Import
Move from Raindrop.io to Readbird
Raindrop.io exports a collection as a CSV file. Readbird reads it: links arrive with their titles, tags, dates and favourites, and the collection name becomes a label.
How the move works
Raindrop.io exports one collection at a time, in HTML, CSV or TXT. CSV carries the most for Readbird, so use it. You do not need to edit the file — Readbird recognises the format by its columns.
In Readbird your links land in the “Later” list: they open in a clean reader, stay readable without a connection, and you can highlight passages while reading (kept in Notes, under the Highlights filter), add notes, listen to an article and translate it.
Servers are in the EU, there are no ads, and every feature is free while Readbird is in beta.
How to move a Raindrop.io collection
In Raindrop.io the export button sits in the toolbar of an opened collection. Each collection is exported on its own and nested collections are not included, so repeat the steps for every collection you want to bring over.
How to move the file
- In Raindrop.io open a collection, press “Export” and choose CSV. The file is downloaded.
- Repeat for each collection you want to bring over.
- Open Readbird, choose “Add content” and go to the “Move everything to Readbird” block, then pick the file as it is.
- Wait for the report: how many links were found, how many were imported and what was skipped.
What moves over from Raindrop.io and what does not
| What | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Links and titles | Moves over | Every bookmark with its title. A link that sits in several collections is merged into one, with the labels of all of them. |
| Collection | Moves over | The name of the collection becomes a label on its bookmarks. A nested collection is exported separately and gets only its own name. |
| Tags | Moves over | Raindrop tags come across as labels. |
| Favourites | Moves over | Bookmarks marked as favourite arrive as favourites. Only the CSV file carries this; the HTML file does not. |
| Date | Moves over | The date you added the bookmark is kept. |
| Note and description | Moves over | Your note arrives as the short description (up to 1,000 characters). If there is no note, Raindrop’s own description of the page is used. |
| Highlights | Partly | The CSV has a column for them and Readbird reads it, but creating highlights in Raindrop.io is a paid feature and we could not check a real file. Passages arrive as highlights if the column has text. |
| Covers and reminders | Does not move | Cover pictures and reminders are not carried over. |
| Page text | Does not move | The file holds links, not article text. Readbird loads it from the original page when you open the article, if that page is still online. |
| HTML file | Partly | The HTML export works too, but it brings only links, titles, tags and dates — no collection, favourites or notes. Use CSV when you can. |
Limits to know about
- One import takes up to 20,000 new links. Run the same file again and it continues where it stopped; links already imported are skipped.
- Up to 200 highlights are kept per bookmark.
- The “Later” list loads up to 5,000 saved items. Imported highlights go to Notes (the Highlights filter): it also loads up to 5,000 and draws the first 500, then more as you scroll or tap “Show more”.
Import
Questions about moving from Raindrop.io
Which format should I choose, CSV or HTML?
CSV. It carries tags, favourites, the collection name and your note. The HTML file brings only links, titles, tags and dates.
Do I have to export every collection separately?
Yes. Raindrop.io exports one collection per file, and a collection’s nested collections are not part of it. Load the files one after another: repeated links are merged, nothing is doubled.
Do my tags come across?
Yes. They arrive as labels, together with the name of the collection the bookmark was in.
Does importing cost anything?
No. Import is free, and so is leaving: one button in Settings exports everything you have in Readbird.
Switching
Bring your bookmarks over
Start with the import window, or simply save your first link.