Software · head to head
Instapaper vs JSON Viewer
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Instapaper full text search across saved articles is Premium only, at $5.99 a month or $59.99 a year; JSON Viewer the project is MIT licensed open source code hosted on GitHub with no vendor and no paid tier
- They diverge on capability: Instapaper covers Save for later, JSON Viewer covers JSON formatting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Instapaper and JSON Viewer actually diverge.
| Attribute | Instapaper | JSON Viewer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | free |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX) | Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
| Founded | 2008 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Instapaper
- Save for later
- Clean reading
- Highlighting
- Full-text search
- Safari support
Only in JSON Viewer
- JSON formatting
- Syntax highlighting
- Tree view
- Search functionality
Both cover
- Chrome support
- Firefox support
- Edge support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Instapaper
- Saving articles to read later with the clutter stripped outnot JSON Viewer
- Building a searchable personal archive of things worth keepingnot JSON Viewer
JSON Viewer
No use cases recorded yet. See the JSON Viewer review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
JSON Viewer
- The project is MIT licensed open source code hosted on GitHub with no vendor and no paid tier
Pricing, plan by plan
Instapaper
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Instapaper review.
JSON Viewer
Free- FreeFree
- Syntax highlighting
- Collapsible tree
- Search
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose JSON Viewer if
- You need json formatting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
- You also want syntax highlighting.
Questions people ask
- Is Instapaper or JSON Viewer better?
- Neither clearly leads. Instapaper starts at Free and JSON Viewer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Instapaper or JSON Viewer?
- Instapaper starts at Free and JSON Viewer at Free.
- Does Instapaper or JSON Viewer run on more platforms?
- Instapaper runs on Web, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX). JSON Viewer runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
- Can I use Instapaper for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Instapaper best used for?
- Instapaper is most often used for saving articles to read later with the clutter stripped out, building a searchable personal archive of things worth keeping. Of those, saving articles to read later with the clutter stripped out and building a searchable personal archive of things worth keeping are not what JSON Viewer is typically brought in for.
- What can Instapaper do that JSON Viewer cannot?
- Instapaper covers Save for later, Clean reading, Highlighting, Full-text search. JSON Viewer covers JSON formatting, Syntax highlighting, Tree view, Search functionality. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.