Are.na vs Roughtake
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Are.na
This platform allows creatives and researchers to save and organize any type of content into collections. It provides a distraction-free space to connect and build ideas, fostering collaboration and community. It is independent, ad-free, and algorithm-free.
- Save any content type
- Organize into collections
- Distraction-free space
- Collaborate on projects
- Share ideas privately or publicly
- Thoughtful community
Read full descriptionHide full description
Since 2011, Are.na has been the platform of choice for creative researchers, designers, artists, academics, and rabbit-hole enthusiasts. Completely independent, free from ads, algorithms, and unhealthy business practices, Are.na is a calm, thoughtful space for you to connect your ideas and build new ones. - Save any kind of content into collections. - Organize links, videos, images, and texts in a clean, distraction-free space. - Share ideas and collaborate on projects with anyone, anywhere. - Invite friends to work together privately or in public. - Tap into a thoughtful community where curiosity is valued. - Break out of your filter bubble. Are.na is powered by people, not ads.
Roughtake
Discover TV shows and movies with video reviews or by swiping through content. Share your opinions on streaming content through video posts and build a following as a critic.
- Discover movies and TV shows
- Video reviews
- Swipe interface for content discovery
- Post video reviews
- Build a following
- Become a critic
Read full descriptionHide full description
Find TV shows and movies through video reviews OR swiping left and right through content to find things to save for later. Post videos of what you think about streaming content. Get a following from your opinions alone, and be the critic you're meant to be.
Screenshots
Verdict
Are.na and Roughtake both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of Roughtake's written reviews are positive against 52% of Are.na's. Roughtake also leads on iOS requirement (14.4 vs 17.0). Are.na's advantage is ratings volume (349 vs 101). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Are.na against 4.9 for Roughtake. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 349 and 101 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of Are.na's written reviews are positive against 84% of Roughtake's.
Are.na ships an update fortnightly, Roughtake every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Are.na | Roughtake |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (349 ratings) — better | 4.9 (101 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 52.1% of reviews | 84.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 349 — better | 101 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 14.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 85 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | When It Changed Inc. | Roughtake LLC |
Customer experience
Are.na
Roughtake
Bugs and requests
Are.na
Reported bugs
5 issues- Inability to login or sign up
- Blocks not loading or duplicating
- App crashing when viewing GIFs/animations
- Inconsistent behavior across iOS versions
- Navigation issues due to 'Dynamic Island'
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to sort channels by connections
- Landscape mode support on iPad
- Password reset functionality
- Multiple image/video uploads
- Improved channel management
Roughtake
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Are.na
No in-app purchases
Roughtake
No in-app purchases
