Platform 2 Guide — This article applies to the new platform. Looking for classic platform docs? Browse the Platform 1 collection.
Why: Choose the right organizer so members can filter attributes with tags and browse curated themes with collections.
Navigate: App Station > Settings > Branding & Design > Tags & Collections
Overview
Tags and Collections both help members find content but serve different purposes. Here’s a quick comparison:
Tags | Collections | |
Job | Label content with attributes so members can filter and search | Curate themed groups members can browse as destinations |
Think of them as | Filters / facets | Mini landing pages / themed shelves |
Examples | Gluten Free, Italian, Breakfast, Easy, Slow Cooker | Weeknight Winners, Meal Prep Sunday, Summer Entertaining |
What members see | Chips on cards and in filter panels | Cards/nav with cover images; dedicated collection pages |
Extras | Optional short name (e.g. GF); type (Dietary, Cuisine, etc.) | Description, cover image/gallery, color, sort order, default sort |
Where admins manage them | App Station → Settings → Tags & Collections → Tags | App Station → Settings → Tags & Collections → Collections |
How many to create | Many is fine if names stay clear | Fewer, intentional groupings |
When to Use Tags
Use tags when the label is an attribute of the content that members might filter by. Examples include:
Dietary needs: Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Vegan
Cuisine: Italian, Mexican, Thai
Meal type: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snack
Effort / method: Easy, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer
Topics (for resources/blog): Nutrition, Meal Prep, Beginners
Rule of thumb: If a member would say "show me everything that is ___," use a tag.
Tags power filter panels, quick-filter chips, saved filter presets, and search refinement. They appear as chips on content cards when card templates are configured to show them.
When to Use Collections
Use collections when you are curating a story or theme — a set you want members to discover as a group. Examples include:
Seasonal: Summer Grilling, Holiday Favorites
Lifestyle: Busy Weeknights, Family Favorites, Meal Prep
Programs or journeys: 7-Day Reset, Beginner's Kitchen
Cross-type themes: "Quick Dinners" with recipes and meal plans
Collections support cover images, rich text descriptions, and their own pages. You can feature them with category navigation and showcase blocks on home and library pages.
Rule of thumb: If you would put it on a homepage shelf or give it its own page with a story, use a collection.
Using Both Together
Most kitchens should use both tags and collections.
For example, a recipe in Weeknight Winners (collection) might also be tagged Dinner, Easy, and Gluten Free.
Collection = where it lives in your curated experience
Tags = how members filter and refine
Avoid putting the same idea in both places unless you mean it. For instance, do not create a "Gluten Free" collection and a "Gluten Free" tag if members only need to filter — use the tag. Save collections for themes you will feature and explain.
Quick Decision Guide
Will members mainly filter by this? → Tag
Do you want a browsable page with image + description? → Collection
Is it a fact about the recipe (diet, cuisine, meal type)? → Tag
Is it a curated theme or program? → Collection
Unsure? Start with a tag. Promote it to a collection later if you want to feature it.
Where This Lives in App Station
Tags: Settings → Tags & Collections → Tags
Collections: Settings → Tags & Collections → Collections
Apply either from the content editor (General tab: Collections and Tags are separate sections)
Bulk-assign tags and collections from Content Library multi-select actions