Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Shaarli VS Pinboard

Compare Shaarli VS Pinboard and see what are their differences

Shaarli logo Shaarli

Shaarli is a minimalist link sharing software you can install on your own website

Pinboard logo Pinboard

Pinboard is a personal archive for things you find online and don't want to forget.
  • Shaarli Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-30
  • Pinboard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-16

Shaarli features and specs

  • Open Source
    Shaarli is an open-source project, meaning its source code is publicly available. This allows users to audit, modify, and contribute to the development of the software, making it highly customizable and transparent.
  • Self-Hosted
    Being self-hosted means users have full control over their data and privacy. There's no reliance on third-party servers, which enhances security and data ownership.
  • Lightweight
    Shaarli is designed to be lightweight, enabling it to run on minimal server resources. This makes it accessible for users with limited hosting capabilities.
  • Easy to Install
    The software is simple to install, often requiring just a basic web server and PHP support. Its straightforward setup process is user-friendly even for those with limited technical expertise.
  • Bookmarking and Tagging
    Shaarli provides efficient bookmarking and tagging features, allowing users to organize, categorize, and retrieve their links easily.

Possible disadvantages of Shaarli

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While Shaarli is excellent for basic bookmarking, it lacks some advanced features found in more comprehensive solutions, like full-text search and advanced analytics.
  • Technical Knowledge Required
    Self-hosting Shaarli requires some technical knowledge about web hosting, server management, and basic programming, which might be a barrier for non-technical users.
  • No Native Mobile App
    Shaarli does not have a native mobile application, which might limit accessibility and usability for users who require mobile access to their bookmarks.
  • Manual Updates
    Users are responsible for manually updating the software, which may be challenging for those unfamiliar with software maintenance tasks.
  • Limited Support
    As a community-driven project, Shaarli relies on community support, which might not be as comprehensive or fast as commercial solutions with dedicated support teams.

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 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.

Shaarli videos

Deux outils de veille libres et modulables: KrISS l'agrégateur et Shaarli le social-bookmarking

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 Shaarli and Pinboard)
Bookmark Manager
7 7%
93% 93
Bookmarks
7 7%
93% 93
Note Taking
12 12%
88% 88
Web Clipping And Bookmarking

User comments

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Reviews

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

Shaarli Reviews

We have no reviews of Shaarli yet.
Be the first one to post

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Pinboard seems to be more popular. 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.

Shaarli mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Shaarli yet. Tracking of Shaarli recommendations started around Mar 2021.

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 / 14 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 / 8 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
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Shaarli and Pinboard, you can also consider the following products

wallabag - Save the web, freely.

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

Archive-It - Archive-It is a free to use web archiving service designed for the libraries and archives.

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