I used to have Pinterest as my go-to to save cool pictures and ideas, but when my projects got harder, I wanted apps like Pinterest with better tools for creative work.
My colleagues and I at FixThePhoto often try out different tools that help photographers, designers, and creators stay organized and inspired. That’s how I found some apps like Pinterest that are better for saving ideas and making moodboards.
I wanted an app that looks clean and is easy to use on phones and computers. So, I tested over 20 Pinterest alternatives to find ones with similar features. I wanted to find a platform for creative people who want more than just scrolling through pictures.
On Pinterest, many people save soft, pastel pictures. But what if your ideas are different? Like, if you want to look at bold photos, sensual art, or boudoir shoots? Pinterest doesn’t like that. It hides or blocks these pictures to keep things “safe” for all users.
If you try searching for anything 18+ on Pinterest, your feed quickly becomes empty. The filters block fine art nude photography too fast.
But real art isn’t always PG. It can have skin, strong feelings, fantasy, or things that make people feel uncomfortable, and Pinterest tries to keep away from these things to protect its brand. Even common things like boudoir photo ideas become hard to find because the app blocks or hides them.
That’s why apps like Behance are better for adult creators. They allow professional photographers to share tasteful boudoir, edgy fashion, and some NSFW art without problems.
Another app, Designspiration, focuses on looks but doesn’t hide sensual pictures if they are chosen carefully. Therefore, if you want boudoir poses or moody photo ideas, it lets you find them without stopping you.
So, if you want Pinterest alternatives for adults, pick apps that treat you like a grown-up. Because your moodboard shouldn’t be censored like it’s 2010 Tumblr.
As a photographer, I needed an app like Pinterest that respects creative work, and Behance turned out to be perfect for that. It’s great for making a photography portfolio because you can share full projects with descriptions, high-quality pictures, and proper credit.
Unlike most Pinterest alternatives that are made for casual posting, Behance shows serious portfolios from people working in photography, design, fashion, and illustration. I used it to create mood boards, follow other artists, and get feedback on my work.
It feels more professional than Pinterest, and it also gives more back to creators. The only downside is that it’s not as quick for random scrolling. But if you make art or design, it’s the best Pinterest-style app out there.
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Designspiration became my favorite when I wanted simple mood boards instead of Pinterest’s busy look. This alternative is made for designers, and it offers good search tools and color filters that help you find exactly what you want. I’ve used it to save typography designs, branding ideas, photography hashtags, and website design ideas in an organized way.
Although it doesn’t have as many social features as Pinterest, this is one of the best similar apps for visual thinkers who want to focus without distractions. It’s especially good if you want free Pinterest-style apps that feel well-arranged.
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I tested Mix by using it every day for a week to see how well it could suggest new content. I followed design, travel, and fashion topics to check how the feed was changed for my needs. I like that it mixes articles, images, and short reads in one feed, making it feel more personal and interesting.
Instead of pinboards, you save things into collections and can watch how the algorithm changes. I also searched for topics like photography marketing and found helpful case studies and visual ideas in my feed.
By the third day, the recommendations were more accurate and less repetitive; therefore, this app like Pinterest learns quickly from what you like.
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I tested Flipboard by using it to collect content on topics like design, tech, and lifestyle. I wanted to see how it handled both images and writing in one place. The best part was that it let me make boards that looked like magazines, mixing articles and photos together.
Compared to other apps, Flipboard is more focused on context. I could follow certain topics and save things into personal boards that helped me plan projects.
It reminds me of Pinterest in the way you collect ideas, but it feels more like reading an organized magazine. It’s helpful for research that needs both images and more detailed reading.
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I was renovating a small studio room a while ago, and I used Hometalk to look at ideas for shelves, wall designs, and paint colors. The app had full guides with lists of what to buy and step-by-step instructions. This made it easier to plan my projects than just saving pretty pictures.
What I liked most was how active the app felt. When I posted my project, other people gave me quick feedback. It felt like a creative conversation instead of just getting likes or shares.
I also found some clever layout ideas that later helped me when I was looking at the best website builders for photographers, useful for showing before-and-after project photos. If you are doing real DIY work, this app like Pinterest is good for getting practical help and also keeping your ideas in one place.
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When I want to save both pictures and written content, I use Pocket. It’s not exactly an app like Pinterest, but it works like a personal idea board for your mind. I can save articles, videos, and photos, then tag and organize them. It’s great for people who think visually but also like doing research.
This app is one of those quiet tools that work well without being distracting. It’s useful for content creators, writers, and anyone who finds inspiration in different types of media.
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Pearltrees is like a mind-map version of Pinterest – instead of just pinning single photos, you can collect and organize images, links, notes, PDFs, and even videos into branching “collections.”
I use it when a mood board needs more than visuals — like when a photo shoot plan also requires location research, prop references, and inspiration articles in one place.
Its drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to rearrange ideas and see both the big picture and the small details, which is perfect for keeping creative projects organized and visually inspiring at the same time.
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I used Juxtapost for a design project where privacy and organization were important. This Pinterest alternative lets me save images and links without distractions. While the design looks a bit old-fashioned, it’s good for sorting and labelling things clearly.
Unlike other apps that focus on trends, Juxtapost is about structure. I liked that I could make some boards private but share others with a small team. It’s helpful for designers, teachers, and managers who need to organize lots of ideas or research data.
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MURAL is more like a digital whiteboard than a picture-saving app. I used it for client moodboard meetings where we worked together in real time. You can put images, links, sketches, and notes anywhere on an endless page, which is good for early creative planning.
Unlike apps with strict layouts, MURAL lets you place and move things freely. During team calls, everyone could add content at the same time without stopping the flow of ideas.
I also used it to try out storyboarding and compare options from the best free whiteboard animation software, because it helped us see timelines and scenes together. It’s perfect for remote collaborative working for those who need to brainstorm visually. If you like Pinterest but need a tool for teamwork, MURAL is a good choice.
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With my colleagues from FixThePhoto, we tried and tested different apps like Pinterest to collect ideas, save pictures, and find new inspiration.
We looked at both well-known and smaller apps, including Behance, Designspiration, Mix, Flipboard, Hometalk, Pocket, We Heart It, Juxtapost, and MURAL. Even though there are many more apps with similar tools, we chose to focus on ones that give a good mix of visual ideas, personal settings, and ease of use.
Each app was tested using the same steps, following our FixThePhoto testing rules. We checked how these Pinterest alternatives help with planning, making moodboards, and saving content, whether you are working alone or with others. Here’s how we tested them:
By testing Pinterest alternatives directly, we found the best platforms for designers, photographers, and creative individuals who want more control, more choice, or simply a different source of inspiration outside of Pinterest.
Yes, many apps let you make private boards or locked collections.
Most modern Pinterest alternative apps are made to work well on phones, with layouts that fit small screens.
Yes, many Pinterest-like apps let you save links, notes, and even full articles along with images.
Yes, they are made for creative professionals and have tools to help with client work or portfolios.
Some apps let you collaborate in real time and share a visual workspace.
Most apps like Pinterest have free versions with basic features, and paid plans for extra tools or more storage.
Yes, most platforms let you adjust your feed based on your interests and hide things you don’t want to see.