Compare PDF & Web Highlighter, Reader Mode + Notes, Matter, and Recall: Which Extension is the Best?

This tool isn’t just a basic reader mode — it goes way beyond that. Yes, it gives you the distraction-free reading experience you'd expect (cleans up almost any webpage beautifully), but it also lets you highlight in multiple colors, add notes, organize with tags, and save a full offline version of the article — which is super helpful if a page ever gets taken down.

One of my favorite parts is how smooth the export options are: Markdown, Notion, Obsidian, Capacities, PDF... it just works. It even has a spaced repetition feature that helps you remember what you read long-term.

It’s basically a powerhouse for anyone doing research or deep reading.

Matter's feature set is imposing, offering a comprehensive suite of tools that enhance the reading and listening experience. The AI transcription capabilities are particularly noteworthy, as they accurately convert spoken content into readable text.

The speed listening feature with natural-sounding voices is a game-changer for consuming content efficiently. The integration options with popular services like Kindle and Gmail make it a versatile tool for content management. The regular updates and improvements show a commitment to enhancing the user experience.

Recall's range of functions is impressive for a relatively new tool. The AI summary works on a wide range of content, from articles to YouTube videos with a running time of several hours. We particularly liked the personal knowledge base and the way Recall automatically links related content. Spaced Repetition and Active Recall are outstanding features for students. However, some features are still in beta or will be available soon. The functions in the free version are severely limited in the number of users per day, and there is an upper limit for free use.

I tested it on several websites — from news articles to blog posts to PDFs — and it handled everything smoothly.

Pages load quickly, the reader view pops up without delay, and saved articles open instantly, even without internet.

Even the offline functionality was seamless. I disconnected from Wi-Fi just to test it — and could still open and read saved articles without a hitch.

Matter delivers reliable performance across all its features. Content processing is fast and efficient, handling various file types and formats smoothly. The sync capabilities work reliably across devices, ensuring content is always up to date. The tool uses system resources efficiently, maintaining good performance even with multiple features in use. Response times are quick, providing a snappy user experience. The stability across different platforms is impressive, though occasional minor issues may occur during heavy usage.

Retrieval is fast and reliable in most cases. The summary is fast, even with very extreme examples such as a 9-hour news show that we had summarized in our test. Occasionally, we encountered errors or slowdowns, especially when asking further questions about the summarized content via the wizard. The team is actively working on performance improvements and there are regular updates. Overall, the tool feels stable and is suitable for everyday use.

The design is clean, modern, and just pleasant to use. You can switch between different color modes like dark, sepia, or high contrast, and you can customize font size, spacing, and width — which makes reading long texts super comfortable.

It doesn’t feel overwhelming or cluttered. It’s intuitive and looks polished both on desktop and mobile. I especially liked how the sidebar slides in to show your notes and highlights without breaking your focus.

The interface design is clean and modern, making it easy to navigate through different features. The layout is intuitive, with a clear hierarchy that helps users find what they need quickly. The mobile-responsive design ensures a smooth experience across devices. While the design is generally excellent, there's room for improvement in some areas of the mobile interface.

The user interface has a clear and modern design. The focus is on user-friendliness. We found the browser extension intuitive and easy to navigate. The tagging and organization system can be used flexibly, and some users mentioned minor bugs in the user interface, but these were only minimally noticeable in the test.

The free version already gives you most of what you need — clean reading mode, offline access, highlighting, note-taking.

No sign-up, no hidden limits. That alone is worth a lot.

The paid version just builds on that. You get syncing, full-text search, and access to a web app to view your archive from anywhere. For the price (just a few bucks per month), it’s an excellent investment if you read and research online often.

The free tier offers substantial value, providing access to most essential features without cost. The premium pricing is competitive compared to similar tools in the market. Regular feature updates ensure that users get ongoing value from their subscription. The cross-platform access adds significant value for users who work across multiple devices.

The free tariff is suitable for infrequent users who do not need all the functions, as you will quickly reach the map limit. However, if you want to use the extension on a day-to-day basis, you cannot avoid the
extension. The paid plan is competitively priced, especially with the student discount. We appreciate that some features will remain free forever, and the team is open to feedback on pricing. Compared to alternatives, Recall offers good value for money for those who need advanced knowledge management features, but casual users may find the limitations too restrictive and stop using the extension.

This extension just works — no setup, no confusion.

I installed it, clicked on the icon while reading an article, and boom — instant reader mode. From there, highlighting was as easy as selecting text. Notes? Just a click away. Bookmarks and tags? Super straightforward.

Even advanced features like syncing or exporting are done in a really user-friendly way. There are many things to discover, but if you want to dive deeper, there are helpful guides and blog posts too.

Matter is very user-friendly, with a straightforward setup process that gets users started quickly. The controls are intuitive and well-placed, making it easy to access key features. The content organization system is logical and easy to understand. The onboarding process is helpful, guiding new users through the main features. The learning curve is minimal, allowing users to get the most out of the tool without extensive training.

An account is required to use Recall. However, due to the integration with a Google and Apple login, this should be easy for everyone.
Saving and summarizing content is a one-click process that is well explained at the beginning. However, mastering all functions (e.g., nested tags, links, and spatial repetitions) requires some time and some searching, which can lead to many users not being able to exploit the full potential.

The tool takes security seriously, implementing robust data encryption to protect user information. The privacy-focused design ensures that user data is handled responsibly. The company maintains transparency about data handling practices through a clear privacy policy. Regular security updates help maintain a secure environment. While the security measures are solid, some users might want more control over their data sharing preferences.

Recall is characterized by its privacy-friendly approach. User data is not used by the extension for advertising, profiling, or AI training. All content is stored securely, and users retain full control over their data. Data can be exported for inspection or deleted at any time. The data protection guidelines are transparent, and support is always available to answer questions about data protection. We were unable to identify any uncertainties during our review.