Compare Instapaper and New Tab Draft: Which Extension is the Best?

	Instapaper	New Tab Draft
	Instapaper lets you save, organize, and highlight articles, videos, and web pages for offline reading. Features include folders, Kindle sync, text-to-speech, and mobile apps Web Clipper Reader Mode	New Tab Draft transforms your new tab into a distraction-free writing space, perfect for quick notes and to-dos. It's simple, effective, and completely free, but lacks advanced features. New Tab Writing
Key Features	Offline Reading: Save web pages to read later without internet connection Text View: Clean, distraction-free reading experience Highlighting: Mark important passages in your saved articles Kindle Integration: Send articles directly to your Kindle device Browser Extension: Quick save functionality across major browsers Mobile Apps: Access your reading list on iOS and Android devices Folder Organization: Create custom folders to organize your saved content	Simple Note-Taking: Create, pin, and lock multiple notes directly on your new tab page. Local Storage: Ensures privacy by saving notes locally, not on the cloud. Customization: Options to customize font and background. Additional Tools: Includes calculations, auto-backup, and more. Privacy Protection: No data is uploaded to any server.
Our Rating	8.2	8.2
Total users	213,923	12,644
Total ratings	659	1,177
Average rating	4.1 ⭐	4.7 ⭐
Entry Level Price	Free	Free
Chrome	3.8 543 ratings 200.0K+Users	4.8 1.2K+ ratings 9.0K+Users
Edge	-	4.6 16 ratings 3.6K+Users
Firefox	4.4 116 ratings 13.9K+Users	-
Safari	-	-
Features	8.8 Instapaper's feature set is impressive in its core functionality. The service excels at its primary purpose of saving and reading web content offline. The text view feature provides an excellent reading experience, stripping away distractions and presenting content in a clean, readable format. The highlighting and note-taking capabilities are useful tools for active readers, though they could benefit from some refinement. The Kindle integration works seamlessly, making it easy to transfer articles to your e-reader. Mobile apps offer reliable synchronization across devices, ensuring your reading list is always up to date. However, the service lacks some modern features like social sharing that competitors offer. The search functionality in the free tier is somewhat basic, and customization options are more limited compared to other services in this space.	6.0 New Tab Draft offers basic note-taking functionality, local storage for privacy, and some customization options. However, it lacks advanced features like rich text formatting and cloud sync.
Performance	8.0 Instapaper’s performance is strong overall, but the initial setup leaves much to be desired. After installing the Chrome extension, there was no response or prompt—no indication that any further action was needed. It wasn’t until we read a user review that we realized we had to manually visit the Instapaper website and log in. Without that information, we likely would have assumed the extension was broken and uninstalled it. Once past that rocky start, however, the service works reliably. Web pages save quickly, and saved content loads without issue. Offline access is stable, and synchronization across devices keeps your reading list up to date. The mobile apps offer smooth performance and quick navigation, while the text view provides a responsive and comfortable reading experience. The search function is usable, though slightly slow at times. Despite the poor onboarding, Instapaper delivers solid functionality once everything is properly set up.	8.5 The extension is fast and efficient, with minimal lag or performance issues.
Design	8.5 The design of Instapaper focuses on simplicity and readability. The interface is clean and minimalist, putting the content front and center. The text view is particularly well-designed, offering a comfortable reading experience with good typography and spacing. The mobile apps follow their respective platform design guidelines, providing a native feel on both iOS and Android. The browser extension maintains this simplicity with a straightforward interface. However, some UI elements feel dated and could use a refresh. While the reading experience is consistent across platforms, the navigation could be more intuitive in some areas. The limited customization options might disappoint users who prefer more control over their reading environment.	7.5 The design is simple and clean, with options for customization. However, it's not particularly aesthetic or modern.
Value for Money	8.0 The pricing structure of Instapaper offers a basic free tier that's functional but limited. The premium features are reasonably priced, offering good value for heavy readers. The pricing is competitive compared to alternatives in the market. However, some features that are currently premium could potentially be included in the free tier to provide more value to basic users. The annual subscription offers good savings for committed users. While the premium features are well-implemented, the free tier could offer more value to attract new users and provide a better experience for casual users.	8.5 As a completely free tool, it offers good value for those who need basic note-taking features. However, even though it's free, we don't see too much value in this tool. As there are similar free New Tab extensions out there, we can not give the highest rating.
Ease of Use	7.0 Instapaper’s setup process is not beginner-friendly. After installing the browser extension, there was no response or guidance—no prompt, login window, or confirmation. We had to manually visit the website and log in, something we only discovered thanks to a tip in another user’s review. Without that, we likely would have uninstalled the extension, assuming it didn’t work. However, once logged in, the service functions smoothly. Saving content is quick, the interface is clean and intuitive, and managing your reading list is simple and efficient.	9.0 The tool is very straightforward with a minimal learning curve. Its simplicity is both a strength and a limitation.
Security & Privacy	9.0 Instapaper takes user privacy and security seriously. The service maintains a clear and transparent privacy policy, explicitly stating that user data is not sold to third parties. The company has demonstrated a strong commitment to user privacy through its GDPR compliance and Privacy Shield certification. Data storage is secure, and the service regularly updates its security measures. The data collection practices are transparent, with clear explanations of what information is collected and how it's used. This high level of attention to privacy and security makes Instapaper a trustworthy choice for users concerned about their data.	9.5 All notes are stored locally, ensuring high privacy. There are no concerns about data being uploaded to the cloud.
Conclusion	Instapaper is a reliable “read-it-later” service that is characterized by its core features. The service has maintained its position in the market by focusing on what matters most to readers: a clean, distraction-free reading experience and reliable offline access to stored content. While it doesn't offer the breadth of features of some newer competitors, its simplicity and reliability make it a solid choice for those who primarily want to save articles and read offline. Recent issues with the Chrome extension and some user complaints about the save feature need to be addressed, but the core service remains stable and useful. For users who appreciate a simple, straightforward approach to saving and reading web content, Instapaper remains a good choice. However, those looking for advanced features or a more modern interface should look for alternatives.	New Tab Draft is great for those who prefer a simple, no-frills note-taking tool. While it may not offer much beyond basic note-taking, its privacy features and ease of use make it a solid choice, especially since it's free. User reviews are very good with an average of 4.8 stars in the Chrome Web Store. Many users love its simplicity and effectiveness. However, it might not provide enough value for those looking for more advanced features. In our tests, we weren't fully convinced and found ourselves leaning toward more aesthetically pleasing New Tab Extensions that offer a few basic features.
	Install Instapaper	Install New Tab Draft
Our Recommendation	In our comparison between Instapaper and New Tab Draft, all extensions performed equally well, each scoring 8.2. Instapaper is the most widely used, with over 214k users and 659+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews for Instapaper reflect our findings, while we rate New Tab Draft lower than users do. Notably, New Tab Draft has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.68, which is even higher than our rating of 8.2. In the end, the differences between these extensions are minimal, so your choice may come down to personal preference or specific features. Looking for the richest feature set? Instapaper stands out with a rating of 8.8. On the other hand, New Tab Draft lags behind in this area with a rating of 6. Need top performance? New Tab Draft stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Instapaper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8. Design lovers, take note: Instapaper stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, New Tab Draft lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5. Want to get the most for your money? New Tab Draft stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Instapaper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8. If you hate complicated tools, New Tab Draft stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Instapaper lags behind in this area with a rating of 7. With privacy and security becoming ever more important, New Tab Draft stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Instapaper lags behind in this area with a rating of 9. There's no single winner, so check the categories above to find your best fit.