How to Migrate from Pocket to Readwise Reader
By Taha Baalla··5 min read
Readwise Reader is the power-user read-later app that integrates deeply with Readwise for highlight management. Pocket migration: export your Pocket data, then import via Readwise Reader > Library > Import > Pocket. Readwise Reader preserves Pocket tags as Reader tags.
Who Should Choose Readwise Reader
Readwise Reader is designed for people who not only read saved content but annotate, highlight, and want their highlights to surface later via Readwise's spaced repetition system. If you highlighted articles in Pocket Premium, Readwise Reader is the natural upgrade.
Readwise Reader also ingests: RSS feeds, newsletters (via custom email address), Twitter threads, YouTube videos, PDFs, EPUBs, and podcasts. It is the most comprehensive read-later app available.
Cost: Readwise Reader requires a Readwise subscription ($7.99/month individual or included in Readwise Full at $9.99/month). This is significantly more than Pocket was, but it provides dramatically more capability.
Readwise Reader Import Steps
- In Pocket: Settings > Export > Download your data file (JSON or HTML format).
- In Readwise Reader: tap Library (bottom nav) > tap the + icon > Import > Pocket.
- Select your Pocket export file.
- Pocket tags are preserved as Reader tags. Archived items import to your Archive. Favorites import with highlighting.
- If you had Pocket Premium highlights, these may need manual export — Pocket did not provide an easy way to export highlights separately.
The Highlight Workflow
The core Readwise Reader workflow: save an article, read it with inline highlighting, highlights automatically sync to Readwise, and Readwise surfaces them in daily review. For researchers and writers building a knowledge base from reading, this is the closest thing to a complete read-annotate-review system on iPhone.
Where Nemos Fits
Nemos is complementary to Readwise Reader for heavy users. Readwise handles article annotation and review; Nemos captures everything else: screenshots, PDFs, voice memos, research links. They serve different needs and can coexist.
Frequently asked
Is there a free option that's actually good?↓
Yes — every category has a free option that covers 80% of users. We name it first. Paid apps are recommended only when free apps clearly fall short.
Does this work on older iPhones?↓
Most recommendations work on iPhone 12 and later. AI features (Apple Intelligence) require iPhone 15 Pro or later, but we always provide a non-AI alternative.
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Pricing was last checked in August 2026 and is quoted per the vendor's own published rates at that time. Prices, tiers and free-tier limits change often — check the vendor's pricing page before deciding.