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Browser Extensions · head to head

Mercury Reader vs Momentum

M

Mercury Reader

Browser Extensions

Clear clutter from articles instantly

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Momentum logo

Momentum

Browser Extensions

Personal dashboard for focus and inspiration

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mercury Reader mercury Reader's underlying engine (Postlight Parser) is free open source software licensed under Apache License 2.0, per the GitHub repository, with no paid tier; Momentum free version lacks advanced task manager integrations available in Plus tier
  • They diverge on capability: Mercury Reader covers Content extraction, Momentum covers Daily photos.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mercury Reader and Momentum actually diverge.

Attributes where Mercury Reader and Momentum differ
AttributeMercury ReaderMomentum
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsChrome, Firefox, EdgeChrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, macOS (native app)
Founded20152013

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 Mercury Reader

  • Content extraction
  • Clean reading view
  • Custom themes
  • Font customization

Only in Momentum

  • Daily photos
  • Weather widget
  • Todo list
  • Daily focus

Both cover

  • Chrome support
  • Firefox support
  • Edge support

What people use each for

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

Mercury Reader

No use cases recorded yet. See the Mercury Reader review.

Momentum

  • Setting daily focus goals from a browser new tabnot Mercury Reader
  • Creating focus modes with timers and productivity soundsnot Mercury Reader
  • Maintaining priority to-do lists with completion trackingnot Mercury Reader

Where each one falls short

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

Mercury Reader

  • Mercury Reader's underlying engine (Postlight Parser) is free open source software licensed under Apache License 2.0, per the GitHub repository, with no paid tier

Momentum

  • Free version lacks advanced task manager integrations available in Plus tier
  • Habit tracking and metrics features only available in paid plan
  • Limited customization options in free version compared to premium tier
  • Syncing with external task managers requires Plus subscription

Pricing, plan by plan

Mercury Reader

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Clutter removal
    • Clean reading
    • Custom themes

Momentum

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Daily focus
    • To-do lists
    • Weather and links
  • Momentum Plus$undefined/mo
    • Unlimited Focus Mode
    • Vision board creation
    • Tab Stash functionality

Which should you pick?

Choose Mercury Reader if

  • You need content extraction.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
  • You also want clean reading view.
Mercury Reader review

Choose Momentum if

  • You need daily photos.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, macOS (native app).
  • You also want weather widget.
Momentum review

Questions people ask

Is Mercury Reader or Momentum better?
Neither clearly leads. Mercury Reader starts at Free and Momentum at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mercury Reader or Momentum?
Mercury Reader starts at Free and Momentum at Free.
Does Mercury Reader or Momentum run on more platforms?
Mercury Reader runs on Chrome, Firefox, Edge. Momentum runs on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, macOS (native app).
Can I use Mercury Reader for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Mercury Reader do that Momentum cannot?
Mercury Reader covers Content extraction, Clean reading view, Custom themes, Font customization. Momentum covers Daily photos, Weather widget, Todo list, Daily focus. Both handle Chrome support, Firefox support, Edge support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Momentum: Is Momentum free?

Momentum offers a free version with core features like daily focus, to-do lists, weather, and motivational quotes. Premium features are available through Momentum Plus subscription.

Source
Momentum: What is Focus Mode in Momentum?

Focus Mode displays your main daily objective on the new tab page to keep you centered on your primary task and reduce distractions throughout your workday.

Source
Momentum: Does Momentum integrate with task managers?

Yes. Momentum Plus integrates with popular task managers including Todoist, Asana, and ClickUp, allowing seamless synchronization of your tasks.

Source
Momentum: What platforms does Momentum support?

Momentum is available on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge as a browser extension, with a native macOS app also available.

Source
Momentum: Does Momentum Plus include soundscapes?

Yes. Momentum Plus subscribers get access to Focus Mode soundscapes designed for concentration and deep work, along with other premium features.

Source
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