PureRef vs Moodis: two local-first tools, two different jobs
Start with the obvious: PureRef is excellent. It's been the concept-art community's reference canvas for years. It's fast, and version 2.1 added grid snapping and shape drawing tools.
Moodis isn't trying to replace PureRef's core trick. It's aimed at what comes after a single session: references that pile up across projects and turn into a library.
At a glance
| Feature | Moodis | PureRef |
|---|---|---|
| Core job | Building and organising mood and reference boards | Reference canvas that floats beside your work |
| Storage | Files on your disk, in a folder you can choose | Local .pur files |
| Works offline | Yes, the desktop app fully | Yes |
| Always-on-top window | No | Yes |
| Multiple boards | Unlimited boards, switch between them in the app | One canvas per .pur file |
| Cloud sync | Solo, €35 once, or Pro, €5/month or €50/year | No |
| Web app | With Solo or Pro | No |
| Personal use | Free desktop app (personal, non-commercial) | Pay what you want |
| Commercial use | Solo licence, €35 once, for one person; Pro or Team to share | $49 one-time for studios of up to 3 users; $8 per seat per month billed annually ($10 monthly) above that |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux; macOS planned | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Account needed | No, for the desktop app | No |
What PureRef does better
- Staying on top. PureRef's always-on-top window floating over your painting or 3D app is its signature feature. Moodis doesn't do this.
- macOS today. Moodis runs on Windows and Linux; a Mac build is planned.
- A licence that covers a studio. PureRef's commercial licence is $49 one-time for studios of up to 3 users. Moodis sells a one-time licence too, but Solo covers one person: sharing a board, and so working on one together, needs a Pro or Team subscription.
If all you need is images floating over your canvas while you paint, use PureRef.
What Moodis does better
A PureRef scene lives in one .pur file. That's ideal for one painting session and gets awkward once your references become a collection.
- Boards as a library. Keep a board per project, subject or client and switch between them inside the app instead of hunting for files.
- More than images. Notes, to-do lists, colour swatches, columns, links and connectors sit on the same canvas as your references.
- Sync across machines. Solo adds cloud sync between your computers and the web app for €35 once; Pro adds share links and editing together for €5/month or €50/year.
And like PureRef, the Moodis desktop app keeps your files local, works fully offline and needs no account.
Pricing and licences
- PureRef: pay what you want for personal use. Commercial use is $49 one-time for studios of up to 3 users, or Business licences at $8 per seat per month billed annually ($10 monthly).
- Moodis: the desktop app is free for personal, non-commercial use. The Solo licence is €35 once for one person, commercial work included, with no sharing. Pro is €5/month or €50/year and adds sharing, collaborative editing and more storage. Cancelling Pro never touches your local boards, and neither does anything else. Details on the pricing page.
Can you use both?
Yes. Build and keep your reference library in Moodis, and drop the images you need for a session into PureRef as an overlay. Both work with local image files, so neither locks you in.
Which should you pick?
Pick PureRef if you want a floating reference window while you paint, one canvas at a time is enough, or you're on a Mac.
Pick Moodis if you're collecting references across many projects on Windows or Linux and want them organised into boards, locally.
Updated
Competitor features and prices checked September 2026 on each vendor's own site. Prices change; check theirs before you buy.
FAQ
- Is Moodis a PureRef clone?
- No. PureRef is a reference canvas you keep beside your work during a session; Moodis is for building and organising boards across projects. Both keep your files local, and both can be bought outright: the Moodis Solo licence is a one-time licence, like PureRef's, at €35 once for one person.
- Does Moodis have an always-on-top mode like PureRef?
- Not currently. If that would change your workflow, tell us at support@moodis.app.
- Is PureRef free?
- Personal use is pay what you want. Commercial use needs a Small Business licence ($49 one-time for studios of up to 3 users) or per-seat Business licences.
- Does Moodis require an account?
- No. The desktop app runs with no account and no connection. An account is only needed for cloud sync.
- Can I use Moodis commercially?
- Yes. Solo covers one person's commercial work for €35 once, and Pro or Team add sharing, collaborative editing and team boards. The free desktop app is for personal, non-commercial work. Try Pro free for 14 days, no card needed.
Keep every project's references in one place
The desktop app is free for personal, non-commercial use on Windows and Linux. No account needed.
Using it for client work? Pro covers the licence. Try it free for 14 days, no card needed →
The Mac app is on its way. Email me when it’s ready →