Compare Notix and Instapaper: Which Extension is the Best?

Notix is a powerful web clipper for Notion, featuring screenshot capture, AI-driven content organization, and customizable templates to enhance productivity and streamline workflows.
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
Key Features
  • Web Clipping: Easily clip and save web content directly to Notion.
  • Screenshot Tool: Capture visible or entire web pages.
  • AI-Powered Summaries: Automatically generate summaries for clipped content.
  • Custom Templates: Organize information with customizable templates.
  • Step Recording: Record and save step-by-step guides.
  • 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
Our Rating
8.2
8.2
Total users
4,000
214,048
Total ratings
35
657
Average rating
4.6 ⭐
4.1 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.6
4.62
35 ratings
4.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
3.8
2.67
542 ratings
200.0K+Users
Edge
-
-
Firefox
-
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.4
4.39
115 ratings
14.0K+Users
Safari
-
-
Features
9.5

Notix offers a variety of features that make web clipping to Notion easier and more efficient. The ability to edit content directly in the browser before saving it stands out from competitors. You can add highlighted text directly and screenshots, videos, and other information afterward.

sidebar

Another interesting feature is the AI-supported summaries and creation of headings with user-defined templates. You can see that the developer is working hard on updates here to stand out from other web clippers with useful 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
Performance
6.5

Performance is currently still very variable. The interface between the extension and Notion is fast, but for many users, several performance problems when clipping new information could be a deterrent. In our tests, it happened several times that the information already changed and recorded in the sidebar could not be saved and an error message appeared. This is very annoying if you have already put a lot of effort into making changes.

error

The AI function also rarely worked in our test and when it did it was very slow. Occasionally, a loading bar appeared that never disappeared. Overall, we see the greatest potential for the extension to improve here.

perfomance bug
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.

Design
9.0

The design is functional, but could be a little more intuitive to improve usability. The layout is clear so that the various functions can always be found immediately.

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.

Value for Money
8.5

In our opinion, the extension offers a good price-performance ratio for both the normal user, who already receives the basic functions with the free version and the paid version with the full range of functions. The only thing that could put off paying users in particular are the performance problems that still exist in some cases.

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.

Ease of Use
6.5

Although Notix is easy to install initially, it is not completely intuitive to use afterward. In particular, users not yet fully familiar with Notion may have problems. The initial setup with the creation of templates based on databases is not always clear. The professional 11-minute tutorial that is displayed after installation is useful here, but may deter new users who do not want to take on this effort. An additional effort that not everyone will take on is the registration required to make the API available at OpenAI. To summarize, the setup is somewhat complicated and more complex compared to other competitors, but the use of the features afterward should be intuitive for everyone.

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.

Security & Privacy
8.9

Notix ensures and describes general data security in its privacy policy. The extension does not store excessive data, and user information is mainly kept within the Notion ecosystem. Within the extension, access can only be granted to selected individual pages, so that sensitive information on other Notion pages is protected. Only the dependency on an account with an AI service to use all the features may raise concerns for some users.

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.

Conclusion

In summary, Notix is a powerful tool for Notion users who want to clip text, images, and more with useful features. Innovative features, such as AI-powered summaries and custom templates, set it apart from other tools. However, this is also where the biggest potential for improvement lies, as the initial setup is not always intuitive and performance issues could put users off. Overall, Notix offers great value for those looking for an alternative to the popular Notion web clippers.

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.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Notix and Instapaper, all extensions performed equally well, each scoring 8.2.

Instapaper is the most widely used, with over 214k users and 657+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews for Instapaper reflect our findings, while we rate Notix lower than users do.

Notably, Notix has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.63, 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? Notix stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Instapaper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.8.
  • Need top performance? Instapaper stands out with a rating of 8. On the other hand, Notix lags behind in this area with a rating of 6.5.
  • Design lovers, take note: Notix stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Instapaper lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.5.
  • Want to get the most for your money? Notix 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, Instapaper stands out with a rating of 7. On the other hand, Notix lags behind in this area with a rating of 6.5.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Instapaper stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Notix lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.9.

There's no single winner, so check the categories above to find your best fit.