Compare Save to Pocket, PDF & Web Highlighter, and Raindrop.io: Which Extension is the Best?
Save to Pocket is a browser extension that lets you save articles, videos, and more. With over 2 M+ users, it promises a cross-device reading experience for perfect organization. But does it deliver? | With Web Highlights, you can easily highlight text on any website or PDF and create notes. It's free and easy to use without signing up. In our eyes the best online PDF and web highlighter extension. | Raindrop.io lets you save, organize, and access bookmarks on any device. Features include highlights, annotations, and full-text search for easy web content management. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each extension. |
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| Our Rating Tooltivity's expert review score for each extension, based on hands-on testing and research. | 7.4 | 9.8 Winner in this category | 8.9 |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 2,000,000 Winner in this category | 111,771 | 737,456 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 7,810 Winner in this category | 3,736 | 1,797 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | 4.2 ⭐ | 4.8 ⭐ Winner in this category | 4.3 ⭐ |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the extension. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free | Free |
| Chrome User rating and stats for the extension on Chrome browser. |  4.2 3.34 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 2.0M+Users | 4.8 4.80 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 100.0K+Users Winner in this category | 4.1 4.29 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 300.0K+Users |
| Edge User rating and stats for the extension on Edge browser. | - |  4.7 4.67 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 10.9K+Users Winner in this category | 4.5 4.49 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 107.2K+Users |
| Firefox User rating and stats for the extension on Firefox browser. | - |  5.0 5.0 Average Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store rating from the last 100 reviews 826Users Winner in this category | 4.3 4.35 Average Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store rating from the last 100 reviews 30.3K+Users |
| Safari User rating and stats for the extension on Safari browser. | - | - | - |
| Features Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each extension. | 7.2 Save to Pocket offers a range of useful functions.  The tagging system is particularly helpful for anyone who wants to organize and find their tags. This did not always work perfectly in the test. Sometimes websites were tagged, but these did not appear in the search with a unique search term.  Compared to competitors such as Web-Highlights, the highlighting function is only possible after saving a website in the pocket and then searching there. It is not possible to highlight directly on the website.  | 9.8 Web Highlights offers a range of features. In addition to its main function of highlighting text on websites and PDFs, it provides much more, making it the ideal tool for learning and self-improvement. Top Features of Web Highlights1. Highlighting websites & PDFs:  Web Highlights excels at one thing better than any other tool we tested—highlighting websites and PDFs. You don't even need an account. Just visit any site, highlight the text, and a marker icon will appear, letting you choose from different highlight colors. Once highlighted, your highlights are visible on the website. And the best thing: Your highlights will also be visible on the website if you reload the page. You not necessarily need the highlighter popup to mark up some text. In general, there are three ways to create a highlight:
In our tests, we could easily highlight several websites, and those highlights were effortlessly restored when revisiting them. It works seamlessly with both online and local PDFs.  All of your highlights are not only visible on the page but also accessible through the sidebar, which gives you a good overview of your highlights made. This is much like the highlighter sidebar which is common in PDF tools like Acrobat. Here is how it looks:  The sidebar gives you an outline of your highlights on the current page. 2. Create Notes & Tags:  You can either create tags & notes by using the sidebar or by clicking on a highlight on the page. This will open up a popup allowing you to add tags and notes to a specific highlight. Any changes you make on the pages are also directly visible in the sidebar. Making it a perfect research tool to work with large articles. Inside the sidebar you can then find all your highlights and bookmarks listed for the given tag. 3. Web App:  The best thing about Web Highlights is, that it can synchronize all your research to the corresponding web app at app.web-highlights.com. The web app can be opened in your browser but works perfetly on your phone. If you have opened the website before, you can even access your research when you are offline. The dashboard of the app shows all of your research in one place in a beautiful overview. You can also filter for specific tags or websites. 4. Save Bookmarks:  Web Highlights isn't just for highlighting text—it’s also great for saving pages as bookmarks. This way, you can either come back later to continue highlighting or easily find the page again. 5. Email reminders  A standout feature of Web Highlights is its email reminder, which works a lot like "snoozing" emails. You can set a reminder for a specific date and time by clicking the clock icon on a highlighted page. Web Highlights will then email you the article so you don’t forget to revisit it. This feature is unique among competitors, and we use it daily to get reminders for websites we need to return to later. 6. Export to Notion, Markdown, and more  Web Highlights gives you plenty of export options. With the Markdown export, you can easily send your research to any Second Brain or PKM tool you prefer. On top of that, it directly integrates with Notion and Capacities through full API connections. For instance, if you're on a highlighted page, just click the three dots in the sidebar and choose "Export to Notion." In seconds, a Notion page will be created. The same process works for Capacities. Winner in this category | 9.0 Raindrop.io offers an exceptional set of features that go far beyond basic bookmarking. The full-text search capability is particularly impressive, allowing users to find content within saved pages. The highlighting and annotation tools are well-implemented, making it easy to mark important sections of web pages. The team collaboration features are robust, and the permanent library feature ensures you never lose access to important content. Cross-platform sync works seamlessly, and the availability of browser extensions for all major browsers and mobile apps makes it accessible everywhere. The API access for developers and custom domains for public collections add significant value for power users. |
| Performance Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each extension. | 6.0 The extension works when saving and synchronizing content on different devices. This happens almost in real-time. | 10 The extension performs seamlessly, allowing you to highlight websites and PDFs without any lag or interruptions. The full-text search functionality is quick and accurate, enabling you to find your highlights effortlessly. Additionally, the ability to sync your highlights across devices ensures that you can access your research from anywhere, enhancing your productivity. The best part is that the web app works entirely offline. So, you can access your research from any device, even without an internet connection. Winner in this category | 9.0 The performance of Raindrop.io is generally excellent. Bookmark saving is fast and reliable, search results are quick, and sync works efficiently across devices. The mobile app performs well, though there's room for improvement in some areas. Resource usage is efficient, and the browser extension is stable. Page loading is quick, though users might occasionally experience sync delays. Overall, the performance is solid and reliable for daily use. |
| Design Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each extension. | 8.0 The extension has a clear and intuitive design. The distraction-free reading environment is a good feature. However, the login process could be a little clearer. | 9.9 The design is clean and intuitive, making it easy to get started right away. We loved the customizable highlight colors and the overall look and feel of the sidebar. What users love most is the intuitive sidebar and the well-organized web app. It’s super easy to navigate and quickly find what you need. The web app also looks great on mobile devices, making it simple to access the articles you've read on your phone. Winner in this category | 8.0 The interface design of Raindrop.io is clean, modern, and professional. The browser extension is intuitive and easy to use, while the web interface offers a responsive design that works well on all devices. The collections view is well-organized, and the visual hierarchy helps users navigate their bookmarks efficiently. The design is consistent across different platforms, though some users might wish for more customization options. The overall aesthetic is polished and user-friendly, though there's room for improvement in terms of personalization. |
| Value for Money Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each extension. | 8.0 The free version offers basic functions that should be sufficient for many users. The premium version offers additional functions such as full-text searches or improved tagging. The price-performance ratio is fine for us but could be too high for many basic users if they only use it occasionally. | 9.5 Web Highlights can be used for free without signing up, providing access to a wide range of offline features. To fully enjoy the benefits of Web Highlights, including accessing your highlights and bookmarks from anywhere with automatic cloud-sync, you can upgrade to the PREMIUM or ULTIMATE version of the extension. The pricing plans are affordable, making it a cost-effective solution for students, researchers, and avid online readers. No other tool gives you this much value for so little cost. Winner in this category | 9.3 Raindrop.io offers good value for money, particularly for users who need its advanced features. The free tier, while limited, is sufficient for basic bookmarking needs. The Pro plan is competitively priced, especially with the annual discount option. The comprehensive feature set justifies the cost for power users, and regular updates show ongoing development. The support is responsive and helpful. |
| Ease of Use Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each extension. | 7.0 The tool is generally easy to use, but the lack of initial instructions can be a problem for new users. There are also recurring registration problems, which are reported by other users in the reviews. | 9.5 We can’t think of a simpler Chrome Extension to start with than this one. The best part? It works seamlessly right out of the box, no account needed. Installing it is a breeze, and you can easily add the extension to both Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Once installed, a highlighter pop-up appears whenever you highlight text on any website. The process is intuitive and easy to grasp. If you need help, Web Highlights offers plenty of blog posts that guide you through its features. With so many powerful features, Web Highlights might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but everything falls into place quickly. The tagging system, in particular, is easy to use and much simpler than traditional folders. That’s why we rate it 9.5 out of 10. It’s extremely user-friendly, though some features might take a little time to fully appreciate. Winner in this category | 8.7 Raindrop.io excels in user-friendliness. The installation process is straightforward, and the browser extension is intuitive to use. The interface is easy to understand, even for new users, and saving bookmarks is quick and efficient. The organization system is logical and straightforward, and the keyboard shortcuts are well-implemented. The onboarding experience is smooth, and features are easily discoverable. The tool manages to pack powerful features while maintaining an accessible interface. |
| Security & Privacy Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each extension. | 8.0 Save to Pocket uses industry-standard security measures, including encryption and firewalls. However, there could be stronger assurances regarding data security and liability for third-party services. | 9.9 In the Security & Privacy category, we give Web Highlights a solid 10/10. The fact that you can use this tool offline without needing an account sets it apart from its competitors. Even if you opt for cloud sync by creating an account, Web Highlights puts data privacy first. Your highlights, notes, and tags are visible only to you by default unless you decide to share them. Your data isn’t sold to third parties, nor is it used or transferred for anything beyond the extension's core functionality. This dedication to data privacy ensures your information stays secure and confidential. Winner in this category | 9.5 Security and privacy are priorities for Raindrop.io. The implementation of 256-bit encryption ensures data is well-protected during sync. The company's commitment to not selling user data is reassuring, and the private-by-default approach respects user privacy. The privacy policy is clear and transparent, and the service is GDPR compliant. Regular security updates and a secure sync process demonstrate an ongoing commitment to user security. The handling of user data is transparent and trustworthy. |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each extension. | Save to Pocket is a tool for anyone who wants to save and organize web content efficiently. Its cross-device synchronization makes it a valuable addition to your productivity toolkit. However, it does have some drawbacks, such as occasional login issues and a lack of detailed instructions. Beginners in particular may struggle here. Overall, it's a solid choice for anyone who needs a reliable content storage solution. | We have been using Web Highlights - PDF & Web Highlighter for years and can confidently say it’s a top-notch tool for anyone who spends a lot of time reading online. Its user-friendly design and powerful features make it a must-have for students, researchers, and professionals alike. The free version is fantastic, but if you need more advanced features, the premium options are well worth the price. If you’re serious about staying organized while reading online, we highly recommend giving Web Highlights a try. | Raindrop.io is a versatile and powerful bookmark manager. The successful combination of feature-rich configuration and intuitive user interface makes the tool the first choice for both occasional users and power users. Thanks to its cross-platform availability, users have access to their bookmarks anytime and anywhere. The free version with its partially limited range of functions will be enough for many users, while the Pro plan offers excellent value for money for all others. Particularly noteworthy is the ability to save not just links, but complete websites, supplemented by practical functions such as markers and annotations. This makes Raindrop.io ideal for both students and professionals who regularly need to organize, comment on, and archive web content. |
| Our Recommendation | In our comparison between Save to Pocket, PDF & Web Highlighter, and Raindrop.io, PDF & Web Highlighter came out on top, scoring 9.8. Save to Pocket is the most widely used, with over 2 million users and 8k+ reviews, but PDF & Web Highlighter outperformed it in our review. User reviews for PDF & Web Highlighter and Raindrop.io reflect our findings, while we rate Save to Pocket lower than users do. Notably, PDF & Web Highlighter has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.84, which supports its strong performance in our review. There are big differences between these extensions, so it's important to look at the details below to find the best fit for your needs.
If you want a quick recommendation, PDF & Web Highlighter is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you. | ||
