A PureRef alternative for Android, iPad and the web
PureRef is a good program with one limit: it only runs on a desktop. If you want your references on a tablet or a phone, or in a browser, here is what Studiato does and where PureRef is still the better pick.
What PureRef does well
PureRef gives you a big empty canvas, and you drop images onto it and arrange them however you like. It is fast, it is simple, and your boards are files on your own machine, with no account and no internet needed. If you work at one desk and want a board you can pin beside your painting program, it does that job very well.
Where it stops
PureRef is only for Windows, Mac and Linux. There is no Android app, no iPad app and no web version. A board is a file, so getting it onto another device means copying the file yourself.
What Studiato does on your other devices
Studiato is a reference library that lives in your account. Open it in a browser on your computer, your Android tablet, your iPad or your phone, and you see the same images, boards, tags and notes. Nothing to install and nothing to copy across.
Android
No Android app. It runs in Chrome, and you can add it to your home screen from the browser menu.
iPad and iPhone
Works in Safari now. A native iOS app is on the way.
Computer
Works in any modern browser on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Beyond a board of pictures, you can tag and search your whole library, group images into boards, attach notes to the images they are about, and run timed Study Mode sessions from your own references. The Projects canvas is the closest thing to a PureRef board: you place images, notes and color swatches on a canvas you can pan and zoom, with touch support on tablets and phones. Projects is a paid feature (Starter and up). Free accounts can try a demo, and the 7-day trial includes it.
What Studiato does not do
- It needs an internet connection. Your images are stored online, so it does not work offline.
- It is not a desktop program, and it does not open PureRef .pur files.
- Storage has limits: 400 MB on the free plan, with images up to 2 MB each. Paid plans raise both.
- It is not a painting program. The canvas is for arranging references.
If you work offline, or you keep very large image files, PureRef may still suit you better. Some artists use both.
Try it
The free plan has no time limit. Sign up, drop in a few references, and open the same library on your phone or tablet.
Questions
Is there a PureRef for Android?
PureRef does not have an Android version. Studiato has no Android app either, but it runs in the Chrome browser on any Android phone or tablet, and you can add it to your home screen so it opens like an app. Your library is the same one you see on your computer.
Is there a PureRef for iPad or iPhone?
PureRef is desktop only. Studiato works in Safari on iPad and iPhone today, and a native iOS app is on the way.
Is there a web version of PureRef?
No. PureRef is a program you install on Windows, Mac or Linux. Studiato is a website, so there is nothing to install and nothing to move between machines.
Is Studiato free?
Yes. The free plan has no time limit and includes 400 MB of storage and 15 AI prompts a month. Images are limited to 2 MB each on the free plan. Every free account can also start a 7-day trial of the Pro features, with no card.
Can I import my PureRef boards?
Not as .pur files. Studiato does not read PureRef's file format. You can upload the images themselves, or drag them in from a folder.
PureRef is a trademark of its owner. Studiato is not affiliated with or endorsed by PureRef.