If you’re a digital artist, concept designer, or game dev, you probably know the comfort of PureRef’s minimalist infinite canvas. For years, it’s been the go-to for keeping visual references close at hand. But if you’ve been using it for serious creative work lately, you might also know the frustration that comes when your boards start to outgrow its limits.

TL;DR: Top PureRef Alternatives

If you just want the shortlist, here are the 3 strongest alternatives based on features, user reviews, and real-world workflow fit:

1. Kosmik – Best all-round PureRef alternative with cloud sync and AI search.

2. Eagle App – Power-user choice for tagging and asset libraries.

3. Milanote – Collaborative mood boards for agency teams.

Now let’s continue with out in-depth analysis.

Why People Are Looking for PureRef Alternatives?

Based on user reviews and forum threads from popular sites, we identified 5 recurring pain points:

1. No native cloud sync or collaboration – You’re stuck emailing .pur files or juggling Dropbox links instead of working live with your team.

2. Desktop-only – PureRef has no iPad or mobile version, so you can’t check or add references on the go .

3. No tagging or smart search – Once your board hits hundreds of assets, finding a single image turns into a scroll marathon .

4. Large save files can stall or corrupt – A big mood board can freeze the app or, worse, lose your progress .

5. Aging interface and tools – The UI is functional but feels dated compared to newer infinite canvas apps with annotation, web clipping, and richer media support .

Because these friction points disrupt creative flow, more artists are looking for a PureRef alternative, one that works across devices, organizes references automatically, and lets teams collaborate without friction. That’s where the next generation of tools comes in.

Before jumping on the alternative list, let’s walk through the features to prioritize when you’re picking a PureRef alternative and why some tools, like Kosmik, check more boxes than others.

What to Look For in a PureRef Alternative?

Whether you’re building mood boards, concept art references, or asset libraries, here are the capabilities to look for:

• Cloud sync & multi-platform support: You should be able to switch from your desktop to your laptop, or even your tablet, without exporting and importing files manually (e.g. Kosmik handle this with cloud workspaces).

• Infinite canvas with mixed media support: A good alternative shouldn’t limit you to static images. Look for one that supports PDFs, videos, GIFs, and even full web pages (e.g. Kosmik’s built-in browser and PDF reader make this easy).

• AI or manual tagging & search: Finding that one perfect reference shouldn’t take 10 minutes of scrolling (e.g. Kosmik auto-tags your media, Eagle enables granular manual labels, and MyMind uses AI recall).

• Collaboration & comments: Mood boards often aren’t solo projects (e.g. Kosmik lets you invite teammates or share with guests).

• Mobile or tablet workflow: If you draw on an iPad or sketch on the go, mobile support matters (e.g. VizRef is iPad-first app works well on tablets).

• Fair, transparent pricing: PureRef’s “pay-what-you-want” model is affordable but feature-limited. Compare free tiers (Kosmik Beta), affordable one-time licenses (Eagle at $34.95), and reasonably priced subscriptions.

With those criteria in mind, let’s dive into the top PureRef alternatives available right now, ranked from the most flexible to the most specialized ones.

7 Best PureRef Alternatives (Ranked)

1. Kosmik: Best All-Round PureRef Alternative

Kosmik takes the concept of an infinite canvas and upgrades it for modern workflows. It’s not just for images, you can drop in full web pages, PDFs, videos, and screenshots without leaving the app.

Built-in AI tagging means you spend less time organizing and more time creating. And because it’s cloud-first, you can pick up exactly where you left off on any device.

Pros

• Cloud workspaces for seamless cross-device sync.

• Drag-and-drop any media type, from GIFs to PDFs.

• AI auto-tags and powerful search to find assets instantly.

• Web clipper to save full web pages, PDFs, videos, and screenshots directly into your workspace.

Cons

• Limited third-party integrations compared to older, established tools.

• The mobile experience is not supported.

Pricing

Free for limited workspaces, Paid plan starts at $6.99/month for unlimited workspaces and advanced features

Best For

Artists and creative teams who want the simplicity of PureRef with modern essentials like cloud sync, AI organization, and mixed media support.

2. Eagle App: Power-User Choice for Asset Libraries

Eagle App is a desktop-based asset manager designed for creatives who need serious organization. It supports images, videos, fonts, and even design files, all stored locally.

What sets it apart is its powerful tagging system, advanced filters, and color-based search, making it a dream for anyone who maintains large visual libraries.

Pros

• One-time license with lifetime updates (no subscription).

• Browser extension to clip images directly from the web.

• Filter by color, dimensions, file type, or rating.

• Detects duplicate files to keep your library lean.

Cons

• No native iPad or mobile app. Desktop only.

• Syncing between devices requires a self-managed cloud service like Dropbox or Google Drive.

• Lacks a true infinite canvas; better for browsing than mood-boarding.

Pricing

$34.95 one-time for two devices, with free lifetime updates.

Best For

Designers, illustrators, and teams with extensive offline libraries who need granular tagging and advanced search tools.

3. Milanote: Best for Collaborative Mood Boards

Milanote is a visual workspace designed for brainstorming, planning, and mood-boarding with a team.

Its card-based layout makes it easy to mix images, text notes, links, and task lists into one organized board. Everything is stored in the cloud, so team members can add, rearrange, and comment in real time.

Pros

• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for quick layout changes.

• Real-time collaboration with shared links.

• Supports diverse content types: images, videos, PDFs, notes, and to-do lists.

• Works in any browser (no installation required).

Cons

• No offline mode; you’ll need internet access to work.

• Free plan caps you at 100 notes and 10 file uploads.

• Mobile apps exist but lack full feature parity with desktop.

Pricing

Free tier (100 items, 10 uploads); Pro plan at $9.99/month billed annually for unlimited boards and uploads.

Best For

Agency teams, creative directors, and collaborators who need a shared visual workspace for pitching, planning, and refining ideas together.

4. Kuadro: Lightweight, Multi-Window Reference Viewer

Kuadro is a simple tool that lets you open several image windows on your screen at once.

Each image can be resized, zoomed, and locked in place, making it ideal for artists who work on dual-monitor or ultra-wide setups.

Unlike an infinite canvas, Kuadro focuses on quick visual access rather than complex organization.

Pros

• Extremely lightweight and runs smoothly even on older machines.

• Adjustable opacity and “always on top” mode keep references visible while you work.

• Free to use with an optional pay-what-you-want model.

• Simple, distraction-free interface.

Cons

• No tagging, search, or asset organization tools.

• No cloud sync; references must be loaded manually.

• Lacks a unified canvas view and images are managed individually.

Pricing

Pay-what-you-want (from $0+).

Best For

Artists who want quick, floating references across multiple screens without the overhead of a full asset management system.

5. VizRef: Best iPad Companion for Procreate Workflows

VizRef is a reference board app built specifically for iPad and iPhone.

It’s designed to sit alongside creative apps like Procreate in split-screen mode, giving artists quick visual access without switching tabs.

You can import images from the web, your camera roll, or cloud storage, then arrange them freely on an infinite board.

Pros

• Optimized for iPad multitasking and works perfectly with Procreate side-by-side.

• Supports GIFs, batch import/export, and quick web image drag-and-drop.

• Affordable one-time purchase for iPad; Lite version available for iPhone.

• Simple UI that’s easy to learn in minutes.

Cons

• iOS-only, no desktop or Android version.

• No built-in tagging or advanced search tools.

• Boards are stored locally unless exported to iCloud or other storage.

Pricing

$3.99 one-time purchase on iPad; iPhone Lite version is free.

Best For

Mobile illustrators and concept artists who primarily work on iPad and need a lightweight, always-available reference board.

6. BeeRef: Open-Source, Cross-Platform Simplicity

BeeRef is a free, open-source reference image viewer designed for minimalism and accessibility.

Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it offers a floating, resizable canvas where you can pin images in any arrangement.

While it lacks the bells and whistles of commercial apps, its zero cost and cross-platform availability make it a solid entry point for hobbyists and open-source enthusiasts.

Pros

• 100% free and licensed under GPL.

• Cross-platform builds (Windows installer, macOS app, Linux AppImage/Flatpak).

• Always-on-top mode to keep references visible while you work.

• Lightweight and fast to launch.

Cons

• No tagging, search, or automated organization.

• No cloud sync. Files must be managed locally.

• Minimal feature set compared to paid alternatives.

Pricing

Free (GPL license)

Best For

Artists and tinkerers who prefer open-source tools and don’t need advanced features or cloud capabilities.

7. MyMind: AI-Powered Visual Bookmarking

MyMind is a private, AI-driven bookmarking tool that organizes everything you save, like images, articles, and quotes, without manual tagging.

Each item is stored in the cloud, auto-tagged by AI, and you can find it using natural language search. It is less of a traditional mood-board tool and more like a personal creative memory bank.

Pros

• AI auto-tags all saved content—no manual organization needed.

• Works across devices via browser extension, mobile apps, and web interface.

• Private by default; no social or collaborative noise.

• Supports diverse content types beyond images, including articles and text snippets.

Cons

• Limited free plan (100 saved items max).

• No infinite canvas; organizes visually but not spatially.

• Export options are limited compared to asset management tools.

Pricing

Unlimited plan at $8/month or $79/year.

Best For

Designers, writers, and creatives who collect inspiration from multiple media types and want fast, AI-driven recall without manual sorting.

Quick Comparison of Alternatives

Tip: If you’re deciding between two tools, focus on where you’ll store your files (local vs. cloud) and whether you need advanced organization like tagging or AI search.

With the features side-by-side, the next step is figuring out which one fits your workflow, budget, and creative habits best.

How to Choose the Right PureRef Alternative

Finding the perfect replacement for PureRef comes down to your creative habits, your device setup, and how you like to organize your work. Use these five questions to narrow it down:

1. What’s your primary device?

   • Desktop-focused? Consider Kosmik or Eagle.

   • iPad-first? VizRef is built for you.

2. How big are your boards, and what media do you use?

   • If you mix PDFs, videos, and GIFs, Kosmik or Milanote handle diverse file types well.

   • For pure image work, Eagle or Kuadro may be enough.

3. Do you prefer local or cloud storage?

   • Local-first: Eagle, Kuadro, BeeRef.

   • Cloud-first: Kosmik, Milanote, MyMind.

4. Will you be working solo or with a team?

   • Solo creators can thrive with Kosmik, Eagle, or VizRef.

   • Teams often prefer Milanote or Kosmik for shared boards and real-time edits.

5. What’s your budget?

   • Free: Kuadro, BeeRef, Kosmik (free plan)

   • One-time payment: Eagle ($34.95), VizRef ($3.99).

   • Subscription: Milanote, MyMind, Kosmik.

Final Thoughts

PureRef has earned its place as a minimalist, reliable reference tool, but creative workflows in 2025 need more. Artists want boards that sync across devices, organize themselves, and allow real-time collaboration without file juggling.

Among the seven alternatives, Kosmik stands out for combining cloud workspaces, AI tagging, and mixed media support while keeping an intuitive canvas layout.

If you still feel unsure, start with the Kosmik free plan. It gives you the modern features most artists are looking for without the immediate cost and could easily become your creative hub for years to come.