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Best Free Bookmark Syncronizer

 
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  Go straight to the Quick Selection Guide
Introduction

Most browsers have a built-in bookmark manager allowing users to bookmark a webpage location and organize bookmarks into folders so that they are easier to find. Usually they also allow users to export bookmarks to a html file so that it can be imported into another browser. These are the basic bookmark functions provided by the browsers, lacking the useful features of a bookmark synchronizer.

A good and reliable bookmark synchronizer allows users to keep bookmarks identical across the browsers and computers for ease of surfing the Internet from everywhere.

Moreover, it helps organise bookmarks by identifying or removing the duplicates and merging two different lists of bookmarks easily into one complete and well-organized list.

Discussion

XmarksXmarks is fairly hassle free and also has a lot of features. One feature that gives Xmarks an edge over the competition is that it has secure password syncing. Another great feature of Xmarks is the ability to have different profiles for different computers/browsers. This allows you to have only certain bookmarks go to certain places. Nonetheless, I have been running into issues with the beta version in Google Chrome syncing with Firefox because the browsers handle bookmarks differently.

Since Xmarks is just a browser extension it can run on many different operating systems. Overall I would say Xmarks is one of the best bookmark synchronizers. (NB: Some features may not be available in all browsers, check the chart at http://download.xmarks.com/download/all for the differences.)

ZinkmoZinkmo is a bookmark synchronizer that gets the job done. It does not have many features to it other than an online bookmark manager and the ability to share folders.

One issue that I have with Zinkmo is that it is an application that runs on your computer, not solely from your browser leaving it stuck only on the Windows operating system. Another problem that got me was that when syncing Zinkmo kept giving me issues with certain bookmarks, when I tried to get help from the Zinkmo site (as suggested by the error) I did not find the site to be helpful. But if anyone has a better experience with Zinkmo please leave comments.

Tidy FavoritesIn my experience Tidy Favorites did not work well as a bookmark synchronizer (but maybe it would work better in the pro version, I have no idea). When importing bookmarks from Firefox to Tidy Favorites nothing happened. Also, when syncing from IE to Tidy Favorites or Google Chrome I got bookmarks that were not really there.

However, it does include a new tab page that displays visual bookmarks. One benefit of this is that you can change the pictures that is shown so that it can reflect changes on the website (ie. Bookmark a weather page and see at a glance the weather). If anyone has a better experience with the free version of Tidy Favorites please leave some comments.

Experienced in the above or other related freeware products? You're welcome to share your valuable views in the comments at the end of this article.
Related Products and Links

You might want to check out these articles too:

Quick Selection Guide

Xmarks
10
 
Gizmo's Freeware award as the best product in its class!

Is a web service or web application
Many features, auto sync, online bookmark manager, secure
Sync occurs at shutdown (not asap)
http://www.xmarks.com/
4.0.3
852 KB
Feature limited freeware
Firefox; IE; Safari; Chrome

Extension/Add-on

Zinkmo
8
 
Is a web service or web application
Online bookmark manager, shared folders
Not just Add-on, needs .NET
http://www.zinkmo.com/
BETA (3.5.4829.0)
662 KB
Feature limited freeware
IE, Firefox 2,3

App & Add-on (IE built into app)

Tidy Favorites
6
 
Is a web service or web application
New tab page with visual bookmarks
Need to be pro to sync
http://www.tidyfavorites.com/
6.26
5.8 MB (TidyFavoritesConverter) 1.4 MB (Browser Buttons)
Feature limited freeware
IE, Firefox, Chrome, Opera

App, webware and addon.

Editor
This software category is in need of an editor. If you are interested in taking it over then check out this page for more details.  You can then contact us from that page or by clicking here.
Tags

bookmark manager, bookmark synchronizer, bookmark synchroniser, bookmark sync, favorite sync, bookmark list, favorites, bookmarks, free, freeware

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Comments

by Rick Fithen (not verified) on 20. April 2011 - 22:05  (70624)

You can't really include Tidy Favorites if requires the pro version to sync. After all the category is "Best Free Bookmark Syncronizers". Tidy Favrotites should be in "Best Free Bookmark Manager". (if available)

by spoli (not verified) on 21. October 2010 - 4:31  (59824)

It seems that Xmarks will survive after all. Check the Xmarks blog - the entry from Oct 7, 2010. It is likely that a paid version "Xmarks Premium" ($10...20?) and a free version will be available next year. James Joaquin, the CEO, is confident that Xmarks will continue on with no service interruption which is a good thing.

by Anony (not verified) on 28. September 2010 - 14:42  (58578)

Xmarks is dead being discontinued on 10th of jan 2011. Most current Browsers have there in built versions now so is this article not obsolete.

by Anupam on 28. September 2010 - 18:30  (58592)

How does this make the article obsolete? I cannot understand your statement.

The news that Xmarks will be discontinued came just recently, I think today. Till Jan 2011, there is a lot of time. Also, the bookmark sync feature in browsers has been introduced recently too. The suggestions given on this article still hold relevance.

Please do not make such weird statements.

by Bruce_Fraser on 29. September 2010 - 12:31  (58638)

Anony is correct: this article is obsolete *IF* only one browser is used. However, if one uses more than one browser, then this article is still pertinent.
Why on earth would anyone use more than one browser?
- home & work
- different family members use different browsers
- like to test different systems
- and more.
It's a matter of personal preference. Don't assume "I'm normal, and therefore everyone in the world is like me."

by Anupam on 29. September 2010 - 14:34  (58644)

Yes, Xmarks kept different browsers in synchronization, but it achieved this in a different way, by keeping an online copy of bookmarks, and syncing across different browsers. The article is about bookmark syncs across different browsers, and not on just one browser. So, your logic is wrong. I find it ridiculous that you call the article obsolete. Not a very constructive statement to make. There are three software, one of them is "going to be" stopped... but has not stopped yet. The other two software are still available. So, how can the article be called as obsolete? Please, lets talk some sense here... and not just be negative just for the sake of it.

The article is about bookmarks synchronization, so without different browsers, there cannot be any synchronization.

Stop using the word obsolete for the article... its plain ridiculous.

I should have deleted the top comment, in the beginning only. We would not be having this silly discussion at all.

by Anonymous on 8. June 2010 - 16:12  (51640)

I just tried Zinkmo and it really thrashed my FF bookmarks. Most of them had appended the Zinkmo "sync" ID, which made them unusable. I couldn't figure out any kind of pattern why some had the appended sync info and others didn't. The program also kept crashing constantly or freezing FF -- in other words, useless. So I spent two hours yesterday going through about 1000 bookmarks and manually removing the Zinkmo-appended sync IDs from every one. Then I had to delete all IE bookmarks because I had synced using Zinkmo. Then I had to re-import my bookmarks from FF to IE. Last but certainly not least, I had to re-sync my iPhone and iPad with the now-corrected IE bookmarks without the Zinkmo messed up URLs. What a disaster this has been. I wouldn't call their version beta, I'd call it pre-alpha.

by torres-no-tan-m... on 21. February 2010 - 22:50  (44140)

Hi bhdouglass,

In your Quick Selection Guide>Xmarks you stated that, 'Sync occurs at shutdown (not asap)'.

However, since recently installing Xmarks I notice you can manually sync (after adding or deleting a bookmark) by right clicking on the Xmarks icon, that is situated at the bottom right hand side of FF's window and then selecting Synchronize Now. The keyboard shortcut is Ctrl+Shift+S.

I am very pleased with Xmarks to the extent that I don't know how I previously got by without it. ;-)

by bhdouglass on 21. February 2010 - 23:53  (44145)

torresmagnifico, that is true. But I think that ideally it would be better if it was automatically updating itself so that you don't have to take extra steps or wait after shutting down. I've been using Chrome recently and Xmarks does have an auto sync option and that works well while Chrome is running. Hopefully we will see auto sync features for the other browsers too.

by Anupam on 22. February 2010 - 4:39  (44154)

Xmarks starts synchronizing, whenever you make changes to your bookmarks. It also synchronizes the bookmarks periodically, automatically. However, if just before shutting down browser, you have made changes to your bookmarks, then it will not let the browser shut down immediately, but ask to synchronize.
If however, there has been no change to bookmarks, it will let the browser shut down immediately.

by bhdouglass on 23. February 2010 - 1:53  (44210)

Oh, yes, you are correct Anupam, my mistake. Looking back I see now that my review was not exactly what I meant to say. And I forgot about the auto-sync feature in Firefox. Thanks for the heads up, I'll change my review.

by Anonymous on 9. February 2010 - 20:24  (43203)

Just a quick note for those thinking of trying Tidy Favorites... even though you said you didn't recommend it, I tried it. And it messed up my custom Opera settings(skins, toolbars, buttons. etc) something aweful! Thankfully I had backups of everything... :) It seems it tries to install buttons onto you browsers, and isn't compatible with some skins??? Just a guess.

Use with caution.

by Anupam on 15. December 2009 - 8:31  (38716)

LinkMan Lite is good bookmark synchroniser and manager, and can handle most of the popular browsers. Thanks to Rhiannon for mentioning this software in the forum.

LinkMan Lite : http://download.cnet.com/Linkman-Lite/3000-2370_4-10912728.html

by Anonymous on 17. July 2009 - 3:29  (25231)

No.1 = Transmute, it works for all major browsers - http://www.gettransmute.com/

by Anupam on 17. July 2009 - 5:53  (25237)

The free version of Transmute does not have the synchronization feature. With free version, you can only perform backups, and conversion.

by Keyur on 10. February 2009 - 0:32  (15690)

foxmarks is an option for syncing bookmarks between firefox. but what if you want to sync bookmarks between firefox and internet explorer....??

by Anonymous on 17. July 2009 - 2:35  (25230)

Foxmarks is now XMarks, and you can download XMarks for IE. That combined with the FF Xmarks extension allows automatic synching between FF and IE.

by vihar on 9. February 2009 - 23:24  (15689)

Foxmarks is indispensible... the most practical internet utility I've found so far. It gains more importance if you use more than one computer. Moreover, you have web access to your bookmarks even from public/shared computers. You can share bookmarks in the form of HTML pages, RSS feeds, etc. It's just brilliant!

I echo peter's opinion... syncing passwords is as easy and convenient as bookmarks, no problems yet.

Now there's Foxmarks for IE as well, for those unfortune moments when we are forced to use IE.

Regards,
ViHAR

by Anonymous on 30. October 2008 - 14:38  (9859)

I use foxmarks and really like it. They have started doing a password synchronizer that I'm skeptical about, but so far the bookmark manager has worked very well.

by peter on 30. October 2008 - 18:24  (9869)

I've found no problems with Foxmarks Passwords .... but I do also keep them backed-up in a text file.

by Anonymous on 25. October 2008 - 0:08  (9603)

I don't like uploading my links to external sites as my first experience I found them adding bookmarks that I hadn't created. I use a firefox addon called PlaceSync that exports my bookmarks in xml format to any website of my choosing. The addon will allow automatic uploading and downloading at beginning and end of firefox session or on demand.

by Anonymous on 19. October 2008 - 9:34  (9319)

foxmarks the addon for firefox is worth a look.

by Anonymous on 16. October 2008 - 22:25  (9223)
by jason on 15. July 2009 - 13:23  (25142)

AM-Deadlink is covered in Best Free Bookmark Cleaner.

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