PureRef is a standalone reference image organiser for gathering inspiration, arranging mood boards, and keeping visual material nearby while painting or working on 3D models. You can add images from your computer, paste them, or drag them in from a browser. Tools include quick notes, desaturation, image arrangement and alignment, plus a pen tool for freehand marks and shapes. PureRef can play animated GIFs and can sit above or below other windows, appear as an overlay, or let mouse clicks pass through to the app underneath. It supports formats including AVIF, GIF, HEIC, JPEG, PNG, PSD, SVG, TIFF, WEBP, and EXR. Images and related image data remain stored locally on the user's machine rather than online. The Personal plan is free for personal use. Commercial use with version 2.0 and later requires a per-seat license; listed business choices include subscriptions and a one-time Small business license capped at three users per studio. PureRef is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Who it is for
PureRef suits artists and 3D modellers who want to collect and arrange visual references alongside their work. Personal users can use the free plan; commercial users need to consider its per-seat licensing terms.
What is good
- Collects images from files, paste, or browser drag-and-drop
- Includes notes and image arrangement tools
- Supports animated GIF playback
- Stores image data locally
- Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
What to know first
- Commercial use requires a per-seat license
- Small business license is capped at three users per studio
- Collaboration level is listed as none
Verdict
PureRef focuses on keeping reference images organised and accessible, with window modes and drawing tools for visual workflows. Its free plan is limited to personal use, so commercial users should review the available license options.
PureRef plans and pricing
All plansCompared on mood board software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Collaboration level
- none
- Presentation mode
- Yes
- Export formats
- jpg, png, bmp, original image format
- Supported platforms
- Windows, macOS, Linux
