# Burn451: Read Later & Save — Read later. Or let it burn.

> Read later app that deletes unread content after a deadline. (iPhone/iPad app by 国庆 沈.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/burn451-read-later-and-save/id6759418544 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [国庆 沈](https://appshunter.io/developer/1878093288)
- Category: Productivity, Utilities
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 8 MB
- Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish, Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan)
- Released: 2026-03-05
- Data updated: 2026-08-18
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/burn451-read-later-and-save/id6759418544/reviews.md

## What is Burn451?

The Pocket alternative that deletes what you never read. Save once, get 24 hours -- read it or let it burn. AI-summarized vault for what survives.

If your Pocket backlog became a graveyard after Pocket shut down in July 2025, Burn451 answers the opposite question. Not "how do I save more," but "how do I keep only what's worth keeping." Built for the Instapaper and Readwise crowd who outgrew them, and the bookmark people who never read what they save.

The average person saves hundreds of bookmarks and reads almost none. Every "Save for Later" is a tiny lie. Burn makes you honest.

How it works:

FLAME -- Every save gets 24 hours. Save a URL, and the clock starts. Read it or watch it burn. No guilt -- the decision is made for you.

SPARK -- Read something worth keeping? It becomes a Spark. You get 30 more days to revisit, reflect, or let go. Still a deadline -- because deadlines work.

VAULT -- Only the best earns a permanent spot. Your Vault is your curated knowledge base -- tagged, searchable, exportable. Not a graveyard. A library you actually use.

For AI power users:

Burn exposes your Vault via Model Context Protocol (MCP). Connect the companion MCP server to compatible desktop AI tools. Your AI does the thinking; Burn provides the saved context:
- "Summarize what I read this week"
- "What themes keep showing up in my saves?"
- "Find something I saved about [topic]"

Why Burn is different:

Other read-later apps help you save more. Burn helps you save less.
Other apps become digital attics. Burn is a furnace -- what survives the fire is gold.

Features:
- 24-hour countdown timer for every save
- Automatic content extraction and reading time estimate
- Clean reader mode -- no ads, no clutter
- Collections for topic grouping
- Voice notes with speech-to-text
- AI Read decision cards
- Long-video transcript support
- Share Extension -- save from any app
- Markdown export from Vault
- MCP-ready Vault access through the companion server
- Cloud sync across devices
- Dark mode + English/Chinese

Free to use. Burn Pro unlocks more for power users:
- 30 Spark slots (free keeps 5)
- Unlimited Vault saves (free includes 5 per month)
- Unlimited collections and collection AI (free includes 3 collections and first-time collection AI)
- 10 Ash rescues per month
- MCP access
- Markdown export

Works with:
X, YouTube, Reddit, Spotify, Hacker News, Medium, GitHub, WeChat, Bilibili, Xiaohongshu, and any web page.

Privacy first. Your reading stays yours. No ads, no data selling. Analytics are used only to improve the app experience.

Burn Pro is an auto-renewable subscription: $4.99/month with a 7-day free trial. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase confirmation. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in App Store account settings.

Terms of Use: https://burn451.cloud/terms.html
Privacy Policy: https://burn451.cloud/privacy.html

## Key features

- 24-hour countdown timer for saves
- AI-summarized vault
- Automatic content extraction
- Clean reader mode
- Markdown export
- Cloud sync
- MCP-ready Vault access

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Burn Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |


## Recent user reviews (9 of 9)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/burn451-read-later-and-save/id6759418544/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Dead simple to save from anywhere

*2026-08-01, version 3.1.1*

Essential for video editors collecting scripts, enabling complete transcription of long videos. A time-limited mechanism prevents material accumulation, categorizes and groups by project, and Vault document export adapts to edited scripts.

### 4/5 — MCP server is the secret weapon — Vault search in-app needs work

*2026-08-01, version 3.1.1*

I highly appreciate its melting pot-style information filtering logic, which retains only truly useful knowledge. The reading mode is highly immersive, ad-free, and easy to use. Voice notes are convenient, and file export is flexible and easy.

### 4/5 — Great daily driver — Vault organization needs work

*2026-08-01, version 3.1.1*

Freelancers rely on vast amounts of information for inspiration; Burn caters to all needs. Voice-to-text frees your hands, AI cards quickly assess content value, and Vault export adapts to knowledge base building.

### 4/5 — The Flame → Sparks → Vault flow is perfectly designed

*2026-07-31, version 3.1.1*

Years of online information overload? This app helps me simplify. Enjoy ad-free reading, one-click saving of content from across the web, and a time-limited reading mechanism to encourage consistent reading and gradual accumulation of knowledge.

### 4/5 — 5 minutes of triage every morning saves me hours

*2026-07-31, version 3.1.1*

The Burner design philosophy is incredibly sophisticated, retaining only high-quality content. It can estimate reading time, transcribe videos, and allow one-click saving to any app. Exporting Markdown from Vault is incredibly convenient for note-taking.

### 5/5 — From bookmark graveyard to searchable knowledge base

*2026-07-30, version 3.1.1*

What sold me on Pro wasn't the extra Spark slots ��� it was the MCP server. I can now query every article I've ever saved directly from Claude while writing or researching. It turns Burn from a read-later app into a proper knowledge layer that sits between me and my AI tools. The 24-hour burn mechanic keeps inflow manageable, and the Vault is becoming my curated, high-signal library of things I've actually processed. If I'm being picky: Vault search in-app could be more powerful, and I'd love custom tags. But the MCP integration more than compensates.

### 5/5 — The MCP server turned Burn into my second brain

*2026-07-29, version 3.1.1*

I subscribed to Pro for the extra Spark slots, but the killer feature I didn't expect is the MCP server integration. Being able to query my entire Vault directly from Claude while doing research is incredibly powerful. I'll be writing a report and Claude will surface articles I saved weeks ago that are perfectly relevant — stuff I would have forgotten about entirely. The 24h burn mechanic keeps my Flame zone from becoming a graveyard, and the AI summaries make triage fast. Wish there were more font options, but the MCP integration alone is worth Pro.

### 5/5 — Clever approach but not for weekend readers like me

*2026-07-29, version 3.1.1*

Burn is genuinely innovative and the team clearly has a strong vision. The design is beautiful, the MCP server idea is forward-thinking. But after three weeks, I've realized this doesn't fit my life. I save articles throughout the work week and do my reading on weekends. Losing content because I couldn't get to it within 24 hours feels more stressful than having a backlog. Three stars because I respect what they're building �� it just assumes daily engagement that not everyone has.

### 5/5 — Great product — needs much better onboarding

*2026-07-29, version 3.1.1*

Burn has a genuinely impressive concept and beautiful design. But my first experience was confusing: opened the app, saw Flame / Sparks / Vault / Ash, and had no idea what any of it meant. No tutorial, no guided first save. I almost deleted it. Once I understood the workflow, I started enjoying it. But first impressions matter, especially for such an unusual concept. The free tier is also very limited — you hit the paywall almost immediately. Three stars: great vision, needs to help new users understand it.

## Frequently asked questions about Burn451

### Does Burn451 have ads?

No, Burn451 is ad-free. The app emphasizes a clean reader mode with no advertisements to enhance the user experience.

### How does the 24-hour timer in Burn451 work?

Every URL saved in Burn451 starts a 24-hour countdown. If you do not read the article within this period, it is automatically deleted, encouraging you to engage with content promptly.

### What is the difference between Spark and Vault in Burn451?

A Spark is content you've decided to keep for an additional 30 days after the initial 24 hours. The Vault is for content that earns a permanent spot, becoming a curated, searchable knowledge base.

### Can I export my saved content from Burn451?

Yes, Burn451 offers Markdown export from your Vault. This feature is available to all users, with Burn Pro unlocking unlimited export capabilities.

### What are the limitations of the free version of Burn451?

The free version includes 5 Spark slots, 5 Vault saves per month, and 3 collections with initial AI features. Burn Pro offers unlimited slots, saves, collections, and advanced AI features.

### How much does Burn Pro cost and is there a trial?

Burn Pro is a subscription service priced at $4.99 per month and includes a 7-day free trial. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time through your App Store account settings.

### What devices does Burn451 support?

Burn451 is available on Mac and iPhone. Cloud sync ensures your saved content is accessible across all supported devices.

### How often is Burn451 updated?

The app was last updated on July 27, 2026, with version 3.1.1. This indicates a relatively active development cycle for the application.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.1.1 — 2026-07-27

• Start saving right away — new users no longer need to sign in before their first save
• The rating prompt now appears at a better moment
• Measurement and stability fixes

### 3.1.0 — 2026-07-11

• No account needed — start saving the moment you open Burn.
• YouTube links now save with the correct title, author, and thumbnail.
• Import from Pocket, Instapaper, and Raindrop; export your Vault to Markdown for Obsidian.
• Burn reminders nudge you before a saved link expires.
Plus polish and stability fixes throughout.

### 3.0.2 — 2026-06-03

Burn451 now supports 10 languages across the app and App Store listing. This update keeps the Flame, Spark, and Vault flow clearer for the 3.0.2 release.

### 3.0.1 — 2026-05-30

New in 3.0.1:
- AI Read cards summarize what a link is about before you open it
- Voice notes with on-device speech-to-text
- Long videos become full text transcripts in seconds
- Introduced Burn Pro for power users who want more room

Plus reliability fixes and refreshed App Store screenshots.

### 3.0 — 2026-04-08

v3.0 — Completely Free
• All features free, no subscription, no ads
• 30 Spark slots, unlimited Vault
• MCP Server for AI agent integration
• Performance improvements and bug fixes

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-18.*