Compare Screencastify and Raindrop.io: Which Extension is the Best?
Screencastify is a popular Chrome extension for screen recording. It offers a range of features but has shifted many basic functionalities behind a paywall, affecting its overall value. | Raindrop.io lets you save, organize, and access bookmarks on any device. Features include highlights, annotations, and full-text search for easy web content management. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each extension. |
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| Our Rating Tooltivity's expert review score for each extension, based on hands-on testing and research. | 7.8 | 8.9 Winner in this category |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 6,000,000 Winner in this category | 741,698 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 11,733 Winner in this category | 1,803 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | 4.0 ⭐ | 4.3 ⭐ Winner in this category |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the extension. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
| Chrome User rating and stats for the extension on Chrome browser. |  4.0 3.63 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 6.0M+Users | 4.1 4.31 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 300.0K+Users Winner in this category |
| Edge User rating and stats for the extension on Edge browser. | - |  4.5 4.49 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 109.7K+Users Winner in this category |
| Firefox User rating and stats for the extension on Firefox browser. | - |  4.3 4.34 Average Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store rating from the last 100 reviews 32.0K+Users Winner in this category |
| Safari User rating and stats for the extension on Safari browser. | - | - |
| Features Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each extension. | 8.8 Screencastify offers a robust set of features, including screen and webcam recording, video editing and interactive questions. Leaving aside the fact that many features are only available for a fee, it's fair to say that it offers a lot of features. While recording, you can easily add spotlights and draw on the screen. The drawing tools offer a nice range of options, so you should have everything you need:  The subsequent editor also offers many functions where you can cut the video to your needs. Here is what the basic editor looks like:  It recently also added an AI feature that automatically adds captions, transcripts, titles, and descriptions. Furthermore, Screencastify offers another video editor when clicking "Edit Video" in the top right corner. This will open up another editor where you can do some more video editing. Here is how it looks like:  In our opinion, this editor isn’t necessary if you already have your own video editing software, but it could be useful for some people. We’re not entirely sure if this is just an older version of the original editor. However, we did discover that you can export videos to MP4 for free, thanks to an "Export" button that lets you do so without any limitations. We’re not certain if this is intentional, but at least it works for us. | 9.0 Raindrop.io offers an exceptional set of features that go far beyond basic bookmarking. The full-text search capability is particularly impressive, allowing users to find content within saved pages. The highlighting and annotation tools are well-implemented, making it easy to mark important sections of web pages. The team collaboration features are robust, and the permanent library feature ensures you never lose access to important content. Cross-platform sync works seamlessly, and the availability of browser extensions for all major browsers and mobile apps makes it accessible everywhere. The API access for developers and custom domains for public collections add significant value for power users. Winner in this category |
| Performance Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each extension. | 7.5 The speed has deteriorated considerably with the latest updates. This is probably because more and more functions, such as the AI function, are being added. The tool has become slower, and creating links or accessing older videos takes longer than before. Many users have also complained about the performance in the reviews. | 9.0 The performance of Raindrop.io is generally excellent. Bookmark saving is fast and reliable, search results are quick, and sync works efficiently across devices. The mobile app performs well, though there's room for improvement in some areas. Resource usage is efficient, and the browser extension is stable. Page loading is quick, though users might occasionally experience sync delays. Overall, the performance is solid and reliable for daily use. Winner in this category |
| Design Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each extension. | 9.0 The design is intuitive and user-friendly. We think that navigation is very intuitive despite the many functions. Winner in this category | 8.0 The interface design of Raindrop.io is clean, modern, and professional. The browser extension is intuitive and easy to use, while the web interface offers a responsive design that works well on all devices. The collections view is well-organized, and the visual hierarchy helps users navigate their bookmarks efficiently. The design is consistent across different platforms, though some users might wish for more customization options. The overall aesthetic is polished and user-friendly, though there's room for improvement in terms of personalization. |
| Value for Money Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each extension. | 5.0 As already mentioned, we are somewhat shocked by the limitations of the free version. Especially if you have used the app in the past and can export videos for free. In addition, even with the starter package for $7, you are limited to 10 exports. We find that many other providers offer much more for the money. | 9.3 Raindrop.io offers good value for money, particularly for users who need its advanced features. The free tier, while limited, is sufficient for basic bookmarking needs. The Pro plan is competitively priced, especially with the annual discount option. The comprehensive feature set justifies the cost for power users, and regular updates show ongoing development. The support is responsive and helpful. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each extension. | 8.5 Screencastify is easy to use, with a minimal learning curve. Even beginners can quickly get the hang of it. However, we find that recent updates have introduced some complexities that are not absolutely necessary for a screen recorder. | 8.7 Raindrop.io excels in user-friendliness. The installation process is straightforward, and the browser extension is intuitive to use. The interface is easy to understand, even for new users, and saving bookmarks is quick and efficient. The organization system is logical and straightforward, and the keyboard shortcuts are well-implemented. The onboarding experience is smooth, and features are easily discoverable. The tool manages to pack powerful features while maintaining an accessible interface. Winner in this category |
| Security & Privacy Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each extension. | 8.0 Unfortunately, an account is required, which in our opinion is not necessary for Screen recorder. However, Screencastify's privacy policy is very comprehensive and complies with standard data protection practices, including compliance with the GDPR and PCI-DSS certification for payment data. Screencastify takes reasonable security measures but, like all online services, cannot guarantee absolute protection. | 9.5 Security and privacy are priorities for Raindrop.io. The implementation of 256-bit encryption ensures data is well-protected during sync. The company's commitment to not selling user data is reassuring, and the private-by-default approach respects user privacy. The privacy policy is clear and transparent, and the service is GDPR compliant. Regular security updates and a secure sync process demonstrate an ongoing commitment to user security. The handling of user data is transparent and trustworthy. Winner in this category |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each extension. | Screencastify was a fantastic tool in the past, and we used to use it daily. Unfortunately, recent updates have made it less user-friendly by hiding key features behind a paywall. For people who need a wide range of features, the tool is still an option. For others who just want to make a recording every now and then to export a video, Screencastify is unfortunately no longer an option. | Raindrop.io is a versatile and powerful bookmark manager. The successful combination of feature-rich configuration and intuitive user interface makes the tool the first choice for both occasional users and power users. Thanks to its cross-platform availability, users have access to their bookmarks anytime and anywhere. The free version with its partially limited range of functions will be enough for many users, while the Pro plan offers excellent value for money for all others. Particularly noteworthy is the ability to save not just links, but complete websites, supplemented by practical functions such as markers and annotations. This makes Raindrop.io ideal for both students and professionals who regularly need to organize, comment on, and archive web content. |
| Our Recommendation | In our comparison between Screencastify and Raindrop.io, Raindrop.io came out on top, scoring 8.9. Screencastify is the most widely used, with over 6 million users and 12k+ reviews, but Raindrop.io outperformed it in our review. User reviews reflect our findings. Notably, Raindrop.io has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.26, which supports its strong performance in our review. There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.
If you want a quick recommendation, Raindrop.io is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you. | |
