Are.na vs River by Lifeworld
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
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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.
River by Lifeworld
This app provides a private space to capture and share moments, thoughts, and interests with specific people. It offers a unique way to explore your passions and connect disparate ideas and memories.
- Private journaling
- Share anything
- Explore interests
- Connect scattered thoughts
- Share with specific people
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River is a diary to stay close to everything you care about. - A perfect place to share anything you want - A different way to explore your interests - A new approach to connect all the scattered dots Your favorite new song, a random shower thought, an absurd license plate – share it with those who made you think of them. Closeness can change everything.
Screenshots
Verdict
Are.na and River by Lifeworld both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 96% of River by Lifeworld's written reviews are positive against 52% of Are.na's. Are.na's advantage is ratings volume (357 vs 46). 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 4.8 for River by Lifeworld. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Are.na has 357 ratings behind it against 46, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of Are.na's written reviews are positive against 96% of River by Lifeworld's.
Are.na ships an update fortnightly, River by Lifeworld monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Are.na | River by Lifeworld |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (357 ratings) — better | 4.8 (46 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 52.1% of reviews | 96.2% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 357 — better | 46 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 85 MB | 81 MB |
| Age rating | +17 | 12+ |
| Developer | When It Changed Inc. | Lifeworld, Co. |
Customer experience
Are.na
River by Lifeworld
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
River by Lifeworld
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Are.na
No in-app purchases
River by Lifeworld
No in-app purchases
