Arkyvst · Lightweight digital asset management for Google Drive

Tag your files with Arkyvst.
Find the exact one in seconds.

Arkyvst is a Chrome extension for your Google Drive. Drive can only find a file by its name — one attribute. Arkyvst lets you tag any file — a photo, a video, a PDF — with as many attributes as you want, then stack those tags to narrow thousands of files down to the exact one, right inside Drive.

Free tier No credit card We never read your files
Features

A lightweight DAM for your Google Drive

The organizing power of a digital asset manager — for photos, videos and audio — without leaving Google Drive or paying for enterprise software.

Built for photos, video & audio

Tag photos, video and audio right from the Drive sidebar — by what's in them, who they're for, or their status. Drive can't look inside a photo or a clip, so tags are the only way to make them findable. Works on Docs, Sheets, Slides and PDFs too.

Untagged inbox

Point Arkyvst at the folders where media piles up. Every still-untagged photo and clip lands in one inbox — work through it in batches, thumbnail by thumbnail, until you hit inbox zero.

Stack tags to find the one

This is the whole point. Drive finds a file by its name — one attribute. Arkyvst lets you stack tags — approved + spring-launch + homepage — to narrow thousands of files down to the exact one, across every folder and shared drive. Fast and local-first.

Preview in place

Confirm you've got the right shot before you tag it. Arkyvst plays audio and video and shows image and PDF previews right in the sidebar — no extra tab, no guessing from IMG_4821.jpg.

Saved-tag library

Build your vocabulary once — clients, projects, statuses, whatever you sort by. Group tags into categories, color-code them, and reuse them with a click so everything's labelled the same way every time.

Built for teams

Share one tag library across your team. Everyone labels clients, projects and statuses the same way from day one — no more "is it acme-co or AcmeCo?"

Privacy-first

We never read the contents of your files — only their metadata and the tags you add. Your tags sync through Arkyvst's secure backend, locked to your workspace with row-level security, so they're on every device and shared only with teammates you invite.

Free to start

Tag your first batch of files for free. Upgrade only when you outgrow the limit — no credit card needed to sign up.

Why Arkyvst

Sound familiar?

If you keep a lot of files in Drive, you've probably hit every one of these.

"Wait — which version was the final one?"

You send a few drafts, someone picks one, and two weeks later you're staring at v1, v2, final, final-2. Tag the one that got approved final the moment you hear back, and never ship the wrong version again.

"Pull everything for one client — fast."

A client asks for every file from their last project, and it's scattered across a dozen folders. Tag each file with the client and project, then click that tag to see their whole history in one view — no digging.

"I need the exact file — not forty maybes."

Drive can only search a file's name, so finding the right one means scrolling through hundreds of IMG_ and DSC_ files. Stack tags insteadclient-acme + approved + homepage — and the one file you need surfaces in seconds.

"Folders just don't cut it."

A file can only live in one folder, but it's usually several things at once. Tags let one file be client-acme, approved, social and spring-launch all at the same time — right where your files already live, nothing moved or duplicated.

"Real DAM software is overkill — and pricey."

Enterprise asset managers mean a new platform, a migration, and a bill to match. Arkyvst is a lightweight layer on the Drive you already use — nothing to migrate, free to start, and your files never leave your own Google account.

"Everyone on the team tags things differently."

One person writes acme-co, another writes AcmeCo, and now nothing's findable. A shared tag library keeps the whole team on one vocabulary, so a search turns up every match no matter who filed it.

How it works

Three steps to a searchable file library

Install once. Tag your files. Find the exact one later.

1

Install the extension

One click from the Chrome Web Store. Sign in with Google to enable cross-device sync — or skip sign-in and use it locally.

2

Tag your files

Open any file in Drive. The Arkyvst sidebar pops up — tag it with whatever matters (client, project, status), hit enter, done. Build a saved library you can chip-click next time. Got a backlog? The Untagged Inbox clears it in batches.

3

Find the exact file, anywhere

Click a saved tag — or stack several — to narrow from everything down to the exact file, across folders, shared drives, and your whole account. The more tags you stack, the closer you get to the one you wanted.

Pricing

Simple, honest pricing

Try the full product free. Upgrade only when you actually outgrow it.

Free
$0 forever

The full product for a single user — capped at 1,000 tagged files.

  • Up to 1,000 tagged files
  • Saved-tag library, categories & colors
  • Search by tag + Untagged Inbox
  • Sync across devices
  • Single user
Get started — free
Team
$7.99 / month

plus $1.99 / month per extra seat — your owner seat is included

Keep a whole team tagging from one shared vocabulary.

  • Unlimited tagged files
  • Shared tag library across the team
  • One workspace, invite teammates
  • Tags on shared files visible to all
  • Priority support
Start a Team
FAQ

Questions, answered

Looking for step-by-step guides? Browse the Help Center. Still stuck? Email info@arkyvst.com.

Where are my tags actually stored?
In Arkyvst's secure backend. Per-file tags — along with basic file details like the name and type — are stored in our database, scoped to your workspace with row-level security so only you (and, on Team plans, teammates you invite) can read them. That's what lets your tags show up on every device and be searched instantly. Your saved-tag library lives there too. We never read or store the contents of your files.
I have a backlog of untagged files. Is there a faster way?
Yes — the Untagged Inbox. In Settings, pick the folders where new files land (Arkyvst watches every subfolder beneath them too). Everything that still needs tags gets gathered into one place and shown as thumbnails. Work through it in batches — by most-recently-added or by subfolder — selecting several at once and applying shared tags in a single click. Files that don't need any tags get marked reviewed so they drop out of the inbox. It's built for clearing a pile without opening files one at a time.
Does Arkyvst read my file contents?
No. Arkyvst only reads file metadata (name, type, modified time, thumbnail) for the files you're looking at or searching. The actual documents, spreadsheets, slides, images — we never read them. See the Privacy Policy for the full breakdown of what we collect and what we don't.
What happens to my tags if I uninstall the extension?
They're safe. Your tags live in Arkyvst's backend, not just in your browser — so uninstalling the extension doesn't touch them. Reinstall, sign in, and they're all there. If you close your Arkyvst account, your tags and saved-tag library are scheduled for deletion after a 2-year grace period (reactivate any time before then and everything comes back). Your files in Google Drive are never affected either way.
Can my teammates see my tags?
On the free tier: no. Each user's tags are private to their own Google account, even if you share files. On the Team tier, you can invite teammates into a shared workspace where everyone tags from the same library — and tags on shared files become visible to other workspace members.
How does billing work?
We use LemonSqueezy for checkout and recurring billing. They handle all card processing — Arkyvst never sees or stores card details. Cancel anytime from the LemonSqueezy customer portal (link in your purchase email). Full refund within 14 days of your initial purchase if it's not a fit.
Does Arkyvst work with Shared Drives / team drives?
Yes. Arkyvst works on any file your Google account has access to, whether it's in My Drive, a Shared Drive, or shared with you directly. Tags you add are visible to you on every device you sign into.
Is Arkyvst only for photos and videos?
No — it's built with media in mind, but it tags anything Drive can hold. Photos, videos and audio are where it shines (Drive can't search inside them, so tags are the only way to make them findable), but it works just as well on Docs, Sheets, Slides and PDFs. Tag a contract, a brand guideline, an invoice — whatever you need to find again.
Is there a desktop app, or just Chrome?
Chrome only for now. Arkyvst is a Chrome extension because Drive is where the work happens. A separate desktop app isn't on the roadmap — but we'd consider Firefox or Edge if there's demand. Email us if you'd use it.
Who's behind Arkyvst?
Arkyvst is built by Tosch Roy, a sole proprietor working out of Bend, Oregon. Reach out anytime at info@arkyvst.com — you'll get a real response from a real person.

Stop hunting for that photo.

Install Arkyvst, tag a few assets, and turn your Drive into a media library you can actually search.

Add to Chrome — Free