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Alternatives to Pinterest and Google Keep
Collect, sketch and cite without feeding an engagement machine.
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.
The tools
Zotero
Collects, cites and organises your research sources, and keeps them yours.
Excalidraw
A browser whiteboard for sketching diagrams that look hand-drawn.
Are.na
A quiet place to collect things and connect ideas over time.
A benchmark review of the biggest tool in this category is on its way, so you can see what these are measured against.
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.
Questions people ask
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.