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Migrating from Raindrop.io to SaveIt.now: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to upgrade from Raindrop.io's basic features to SaveIt.now's AI-powered intelligence? Here's your complete migration guide with zero data loss.

SaveIt Team
July 23, 2024
9 min read
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Raindrop.io is a solid bookmark manager, but if you're craving AI-powered content understanding, semantic search, and advanced personal productivity features, it's time to upgrade.

This complete guide will walk you through migrating from Raindrop.io to SaveIt.now—preserving all your bookmarks while unlocking next-generation features. For a detailed feature comparison, check out our SaveIt.now vs Raindrop.io analysis.

Why Upgrade from Raindrop.io to SaveIt.now?

Before diving into migration, here's what you'll gain by making the switch:

What Raindrop.io Does Well

  • Clean, visual interface with multiple view modes
  • Solid free tier and reasonable pricing
  • Mature platform with good browser extensions
  • Basic auto-tagging and organization

Where SaveIt.now Excels

  • AI that understands content: Deep analysis vs basic keyword extraction (learn about AI bookmark management trends)
  • Semantic search: Find content by meaning, not just keywords
  • Multi-format intelligence: YouTube transcripts, PDF analysis, X posts
  • Personal productivity features: AI-powered organization and workflows
  • API-first design: Comprehensive automation capabilities

For context on all available options, see our complete bookmark manager guide.

Pre-Migration Checklist

Ensure you have everything ready for a smooth migration:

✅ Active Raindrop.io account with access to your collections ✅ SaveIt.now account (create your free account first) ✅ 15-30 minutes for the migration process ✅ Internet connection for backup creation and import ✅ Collection inventory - note any special organization you want to preserve

Part 1: Exporting Your Data from Raindrop.io

Step 1: Create a Complete Backup

Raindrop.io offers excellent export capabilities. Here's how to get all your data:

  1. Log into your Raindrop.io account
  2. Navigate to Settings (click your profile icon)
  3. Go to Backups section
  4. Click "Create New" to generate a fresh backup
  5. Wait for email notification (usually arrives within minutes)

Step 2: Download Your Backup Files

Once you receive the email notification:

  1. Return to Settings → Backups

  2. Choose your export format:

    • HTML: Best for preserving folder structure and metadata
    • CSV: Ideal for data manipulation and selective import
    • TXT: Simple format for basic URL lists

  3. Download both HTML and CSV for maximum flexibility

Alternative: Export Specific Collections

If you only need certain collections:

  1. Navigate to the specific collection you want to export
  2. Find the Export button within the collection view
  3. Select your preferred format (HTML, CSV, or TXT)
  4. Download the file immediately

Alternative: Export Search Results

For targeted migration of specific content:

  1. Perform a search in Raindrop.io for content you want to migrate
  2. Click the Export button in the search results
  3. Choose your format and download

Part 2: Understanding Your Raindrop.io Export

What's Included in Raindrop.io Exports

Full Backup includes:

  • All bookmarks with URLs, titles, and descriptions
  • Collection organization and hierarchy
  • Tags and highlights
  • Creation and modification dates
  • Basic metadata

What's NOT included:

  • Uploaded files and images (files you uploaded directly to Raindrop.io)
  • Custom collection icons
  • Detailed settings and preferences
  • Activity history

CSV Format Structure

Your CSV export typically contains these columns:

  • url - The bookmark URL
  • title - Page title
  • description - Your notes or page description
  • tags - Comma-separated tag list
  • created - Creation timestamp
  • collection - Collection name
  • domain - Website domain

Part 3: Importing to SaveIt.now

Step 3: Prepare Your Data for Import

Clean your CSV file (optional but recommended):

  1. Open the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets
  2. Review URLs for any duplicates or broken links
  3. Check descriptions for content you want to preserve
  4. Note collection structure you want to recreate

Extract URL list for bulk import:

  1. Copy the URL column from your CSV
  2. Create a clean text file with one URL per line
  3. Remove any headers or empty lines

Step 4: Bulk Import to SaveIt.now

  1. Log into your SaveIt.now account
  2. Navigate to the import section or bulk add feature
  3. Paste your URL list into the import tool
  4. Start the import process

What happens during import:

  • SaveIt.now processes each URL individually
  • AI analyzes content and generates enhanced metadata
  • Screenshots are captured automatically
  • Smart tags are generated based on content analysis
  • Summaries are created explaining why content is valuable

Step 5: Monitor the AI Enhancement Process

Unlike Raindrop.io's basic import, SaveIt.now enhances your content:

AI Processing includes:

  • Content analysis: Understanding what each page is actually about
  • Smart tagging: Generating relevant tags based on content, not just titles
  • Summarization: Creating explanations of why you might have saved each item
  • Relationship mapping: Finding connections between related bookmarks
  • Visual capture: Screenshots for better visual recognition

Part 4: Optimizing Your New Setup

Step 6: Review and Organize AI-Enhanced Content

Explore AI improvements:

  1. Check auto-generated tags - often more comprehensive than your original Raindrop.io tags
  2. Read AI summaries - understand why the content was valuable
  3. Test semantic search - try natural language queries like "React performance optimization"

Recreate your collection structure:

  1. Create collections for major topic areas
  2. Use bulk operations to move related bookmarks
  3. Set up personal project collections organized by your workflow needs

Step 7: Set Up Advanced Features

Browser Extensions:

  • Install SaveIt.now extensions for seamless future saving
  • Configure auto-tagging preferences
  • Set up quick-save workflows

Personal Workflow Optimization:

  • Set up automated tagging based on your interests
  • Configure custom collections for different projects
  • Explore AI-powered content recommendations

API Integration (for power users):

  • Review SaveIt.now's comprehensive API documentation
  • Set up automation workflows
  • Connect with your existing productivity tools

Part 5: Advanced Migration Strategies

Handling Special Content Types

For collections with uploaded files:

  • Raindrop.io doesn't export uploaded files
  • Manually download important files from Raindrop.io
  • Upload them to SaveIt.now for AI analysis

For heavily tagged content:

  • SaveIt.now's AI will suggest improved tags
  • Compare AI suggestions with your Raindrop.io tags
  • Merge the best of both for optimal organization

For nested collections:

  • SaveIt.now uses a flat structure with smart filtering
  • Use tags and AI-powered search instead of deep nesting
  • Create saved searches for complex queries

Preserving Raindrop.io Workflows

Visual browsing:

  • SaveIt.now captures screenshots automatically
  • Use grid view for visual content browsing
  • Leverage AI-generated descriptions for context

Collection organization:

  • Recreate main collections in SaveIt.now
  • Use tags for sub-categorization
  • Leverage AI suggestions for improved organization

Migration Timeline and Expectations

Day 1: Basic Migration

  • Export from Raindrop.io (15 minutes)
  • Import to SaveIt.now (30 minutes)
  • Initial AI processing (background, 1-2 hours)

Week 1: Optimization

  • Review AI-generated enhancements
  • Set up preferred organization structure
  • Install and configure browser extensions
  • Explore semantic search capabilities

Month 1: Advanced Usage

  • Master advanced search techniques
  • Set up personal productivity workflows
  • Configure API integrations
  • Optimize collection structure based on usage patterns

Common Migration Questions

Will I lose my Raindrop.io organization?

Your collection structure exports as metadata. SaveIt.now's AI will suggest improved organization based on content analysis, often working better than manual categorization.

How does SaveIt.now's search compare to Raindrop.io?

SaveIt.now uses semantic search that understands content meaning. Search for "database performance tips" and find relevant content even if it's titled "MySQL Optimization Guide."

Can I keep using Raindrop.io during migration?

Yes, but avoid making major changes during the migration process. Export your data first, then continue using Raindrop.io until you're comfortable with SaveIt.now.

What about my browser bookmarks?

If you synced browser bookmarks to Raindrop.io, they'll be included in your export. SaveIt.now can enhance these with AI analysis too.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Export Problems

Issue: Backup creation fails Solution: Try exporting smaller collections individually, or contact Raindrop.io support

Import Issues

Issue: Some URLs don't import properly Solution: Check for malformed URLs in your CSV. SaveIt.now support can help with bulk corrections

Missing Content

Issue: Some bookmarks seem missing after import Solution: Check your Raindrop.io CSV for completeness. Some private or broken links may not export

What You'll Gain After Migration

Immediate Improvements

  • AI-powered content understanding vs basic keyword tagging
  • Semantic search capabilities that understand intent
  • Automatic screenshot capture for all content
  • Enhanced metadata with AI-generated summaries

Advanced Capabilities

  • Multi-format content support (YouTube, PDFs, X posts)
  • Personal productivity features that supercharge individual workflows
  • Comprehensive API for automation and integrations
  • Natural language search that works like human thinking

Long-term Benefits

  • Better content discovery through AI relationships
  • Improved personal productivity with intelligent organization
  • Future-proof platform with active AI development
  • Cost efficiency with more features at similar pricing

Pro Tips for Success

Before Migration

  1. Clean up your Raindrop.io collections - migrate only valuable content
  2. Document special workflows you want to preserve
  3. Test with a small collection first

During Migration

  1. Export multiple formats (HTML + CSV) for flexibility
  2. Check export completeness before starting import
  3. Monitor AI processing and provide feedback for better results

After Migration

  1. Spend time exploring AI-generated insights
  2. Set up personal workflows optimized for your productivity
  3. Configure automation to save time on routine tasks

Ready to Upgrade?

Migrating from Raindrop.io to SaveIt.now isn't just moving data—it's upgrading to AI-powered content management. With semantic search, content understanding, and advanced personal productivity features, you'll wonder why you waited so long.

For other alternatives, check out our top 5 bookmark tools comparison.

The migration takes 30 minutes. The AI insights last forever.

Ready to migrate from Raindrop.io? Start your free SaveIt.now account and experience the next generation of bookmark management.

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