Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Raindrop.io VS Pinboard

Compare Raindrop.io VS Pinboard and see what are their differences

Raindrop.io logo Raindrop.io

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

Pinboard logo Pinboard

Pinboard is a personal archive for things you find online and don't want to forget.
  • Raindrop.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-30
  • Pinboard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-16

Raindrop.io

$ Details
freemium
Platforms
Browser Web Windows Android iOS Google Chrome Mac OSX Linux Firefox Safari REST API Cross Platform JavaScript iPhone Chrome OS Edge
Release Date
2013 October

Raindrop.io features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Raindrop.io features an intuitive and visually appealing user interface that makes it easy for users to organize and manage their bookmarks.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    The service is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web browsers, allowing users to access their bookmarks from any device.
  • Rich Bookmark Management
    Raindrop.io supports organizing bookmarks into collections and tags, adding descriptions, and even saving partial pages or screenshots for better context.
  • Collaborative Features
    The platform allows for collaborative collections, enabling users to share and work on bookmarks together, which is useful for team projects.
  • Integration with Other Services
    Raindrop.io integrates with various other services and apps like Zapier, IFTTT, and Google Drive, enhancing its functionality and connectivity.
  • Cloud Syncing
    All bookmarks are synced across devices in real-time, ensuring that users have access to their updated bookmark library anytime, anywhere.

Possible disadvantages of Raindrop.io

  • Subscription Cost
    Advanced features are only available in the Pro version, which requires a subscription fee, potentially making it less attractive to budget-conscious users.
  • Occasional Sync Issues
    Some users have reported occasional problems with syncing bookmarks across different devices, which can create inconsistencies in the bookmark library.
  • Performance Lag
    There can sometimes be performance lag, especially when handling a large number of bookmarks or during peak usage times.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is generally user-friendly, new users may experience a slight learning curve in understanding how to effectively use all the features.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there are potential privacy concerns related to data storage and handling by the service provider.

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.

Analysis of Raindrop.io

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Raindrop.io is generally considered good.

Why this product is good

  • Raindrop.io is praised for its user-friendly interface, robust organizational features, and cross-platform compatibility. It allows users to save, organize, and search bookmarks efficiently. The tool supports a variety of bookmark formats, including articles, photos, videos, and webpages. Users appreciate its clean design and integration capabilities with other apps and services. Additionally, Raindrop.io offers syncing across devices, ensuring accessibility and convenience.

Recommended for

  • Individuals who want to organize and manage a large number of bookmarks effectively.
  • People looking for a visually appealing and intuitive bookmarking tool.
  • Users who need cross-device synchronization for their stored data.
  • Professionals who want to integrate a bookmarking service with productivity apps and workflows.

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.

Raindrop.io videos

Overview of Raindrop.io Bookmarking App

More videos:

  • Review - Raindrop.io Bookmark App Review
  • Review - Raindrop.io - A Bookmark Manager

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Raindrop.io and Pinboard)
Bookmark Manager
72 72%
28% 28
Bookmarks
70 70%
30% 30
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

Raindrop.io Reviews

Best Bookmark Managers for Teams, Designers & Power Users
Raindrop.io combines utility with aesthetics by letting users save bookmarks in a visually rich interface. It supports categories, tags, and smart search, all wrapped in a user-friendly design. Whether youโ€™re saving research links or inspiration boards, Raindrop.io makes it easy to find and revisit your saved content. Itโ€™s a favorite among designers and digital collectors...
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
Best Read-It-Later Apps in 2024: Top Ways to Save Web Pages & Content
Raindrop is a bookmarking app with an extensive free plan. Itรขย€ย™s available on mobile, but its modern, user-friendly interface is best experienced on desktop. With Raindrop, you get unlimited article bookmarks and devices without paying.
Top 10 Bookmark Managers for Chrome 2024
Raindrop.io is touted as the best bookmark manager in the market. The tool is pretty much your one-stop shop for keeping all your saved links in one place, and it's free! You can save and manage all your beloved books, songs, websites, web content, articles, and so on, all from one place. Raindrop.io is super easy to use.
Pinboard vs. Raindrop: Two bookmark apps enterโ€ฆ
Raindropโ€™s URLs, by contrast, are an absolute dumpster fire. Collections (which are the only โ€œshareableโ€ aggregation in Raindrop) are identified by a lengthy meaningless number-string, not collection name; I havenโ€™t memorized my collectionsโ€™ numbers and likely wonโ€™t. Worse, I canโ€™t copy-and-paste URLs from the address bar because theyโ€™re different for the logged-in account...
Source: dsalo.info

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 enterโ€ฆ
I donโ€™t think Pinboardโ€™s added a feature in ten years. It certainly hasnโ€™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 Cegล‚owski) indicating that a refactoring and new features were on the way, but I have heard nothing since and donโ€™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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Raindrop.io should be more popular than Pinboard. It has been mentiond 190 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.

Raindrop.io mentions (190)

  • Ask HN: Does an RSS-based Read-It-Later service exist?
    I use Raindrop for this purpose: https://raindrop.io/ It doesn't scrape the article like Instapaper or Pocket, which I actually prefer since it keeps things simple and I can choose how I want to view the article. The only downside I've found so far is that URLs must be unique to each feed, so you can have multiple feeds but you can't put the same URL into multiple feeds. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Ask HN: What Pocket alternatives did you move in to?
    I moved to https://raindrop.io/. Imported all the Pocket stuff with no issues, free plan is enough for me. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Linkwarden: FOSS self-hostable bookmarking with AI-tagging and page archival
    I personally use Raindrop.io [0]. I have used it for more than 3 years and it does it's job very well. [0] http://raindrop.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Ask HN: How Do You Bookmark?
    I have been using https://raindrop.io/ for this and find it quite useful. Never end up reading everything I save but it keeps my browser less chaotic and adding bookmarks from the browser extension and on iOS is quite seemless. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Hoarder: Self-hostable bookmark-everything app
    You might be thinking of https://raindrop.io which is developed by a Kazakh developer? - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
View more

Pinboard mentions (73)

  • Google Shifts Goo.gl Policy: Inactive Links Deactivated, Active Links Preserved
    Pinboard.in. Also pay the $20/yr for archiving if the links rot https://pinboard.in/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • 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 / 4 months 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 / 12 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 / 12 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 havenโ€™t tried it. https://pinboard.in/ https://raindrop.io/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Raindrop.io and Pinboard, you can also consider the following products

Bookmark OS - Bookmark OS is like Mac or Windows optimized for bookmarks.

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

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

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.

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

wallabag - Save the web, freely.