Software Alternatives & Startups

PureRef VS Box

Compare PureRef VS Box and see what are their differences

PureRef

The simple way to view and organize your multiple reference images.

PureRef Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Box

Box offers secure content management and collaboration for individuals, teams and businesses, enabling secure file sharing and access to your files online.

Box screenshot
Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Box seems to be a lot more popular than PureRef. While we know about 93 links to Box, we've tracked only 4 mentions of PureRef.

social mentions
4 vs 93
Productivity popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
144 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

PureRef
Box
Website pureref.com box.com
Pricing
Company Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

PureRef 6 features
Box 7 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    PureRef offers a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to organize and manage reference images. The minimalistic design allows users to focus on their work without unnecessary distractions.
  • Lightweight and Portable
    The software is lightweight and does not require installation, making it highly portable. Users can run PureRef from a USB drive or any location on their computer.
  • Flexible Canvas
    PureRef provides a flexible canvas that can be easily resized and adjusted to fit users’ needs. This allows for seamless scaling of images without quality loss and the ability to organize the workspace freely.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    PureRef is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing users to maintain a consistent workflow across different operating systems.
  • Customizable Shortcuts
    Users can customize keyboard shortcuts to fit their workflow, which increases efficiency and speeds up navigation within the software.
  • Multiple Image Formats
    PureRef supports a wide range of image formats, ensuring compatibility with most reference images beyond basic formats like JPG and PNG.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Editing Tools
    While PureRef excels in organizing and displaying reference images, it lacks advanced editing tools, which means users need to rely on other software for image adjustments or annotations.
  • No Cloud Integration
    PureRef does not offer built-in cloud storage or syncing options, which could be inconvenient for users who work across multiple devices and want seamless access to their reference boards.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functionalities are easy to grasp, some advanced features and keyboard shortcuts may require time to learn and master, particularly for users new to PureRef.
  • Not Free for All Users
    Although PureRef offers a pay-what-you-want pricing model, users may face ethical dilemmas or budget constraints when deciding what to pay, especially if they plan to use it for professional purposes.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Some users report occasional lag or performance issues when handling extremely large collections of high-resolution images, which can disrupt workflow.
  • Storage Capacity
    Box offers generous storage options, including unlimited storage for business plans, allowing organizations to handle large amounts of data seamlessly.
  • Collaboration Tools
    Box provides robust collaboration features, enabling multiple users to work on documents simultaneously, leave comments, and manage projects efficiently.
  • Security Features
    Box includes advanced security measures such as encryption, access controls, and compliance certifications (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR) to ensure data safety.
  • Integrations
    Box integrates with numerous third-party applications including Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Slack, making it versatile for various workflows.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Box has a clean and intuitive user interface, which simplifies the user experience for both new and seasoned users.
  • File Versioning
    Box keeps a history of file versions, so users can easily revert to previous versions if necessary.
  • Mobile Accessibility
    Box offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, allowing users to access files and collaborate on the go.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    Box can be relatively expensive compared to other cloud storage solutions, particularly for small businesses and freelancers.
  • File Size Limitations
    Box has file size upload limits, which may be restrictive for users needing to upload very large files.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    While feature-rich, Box's extensive functionalities can overwhelm new users who may face a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Although Box provides offline access to files, its capabilities can be limited and sometimes unreliable compared to competitors.
  • Syncing Issues
    Some users have reported occasional issues with file syncing, which can disrupt workflow.
  • Customer Support
    While Box offers customer support, some users have reported that response times and the quality of support could be improved.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

PureRef 3 videos + Add
Box 3 videos + Add

The Best Free Tool for Artists - PureRef

More videos

  • Tutorial - PureRef tutorial: a free, cross-platform virtual board for artists!
  • Review - PureRef Review

Box Cloud Storage Review

More videos

  • Review - I ~Honestly~ Review 8 Popular Subscription Boxes
  • Review - Butcher Box Unboxing & My Honest Review

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
PureRef
Box
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using PureRef and Box. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

PureRef no reviews yet
Box no reviews yet

We have no reviews of PureRef yet. Be the first one to post

  • Best Top 12 MEGA Alternatives in 2024
    www.multcloud.com · Nov 2023

    For businesses and enterprises, Box provides scalable, enterprise-level cloud storage with robust collaboration and productivity features. It's a credible alternative for those seeking a professional solution.

  • The Best iPhone Transfer & Manager Software for 2022
    thesweetbits.com · Feb 2022

    Whether you have an iPhone or any other device, one of the options you can check out is Box. The designers of Box say that their unique selling point is the simplicity of the software. For instance, all you need, to...

  • Google Drive alternatives: Best picks
    nordvpn.com · Jan 2022

    With Box, you can create files that will instantly be shared with your teammates. They can then edit and comment on your documents in real time. The Box is probably one of the most integrated apps on this list, too....

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

PureRef 4 mentions
Box 93 mentions
  • how do u guys organize your visual inspiration/refs digitally?
    I mainly use offline means: organising all my files in a hierarchy of folders and using pureref (which I highly recommend) to make moodboards, and ofc an external hard drive to save backups. The only online means I use is google drive... Source: about 4 years ago
  • HELP! So I want to trace this Image(704x702) into a Pixel art (32 x 32 or 40 x 40) but when I resize it, it gets like this (2nd picture) and if I don't, then the pixels are too small, What do i do?
    If you just want the image to be a transparent overlay while you draw 'through the image'(with it being unchanged) you can use something like Pureref(pureref.com) to set the image as always on top + turn opacity down a bit. Source: about 4 years ago
  • Hide user name in menu bar.
    If you can’t get it to work inside of max, I thought of a free easy workaround you could try. I use the software pureref to manage and quickly access reference images. You could just resize an empty pureref window to cover your username.... Source: over 4 years ago

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  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (February 2025)
    Box | http://box.com | San Francisco Bay Area (US) | Warsaw (PL) | HYBRID Box, Inc. (NASDAQ: BOX) develops and markets cloud-based content management, collaboration, and file sharing tools for businesses. Several roles available spanning... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Sharepoint Alternatives?
    I've used box.com with pretty good results, but expect to pay through the nose for the privilege. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • I NEED HELP
    So I have all my mountain goats stuff on my Spotify local files, I found a random comment here from like 4 years ago with this guys box.com storage collection of all of his mountain goats songs, recently the link stopped working :( if... Source: about 3 years ago

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Alternatives to PureRef and Box

When comparing PureRef and Box, you can also consider the following products.