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Browser Extensions · head to head

Awesome Screenshot vs Instapaper

Awesome Screenshot logo

Awesome Screenshot

Browser Extensions

Screen capture and image annotation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Instapaper logo

Instapaper

Browser Extensions

Save anything for reading later

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Awesome Screenshot free browser extension with limited information about premium tier pricing on homepage; Instapaper full text search across saved articles is Premium only, at $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year
  • They diverge on capability: Awesome Screenshot covers Screen capture, Instapaper covers Save for later.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Awesome Screenshot and Instapaper actually diverge.

Attributes where Awesome Screenshot and Instapaper differ
AttributeAwesome ScreenshotInstapaper
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Edge, SafariWeb, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX)
Founded20072008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Browser Extensions).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Awesome Screenshot

  • Screen capture
  • Annotation tools
  • Cloud storage
  • Screen recording

Only in Instapaper

  • Save for later
  • Clean reading
  • Highlighting
  • Full-text search

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support
  • Safari support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Awesome Screenshot

  • Screen recording for tutorials and documentationnot Instapaper
  • Screenshot annotation for design feedbacknot Instapaper
  • Team collaboration on visual communicationnot Instapaper
  • Bug reporting with visual evidencenot Instapaper
  • Social media content creationnot Instapaper

Instapaper

  • Saving articles to read later with the clutter stripped outnot Awesome Screenshot
  • Building a searchable personal archive of things worth keepingnot Awesome Screenshot

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Awesome Screenshot

  • Free browser extension with limited information about premium tier pricing on homepage
  • Pricing details not fully disclosed on main page

Instapaper

  • Full text search across saved articles is Premium only, at $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year
  • Free accounts are limited to 5 notes a month, against unlimited on Premium
  • Text to speech, speed reading and the permanent archive are all Premium only
  • The free web experience carries advertising

Pricing, plan by plan

Awesome Screenshot

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Screen capture
    • Basic annotation
    • Cloud storage

Instapaper

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Instapaper review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Awesome Screenshot if

  • You need screen capture.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari.
  • You also want annotation tools.
Awesome Screenshot review

Choose Instapaper if

  • You need save for later.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX).
  • You also want clean reading.
Instapaper review

Questions people ask

Is Awesome Screenshot or Instapaper better?
Neither clearly leads. Awesome Screenshot starts at Free and Instapaper at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Awesome Screenshot or Instapaper?
Awesome Screenshot starts at Free and Instapaper at Free.
Does Awesome Screenshot or Instapaper run on more platforms?
Awesome Screenshot runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari. Instapaper runs on Web, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX).
Can I use Awesome Screenshot for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Awesome Screenshot best used for?
Awesome Screenshot is most often used for screen recording for tutorials and documentation, screenshot annotation for design feedback, team collaboration on visual communication, bug reporting with visual evidence. Of those, screen recording for tutorials and documentation and screenshot annotation for design feedback are not what Instapaper is typically brought in for.
What can Awesome Screenshot do that Instapaper cannot?
Awesome Screenshot covers Screen capture, Annotation tools, Cloud storage, Screen recording. Instapaper covers Save for later, Clean reading, Highlighting, Full-text search. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support, Safari support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Instapaper: What is the cost of Instapaper?

Instapaper costs $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year. The yearly plan saves over 15% compared to the monthly rate.

Source
Instapaper: Does Instapaper offer a free trial?

No trial period is offered. The subscription starts immediately upon purchase.

Source
Instapaper: What features are included in the paid subscription?

Premium features include full-text search across all articles, permanent archiving, PDF reading, unlimited notes (free tier limited to 5 per month), Kindle integration, AI-powered text-to-speech, and speed reading up to 3x faster. The paid version also removes advertisements.

Source
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