Linkwarden vs Karakeep
Both are self-hostable, open-source bookmark apps, and both Chrome extensions need your own server or hosted account. Pick Linkwarden for saved pages kept as screenshot, PDF and HTML, with per-member sharing. Pick Karakeep for AI tagging, semantic search and saving notes, images and PDFs. The app comparison is solid. The extension comparison is thin.
Linkwarden vs Karakeep at a glance
This table has two parts. The first compares the apps, using each project's README. The second compares the Chrome extensions, using their manifests. We checked the apps far more closely than the extensions.
App level (from each README)
| Feature | Linkwarden | Karakeep |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Self-hosted, open-source, collaborative bookmark manager | Self-hostable bookmark-everything app with some AI. Formerly called Hoarder |
| What it saves | Links. Captures a screenshot, a PDF and a single HTML file per page. Can optionally send pages to the Wayback Machine | Links, notes, images and PDFs. Fetches title, description and images, and archives full pages |
| AI | Optional local AI tagging | Automatic tagging and summaries, with local models through ollama |
| Search | Full-text search, filter and sort | Full-text and semantic search. OCR reads text in images |
| Organising | Collections, sub-collections and tags | Lists |
| Sharing | Collaborate on a collection, with permissions per member | Collaborate on the same list |
| RSS | Feed subscription | Saves from RSS feeds automatically |
| Hosted option | Linkwarden Cloud, or self-host | Managed cloud, or self-host with Docker |
| Mobile apps | iOS and Android | iOS and Android, with offline reading |
| Licence | AGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
Browser extension level (from each manifest)
| Feature | Linkwarden extension | Karakeep extension |
|---|---|---|
| Needs your server or account | Yes | Yes |
| Manifest V3 | Yes. Version 1.5.6. Needs Chrome 121 or newer | Yes. Version 1.2.11 |
| Last repo activity | 8 September 2026 (a commit, not a release) | 19 September 2026 (a commit, not a release) |
| Site access | All sites at install | Optional. Chrome asks when needed |
| Features | One-click save, screenshot upload, save all tabs in a window, lk address-bar keyword, Ctrl+Shift+F | Quick bookmarking and a right-click menu |
| Sign-in | API key or username and password | Not stated |
| Browsers | Chrome | Chrome, Firefox and Safari, per the Karakeep README |
Which is better, Linkwarden or Karakeep?
It depends on what you want the app to do. Linkwarden is the pick for preserving pages as files and sharing collections with set permissions. Karakeep is the pick for AI help and for saving more than links. Both are open source and self-hostable. We did not test speed or ease of install, so we make no claim on either.
Do the extensions work without a server?
No. Both extensions are only clients. The Linkwarden extension needs a Linkwarden server or hosted account. The Karakeep extension needs a Karakeep server. Your saved links go to the address you enter, so where your bookmarks end up depends on who runs that server. Set up the app first, then add the extension.
Which one has AI tagging?
Karakeep, as a core feature. Its README describes automatic tagging and summaries from a language model, and says local models work through ollama. Linkwarden's README lists local AI tagging as optional. This is app level. Neither extension does the tagging itself, because the app does it.
Which one saves pages as files?
Both archive pages, in different ways. Linkwarden's README says it captures a screenshot, a PDF and a single HTML file for each page. Karakeep's README says it archives full pages against link rot and can archive video. Karakeep also saves notes, images and PDFs, which Linkwarden's README does not list.
What do the Chrome extensions differ on?
Less than the apps do, and we checked them less. Linkwarden's extension can save all tabs in a window, upload a screenshot and run from the lk address-bar keyword. Karakeep's is a small save tool with a right-click menu. Karakeep asks for all-site access only when needed. Linkwarden asks at install.
Good to know
Tip: pick the app first, and the extension follows. Both extensions are small, so the app's features should decide it. If you want your saved links to sync as normal browser bookmarks, Floccus can work with both, which is not a reason to choose either. Limit of this page: we did not read either extension's privacy policy, and we did not check hosted plan prices. We did not run either app.
FAQ
Was Karakeep called something else?
Yes. Its README says it was previously Hoarder.
Is Linkwarden free?
The extension is free to install, and the app is open source under AGPL-3.0 and self-hostable. We did not check hosted plan prices.
Do Linkwarden and Karakeep have mobile apps?
Yes, both list iOS and Android apps in their READMEs. Linkwarden's README says its mobile apps need an account on Linkwarden Cloud or a self-hosted server.
Read more
Both are third-party extensions, not built by Xplorekit. We link to the official Chrome Web Store listings. We don't show ratings or user counts because we can't verify them.