StowLink

StowLink is a native bookmark manager for macOS 14+ with a free iPhone companion. Import bookmarks from Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, organize links in nested folders, and add notes. Rich previews and playable video help you revisit saved pages. Save links with global keyboard shortcuts and search by title, URL, domain, or description. Your library stays local by default, with optional iCloud sync across Mac and iPhone. No StowLink account is required. The Mac app costs $29 USD once for two Macs; try ten links free. The iPhone app is free.StowLink is a native bookmark manager for macOS that saves, organizes, and searches the links you want to keep, with a free iPhone companion app that keeps the same library in your pocket.

What is StowLink?

StowLink is a native macOS 14+ bookmark manager made by Forgelyte. It takes links imported from Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge (or a bookmarks.html export) as well as links captured from the clipboard, and files them into nested folders with rich previews, notes, and full-library search. The library is stored on your Mac by default, with optional iCloud sync to your other Macs and iPhone. A free iPhone app on the App Store works on its own or alongside the Mac app.

Key Features

• Browser import — pull bookmarks from Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, or bring in a bookmarks.html export file.
• Global capture shortcuts — save a clipboard link with ⌘ + V while StowLink is open, or hold Command and double-tap Shift to save a link without opening StowLink at all.
• Spotlight Search — press ⌘ + K for recent links, folders, and settings; from the menu bar, ⌘ + ⌥ + K searches and opens a saved link without launching the app.
• Nested folders — drag links into folders and subfolders instead of leaving them in a flat bookmark bar.
• Rich previews and playable video — each saved page shows its title, description, and image, with video playback inline beside your notes.
• Library-wide search — filter by folder, title, URL, domain, or description, so you can find a link without remembering where you filed it.
• Local-first storage — the library lives on your Mac by default; iCloud sync is optional and no StowLink account is required.
• Free iPhone companion — save from the Share Sheet, browse nested folders, and share one library with your Mac when iCloud is enabled on both devices.

Who should use StowLink?

• Developers: keep documentation, GitHub repositories, API references, and Stack Overflow answers in folders searchable by domain rather than scrolling a bookmark bar.
• Designers: file inspiration, fonts, icons, and UI references with previews so a page can be checked before opening it.
• Researchers: store articles, papers, and sources next to notes on why each page mattered in the first place.
• Everyday collectors: keep recipes, products, videos, and travel ideas in one library instead of scattered browser bookmarks.

What can you do with StowLink?

• Replace browser bookmarks: import a Safari or Chrome collection, then reorganize it into nested folders with previews and notes attached to each link.
• Capture without breaking flow: with StowLink closed, hold Command and double-tap Shift to save the current link; from the menu bar, ⌘ + ⌥ + K opens a saved link directly.
• Keep one library across devices: turn on iCloud under the same Apple Account on your Macs and iPhone to see identical saved links everywhere.
• Look up links by meaning: search by description text or domain when you remember what a page was about but not its title.

How does StowLink work?

Import first, then organize. Bring in a bookmarks.html export or your Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge bookmarks, drag the results into nested folders, and add notes and previews as you go. After that, links arrive through the clipboard shortcut, the menu bar shortcut, or the iPhone Share Sheet. The site's demo walks through saving a link, filing it, and opening its preview in under two minutes.

Pros and cons

Pros

• One-time purchase rather than a subscription, with one license covering two Macs.
• No StowLink account required, and the library is stored locally by default.
• Free iPhone app that works without owning a Mac license.
• Imports bookmarks from all four major desktop browsers.

Cons

• Mac only: there is no Windows build yet, just a waitlist.
• The free trial caps you at ten saved links before purchase.
• Requires macOS 14 or later.

Pricing

StowLink for Mac is a one-time purchase of $29 USD, currently reduced to $14.50 USD with a 50% Back2School promotion, and one license covers two Macs. You can download it free and save ten links before deciding, and StowLink for iPhone is free on the App Store. There is no subscription.

FAQ

Is StowLink a subscription?

No. StowLink for Mac is a one-time purchase and the iPhone app is free, so there is no recurring charge. A single license activates the Mac app on two Macs.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. You can download StowLink free and save ten links; after that the full library needs the one-time license. The iPhone app stays free whether or not you own a Mac license.

Is there a Windows version?

Not yet. StowLink runs on macOS 14 and later only, and the site offers a waitlist email for when a Windows build is ready.

Do I need a StowLink account?

No StowLink account is needed. Optional iCloud sync uses your Apple Account to keep one library across your Macs and iPhone.

Who makes StowLink?

StowLink is made by Forgelyte, reachable at [email protected]. The Mac app is distributed as a direct download, and the iPhone app is available on the App Store.

Alternatives

• Raindrop.io — a bookmark manager that runs in the browser and on multiple platforms rather than as a native Mac app.