Home / Directory / Collecting & research
Alternatives to Pinterest and Google Keep
Collect, sketch and cite without feeding an engagement machine.
Ranked by score out of 30, most convivial first.
Zotero
Collects, cites and organises your research sources, and keeps them yours.
Excalidraw
A browser whiteboard for sketching diagrams that look hand-drawn.
Anki
Flashcards that use spaced repetition to help you remember.
Datasette
Turns a database file into a browsable, shareable website.
Are.na
A quiet place to collect things and connect ideas over time.
wallabag
Save articles to read later, without the tracking.
Linkwarden
Save links and keep a copy of each page, in collections you control.
For comparison
The big names these tools are measured against. We review them as benchmarks, so they sit outside the directory.
About these tools
Collecting things is a quiet, useful habit that most big platforms have turned into a feed. Are.na is a calm place to gather images, links and ideas over time. Zotero collects and cites research sources and keeps them yours, and Excalidraw is a browser whiteboard for quick diagrams with a hand-drawn look.
All three have a simple job and stay out of your way while you do it. Linkwarden keeps a copy of every page you save and wallabag saves articles to read later. Anki helps you remember what you collect, and Datasette turns a data file into a site.
How to choose
Ask how easily you can take your collection with you. Zotero exports to standard formats and Excalidraw saves open files. If you are building a body of work over years, pick the tool whose export you would trust on the day you leave it.
Frequently asked questions
What is an alternative to Pinterest?
Are.na is a place to collect images, links and ideas with no algorithmic feed and no ads.
What is an open-source alternative to EndNote or Mendeley?
Zotero is open source, built by a non-profit, and exports your library to standard formats.
Is there a free alternative to Miro for quick diagrams?
Excalidraw is a free browser whiteboard that needs no account for basic use.