Batata vs Pinboard
Pinboard is fast, private, dependable, and proven, and Batata is built for the people who love it for those reasons. The difference is what Pinboard never set out to build: a free full-text archive, search by meaning, and an Ask that answers from your own pages, with sources.
The honest summary
Pick Pinboardif you want a battle-tested, dirt-simple, tag-based bookmark store from a founder who's kept it running for over a decade, and you don't care about AI.
Pick Batata if you want those same values (fast, private, no social feed, your data stays yours) plus a free archive of every page, semantic search, and a cited Ask. Because Batata is API-compatible, trying it costs almost nothing: import in one click, keep your tools.
Side by side
| Feature | Batata | Pinboard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free up to 100 bookmarks; Pro $36/year unlimited | Paid only; ~$22/year, more for archiving (check pinboard.in) |
| Full-text archive | Included free: every page archived and searchable | A separate, higher-priced archival tier |
| Search by meaning | Yes: semantic search finds ideas, not just exact words | Tag and keyword search only |
| Ask your library | Yes: answers built only from your pages, every claim cited | No |
| Auto tags & summaries | Suggested on every save | No |
| Pinboard-compatible API | Yes: your existing Pinboard clients keep working | The original |
| Privacy / no social feed | Private by default; no feed; no model training on your data | Private by default; no feed |
| Speed & focus | Fast, minimal, no clutter | Famously fast and minimal |
| Track record | New (2026), actively built | Proven since 2009, solo-run |
| Data portability | One-click JSON export anytime | Full export anytime |
Pinboard's pricing and tiers are summarized from memory and change over time, so check pinboard.in for the current details.
Where Pinboard wins
- Track record.It's been quietly reliable since 2009. New tools have to earn that trust; Pinboard already has it.
- Minimalism. If you want nothing but tags and a fast text box, Pinboard is gloriously plain.
- Base price. The entry tier is cheaper than Batata Pro (though it has no free tier, and archiving costs extra).
Where Batata wins
- Free full-text archive.Every page you save is archived and searchable, included at no extra cost. On Pinboard that's a higher tier.
- Search by meaning.Find “the article about idempotency keys” without remembering the exact words.
- Ask your library. Ask a question and get an answer built only from your saved pages, with every claim cited to its source, and it refuses to make things up.
- Active development. Batata is being built now, in the open.
Switching is low-risk
You don't have to choose all at once. Export your Pinboard library as JSON and import it in one click, with tags, notes, and dates included. Your Pinboard scripts keep working because Batata speaks the same API:
# create a token in Settings, then point any Pinboard client at: curl "https://batata.page/v1/posts/all?auth_token=YOURNAME:YOURTOKEN&format=json"
Full steps in the switching guide and import walkthrough. And whenever you want, export everything as JSON. No lock-in.
Bring your Pinboard library over
Import in one click, keep your tools, and gain a free archive, semantic search, and a cited Ask. Free up to 100 bookmarks.
Try Batata free →Free up to 100 bookmarks · Pro is $36/year · export everything anytime
FAQ
- Can I import my Pinboard bookmarks into Batata?
- Yes, in one click. Export your library from Pinboard as JSON, then upload it in Batata's Import screen. URLs, titles, your notes (the 'extended' field), tags, original save dates, and the public/private flag all come across. Archiving and summaries run in the background afterward.
- Will my Pinboard scripts and apps still work?
- Yes. Batata speaks Pinboard's read API, including the familiar username:TOKEN auth. Point your existing Pinboard clients and scripts at batata.page and they keep working.
- Is Batata cheaper than Pinboard?
- Batata has a free tier (up to 100 bookmarks with every feature); Pinboard does not. For unlimited, Batata is $36/year. Pinboard's base tier is cheaper, but its full-text archive, which Batata includes free, costs extra.
- Why would I leave Pinboard?
- You wouldn't have to leave it behind: Batata is API-compatible. People move for the parts Pinboard never built: a free full-text archive, search by meaning, and an Ask that answers from your own saved pages with citations.