The NX1 alternative to start.me
start.me is the classic personal homepage in the best sense: a page full of widgets and link collections, reachable anywhere because it lives on the vendor’s servers. That is exactly where its strength comes from — pages can be published, shared and maintained together as a team.
NX1 turns that around: the start page lives in the browser, not on a server. There is no account and no sign-in; if you want to sync between devices you pair them with a code. And instead of one big page for everything, each topic gets its own, switched with a click.
NX1 and start.me at a glance
| NX1 | start.me | |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | Topic start pages on the new tab | A hosted personal homepage with widgets |
| Where the page lives | In the browser; sync optional, by code | On the vendor’s servers, in your account |
| Account | Not required | Part of the model |
| Multiple views | As many start pages as you like, switched with a click | Several pages, more on the paid plans |
| Content | Curated tiles, news feed and topic search per start page | Widgets, feeds and link collections you assemble |
| Maintaining together | — | Share pages with a team and edit them together |
| Sharing | Share a start page; others install it into their tab | Publish a page; others open it |
| Price | Free | Free tier; paid plans for more pages and team features |
Start without an account
There is nothing to register with NX1: after installing, your first start page is there, and your settings live in the browser. Syncing between computer and phone runs on a pairing code — a QR code or eight characters, no login, no address, no password. If you do not need the sync, leave it off and nothing leaves the device.
One topic, one page
A hosted start page grows long over time, because everything has to fit on it. NX1 separates instead: work, football, gaming and shopping each get their own start page with their own tiles, their own news feed, their own search, their own background and their own widgets. A new page is built by AI from its name, or installed from the gallery with one click.
Fair is fair: where start.me remains the better choice
The moment several people need to maintain the same page, start.me has the advantage — collaborative editing is part of that product, and NX1 has no equivalent. The same goes for reaching your collection from any borrowed computer without installing anything: a hosted page needs only a login, while NX1 assumes the extension or the paired web app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reach my start pages from a second device without an account?
Yes, through device pairing: generate a QR code or eight-character code on the first device and enter it on the second — areas and tiles then sync. It replaces the login without you having to hand over an address.
Can I share an NX1 start page with other people?
Yes. Every start page can be shared as a link; whoever opens it sees the page straight in the browser and can take it into their own new tab with one click. What NX1 cannot do is collaborative editing — recipients get their own copy, not a shared page.
Can I bring my existing browser bookmarks?
Yes. On first run NX1 offers a 1:1 import of your browser bookmarks — they show up as tiles and can be reordered or moved into start pages afterwards.
Is NX1 free?
Yes. NX1 is free and works without an account; device sync uses a pairing code instead of a login.
Does NX1 work in Firefox or Safari?
As an extension NX1 runs in Chromium browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera). In Firefox, Safari and on mobile you use NX1 as a web app at start.nx1-app.com.
As of: October 2026 · Statements about third-party extensions are made to the best of our knowledge as of the stated date, without guarantee — feature sets and pricing may change. All trademarks and product names belong to their respective owners; NX1 is not affiliated with any of the vendors mentioned.