The only app you need
for all of your reference images.

refern. is an ad-free, Pinterest-like image organizer, reimagined for creatives.
collectsearchorganizemoodboardstudy and sharereference images, all in one app.

Join our growing community of 800+ creatives
reddit testimony
"It's what Pinterest WISHES it could be."Reddit User
refern collection page showing many art image references with property editors.

Need inspirations? No problem.

Find the perfect inspiration with just one search. Save inspirations and curated collections for later.

Explore the explore page
  • Curated reference collections
  • No Ads
  • No AI-generated images
  • Community labelling for AI images
  • Unbiased text and color search

Organization has never been easier.

Add as many tags and details as you want to everything. Got no time for that? No problem! Our AI will do it for you automatically.

See a collection
  • Intuitive folders and collections structure
  • Tag macros with auto-complete tag editor
  • Bulk editing
  • Automatic image tagging with AI
  • Collection-specific auto-tagging

Moodboard your ideas. No need for another app.

Visualize your ideas within your library from anywhere on any device. Say goodbye to desktop-only moodboarding tools.

See a moodboard
  • Infinite canvas
  • Unlimited objects
  • Add image from your library
  • Group and modify objects
  • Available on mobile and desktop

Find everything. Instantly.

Everything is searchable within refern—search whatever is on your mind. Never waste time finding old references again.

Find some inspirations
  • Search everything in your library
  • Search from everywhere, whenever
  • Image color search
  • Tag filter options

Collect images from any website.

Saw an inspiration while scrolling? Save it to your library with just one click. It's that simple!

Watch a demo on how it works
  • Save specific images
  • Save multiple batches in parallel
  • Save to a specific collection
  • Add tags while saving
  • Available on Chrome, Firefox, and Safari

Sharing your references? Just send the link!

Want to show the references you used to make your work, showcase your vision to your clients, or anything in between? Just send the link—it's that easy!

  • Public or unlisted folders
  • Share with a link or QR code
  • Always online and available
  • Accessible from anywhere

And there is more!

refern. is built with creatives in mind and is constantly growing. Always open to suggestions and feedbacks.

Unmodified.
All your images are not compressed or modified.
Cross-platform.
Access your references from any device that has a browser.
Timed study tool.
Picks random images from your collection to draw under a timer.
Creative timeline.
Showcase your daily creations. Fill out the creative calendar.
Public profile.
Share your profile and your reference library with others.
PWA mode.
Use refern. without browser UI. Just bookmark it to home screen.
Invite friends.
Invite your friends to use refern. and earn rewards.
Light or Dark Theme.
Use the app in light or dark mode. You pick.
Download collections.
Download your entire collection as a zip (coming soon).

Study your references.

Timed study tool built in to help you practice. Pick the references you want from your library—perfect for gesture drawing or daily practice.

Explore timed study tool
  • Pick any collection from your library
  • Flexible study session duration
  • Adjustable image filter options
  • Add notes and titles to session
  • Sharable study session history

See what other creatives have to say about refern.

this is something i've wanted for a long time, a reference collection app made by artists for artists.totally amazing app that makes me excited to see where it will go. everything i wanted out of eagle and more, but in the could, and a friendly space for new artists wanting to learn.i was exploring milanote alternative, and i found a reddit thread and you talking about it. i thought: let me be dammed its exactly what i needvery excited for offline/local storage version! keep up the good work, now i'm off to explore the sitei'm studying to be in the art industry! i've already recommended refern to my instructors and ill let my peers know too.honestly i'm considering throwing money your way just to help out cause you've done what eagle, digikam, pinterest, and allusion can'thi, thank you for having me! i love refern!i found this app on reddit by total coincidence and im hooked. just wanted to say that this project is genuinely awesome.heyhey just found this app my god what a dreamjust found the app, it looks really coolthis app really has it all, it's perfect for everything i need so fari was looking for an app that would allow me better reference material storage/display space than some bigger name apps like pinterest. was amazed by teh flexibility, structure, and thought that went into the features.refern.app is literally everything i've ever wanted in a reference appwas playing with refern yesterday and its actually better than all the other software like this.i've checked out refern and it is exactly what i'm looking for.this is the cream of the crop of reference apps. it's what pinterest wishes it could be.pleasantly shocked and amazed! the more i dig the more incredible this app isi have been looking for a free eagle alternative, saw allusion but was wishing it was online. so excited to try this out

Frequently asked questions.

  • Is refern. free to use?

    Yes, all the core features of refern. is completely free to use with some limits. You can purchase Pro (one-time purchase) to remove limits, get extra storage, unlock nice-to-have features, and help us cover server cost.

  • Can other people edit my references?

    No. Only you can edit your stuff. Anyone else can only view it if they have access to it. However, plans for collaborative collections/reference boards is coming soon!

  • Will my images be used to create AI Art?

    No. We will never use the images you upload to train/create AI art.

  • Can I upload AI generated images?

    Yes, BUT it is strongly discouraged. Images can be community labelled as AI-generated. Any image that is labelled as AI-generated will not show up in the explore page.

  • Are images containing nudity or NSFW content allowed?

    Yes. However, we scan every image to see if it is explicit and will blur and put a warning label on it if it exceeds a certain threshold. You have the option to turn off the NSFW blurring just for yourself.

Ready to power up
your creative process?