In an exciting development for ebook enthusiasts, Rakuten and Instapaper have unveiled a new integration that allows users to access their saved articles directly on Kobo eReaders. This innovative feature comes as a replacement for a previous service that Rakuten offered to Pocket users, a service that was phased out following Mozilla's decision to shut down the read-it-later application in May 2025.
The integration of Instapaper into Kobo devices functions almost identically to the former Pocket service. By linking your Instapaper account, you can easily access any article you've saved to your library. This user-friendly experience allows you to download articles for offline reading, and gives you the flexibility to like, delete, or archive items as per your preferences. For those who previously relied on Pocket to manage a backlog of saved articles, the transition to Instapaper proves to be a robust and efficient alternative.
While the Instapaper integration is a welcome addition for Kobo users, it does come with some limitations. Notably, the feature currently lacks support for handwritten annotations on devices that support styluses, such as the Kobo Libra Colour or Kobo Elipsa 2E. This aspect may affect users who enjoyed making notes directly on their saved articles. Nevertheless, the overall functionality remains strong, making it a suitable replacement for those who were accustomed to the Pocket experience.
Mozilla's decision to wind down Pocket and other smaller products was primarily aimed at reallocating resources to focus on improving Firefox. Meanwhile, Instapaper has had its own ups and downs. Following its acquisition by Pinterest in 2016, the platform experienced a decline until the original developers bought it back, regaining independence in 2018. Although Pocket and Instapaper are not direct replacements for one another—especially considering Instapaper's lesser focus on preserving images—the two services share enough similarities to satisfy most users.
For Kobo eReader users, the new Instapaper integration is now available globally on all currently supported devices. This development is a significant win for those who relied heavily on Pocket, as Rakuten's decision to replace the service with Instapaper represents a best-case scenario for maintaining access to saved articles.
