your iPhone backup.
Which one is free?
Both. Instapaper’s free plan lets you save unlimited articles, videos, and pages, with sync and folders. Its Premium plan adds full-text search, PDFs, unlimited notes, Kindle delivery, and AI text-to-speech. The comparison table shows Premium pricing on the US App Store as of October 2026.
Linkpoche is free to download, and saving is free with no limit and no ads. Linkpoche Plus is an optional one-time in-app purchase, not a subscription, that adds locked and hidden pouches, more pouches, colors, and icons, and repeating reminders. On the US App Store as of October 2026, it is $2.99.
How do swipes work in each app?
Both apps use swipes, in different ways.
Instapaper’s blog describes left and right swipes on your list that can archive a link, move it to a folder, or share it, with separate actions for short and long swipes.
Linkpoche shows new links as a stack. You flick the top link down into one of the pouches along the bottom of the screen, within reach of your thumb. Swipe left to delete, right for Read later, and change what each swipe does in Settings. Undo stays up for 6 seconds, and Recently Deleted keeps your last 50 deleted links. With VoiceOver, tap a pouch to put the top link in it.
Can I import my Pocket export?
Instapaper can. It can import a Pocket export file from its settings.
Linkpoche cannot. Its import reads only a backup zip exported from Linkpoche, so you bring links over by sharing them one at a time.
How do saved links come back to me?
In Linkpoche, For you shows up to 10 links from your pouches each day, and the Linkpoche widget shows them when your Inbox is empty, on iOS 17 or later. You can set a one-time reminder on any link. You can search everything you saved or one pouch, including text read from screenshots, filter by unread, read, or favorites, and find saved links in iPhone search. On iOS 17 or later, search also finds links close in meaning.
On iPhone 15 Pro or later with iOS 26 or later and Apple Intelligence turned on, Linkpoche adds a short on-device summary for articles and pouch suggestions. The AI runs on your iPhone, nothing is sent out for it, and each AI feature can be turned off.
Who is Instapaper a better fit for?
- You read on several devices, or on a Kobo or Kindle.
- You want full-text search across what you saved, or PDF support.
- You have a Pocket export file and want to import it.
- You are comfortable keeping your reading list in an account.
Who is Linkpoche a better fit for?
- You save mostly on iPhone and want no account.
- You want your links stored on your iPhone, with no Linkpoche server.
- You like sorting each new link into a pouch with a flick.
- You want older links to come back on their own each day.
Instapaper is a solid pick if you read across devices. Linkpoche is a good pick if your phone is where you save and sort.
