Compare
Shelf, next to the alternatives.
Six honest comparisons. Each one states what the other product is for, where it wins, and when you should pick it over Shelf.
No scores, no straw men. Different tools solve different problems.
- Shelf vs mymindPrivate visual bookmarking. You want a private, cross-device place to save what you like, and browsing it is part of the point.
- Shelf vs RaindropBookmark manager. You want your links organised, synced and shareable across every device.
- Shelf vs EagleDesign asset manager. You maintain a serious visual asset library and want precise control over it.
- Shelf vs ObsidianLocal notes and knowledge base. You want to write, link and build knowledge in plain files you own.
- Shelf vs HeptabaseVisual thinking canvas. You want a visual canvas for working an idea out until you understand it.
- Shelf vs FabricAI workspace. You want a broad AI workspace where you can bring work together and actively work on it.
Shelf V3 is out now
Shelf V3 is the current build. Shelf does not use automatic updates, so download the latest build here and install it over your current version.
This is intentional. Shelf is built around a local-first, privacy-focused philosophy. An automatic updater requires additional background processes, network connections, update infrastructure, and another system with permission to modify the app. We prefer to keep Shelf’s network footprint and background activity as small as possible.
Manual updates keep the process explicit: Shelf only checks the internet when a feature actually needs it, and you decide when a new version is downloaded and installed.