Softwr

Browser Extensions · head to head

Honey vs Instapaper

Honey logo

Honey

Browser Extensions

Automatically find and apply coupon codes

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: Honey browser extension requires permission to access browsing and shopping data; Instapaper full text search across saved articles is Premium only, at $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year
  • They diverge on capability: Honey covers Automatic coupon codes, Instapaper covers Save for later.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Honey and Instapaper actually diverge.

Attributes where Honey and Instapaper differ
AttributeHoneyInstapaper
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, EdgeWeb, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX)
Founded20122008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Honey

  • Automatic coupon codes
  • Price history
  • Honey Gold rewards
  • Price drop alerts
  • Opera support

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.

Honey

  • Testing coupon codes automatically at checkout across 30,000 sitesnot Instapaper
  • Notifying shoppers of price drops on saved itemsnot Instapaper
  • Comparing Amazon sellers including shipping and Prime costsnot Instapaper
  • Supporting shopping across Chrome, Safari, and Firefox browsersnot Instapaper
  • Discovering deals at checkout moments without manual searchingnot Instapaper

Instapaper

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

Where each one falls short

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

Honey

  • Browser extension requires permission to access browsing and shopping data
  • Limited to 30,000+ retailer sites; not all retailers supported

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

Honey

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Honey review.

Instapaper

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Instapaper review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Honey if

  • You need automatic coupon codes.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge.
  • You also want price history.
Honey 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 Honey or Instapaper better?
Neither clearly leads. Honey 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, Honey or Instapaper?
Honey starts at Free and Instapaper at Free.
Does Honey or Instapaper run on more platforms?
Honey runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Edge. Instapaper runs on Web, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX).
Can I use Honey for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Honey best used for?
Honey is most often used for testing coupon codes automatically at checkout across 30,000 sites, notifying shoppers of price drops on saved items, comparing amazon sellers including shipping and prime costs, supporting shopping across chrome, safari, and firefox browsers. Of those, testing coupon codes automatically at checkout across 30,000 sites and notifying shoppers of price drops on saved items are not what Instapaper is typically brought in for.
What can Honey do that Instapaper cannot?
Honey covers Automatic coupon codes, Price history, Honey Gold rewards, Price drop alerts. 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

Honey: Is Honey free to use?

Yes, Honey's browser extension is completely free to use with no subscription fees. Users can earn rewards through purchases on participating sites and redeem points for gift cards.

Source
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
Honey: What browsers does Honey support?

Honey is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Edge browsers on desktop. iOS users can enable the extension for mobile Safari through the PayPal mobile app, but Android does not currently support the mobile extension.

Source
Instapaper: Does Instapaper offer a free trial?

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

Source
Honey: How does Honey search for coupon codes?

Honey automatically searches for and tests available coupon codes at checkout on 30,000+ popular sites. If a working code is found, Honey applies the one with the biggest savings to your cart.

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
Honey: Can I track price drops with Honey?

Yes, Honey's Droplist feature allows you to add items and receive notifications about price drops, helping you find the best time to purchase.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Honey

More on Instapaper

Keep looking

Other head to heads