PureRef is loved by illustrators, concept artists and 3D modellers for one reason: it does one job perfectly. It keeps a board of reference images floating above your drawing app, and gets out of the way. People look for PureRef alternatives when they need a different platform, open source software, collaboration, or a way to manage thousands of references instead of one board.
Here are the best options, split by which of those you need. We build GetRef, which appears below as the library side.
Alternatives for a floating reference board
BeeRef. Free and open source, for Windows, Mac and Linux. A lightweight canvas for arranging reference images, with an always-on-top mode. The closest PureRef alternative, and the obvious pick on Linux.
Kuadro. A Windows app for arranging and viewing reference images on screen, with tools for flipping, scaling and opacity.
Figma or FigJam. Not a floating board, but a flexible canvas many designers already have open. Good for sharing a board with a team or client.
Milanote. Boards that mix images, notes and links, with cloud sync and sharing. Better for planning and presenting than for painting next to. See Milanote alternatives.
Alternatives for managing a reference library
Allusion. Free and open source software for organising a local reference image library with tags and search. A good pairing with any board tool.
Eagle. A polished desktop library for very large local collections of images, videos and files, with folders, tags and colour filters. See the best Eagle alternatives.
GetRef. A cloud reference library. Save images and web pages with their link in one click, have the text read and the image tagged automatically, and find anything later by describing it. Free for 50 references.
Board vs library: why you probably need both
PureRef holds the twelve images you need for this piece. It is not designed to hold the four thousand you have collected over five years. When boards are your only system, old references get buried in old board files you never reopen.
The setup that works for most artists and designers:
- Library: every reference you keep, tagged and searchable, in Allusion, Eagle or GetRef.
- Board: PureRef, BeeRef or Figma, built for one piece from a quick search of the library.
- Archive: save the board file next to the finished piece, and put any new references back in the library.
Quick picks
- Closest free, open source PureRef alternative: BeeRef.
- On Linux: BeeRef.
- On Windows with extra viewing tools: Kuadro.
- Shared boards with a team: Figma or FigJam.
- Planning and presenting: Milanote.
- Free local library: Allusion.
- Large local library: Eagle.
- Searchable cloud library with automatic tagging: GetRef.
For more board tools, see the best moodboard tools for designers.
Common questions
- What is the best free alternative to PureRef?
- BeeRef is the closest free, open source alternative. It is a lightweight reference board for Windows, Mac and Linux with a similar always-on-top canvas. Allusion is a free, open source reference library if you need to manage many images rather than one board.
- Is there a PureRef alternative for iPad?
- PureRef is desktop only. On iPad, many artists use Procreate reference images, Milanote, Figma or a notes app with images pinned in split view. A cloud reference library also lets you browse references from an iPad.
- What is the difference between PureRef and a reference manager?
- PureRef is a board: you arrange images for the piece you are working on now. A reference manager stores and searches every reference you have collected over years, so you can build the next board quickly.
- Is PureRef free?
- PureRef can be downloaded with a pay-what-you-want option, including zero. Paying supports development.
