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Browser Extensions · head to head

Instapaper vs Web Developer

Instapaper logo

Instapaper

Browser Extensions

Save anything for reading later

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Web Developer logo

Web Developer

Browser Extensions

Web developer toolbar for browsers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Web Developer the Web Developer browser extension is licensed GPL-3.0 per its GitHub repository (github.com/chrispederick/web-developer), which states 'All files are distributed for free under the terms of the GNU General Public License,' confirming it has no vendor pricing model to compare.
  • They diverge on capability: Instapaper covers Save for later, Web Developer covers CSS inspection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Instapaper and Web Developer actually diverge.

Attributes where Instapaper and Web Developer differ
AttributeInstapaperWeb Developer
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX)Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
Founded20082003

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 Instapaper

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

Only in Web Developer

  • CSS inspection
  • Form debugging
  • Image analysis
  • Element outlining
  • Opera support

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 Web Developer
  • Building a searchable personal archive of things worth keepingnot Web Developer

Web Developer

No use cases recorded yet. See the Web Developer 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

Web Developer

  • The Web Developer browser extension is licensed GPL-3.0 per its GitHub repository (github.com/chrispederick/web-developer), which states 'All files are distributed for free under the terms of the GNU General Public License,' confirming it has no vendor pricing model to compare.

Pricing, plan by plan

Instapaper

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Instapaper review.

Web Developer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • CSS tools
    • Form tools
    • Image tools

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.
Instapaper review

Choose Web Developer if

  • You need css inspection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
  • You also want form debugging.
Web Developer review

Questions people ask

Is Instapaper or Web Developer better?
Neither clearly leads. Instapaper starts at Free and Web Developer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Instapaper or Web Developer?
Instapaper starts at Free and Web Developer at Free.
Does Instapaper or Web Developer run on more platforms?
Instapaper runs on Web, iOS, Android, Kindle, E-readers (BOOX). Web Developer runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera.
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 Web Developer is typically brought in for.
What can Instapaper do that Web Developer cannot?
Instapaper covers Save for later, Clean reading, Highlighting, Full-text search. Web Developer covers CSS inspection, Form debugging, Image analysis, Element outlining. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.
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