Links List
Purpose built for sharing lists of links. Links added to the list are enhanced through simple lookup techniques, reading meta data of the destination of the link automatically, meaning you have less work to do when it comes to explaining what each link represents.
Google Docs
Powerful tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, including sharing links. Won't automatically enhance links with meta data and imagery.
Collaboration and Permissions
Links List
Give read or editing access to specific people through User Access Control. User will have to create an account in order to make use of that access, but it's all free and very light weight
Google Docs
Give read or editing access to anyone who has the URL, making it effectively public. Can give specific people access, but they need to have a Google account. Signing up for a Google account is not as quick and easy, and could involve data privacy concerns.
Ease of Use
Links List
Copy and paste a link into the URL input field, add to list and the app will automatically look up information about that link, displaying a title, description and image in the list. This makes it exceptionally easy to find a link in your list at a galnce
Mobile friendly
Google Docs:
Copy and paste a link into a document. Type in a title or description of the link to give others (including your future self) context of what the link is for. If you want some visual representation through an image, you'll have to go searching for one online and copy/paste it into your document.
Questionable mobile friendly - Google Docs isn't really intended to be used on a mobile device
Organisation
Links List
Click and drag to re-order links in a list. All meta data moves seamlessly with the link.
Removing a link is as simple as clicking a button
Automatically sort links alphabetically or by date added
Google Docs
To organise the list of links, you'll need to manually highlight the text of the link, including any meta data, cut to clipboard, then paste into its new location in the list.
Removing a link requires manually highlighting the text of the link, including any meta data, and then removing any extra whitespace that was left over from the formatting the list.
Want to automatically sort the links in a list alphabetically? Or by date they were added to the list? You can't.
Customisation
Links List
Edit list title, description, theme and view density. Set defaults for each visual customisation option.
Google Docs
Edit list title, description. No themes (unless you spend the time to create yourself), one view - just text. No defaults for visual customisation options, unless you take the time to figure out how to create a Google Doc Template
Use Cases
Links List
Ideal for creating and sharing lists of links, such as resource lists, gift registries, shopping lists, or collaborative link collections. Its specialized features make it perfect for scenarios where the organization and presentation of links are paramount.
Google Docs
Best for creating text documents that include links as part of the content. Suitable for scenarios where links are secondary to the main document, such as reports, articles, or collaborative writing projects. Use it with Links List, place a Links List URL in your footer so each page can easily refer to a list of your reference links!
Conclusion
Both Links List and Google Docs have their place in the realm of link sharing. If you need a dedicated tool that excels in organizing, presenting, and collaborating on lists of links, Links List is the clear winner. It offers specialized features that make link management easy and visually appealing. On the other hand, if you're looking for a versatile text document tool that includes basic link sharing capabilities, Google Docs is a reliable choice.
Ultimately, the best tool for you depends on your specific needs. For focused link sharing with enhanced organization and customization, try Links List. For general document creation with basic link sharing, Google Docs remains a solid option.
Ready to streamline your link sharing? Get started with Links List for free!