Mozilla to shutter read-later app Pocket from July 8

Mozilla is shutting down its read-later app, Pocket, on July 8, in a significant setback for users who rely on it to save articles, highlights, notes, and archives. After July 8, users won't be able to save new content, and the app will switch to an export-only mode until October 8.

“Pocket has helped millions save articles and discover stories worth reading. But the way people use the web has evolved, so we’re channeling our resources into projects that better match their browsing habits and online needs," Mozilla said in an official blog post.

The Pocket app and its browser extensions will be operational till July. Pocket premium subscriptions, both annual and monthly, will be cancelled automatically. Those with annual subscriptions will start getting refunds after the July cut-off date.


In an email to users, Pocket mentioned that its newsletter Pocket Hits will continue under a new name, with content curated by its editorial team, from June 17.

"We're proud of what Pocket has made possible over the years — helping millions save and enjoy web's best content," it said to users in a farewell message.

Pocket was launched in 2007, and originally named Read It Later. The application gained popularity as people used it to keep track of the articles, recipes, videos, and more that they planned to revisit. Mozilla added Pocket to Firefox as its default read-later app and acquired it in 2017.

Mozilla also confirmed it will be closing down Fakespot, a browser extension that helped users detect fake reviews on shopping sites.