The Matter Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Matter in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Matter
The Insider’s Guide
Read-later app for iPhone, iPad and web with audio playback
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among read-later and bookmark apps, read from Matter’s own pages.
Made by Dig Wells, Inc. · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Matter’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Matter’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 11 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade
Matter is a read-later app for iPhone, iPad and the web that collects articles, PDFs, threads, newsletters, YouTube videos and podcast episodes in one reading queue. It can read saved items aloud, transcribes podcasts and videos into time-synced text, and supports highlighting with exports to note-taking apps. The free version has an uncapped library; a paid subscription adds newsletter sync, RSS feeds and higher-quality speech.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Matter, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Save from the app or a browser extension and it shows up parsed, and highlighting is a long press and a drag.
- 1
Best for reading and listening to saved articles on iPhone
Matter is a read-later app for iPhone, iPad and the web that puts articles, PDFs, newsletters, YouTube videos and podcasts in one queue, with transcripts and text to speech.
- 2
Paid plans start at $5 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year on the US App Store; several prices are listed.
- 3
There is a free plan
Uncapped read-later library, mobile and web extensions for saving, article parsing, unlimited tags, full-text search, and custom themes and fonts.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
Web and iOS, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Save articles, PDFs and threads
Save from the iPhone and iPad apps or from the Chrome, Safari and Firefox extensions. Saved pages are parsed into a clean reading view and are available offline.
- 6
Podcast and YouTube transcripts
Saved YouTube videos and podcast episodes are transcribed into text that stays in sync with playback, so they can be read or listened to.
- 7
Newsletters, writers and feeds
Paid subscribers can pull newsletters in through Gmail or a personal Matter email address, follow individual writers and add RSS feeds.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 11 of 36
That is against the other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Matter you could make: read later, highlights and rSS reader. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Matter at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year on the US App Store; several prices are listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial on the web sign-up paywall, after which a yearly subscription starts
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Browser extension
- Made by
- Dig Wells, Inc.
- Category
- Read Later & Bookmarks
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.6 on the App Store, 1,239 ratings
The report card
Best for reading and listening to saved articles on iPhone
Matter is a read-later app for iPhone, iPad and the web that puts articles, PDFs, newsletters, YouTube videos and podcasts in one queue, with transcripts and text to speech. There's no Android or desktop app, the site has no pricing page while the App Store lists prices from $7.99 to $14.99 a month, and newsletters, RSS, HD speech and unlimited highlights all need paying.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | $7.99 a month is exactly where this category's dearest tenth starts, and the App Store lists monthly items at $12.99 and $14.99 too. A year up front works out at $5.00 a month, still above the $3.33 middle, and the useful parts all sit behind it. The site has no pricing page, so you can't tell which you'll pay. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The free version has an uncapped library, saving from the phone and browser extensions, unlimited tags, full-text search and custom themes. One person could really live on that. It's not an open door, though: newsletter sync, RSS feeds, HD speech and unlimited highlights all need paying. |
| Features | B | It covers the whole read-later job: articles, PDFs and threads in a clean offline view, transcripts for YouTube and podcasts that stay in sync with playback, text to speech, and highlights that sync to Notion, Obsidian, Roam and Readwise. Newsletters, RSS and Send to Kindle are there too, behind the paywall. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.61 from 1,239 App Store ratings, short of the 4.7 we ask for an A. Save from the app or a browser extension and it shows up parsed, and highlighting is a long press and a drag. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web plus iPhone and iPad, with saving extensions for Chrome, Safari and Firefox, links to Gmail, Kindle, Notion, Obsidian, Roam and Readwise, and a REST API. No Android app and no desktop app, which is what keeps it off an A. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Matter is for
- Fits if you read on an iPhone or iPad and want articles and newsletters in one queue
- Works for people who'd rather listen and will pay for HD text to speech
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Android, because Matter is only on iPhone, iPad and the web
- Not for you if you want a clear price up front, as the App Store lists several and the site has no pricing page
- Pricey if you pay by the month, since $7.99 is the dear end for a reading app and $12.99 and $14.99 are listed too
- Tight if you're staying free, as newsletter sync, RSS feeds, HD speech, Send to Kindle and unlimited highlights need paying
- Watch out: the web trial is 7 days and a yearly subscription starts after it, and the API is for Pro only
Good to know
Good for
- iPhone and iPad readers who want articles and newsletters in one queue
- Listening to saved articles, newsletters and podcasts as audio
- Sending highlights to Notion, Obsidian, Roam or Readwise
Worth knowing
- No Android app is listed: Matter is offered for iPhone, iPad and the web.
- Newsletter sync, RSS feeds, HD text to speech, Send to Kindle and unlimited highlights need a paid plan.
- The website has no pricing page, and the App Store lists several different Premium and Pro prices.
- The API and CLI are limited to paying Matter Pro subscribers.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$5
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Matter has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7.99 per month or $59.99 per year on the US App Store; several prices are listed.
The site has no pricing page, so you can't tell which you'll pay.
Free
$0
Uncapped read-later library, saving from mobile and browser extensions, unlimited tags, full-text search, and custom themes and fonts.
Premium
$59.99 to $79.99
per year; monthly items are listed at $7.99, $12.99 and $14.99
HD text to speech, AI Co-Reader, newsletter sync, writer and RSS feeds, unlimited highlights, notes and integrations, and Send to Kindle. Also labelled Matter Pro.
The free plan
Uncapped read-later library, mobile and web extensions for saving, article parsing, unlimited tags, full-text search, and custom themes and fonts.
Trying it first
7-day free trial on the web sign-up paywall, after which a yearly subscription starts
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 5, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Matter Premium (Annual)”, against $79.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺2.999,99 | $61.01 | 24% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 3,990.00 | $63.51 | 21% less |
| Canada | $99.99 | $70.29 | 12% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 1,299juta | $72.65 | 9% less |
| Australia | $129.99 | $90.75 | 13% more |
| Mexico | $1,799.00 | $98.85 | 24% more |
| Germany | 89,99 € | $100.84 | 26% more |
| United Kingdom | £79.99 | $105.75 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Browser extension
Read-later app for iPhone, iPad and web with audio playback. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, public API, AI features, read later, rSS reader, highlights.
Newsletters, RSS and Send to Kindle are there too, behind the paywall.
- Save articles, PDFs and threads
- Save from the iPhone and iPad apps or from the Chrome, Safari and Firefox extensions. Saved pages are parsed into a clean reading view and are available offline.
- Podcast and YouTube transcripts
- Saved YouTube videos and podcast episodes are transcribed into text that stays in sync with playback, so they can be read or listened to.
- Newsletters, writers and feeds
- Paid subscribers can pull newsletters in through Gmail or a personal Matter email address, follow individual writers and add RSS feeds.
- Text to speech
- Articles and newsletters can be played as audio, with highlighting while listening. HD text to speech for all articles is a paid feature.
- Highlights and exports
- Highlight by long-pressing and dragging, or with Apple Pencil on iPad, and sync highlights to Notion, Obsidian, Roam and Readwise.
- API and CLI
- A REST API and a terminal client give read and write access to the library, tags and annotations. Both require a Matter Pro subscription.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Gmail
- Kindle
- Notion
- Obsidian
- Roam Research
- Readwise
- X
Matter is made by Dig Wells, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
11/36
Other read-later and bookmark apps it is graded above
Matter's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 11 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 4.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 15 of 36) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $5 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $3 for the category: 17 of the 24 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.0 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 37 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Matter’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 36
- BFree plan and trialAbove 15 of 36
- BFeaturesAbove 10 of 36
- BEase of useAbove 15 of 36
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 10 of 36
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 33 read-later and bookmark apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Matter is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Matter you could make: read later, highlights and rSS reader. What surrounds it you could not. The 5 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 21 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps grade higher. It costs $59.99 a year.
What you could make
- Read later, highlights and rSS reader: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for iOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Gmail, Kindle and Notion among them, and has an API.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Hooks into the device itself: Apple Pencil.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Matter’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Readwise, Instapaper, GoodLinks, Raindrop.io and wallabag
The 5 tools Matter is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
Readwise
Free trial · from $5.59/mo
Highlight library with a daily review and a read-later app.
- Matter has a free plan. Readwise does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Readwise lists macOS, Windows and Android apps.
- 3.0GPA
Instapaper
Free plan · from $5.99/mo
Read-later app that strips articles down to clean text.
- Only Instapaper lists macOS and Android apps.
- Matter also covers rSS reader.
- 2.4GPA
GoodLinks
From $9.99 one-time
Read-later and link-saving app for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Matter has a free plan. GoodLinks does not.
- Only Matter lists a web app.
- Only GoodLinks lists a macOS app.
- 3.2GPA
Raindrop.io
Free plan · from $28/yr
Bookmark manager with collections, tags and highlights.
- Only Raindrop.io lists macOS, Windows and Android apps.
- Matter also covers rSS reader.
- Raindrop.io also covers bookmarks.
- 3.2GPA
wallabag
Free plan · from €11/yr
Open-source read-it-later app you can self-host or use hosted.
- Only wallabag lists an Android app.
- wallabag is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Matter also covers rSS reader.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
16
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Matter free?
Matter has a free plan. Uncapped read-later library, mobile and web extensions for saving, article parsing, unlimited tags, full-text search, and custom themes and fonts.
How much does Matter cost?
Matter lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Matter work on?
Matter is available on Web and iOS. It also has a browser extension.
How is Matter rated?
Matter's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1,239 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Matter have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Matter is listed for Web and iOS.
Does Matter have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Matter is listed for Web and iOS.
Is Matter open source?
Matter is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does Matter work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does Matter have an API?
Yes. Matter offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Matter integrate with?
Matter's listing names Gmail, Kindle, Notion, Obsidian, Roam Research, Readwise and X.
Does Matter have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial on the web sign-up paywall, after which a yearly subscription starts.
Who makes Matter?
Matter is made by Dig Wells, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Matter?
The closest alternatives to Matter in our directory are Readwise, Instapaper, GoodLinks, Raindrop.io and wallabag.
How does Matter compare with other read-later and bookmark apps?
Matter's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 11 of the 36 other read-later and bookmark apps we grade, and level with 4.
Is Matter good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Matter D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $5 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $3 for the category: 17 of the 24 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Matter?
The plain part of Matter you could make: read later, highlights and rSS reader.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Matter’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Matter's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-02-17.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Dig Wells, Inc. Prices change, so check getmatter.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Matter, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/matter
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Matter: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/matter
Know someone choosing between read-later and bookmark apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/matter/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded read-later and bookmark apps after Matter, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Read Later & Bookmarks Insider's GuideEvery one of the 37 read-later and bookmark apps we grade, compared
- FeedFlow Insider's GuideFree, open-source RSS reader for mobile and desktop3.2 GPA
- Flipboard Insider's GuideFree news aggregator built around topics and shared Magazines3.2 GPA
- Miniflux Insider's GuideMinimalist open-source feed reader, self-hosted or hosted3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Matter’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Matter is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Dig Wells, Inc. Prices and plans change: check getmatter.com before you buy.