Alternative to Memex
Knowledge management with permanent storage.
Full-text search across everything you save.
Memex pioneered browser-based annotation and highlighting, but its local-only storage, lack of full page archiving, and discontinued development leave users without a reliable long-term solution. Backdrop offers cloud-based permanent storage, multi-format page capture, full-text search, and rich annotation tools — all actively developed and supported.
Why users leave Memex
Browser extension with local storage — no cloud backup or cross-device sync.
Limited to text-based highlighting and annotation without full page archiving.
No multi-format capture (PDF, screenshot, standalone HTML).
No organized collections — annotations are tied to individual pages.
Project was discontinued — no ongoing updates or support.
How Backdrop compares
What makes Backdrop different
Cloud-based storage with automatic cross-device sync — no data loss risk.
Full page archiving in four formats, not just text annotations.
Organized collections with multi-level hierarchy.
Actively developed and supported with regular updates.
Pricing
Backdrop
Free tier with 100 archives. Paid plans start at $5/month. No credit card required.
View plansDirect comparison
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