Visual bookmarking is how most designers and creatives already think: you remember things by how they looked, not by their URL. A visual bookmarking app saves pages and images as pictures you can browse and recognise. The good ones also let you find them again by search. Here are the best options, and which kind of saver each one suits.
We build GetRef, so read our verdict on it with that in mind.
The apps
GetRef. Built for designers. Captures a screenshot of the page with its link in one click, reads the text in the image, tags it automatically and finds it later by description. Private by default, free for 50 references.
mymind. A private, minimal space for images, articles, notes and quotes. Automatic tagging and strong search, no folders by design, subscription only. See mymind alternatives.
Raindrop. A polished bookmark manager with visual previews, collections, tags and full-text search of saved pages. Best for links; the preview reflects the live page. See bookmarks are not a reference library.
Pinterest. The largest visual discovery engine. Easy saving, public boards by default, no search inside images. See Pinterest vs GetRef.
Are.na. Collect and connect blocks into channels, public by default, thoughtful and ad-free. See Are.na alternatives.
Cosmos. A calm, ad-free app for collecting images into clusters and browsing others' collections.
Savee. A visual bookmarking community popular with designers and art directors, focused on curated inspiration.
Eagle. A desktop library for large local collections of images and files, with folders, tags and colour filters. See Eagle alternatives.
How they compare
- Saves the image as you saw it: GetRef, mymind, Pinterest, Are.na, Cosmos, Savee, Eagle. Raindrop is preview-based.
- Keeps the source link: all of them, with Eagle for web captures.
- Searches text inside images: GetRef and mymind.
- Automatic tagging: GetRef and mymind.
- Private by default: GetRef, mymind, Raindrop, Eagle.
- Discovery and community: Pinterest, Cosmos, Savee, Are.na.
- Works offline with local files: Eagle.
Which one to choose
- Designers who save screenshots of sites and apps: GetRef.
- People who save articles, quotes and images together: mymind.
- Researchers who save links: Raindrop.
- Browsing for new inspiration: Pinterest, Cosmos or Savee.
- Thinking and collecting in public: Are.na.
- Large local file libraries: Eagle.
Find vs keep
Most designers end up with two kinds of tool. A discovery tool, such as Pinterest, Cosmos or Savee, for finding new work. And one private library for keeping what matters, with notes and search. The mistake is using three libraries, so nothing is where you look first. Pick one keeper.
For a deeper comparison of keepers, see the best design reference manager and the best reference saving tools.
Common questions
- What is visual bookmarking?
- Visual bookmarking means saving web pages, images and ideas as visual cards or screenshots rather than plain text links, so you can browse and recognise them by how they look.
- What is the best visual bookmarking app?
- For designers saving screenshots and web pages, GetRef, because it keeps the link and searches the text inside images. For a mix of articles and images, mymind. For links with previews, Raindrop. For discovery, Pinterest, Cosmos or Savee.
- Is there a free visual bookmarking app?
- Raindrop, Pinterest, Are.na, Cosmos and Savee have free plans, and GetRef is free for 50 references. mymind and Eagle are paid after a trial.
- What is the difference between visual bookmarking and a bookmark manager?
- A bookmark manager stores links, sometimes with a thumbnail preview of the live page. Visual bookmarking tools treat the image or screenshot as the main record, so what you saved stays the same even if the page changes.
