Pinterest’s Great—Until It’s Not.
Let’s be honest: Pinterest has shaped how we save, share, and stumble upon creative inspiration. From wedding cakes to wireframes, it’s got something for everyone.
We’ve dug through the digital crates of the internet to bring you 17 handpicked platforms that are actually worth your time in 2025. Whether you're a solo moodboarder or part of a fast-moving creative team, there's something here that'll upgrade your workflow.
Why Look for a Pinterest Alternative?
Sure, Pinterest is powerful. It predicts trends, offers endless scrollable ideas, and still has its place in design studios 15 years after launch. But even the most loyal Pinners can feel boxed in.
Here’s why creatives are looking elsewhere:
- You want privacy: Pinterest boards are mostly public or semi-private.
- You want structure: Nested folders? Tags? Not really Pinterest’s thing.
- You want curation, not chaos: The infinite scroll gets overwhelming.
- You want to work smarter: Pinterest isn’t built for portfolios or teamwork.
Time to explore smarter, sharper tools.
Designspiration
- Aesthetic: Minimal, refined, design-nerd friendly
- Great for: Typography, branding, photography inspiration
Cosmos
- New in 2023: A discovery + collaboration hub
- Why use it: Organize and co-curate inspiration with your team
- Standout: Shared moodboards meet project planning
- Why it’s awesome: Visual boards + tasks + links + media
- Bonus: Feels like Trello for creatives
Save.it
- Aesthetic: Minimal, refined, design-nerd friendly
- Great for: Typography, branding, photography inspiration
Godly Website
- Aesthetic: Minimal, refined, design-nerd friendly
- Great for: Typography, branding, photography inspiration
Designspiration
- Aesthetic: Minimal, refined, design-nerd friendly
- Great for: Typography, branding, photography inspiration
Are.na
- Vibe: Quiet, no ads, hyper-organized
- Used by: Artists, writers, researchers
- Best for: Deep dives and long-term creative exploration
Same Energy
- What it does: AI-powered visual search
- How it works: Drop an image, find others with the same “feel”
- Perfect for: Building aesthetic boards from obscure references
mymind
- Tagline: “Your mind, automated”
- Why it works: Private, AI-organized ideas—no folders needed
- Features: Smart search by color, vibe, or keyword
Pearltrees
- Feels like: Mind-mapping meets Pinterest
- Organize via: Visual “trees” of related content
- Collaboration-ready: Perfect for group research
Behance
- Made for: Designers, illustrators, photographers
- Why it shines: Deep project showcases, Adobe integration
- Pro tip: Great exposure to potential clients and recruiters
Dribbble
- Popular with: UI/UX designers, visual storytellers
- Features: “Shots,” freelance marketplace, job board
- Bonus: Webflow access for Pro users
Which One Should You Use?
Here’s a cheat sheet:
- Just browsing pretty things? → We Heart It, Mix
- Need a portfolio? → Behance, Dribbble, ArtStation
- Want private idea curation? → mymind, Are.na
- Ready to organize the chaos? → Raindrop.io, Notion
- Working with a team? → Milanote, Figma, Cosmos
Build a creative tech stack that works for you. Mix and match based on your process—whether that’s gathering inspo, pitching ideas, or launching polished work.
FAQs: Pinterest Alternatives in 2025
What’s the best Pinterest alternative for designers?
Try Dribbble or Behance for portfolios, and Milanote or Designspiration for collecting design ideas.
Are there tools that support private boards?
Yes. mymind and Are.na are built around privacy.
Any Pinterest alternatives using AI?
Yep—mymind auto-tags your content and Same Energy helps you discover visuals by vibe.
What’s a good free Pinterest alternative?
We Heart It, Mix, and Tumblr are great casual picks. For pros, Behance and Raindrop.io offer solid free tiers.
Can I use these for client work?
Totally. Figma, Milanote, and Cosmos are designed for creative collaboration.
Your Next Step
Pinterest changed the game—but it’s not the only game in town.
Whether you're chasing fresh inspiration or building your best creative workflow, these 17 tools will help you move smarter and faster. Try one or two, build your new creative base, and share what works with your crew.
Got a favorite that’s not on the list?
Drop it in your group chat or share it on your next inspo board—wherever that lives now
