Thoughts on Omnivore's Shutdown#
The open-source free read-later app I've been using, Omnivore, suddenly announced yesterday that it has been acquired by ElevenLabs and that the current free servers will be shut down. Users need to export their data, or it will be permanently deleted. To be honest, when I initially chose the software, I considered related issues. I thought open-source apps would be relatively reliable; at least if the developers really abandoned it, I could continue to deploy and use the open-source version myself. The developers initially seemed very motivated, giving a reliable impression, but in the end, I was mistaken. They chose to operate similarly to Typora, Notability, and Goodnotes, severely disappointing users, and even more so because this time it wasn't just a transition from free to paid but a complete shutdown. Moreover, the open-source version lacks many of the complete features available in the current server version.
Omnivore and the Shutdown Incident#
- Omnivore is an open-source free read-later app that allows users to save web articles, PDFs, etc., from browsers, phones, and tablets, and view them within the app. The app also provides very practical features like highlighting, note-taking, and exporting, receiving consistent praise.
- Omnivore initially stated that they had no profit model and might introduce some paid features later. They have been actively updating, and just recently launched YouTube clipping, Notion sync testing features, and UI updates, which did not seem like signs of an impending shutdown. To be honest, it was quite sudden.
- The reasons I chose Omnivore: good user reputation, support for open-source, free, and good integration with note-taking apps.
Issues with Open Source and Free Software#
- I have always been a fan of free apps, from previous pirated software to various free apps later on. Sometimes it's not that I can't afford to buy them, but using them for free is really enjoyable, and it allows me to try out more fun apps. After all, buying each one can be quite costly.
- I have indeed worried about developers abandoning their projects or suddenly raising subscription prices, so I initially thought that free and open-source was a good option. However, now I feel that free might actually be the most expensive option. If there are conditions or if the app can provide enough value, it's better to subscribe directly.
What Constitutes a Reliable Workflow#
- The best scenario is for developers to be able to persist, but this is very difficult in the current environment. Many apps start with passion, get some funding, and then ambitiously try to attract users. When the user base grows, they can't cover costs and ultimately have to abandon the project. To avoid such situations, either the developers need to have stable income to cover their costs; or free for individual users and charge for enterprise users; or they need backing from large companies, relying on ads or other services to make money.
- There has always been a saying that "free is the most expensive." If you heavily rely on free services and the app shuts down, the time and energy costs users invest may far exceed the fees charged by the app. This is why expensive software like Readwise is still highly praised among YouTubers. I see many users in Discord complaining about Omnivore's shutdown being unfair, but I think, if it weren't for the allure of free, does Omnivore really offer anything better than Readwise? Personally, I just feel that Omnivore's shutdown was a bit sudden; I do believe it would be difficult for them to continue being free.
- However, I still plan to continue using the free version of Obsidian because I believe its operating costs are low enough, and its sync and publishing services can help them break even. Additionally, the data is stored in Markdown locally, so if they do shut down in the future, I can continue using the current version and easily export to other apps. However, I am also pondering that more and more software is being developed claiming that Notion's cloud data is unsafe, while Notion's current operating model is stable. Is Notion's cloud service really less reliable than these new apps?
Data Migration and Similar Software#
- I currently plan to use the software Infoflow to import articles I hadn't had the chance to read on Omnivore.
- For a new read-later app, I might choose the app New Branch, which is currently in beta testing. All features are free during the beta period, and I hope they can offer affordable subscription services later. The current app's subscription newsletter also has some issues; the iPad app cannot be used in landscape mode, but it's still a good app overall. It can directly save articles from public accounts, which was a major pain point for Omnivore before.
- Readwise is great, but also very expensive. I like clipping apps, but I don't think it can provide me with over $100 worth of value each year.
Conclusion#
- It's important to view this shutdown incident rationally. I believe this won't be the last occurrence of such events. We can't expect developers to keep working out of passion; it's unrealistic. If an app can genuinely improve efficiency or generate income, then it's worth paying for a subscription. Developers need a stable profit model for users to use it confidently.
- If you really want to use free apps, you must be prepared for the possibility that it could shut down the next day without your workflow suffering a fatal blow. Either the current version is good enough, and the data is local, with features not relying on servers; or you fully understand its tech stack, and after the developers abandon it, you can continue to maintain it yourself. If you can't do that, I really don't recommend heavily relying on free apps, or even some paid apps.