portaltext
grand strategy-style recursive tooltips for the web
Last verified:
What is portaltext?
Portaltext is a small, open-source browser extension that lets you hover any link, image, or PDF to get a context-aware summary before you click. It reads the page you are currently on and the page on the other side of the link you are about to click, then gives you a summary of the latter contextualized by the former. This ensures no information is invented or hallucinated, acting like a gel connecting the web together.
Key features include context-aware hover summaries for links, images, and PDFs, desktop-only operation, and complete privacy with no tracking, no hover history, and no ads. The extension only sends the URL and a small page excerpt. It works on all Chromium-based browsers including Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, and Opera, with Firefox support coming soon.
Portaltext is designed for anyone who wants to navigate the web more efficiently and avoid clicking into potentially irrelevant or misleading content. It is ideal for researchers, students, journalists, and general web users who want to understand what they are about to click before committing to it. The tool is made by solo developer Alaska Hoffman, a poet and artist.
The extension requires no account setup, no card registration, and no trial period. It is completely free to use with a daily limit to keep hosting costs down. Every feature is available within the daily limit, and Supporters who pay contribute to keeping the tool free for everyone while getting unlimited access with no daily limits.
portaltext pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Free for everyone with no account, no card, and no trial required. There is a daily limit to keep hosting costs down, but every feature is available within that limit. Supporters can pay what they want as a one-time payment for unlimited access to every feature with no daily limits. Support helps keep the tool free for everybody else. The unlimited Supporters plan includes pay what you want, one-time payment, and unlimited access forever.
portaltext pros
- Completely free with no account required
- No card or trial registration needed
- Open-source browser extension
- Context-aware summaries before clicking
- Works on links, images, and PDFs
- No tracking or hover history
- No ads whatsoever
- Only sends URL and small page excerpt
- No information hallucinated or invented
- Desktop-only for better performance
- Supports Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera
- Firefox support coming soon
- Made by independent solo developer
- Unlimited access for Supporters
- Simple setup - just install and use
- Daily limit keeps hosting costs manageable
- Every feature available within daily limit
portaltext cons
- Desktop-only, not available on mobile
- Daily usage limit for free users
- Only works on Chromium browsers currently
- Firefox support not yet available
- Made by one person solo developer
- Requires installing browser extension
- Limited to hover summaries only
- No account means no saved preferences
Frequently asked questions about portaltext
Is it really free?
Yes! No account, no card, no trial. There is a daily limit to keep hosting costs down, but every feature is available, and that limit goes away for Supporters.
Which browsers does it work on?
Anything Chromium-based: Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, and Opera. Firefox support is coming soon.
How does portaltext work?
Portaltext reads the page you are on and the page on the other side of the link you are about to click on. It gives you a summary of the latter, contextualized by the former, so no information is invented or hallucinated. Think of it like a gel connecting the web together.
Is my reading private?
Yes. We send only the URL and a small page excerpt. No tracking, no hover history, no ads.
Who made portaltext?
Portaltext is made by Alaska Hoffman, a poet, artist, and solo dev. She is always online @145k4 and pays out-of-pocket for all hosting and inference to keep everything free and open-source.
Do I need to create an account?
No account is needed. It is free for everyone with no account, no setup, and no trial. It just works after you install it.
What devices can I use portaltext on?
Portaltext is desktop-only. You need to open the page on desktop to add it to your browser. It is not available on mobile devices.
What happens if I become a Supporter?
Supporters get unlimited access to every feature with no daily limits. It is a thank-you for helping keep portaltext free for everybody else. You can pay what you want as a one-time payment with unlimited access forever.
Does portaltext work on images and PDFs?
Yes. You can hover any link, image, or PDF to get a context-aware summary. It works on all three types of content.
Why is there a daily limit?
The daily limit exists to keep hosting costs down. Portaltext is made by one person who pays out-of-pocket for all hosting and inference. The limit ensures the tool can remain free for everyone while managing costs.