# What Is Linkwarden? Features, Use Cases and How to Host It (2026) > What is Linkwarden? A plain guide to the open-source bookmark manager that saves page copies: features, use cases, alternatives and how to host it. **What is Linkwarden?** Linkwarden is a free, open-source bookmark manager you host yourself that saves a copy of every page you bookmark, so the content stays readable after the original disappears. You saved a great article two years ago. Today the bookmark opens a 404, a parked domain or a paywall. The link survived; the page did not. That problem has a name: **link rot**. It hits researchers, writers, students and any team that shares links in chat and loses them a week later. If you are weighing whether to run apps like this yourself, our guide to [**self-managed vs managed hosting**](/self-managed-vs-managed-hosting/) covers that decision first. This guide covers how Linkwarden works, its key features and who it suits. It also compares Linkwarden with Linkding, Shiori, Raindrop.io and Pocket, then shows how to host it. ## TL;DR: What Is Linkwarden in Six Lines Short on time? Here is the whole guide in a few lines: - **Linkwarden** is a self-hosted, open-source **collaborative bookmark manager** under the AGPL-3.0 license. - It saves a **screenshot, a PDF and a single HTML file** of each page, plus a **reader view** with highlights and notes. - You organize links with **collections, sub-collections and tags**, then find them again with **full-text search**. - Teams can **share collections** and set each member's permissions. - It has a **browser extension**, native **iOS and Android apps** and optional **AI tagging**. - It is heavier than Linkding or Shiori, so pick it when **keeping the page** matters, not only the link. ## What Is Linkwarden? **Linkwarden is an open-source web app for collecting, organizing and preserving links, built so several people can work on the same collections.** Its README describes it as blending "the simplicity of a read-it-later tool with the reliability of a web archive." Think of a regular bookmark as a library card that tells you which shelf a book was on. Linkwarden is closer to photocopying the pages and filing them in a labeled folder. If the library closes, you still have the copy. A few things worth knowing: - Linkwarden is **free to self-host**. The team also sells a hosted **Linkwarden Cloud** plan, billed per user. - The project is active. The GitHub repository had about **20,300 stars**, and the newest release was in the **2.16 series** when we checked on November 1, 2026. - Each saved page is stored **on your server**, not on someone else's, so the archive is yours. - Some features are **optional** and off until you set them up, such as AI tagging and sending pages to the Wayback Machine. | Detail | Linkwarden | | --- | --- | | **Type** | Self-hosted collaborative bookmark manager and page archive | | **License** | AGPL-3.0 (open source) | | **Built with** | TypeScript, Next.js web app, React Native mobile apps | | **Database** | PostgreSQL | | **Search** | Full-text search (Meilisearch in the xCloud template) | | **Clients** | Web app, browser extension, iOS and Android apps | | **Hosted option** | Linkwarden Cloud (paid, per user) | | **Minimum resources (xCloud template)** | 2048 MB RAM, 1 CPU core, 10 GB disk | ## How Linkwarden Works Linkwarden is not a single program. A typical install runs **three parts** that talk to each other on a private network: 1. **The Linkwarden app.** The web interface you use, plus a background worker that visits each saved page and captures the copies. 2. **PostgreSQL.** The database that stores accounts, collections, links, tags and settings. 3. **A search service.** It indexes your saved content so full-text search returns results fast. The xCloud template runs Meilisearch for this. When you save a link, the app records it and the worker opens the page in the background. It saves the screenshot, PDF and HTML file to disk. Then the search service indexes the text. This design explains the trade-off. **Page preservation needs a real browser engine running on your server**, which uses more memory than storing a URL. Most self-hosters run all three parts with Docker; our guide on [**what Docker Compose is**](/what-is-docker-compose/) explains how that setup fits together. ## 7 Linkwarden Features That Matter ### 1. Page Preservation in Several Formats This is the core of Linkwarden. For every link, it automatically captures a **screenshot**, a **PDF** and a **single HTML file** of the page. You can also upload a page saved with the SingleFile browser extension, or add your own images and PDFs. If you want an extra public copy, Linkwarden can optionally send the page to the **Wayback Machine** at archive.org. Your local copies stay on your server either way. ### 2. Reader View With Highlights and Notes Linkwarden opens saved articles in a **reader view** that strips away clutter. You can **highlight passages and add annotations**, so a saved article turns into notes you can revisit. The mobile app lets you adjust font, text size, line height and background color for reading. ### 3. Collections, Sub-Collections and Tags You organize links by **collection** and **sub-collection**, much like folders. On top of that, each link can carry a name, a description and **multiple tags**. Custom icons and bulk actions keep a large library easy to scan and tidy. ### 4. Full-Text Search, Filtering and Sorting Search looks inside saved content, not just titles. You can then **filter and sort** the results. Recent releases added a quick search window that opens with **⌘K or Ctrl+K** and remembers recent searches. ### 5. Collaboration and Public Sharing Linkwarden was built for groups. You can **invite people to a collection** and set each member's permissions. You can also **share links and their preserved copies publicly**, which suits a reading list or a source list for an article. Self-hosted instances also support **single sign-on (SSO)** and user administration. ### 6. Browser Extension and Mobile Apps An official **browser extension** saves the page you are on in one click. Native **iOS and Android apps** let you save and read on your phone, and an iOS Shortcut is available too. You can sync browser bookmarks through **Floccus**, a separate bookmark sync tool. ### 7. AI Tagging, RSS and API Keys Linkwarden offers optional **AI tagging** that suggests tags based on a page's content. Its docs cover a local model through **Ollama** or an **OpenAI-compatible provider**, set up by the person running the server. You can also subscribe to **RSS feeds** and create **API keys** to connect other tools. Dark mode and translations round it out. ## What Is Linkwarden Used For? ### Keeping Sources That Might Disappear A researcher or journalist saves references with a screenshot and PDF of each. When a source changes or goes offline, the saved copy still shows what the page said on the day it was saved. ### A Shared Team Reading List A small team creates a collection for a project and invites members with the right permissions. Links stop getting lost in a chat thread, and everyone sees the same library. ### Studying and Annotating A student highlights key ideas in reader view and adds notes. Weeks later, full-text search brings the page back. ### Replacing a Read-It-Later Service Someone who used Pocket moves their reading habit to their own server. Collections and tags keep the library organized, and nothing depends on a company keeping a service alive. ## Linkwarden vs Linkding, Shiori, Raindrop.io and Pocket Every tool here saves links. They differ in how much of the page they keep, who can use the library and how much server they need. | Tool | Type | License | Page copies | Collaboration | Mobile apps | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Linkwarden** | Self-hosted | AGPL-3.0 | Screenshot, PDF, HTML, reader view | Shared collections with permissions | Native iOS and Android | Teams and researchers who need page copies | | **Linkding** | Self-hosted | MIT | Local HTML file or Internet Archive | Share with users or guests | Community apps only | A fast, minimal bookmark list | | **Shiori** | Self-hosted | MIT | Offline readable copy | Not its focus | None official | A tiny single-binary setup | | **Raindrop.io** | Hosted service | Closed source | Permanent copies on the paid Pro plan | Shared collections | Yes | People who want no server at all | | **Pocket** | Hosted service (closed) | Closed source | Not applicable | Not applicable | Discontinued | Nobody: it shut down in July 2025 | ### Linkding: The Lightweight Choice **Linkding** is a minimal bookmark manager built with Django and released under MIT, with about 11,400 GitHub stars as of November 1, 2026. It has tags, Markdown notes, a REST API, OIDC sign-in and archiving as local HTML files. On xCloud, its template runs in one container and asks for only 512 MB of RAM. See [**Linkding hosting**](/linkding-hosting/) if a lean bookmark list is all you need. ### Shiori: The Single-Binary Option **Shiori** is written in Go, ships as one binary and works from the command line or a web interface. It saves an offline readable copy of each page, imports from Pocket and supports SQLite, PostgreSQL, MySQL and MariaDB. The xCloud template asks for just 256 MB of RAM. Learn more on the [**Shiori hosting**](/shiori-hosting/) page. ### Raindrop.io: The Hosted Option **Raindrop.io** is a polished hosted service with a free plan. Permanent page copies and full-text search come with its paid Pro plan, a fair deal if you never want to touch a server. The trade-off: your archive lives on their service. ### Pocket: Why So Many People Are Looking **Pocket**, Mozilla's read-it-later service, shut down on July 8, 2025. Mozilla kept a data export open until November 12, 2025, and has since queued user data for deletion. That shutdown is the honest reason many people now want a library they control. Rule of thumb: **Linkding and Shiori keep the link light; Linkwarden keeps the page.** Other self-hosted options worth a look include [**Karakeep hosting**](/karakeep-hosting/) and [**Wallabag hosting**](/wallabag-hosting/). ## Linkwarden Hosting Requirements and Ways to Run It The xCloud template sets a floor of **2048 MB of RAM, 1 CPU core and 10 GB of disk**. That covers the app, PostgreSQL and the search index. Saved screenshots and PDFs grow with every link, so plan disk space for the archive, not the bookmark count. You have two realistic paths: - **Do it yourself with Docker.** Run the upstream Compose setup on a VPS. Then add a domain, a reverse proxy, an SSL certificate, generated secrets and a backup plan for the database and archive. - **Use a one-click deploy.** A host assembles those pieces for you, and you start saving links within minutes. The DIY path is free in money and costs you in time. You own the updates, the certificate renewals and the occasional 3 a.m. check on why a page stopped saving. **Your time is the hidden cost.** If you enjoy that work, Docker is a great way to learn. If you want a working archive by lunch, a one-click deploy fits better. ## Pros and Cons of Linkwarden | Pros | Cons | | --- | --- | | ✅ Saves screenshot, PDF and HTML copies of every page | ❌ Needs more RAM than lighter bookmark tools | | ✅ Shared collections with per-member permissions | ❌ Runs three services, so there is more to back up | | ✅ Reader view with highlights and notes | ❌ Archive storage grows steadily over time | | ✅ Native iOS and Android apps plus a browser extension | ❌ AI tagging and email need extra setup | | ✅ Free and open source under AGPL-3.0 | ❌ Updates are your job when you self-host | | ✅ Optional AI tagging, RSS feeds and API keys | ❌ More features than a plain bookmark list needs | ## Deploy Linkwarden on Your Own Server With xCloud [**Linkwarden hosting on xCloud**](/linkwarden-hosting/) skips the assembly step. The one-click template runs **Linkwarden 2.16.0** with a private **PostgreSQL 16** database and a private **Meilisearch** index. The database and search index stay on a private network, and Linkwarden itself is published on your domain over HTTPS. Here is what the template sets up for you: - **Three persistent volumes**: one for archived pages, screenshots and PDFs, one for the database and one for the search index. - **Generated secrets and an administrator account** named **xcloud-admin**, with the password shown in xCloud. - **Public registration turned off**, so only people you add can sign in. - A **free SSL certificate** on your domain. To deploy it: 1. In xCloud, go to **Sites** and click **New Site**, then pick an **NGINX** server. 2. Select **One Click Apps** and choose **Linkwarden**. 3. Add a **Site Title** and choose **Demo Site** for a test URL or **Go Live** for your own domain. 4. Review the generated settings and click **Create**. 5. Sign in as **xcloud-admin** and save your first link. A few honest notes. Linkwarden does not update itself on xCloud: the version is pinned, so you back up and upgrade when you choose. Email, SSO, S3 storage and AI providers are not part of the template. Back up all three volumes together; the guide to [**back up and restore Docker apps**](/docs/backup-and-restore-docker-apps/) shows how. The 6 GB Cloud VPS ($24.99 per month, 4 vCPU cores, 100 GB NVMe SSD) sits comfortably above the template's floor. Already have a VPS? You can connect it to xCloud and deploy the same template; [**xCloud Docker hosting**](/docker-hosting/) explains the options. **Ready to keep the pages, not just the links?** [**Start your Linkwarden hosting on xCloud**](/linkwarden-hosting/) **and save your first bookmark today.** 👉 Follow the step-by-step guide to [**deploy Linkwarden with xCloud**](/docs/linkwarden-docker-hosting-one-click-xcloud/). ## Start Your Link Archive Before the Next Page Disappears Linkwarden answers a simple need: when you save something, it should still be there later. It pairs bookmarks with real page copies, a reader view and shared collections. It asks for more server than Linkding or Shiori, and that is the price of keeping whole pages. This week, list the ten links you would hate to lose. Deploy Linkwarden, save those ten into a collection and open one of the saved copies. If that copy is what you wanted, invite your team next. If you have found this blog helpful, feel free to [**subscribe to our blogs**](/blog/) for valuable tutorials, guides, knowledge and tips on web hosting and server management. You can also join our [**Facebook community**](https://www.facebook.com/groups/xcloud.community) to share insights and engage in discussions. For the full feature list and source code, see the [**Linkwarden GitHub repository**](https://github.com/linkwarden/linkwarden). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Linkwarden used for? Linkwarden is used to save, organize and keep web pages. Each link goes into a collection with tags, and Linkwarden stores a screenshot, a PDF and an HTML copy of the page. You can read the copy later, even if the original page is gone. ### Is Linkwarden free? Yes, the software is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Self-hosting costs you only the server it runs on. The Linkwarden team also sells a hosted Linkwarden Cloud plan if you would rather not run a server. ### Does Linkwarden have AI tagging? Yes, as an optional feature. Linkwarden can tag links based on their content using a local model through Ollama or an OpenAI-compatible provider. You set it up yourself; the xCloud one-click template leaves AI providers out on purpose. ### Is Linkwarden a good Pocket replacement? For many people, yes. Pocket shut down on July 8, 2025, and Linkwarden covers the core job of saving pages to read later. It adds collections, shared links and preserved page copies, which Pocket never kept on your own server. ### Does Linkwarden have a mobile app? Yes. Linkwarden has native iOS and Android apps, plus an official browser extension. You point the apps at your own Linkwarden address and sign in with your account. ### How much RAM does Linkwarden need? The xCloud template asks for at least 2048 MB of RAM, 1 CPU core and 10 GB of disk. That floor covers Linkwarden, PostgreSQL and the search index. Heavy page saving and a large archive need more memory and disk over time. ### I only want a simple list of bookmarks. Is Linkwarden overkill for me? Possibly. If you do not need page copies, shared collections or a reader view, a lighter tool such as Linkding or Shiori runs on far less memory. Pick Linkwarden when keeping the page matters as much as keeping the link.