Compare Instapaper and Notion Web Clipper: Which Extension is the Best?

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
Notion Web Clipper lets you save web pages directly into your Notion workspace. While it has some useful basic features, it also has limitations that might affect your productivity.
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
  • Save with One Click: Easily save web pages to Notion with a single click.
  • Organize Immediately: Choose where to save your web pages before clipping.
  • Tag, Share, Comment: Turn saved pages into actionable items, link them to projects, and assign them to teammates.
  • Cross-Device Access: Read clipped pages on any device, online or offline.
Our Rating
8.2
7.3
Total users
214,048
1,037,934
Total ratings
657
797
Average rating
4.1 ⭐
3.6 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
3.8
2.67
542 ratings
200.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
3.3
2.55
596 ratings
1.0M+Users
Edge
-
-
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.4
4.39
115 ratings
14.0K+Users
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.0
3.68
201 ratings
37.9K+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.

screenshot
6.0

The extension makes it easy to save web pages. This worked perfectly in our tests. All texts, including images, were saved correctly in a new page in Notion. However, some users report that various types such as mathematical formulas are not saved or are not saved correctly.

When saving the page, you are asked where it should be saved in Notion. The immediate organization of the saved content with tags, as illustrated in the Chrome store, is not possible via the extension, but only in Notion. This also includes highlighting text passages.

tags

An important component for us is the cross-device access, due to the direct saving in Notion, so you can read clipped pages on any device, online or offline.

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.

6.5

Overall, we found the program to be a basic web clipping app that is well suited for saving basic websites.
However, some users report problems saving all content, such as math formulas, in the reviews. Performance can also vary depending on the browser and operating system.

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.

7.0

The design is clear and concise. However, this is simply because there are hardly any customization options.

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.

8.0

Use of the extension is free of charge. However, compared to other providers of Web Clipper for Notion, it does not offer many functions. Whether a free version of Notion is sufficient for saving websites in the long term is another question. In our opinion, however, you get good value for money with the Plus version, which in particular allows you to save unlimited data.

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.

8.0

The installation worked perfectly. Saving pages is intuitive and further processing in Notion is also easy for Notion users. The fact that you can't set tags directly in the extension is a disadvantage. If you haven't used Notion before, you will need to find your way around the app first, as you will be overwhelmed with many functions, especially at the beginning.

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.

8.2

Notion takes standard measures to protect user data. It also complies with the most important data protection regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.
Only the use of cookies and tracking technologies by Notion is somewhat questionable.

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.

In summary, the Notion Web Clipper is a useful tool for saving and organizing web content directly in your Notion workspace.

However, there are some limitations, such as not being able to mark things up or set tags directly from the extension. This is done afterwards in Notion. There are also occasional problems with saving certain types of content such as mathematical formulas.

Despite these drawbacks, it can be a valuable addition to your productivity toolkit, especially if you're already a Notion user.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Instapaper and Notion Web Clipper, Instapaper came out on top, scoring 8.2.

Notion Web Clipper is the most widely used, with over 1 million users and 797+ reviews, but Instapaper outperformed it in our review. User reviews reflect our findings.

Notably, Instapaper has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.11, which supports its strong performance in our review.

There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? Instapaper stands out with a rating of 8.8. On the other hand, Notion Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 6.
  • Need top performance? Instapaper stands out with a rating of 8. On the other hand, Notion Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 6.5.
  • Design lovers, take note: Instapaper stands out with a rating of 8.5. On the other hand, Notion Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • Best deal? You can't go wrong with either: Instapaper and Notion Web Clipper. In the Value for Money category, Instapaper has scored a fair 8. It provides decent value for money, though there may be better options in its price range.
  • If you hate complicated tools, Notion Web Clipper stands out with a rating of 8. On the other hand, Instapaper lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Instapaper stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Notion Web Clipper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.2.

If you want a quick recommendation, Instapaper is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you.