Free PureRef AlternativesTop Image Viewers & Research Managers like PureRef

The best free alternative to PureRef is BeeRef, which is also Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 10 alternatives to PureRef and 11 is free so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting free alternatives to PureRef are Kuadro, opti, RefCanvas and Creativit.

filter to find the best alternatives

PureRef alternatives are mainly Image Viewers, but if you're looking for Research Managers or Image Editors you can filter on that. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to PureRef.
PureRef iconPureRef
  47
  • ...

PureRef was created to be a simple and lightweight tool for artists to organize and view their reference images. Image can be scaled and collage can also be made.

More about PureRef
More about PureRef
PureRef alternatives page was last updated Jun 7, 2025
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
  1. BeeRef icon

    BeeRef

     19 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    BeeRef lets you quickly arrange your reference images and view them while you create. Its minimal interface is designed not to get in the way of your creative process.

    8 BeeRef alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    BeeRef screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Artists dashboard
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Portable
    4.  No registration required
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Built-in viewer
    7.  Ad-free

    BeeRef VS PureRef

     
    Comments about BeeRef as an Alternative to PureRef
    andersmmg
    Positive Sep 3, 2021
    2

    It's open source and has very similar features to PureRef

    PureRef Icon
    BeeRef icon

    • Almost everyone thinks BeeRef is a great PureRef alternative.

    • BeeRef is the most popular Linux alternative to PureRef.

    • BeeRef is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to PureRef.

    • BeeRef is Free and Open SourcePureRef is Free and Proprietary
    • BeeRef is Lightweight and Privacy focusedPureRef is not according to our users
  2. Kuadro icon

    Kuadro

     9 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Kuadro is an image viewer that allows you to open as many windows as you want, lay them out as you need them and store those layouts for later.

    It was designed to stay out of your way, and work around you.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • BR flagBrazil

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    Kuadro screenshot 1

    Kuadro Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Multiple windows
    3.  On top

    Kuadro VS PureRef

     
    Comments about Kuadro as an Alternative to PureRef
    bandai-anime000000
    Positive Jun 7, 2017
    -3

    Kuadro is simple to use than PureRef.

    Shadowindark
    Positive Aug 18, 2018
    -4

    It does have some nice feature as like PureRef

    PureRef Icon
    Kuadro icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Kuadro is a great PureRef alternative.

    • Kuadro is Free and ProprietaryPureRef is also Free and Proprietary
  4. opti icon

    opti

     6 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    simple, transparent media viewer.

    26 opti alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    opti screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  No registration required
    3.  On top
    4.  Transparency

    opti VS PureRef

     
  5. RefCanvas icon

    RefCanvas

     4 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    RefCanvas is an intuitive tool for artists and designers who need a comprehensive reference app to bring their creative vision to life. With RefCanvas, you can import images and gifs as references onto an infinite canvas, allowing you to organize your ideas and concepts in one...

    7 RefCanvas alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • RU flagRussia

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    RefCanvas screenshot 1

    RefCanvas Features

    1.  Batch Editing
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Infinite canvas
    5.  References
    6.  Moodboard

    RefCanvas VS PureRef

     

    • RefCanvas is the most popular Android, iPhone, iPad & Android Tablet alternative to PureRef.

    • RefCanvas is Freemium and ProprietaryPureRef is Free and Proprietary
  6. Creativit icon

    Creativit

     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Meet Creativit, a powerful digital moodboard that is designed to help you plan out and launch your next big creative project much faster.

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Creativit screenshot 1

    Creativit Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Biometric Authentication
    3.  Cloud Sync
    4.  Moodboard
    5.  Visual Board
    6.  Sync with iCloud

    Creativit VS PureRef

     
  7. DroidRef icon

    DroidRef

     5 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    This is a free and open-source image reference board app for Android, like PureRef or VizRef. It lets you keep track of a large amount of reference images on an infinite canvas you can pan and zoom. You can crop out only the parts of each image you want to focus on and send...

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    DroidRef screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Ad-free

    DroidRef VS PureRef

     
  9. LibreRef icon

    LibreRef

     Like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    A free as in freedom digital referencing tool for artists.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    LibreRef screenshot 1

    LibreRef VS PureRef

     
  10. RefShelf icon

    RefShelf

     1 like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Intuitive tool for viewing & managing reference images. Capture images from different sources, store them, provide access to any in one click. View images in always on top mode by default. Convenient for everyday use not only for CG artists.

    License model

    • Free • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    RefShelf screenshot 1

    RefShelf VS PureRef

     
  11. CThruView Transparent Image Viewer icon

    CThruView Transparent Image Viewer

     2 likes
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    CThruView is a free transparent image viewer that allows mouse clicks to go through the image. This makes your image see through and click through, so use it as tracing paper, splash screen or watermark.

    10 CThruView Transparent Image Viewer alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    CThruView Transparent Image Viewer screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The project is no longer developed. Last version, 1.0, released in September 2010, can be still downloaded from the official website.

    CThruView Transparent Image Viewer Features

    1.  Portable
    2.  Transparency
    3.  Java based

    CThruView Transparent Image Viewer VS PureRef

     

    • CThruView Transparent Image Viewer is the most popular Web-based alternative to PureRef.

    • CThruView Transparent Image Viewer is Free and Open SourcePureRef is Free and Proprietary
  12. Kosmik icon

    Kosmik

     Like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Kosmik is a visual research app that transforms your research workflow. It comes with a built-in browser and clipper so you never break your flow while you're working on your next project.

    2 Kosmik alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Windows
    • Mac
    Kosmik Thumbnail

    Kosmik Features

    1.  Infinite canvas
    2.  Knowledge Management
    3.  Brainstorming
    4.  AI-Powered

    Kosmik VS PureRef

     
  13. Paints-Undo icon

    Paints-Undo

     Like
    Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Understand Human Behavior to Align True Needs! The name "Paints-Undo" is inspired by the similarity that, the model's outputs look like pressing the "undo" button (usually Ctrl+Z) many times in digital painting software.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Paints-Undo screenshot 1

    Paints-Undo Features

    1.  AI-Powered

    Paints-Undo VS PureRef

     
11 of 11 PureRef alternatives