# Are.na

> Ad-free platform for saving, organizing, and connecting ideas into channels

Are.na is a visual research and knowledge-building platform designed without ads or algorithmic feeds. Users collect images, links, notes, and PDFs into flexible, collaborative channels called 'blocks'. It offers a quiet, community-driven alternative to algorithmic moodboard and bookmarking platforms.

Website: https://are.na/

## What it is for

- Collect visual research and references for design projects without algorithm distractions
- Organize articles, PDFs, and notes into topic-based channels
- Collaborate with peers on curated collections and shared research repositories
- Build custom integrations and tools using the open public API

## Features

- Content blocks supporting photos, text notes, PDFs, code, and web links
- Collaborative channels with custom privacy and arrangement controls
- No algorithmic feeds, tracking, or platform ads
- Global search across personal channels, networks, and the wider Are.na archive
- Open API, SDKs, and developer resources
- Browser extensions for quick web clipping

## Pricing

Freemium. Free plan available; paid Premium membership for unlimited storage and features

## Details

- Type: Web app
- Category: [Productivity](https://xiry.app/topics/productivity.md)
- Topic: [Knowledge Management](https://xiry.app/topics/productivity/knowledge-management.md)
- Open source: no
- Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension, API
- For: Designers, researchers, artists, students, and writers
- Alternative to: Pinterest, Raindrop.io, Cosmos
- Tags: moodboard, bookmarks, research, curation, minimalist, visual research

## Why it was saved

- [@jason_swet, 19 August 2024](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-2jQjuxvaV/): Serves as an ad-free, distraction-free repository for visual research and open-ended idea gathering.

## Compare

- [Alternatives to Pinterest](https://xiry.app/alternatives/pinterest.md)
- [Alternatives to Cosmos](https://xiry.app/alternatives/cosmos.md)

## Related

- [Notion](https://xiry.app/resources/notion): Connected workspace for notes, docs, databases, and AI automation. (Web app, Freemium)
- [Andrej Karpathy's LLM Knowledge Base Workflow](https://xiry.app/resources/andrej-karpathy-s-llm-knowledge-base-workflow): A workflow for using LLMs to compile and maintain personal wikis (Framework, Free)
- [Ars Umbris](https://xiry.app/resources/ars-umbris): Local-first IDE and framework for building typed, agentic knowledge graphs (Web app, Open source)
- [LLM Living Knowledge Base Pipeline](https://xiry.app/resources/llm-living-knowledge-base-pipeline): Architecture framework for building an LLM-maintained markdown wiki that compounds knowledge (Framework, Free)
- [llm-wiki](https://xiry.app/resources/llm-wiki): A design pattern for building LLM-maintained personal knowledge bases in markdown (GitHub repo, Free)
- [YapThread](https://xiry.app/resources/yapthread): Turn Twitter bookmarks into a searchable AI knowledge base with citations (Web app)

Updated 3 October 2026. Page: https://xiry.app/resources/are-na

Make your own library: Xiry takes your saved reels, tweets, Reddit bookmarks and Watch Later videos, makes them searchable and pulls the useful stuff out, like this library. It's invite-only for now; join the waitlist at https://xiry.app/#waitlist.