Alternatives · reviewed October 2026

Cosmos alternatives for your own references

Cosmos is a calm place to discover and curate images. If what you need is a private place for references you already found, including short video from Instagram and TikTok, a different kind of tool may fit better.

Start collecting for free embeddd vs Cosmos

No credit card · Free to start · Private by default

Fashion editorial: yellow tracksuit by a basketball hoop

Aerial view of a beach and turquoise coastline

What Cosmos is

A visual inspiration platform for finding, saving and organizing images into collections, with an Explore section of what others save.

It’s a good fit for:

Browsing what other people save in Explore
Curating image collections for projects, outfits or spaces
Hiding or blurring AI-generated images

Why people look for an alternative

You don’t need a discovery feed
Your references are Reels and TikToks as much as images
You want notes and projects beside them

How embeddd differs

No feed, nothing public

Only what you save is on your boards, and nobody else sees it until you share a link.

Short video that plays

Reels, TikToks and Shorts are saved as videos with sound, not as links.

Portrait in a denim jacket against a blue wall

Woman in an oversized red sweater against a white wall

Notes and projects

Write the brief beside the references and group boards by client or campaign.

Feature comparison

Feature comparison: embeddd and Cosmos
Feature	embeddd	Cosmos
Built for	Collecting and organizing your own references	Discovering and curating images, with an Explore section
Layout	Masonry grid of cards; boards inside projects	Grid of images in collections
Reels and TikToks	Instagram, TikTok and YouTube posts saved as their own photos and videos	Built around images from the web; not built to keep its own copy of a Reel or TikTok
Where it runs	Web app for desktop and mobile browsers; iPhone share-sheet Shortcut	Web and iOS app (see cosmos.so)
Privacy	Private by default; no public feed, no ads	Collections alongside a public Explore section
Notes	Rich-text note cards on the board; titles and descriptions on every card	Not built around notes beside images
Search	Across all boards by text, tag and colour	Search by colour and find similar images
Sharing	View-only links for boards and projects; editors and viewers by invite	Invite others to build collections with you
Price	Free plan with unlimited boards and 5 GB; Essential $5/month for 25 GB, Pro $12/month for 100 GB	Free to join (see cosmos.so)

Details about Cosmos are based on its public website, reviewed October 2026. Plans and features change — check cosmos.so for current details.

embeddd makes sense if…

You collect for projects
Short video is a big part of your references
You want everything private by default

Staying with Cosmos makes sense if…

You want to discover new images
You enjoy browsing what others save

Other Cosmos alternatives

Different tools for different jobs — each worth a look.

Pinterest
The largest visual discovery platform, with ads and recommendations.
Compare with embeddd →
Are.na
Channels of connected ideas with a thoughtful community.
Compare with embeddd →
Milanote
A freeform canvas for planning creative projects.
Compare with embeddd →

Questions

Is embeddd a Cosmos alternative?

If you want a private place for your own references, including saved Reels and TikToks, yes. For discovering new images, Cosmos and Pinterest are built for that.

Keep reading

Start your first board.

Save a Reel, drop a picture, paste a link. It takes a minute.

Start collecting for free

No credit card · Free to start · Private by default