Are.na vs Paperclipped
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.
Paperclipped
Share your current mood with a single emoji and see your friends' real-time status. This app focuses on presence without the clutter of chat or social media feeds. Connect privately with friends and stay updated on their vibes instantly.
- One emoji status updates
- Real-time friend status sync
- Private invite code connections
- Push notifications with granular control
- Home screen widget for quick glances
- Siri Shortcuts integration
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Paperclip: one emoji, for the friends you choose. Share how you're doing with a single emoji. See your friends' emoji the moment they change. No chat, no feed of strangers, no likes. Just presence. GETTING YOUR PEOPLE IN • Invite links and QR codes. Tap a friend's link, get the app, paste, and you're in their feed • Find friends who are already here from your phone number or contacts (both optional) • Screenshot your Messages list and Paperclip suggests who to invite. Names are read on your iPhone and never uploaded • Add by @username, or pair with someone nearby A STATUS THAT KEEPS ITSELF FRESH (optional) Auto status can pick your emoji for you when you haven't in a while: asleep, out for a run, in a meeting, listening to music. Paperclip works with Apple Health: with your permission it reads sleep, workouts, steps, daylight, activity rings and more, on your iPhone, to choose one emoji. Your Health readings never leave your phone. Friends see only the emoji, marked "auto," and a one-word hint. It learns the emoji YOU use for each kind of moment, on your phone, and you can tell it "Bad pick." It starts on "Ask me first," and you can turn it off any time. FEEL IT • Reactions that fly across the screen • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, a Control Center "show my code" control, and Siri Shortcuts • Bots for company: world mood, the moon, the sun PRIVACY & SAFETY • Sign in with Apple • No ads, no tracking, no third-party analytics SDKs • Your phone number is never shown to anyone • Block and report built in, reviewed within 24 hours • Delete your account and all its data from Settings in one tap
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Are.na at 354 against Paperclipped's 1. Are.na also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). 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 5.0 for Paperclipped. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Are.na has 354 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Are.na | Paperclipped |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (354 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 52.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 354 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 85 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | +17 | 12+ |
| Developer | When It Changed Inc. | Edward Fox-Helbig |
Customer experience
Are.na
Paperclipped
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
Paperclipped
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Are.na
No in-app purchases
Paperclipped
No in-app purchases
