Milanote vs PureRef: Which Board Fits Your Art Work?

This is a guide from refern, a desktop reference app. It joins an Eagle-style library, a PureRef-style canvas, and an Obsidian-style graph of links. It may suit you if you need a board and a place to find files across projects. First, here is where Milanote and PureRef fit.

What is the main difference?

Milanote helps people plan and review work on a shared board. PureRef keeps source images close while you make the work. Both let you arrange images, but the next step is different: send a board to someone, or keep drawing with it on screen.

These are task-based picks, not a speed test. We have not run a matched performance test of the two apps.

When should you choose Milanote?

Choose Milanote when other people need to see or change the board. A client can follow a link to review the plan. You can also invite editors. That is useful when the board holds the brief, the visual direction, and the next steps for a project.

For example, a designer could group colors, room photos, and notes by room. The client sees the board as a whole, instead of getting a folder of loose files. See Milanote's sharing guide for access settings.

Milanote can also export a board. Check the format you need before the handoff. A PDF or PNG is useful to view, but does not let the next person move each board item. Its export guide covers the available choices.

When should you choose PureRef?

Choose PureRef when the board is a tool for your own drawing session. Put the pose, light, and detail shots beside your art app. Keep the window on top so the references stay in view as you work.

You can add notes and simple drawings to a scene. Its mouse pass-through mode lets clicks reach the app below it. Those tools suit close study without a shared online board. See the PureRef feature guide.

PureRef saves scenes as .pur files. Local images can be embedded in the scene or linked to files on disk. If you link them, keep track of those source files when you move the board. Read the storage settings before you change how a scene is saved.

What do Milanote and PureRef cost?

Milanote has a free plan and paid plans that renew. PureRef has separate personal and business license choices. Check the rules for your use, not just the lowest price on the page.

As of September 5, 2026, Milanote's paid individual plan starts at $9.99 per month, billed yearly. For the full cost and free limits, see our Milanote pricing guide.

PureRef's download page separates personal use from paid work. Its Small Business option is $49 one-time as of September 5, 2026. Review the license that fits your studio before you use it for a paid project.

What if you need a board and a file library?

Consider refern if you keep reusing images across projects. Its library lets you find files with folders, tags, and search. You can then put them on a canvas and keep that window above your drawing app.

A normal workspace reads existing files where they are. Imports and copy actions can create files. refern is for one person's desktop work; it does not replace Milanote's live shared boards.

The refern price is $35 one-time after a 30-day trial. See the reference board page for the workflow, or compare more options in the PureRef alternatives guide.