Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Pinboard VS start.me

Compare Pinboard VS start.me and see what are their differences

Pinboard logo Pinboard

Pinboard is a personal archive for things you find online and don't want to forget.

start.me logo start.me

A Modern-day bookmark manager. A place for your favorites. A news feed (RSS) reader. A browser startpage. A portal for your team.
  • Pinboard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-16
  • start.me Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30

A Modern-day bookmark manager. A place for your favorites. A news feed (RSS) reader. A browser startpage. A portal for your team.

start.me

$ Details
freemium $20.0 / Annually
Platforms
Browser Windows iOS Android Web Mac OSX
Release Date
2014 January

Pinboard features and specs

  • Simplicity
    Pinboard offers a clean, minimalist interface, making it easy to use without unnecessary complexities or distractions.
  • Speed
    The service operates quickly, with fast loading times and efficient bookmarking processes.
  • Privacy
    Pinboard values user privacy and does not serve ads. They also avoid tracking user activity across the web.
  • Data Portability
    Pinboard allows easy export of your bookmarks, enabling you to retain control of your data and migrate it to other platforms if needed.
  • API Availability
    Pinboard provides a robust API, enabling users to integrate their bookmarking activities with other applications and services.
  • Archiving Feature
    For a fee, Pinboard offers an archiving feature that saves a copy of the bookmarked page, ensuring you can access the content even if it gets taken down.
  • No Algorithmic Feeds
    Pinboard does not use algorithmic feeds, so users see an unfiltered, chronological list of their bookmarks.

Possible disadvantages of Pinboard

  • Cost
    Pinboard is not free; it requires a one-time fee for new users, which might deter those looking for completely free solutions.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface, while simple, can appear outdated compared to modern web applications, possibly affecting user experience.
  • Limited Social Features
    Pinboard has limited social features and community engagement options, which may not appeal to users seeking more community involvement and sharing capabilities.
  • Learning Curve for API
    While the availability of an API is a pro, it may present a learning curve for users not familiar with APIs, reducing its accessibility to non-developers.
  • Basic Search Functionality
    The search functionality is relatively basic compared to other bookmarking services that offer more advanced search and filter options.
  • No Mobile Apps
    Pinboard does not have official mobile apps, which could be less convenient for users who prefer native mobile applications for bookmarking.

start.me features and specs

  • Customization
    start.me offers extensive customization options, allowing users to create a personalized dashboard with widgets, RSS feeds, bookmarks, and more.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for users to set up and navigate their dashboards.
  • Integrations
    start.me integrates with a variety of third-party applications and services, enhancing its functionality and making it a versatile tool.
  • Collaboration
    Users can share their dashboards with others, making it a great tool for team collaboration and information sharing.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Being web-based, start.me works across different devices and operating systems, allowing for consistent access.

Possible disadvantages of start.me

  • Subscription Cost
    The premium features of start.me require a subscription, which could be a drawback for budget-conscious users.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Since it is a web-based tool, start.me provides limited functionality when offline.
  • Learning Curve
    While it is generally user-friendly, the vast array of customization options can be overwhelming for new users.
  • Performance Issues
    Depending on the number of widgets and feeds added, the dashboard can sometimes experience slow load times.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there can be privacy concerns regarding how user data is handled and stored.

Analysis of Pinboard

Overall verdict

  • Pinboard is a highly regarded bookmarking service, especially for those who appreciate simplicity and privacy. However, it may not be suitable for users seeking more interactive or collaborative features found in social bookmarking platforms.

Why this product is good

  • Pinboard is a minimalist bookmarking service valued for its simplicity, speed, and ad-free experience. It offers features like saving bookmarks with tags, full-text search, easy import/export of links, and archival of saved pages. The platform is favored by users who prefer a straightforward, reliable tool for managing their online bookmarks without the distraction of social networking features.

Recommended for

  • Users who prefer a minimalist design and fast performance.
  • Individuals looking for a bookmarking tool with strong privacy features.
  • Researchers and digital scholars who need archival capabilities.
  • People who want an ad-free and straightforward bookmarking experience.

Analysis of start.me

Overall verdict

  • Overall, start.me is considered a good tool for users who prefer a personalized, organized start page experience. It provides many features to streamline online navigation and consolidate various web resources into one convenient location.

Why this product is good

  • Start.me is a customizable personal start page that enables users to manage their online bookmarks, news feeds, and personal widgets in a consolidated dashboard. It offers a visually appealing and efficient way to organize multiple web resources, making it easier to access and manage daily digital tools and information.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who want to simplify their online browsing experience
  • Users who need an organized platform to manage bookmarks and RSS feeds
  • Professionals who aim to boost productivity through a centralized digital workspace
  • People who appreciate a visually customizable dashboard for their daily online activities

Pinboard videos

Pinboard Bookmarking Review - Part 1

More videos:

  • Review - Using Pinboard to save your digital breadcrumbs as you read online
  • Review - Pinboard Bookmarking Review - Part 2

start.me videos

Introduction to start.me

More videos:

  • Tutorial - start.me Tutorial video - March 2017
  • Review - Tour of start.me

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Pinboard and start.me)
Bookmarks
56 56%
44% 44
Bookmark Manager
55 55%
45% 45
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Favorites
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Pinboard and start.me. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Pinboard and start.me

Pinboard Reviews

  1. Simple but effective

    While all the other bookmarking sites have died, pinboard.in remains and is a reliable and handy place to save all those links you love but are sure to otherwise forget.


Pinboard vs. Raindrop: Two bookmark apps enter…
I don’t think Pinboard’s added a feature in ten years. It certainly hasn’t added a feature useful to me in that space of time. A year or so ago I got some Twitter DMs from someone (not Cegłowski) indicating that a refactoring and new features were on the way, but I have heard nothing since and don’t particularly expect to. Its documentation is similarly stale, and so are its...
Source: dsalo.info
11 Pocket Alternatives You Must Try Out!
With this tool, you can organize your pile of links into a clean space. With an easy tag option, finding your bookmarks becomes easier with Pinboard.
Source: blog.elink.io
XMarks is Dead on May 1st, 2018 : firefox
pinboard, $11/yr. It says it's a social bookmarking service but everything is private unless you make it public. I don't think bookmarking pages is done through the browser, though, but you can import your bookmarks and just use pinboard instead.
Source: www.reddit.com
Del.icio.us is closing down. Time for a roundup of alternative bookmark managers.
And as of recent events it was sold again to competing service Pinboard which plans - as I've foreseen this - to shut it down almost completely. Today (June 15, 2017) it will be set to read-only mode without ability to save new bookmarks as to preserve the "fascinating piece of web history" that contains around 1 billion of bookmarks.
Source: serafin.io

start.me Reviews

Top 10 browser-independent bookmark managers for efficient web surfing
All BlogsPublished in Top 10 browser-independent bookmark managers for efficient web surfingShare this postLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter iconThe only bookmarking tool you'll ever needTry for freeTable of contents1. Can bookmarks be shared between different browsers?2. What does the browser-independent bookmark manager do?3. Is it safe to use a bookmarks manager?4. What...
Source: www.save.day
Top 10 Bookmark Managers for Chrome 2024
Start.me is a bookmarking and also a start page platform to enhance your web browsing. You can literally keep start.me as your default home page if you like being organized. It takes all your online data and puts it into one handy dashboard.
15 Best Xmarks Alternatives For Bookmarks Synchronization
Start.me is an all-in-one service application. It provides users with a widget start page where they can configure various widgets of news, notes, RSS feeds, links, and many more, including email, calendar, weather, to-do list, etc.
Source: techreen.com
3+ Best XMarks Alternatives For Bookmarks Synchronization Across Multiple Browsers
The drawback of Start.me is that it does not synchronize the browser bookmarks. You will need to add bookmarks inside the Start.me extension to synchronize with the Start.me account.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pinboard should be more popular than start.me. It has been mentiond 72 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Pinboard mentions (72)

  • Mozilla shutdown Pocket on July 8, 2025
    The classic https://pinboard.in/, maybe? I haven't used it, but it tempts me a few times per decade. - Source: Hacker News / 12 days ago
  • Show HN: I made a tool for curating and sharing links as lists
    I think https://pinboard.in/ is the closest living replacement. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Octothorpes: Hashtags for the Open Internet
    Loved del.ico.us, thanks! I'm using https://pinboard.in/ now for bookmarking and it's an amazing piece of small web software. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: How do you all manage your bookmarks?
    I use Pinboard for managing bookmarks. The tag system is very nice! Raindrop is another tool in that space, but I haven’t tried it. https://pinboard.in/ https://raindrop.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: How do you build a landing page?
    A lot of it is just practice, but the most common tools I see used are Tailwind, React, Framer Motion, and Figma. This is a pretty diverse portfolio. Tailwind especially somehow produces a very distinct type of design imo. I'm not sure all this design is good. Homogeneity is boring, and I think the shock value of something like https://pinboard.in can be just as, if not more valuable than all these fancy... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

start.me mentions (14)

View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Pinboard and start.me, you can also consider the following products

Raindrop.io - All your articles, photos, video & content from web & apps in one place.

Pocket - When you find something you want to view later, put it in Pocket.

Diigo - Diigo is a powerful research tool and a knowledge-sharing community

Protopage - The best iGoogle alternative. Chris Pirillo calls Protopage "The best designed".

Tagpacker - A free tool to quickly collect, organize, and share your favorite links.

Instapaper - Instapaper is a simple tool to save web pages for reading later.