Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PureRef VS EagleFiler

Compare PureRef VS EagleFiler and see what are their differences

PureRef logo PureRef

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

EagleFiler logo EagleFiler

EagleFiler makes managing your information easy.
  • PureRef Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-23
  • EagleFiler Landing page
    Landing page //
    2020-01-27

PureRef features and specs

  • 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 of PureRef

  • 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.

EagleFiler features and specs

  • Ease of Organization
    EagleFiler allows users to easily organize files with folders, tags, and notes, making it simple to manage large volumes of information.
  • Robust Search Functionality
    The software provides a comprehensive search feature that helps users quickly find documents based on content or metadata.
  • Support for Multiple File Types
    EagleFiler supports a wide range of file types, including emails, web pages, PDFs, and images, which makes it versatile for different types of data storage.
  • Data Integrity
    The application ensures data integrity by storing files in their original format, enabling users to access and export their data safely.
  • Automation and Scripting
    EagleFiler supports AppleScript and has a range of automation features, allowing users to create custom workflows and automate repetitive tasks.

Possible disadvantages of EagleFiler

  • Limited Platform Availability
    EagleFiler is only available for macOS, which limits its accessibility for users who operate on Windows or Linux systems.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may encounter a learning curve due to the extensive features and flexible organization options, requiring time to fully utilize the software.
  • No Mobile App
    There is no dedicated mobile app for EagleFiler, which means users cannot access their files on-the-go easily.
  • Cost
    EagleFiler is a paid application, which might be a downside for users looking for free alternatives with similar functionalities.
  • Interface Design
    Some users may find the interface design to be somewhat dated or less intuitive compared to more modern applications.

PureRef videos

The Best Free Tool for Artists - PureRef

More videos:

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

EagleFiler videos

SCOM0619 - EagleFiler - Preview

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PureRef and EagleFiler)
Productivity
71 71%
29% 29
Digital Asset Management
100 100%
0% 0
Photography
0 0%
100% 100
Moodboard
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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

Based on our record, EagleFiler should be more popular than PureRef. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

PureRef mentions (4)

  • 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 for online backups. 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. Change the color and opacity to whatever you want, lock the window and switch turn on the transparent to mouse option and you should be good to go! Source: over 4 years ago
  • Hello Reddit! this is my 1st time posting and i'm excited to share some of my sketches with you guys. I like drawing dynamic poses, it's a really fun exercise!. These 4 girls are from reference pics out of Pinterest. Suggestions are welcome :D. Have a great day!
    The high kicking girl on the right is in a PureRef board I keep to practice gesture. Source: about 5 years ago

EagleFiler mentions (6)

  • How to Manage Large Collection of Images on a Mac?
    I just have my game images in folders. Often they're within projects in Obsidian because I use that to plan and make notes for my games. In the past I used EagleFiler but it's not cross-platform and I now use a Linux machine a lot so I've moved to use Obsidian generally - EagleFiler is a powerful tool for cataloguing all sorts of media though. Source: over 3 years ago
  • PKM that works with Mail.app
    Would EagleFiler achieve what you are looking for? Source: over 3 years ago
  • Favorite Email Backup / Archiver / Scheduler?
    EagleFiler can do this. It depends what email app you are using. The documentation lists the supported options. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Ask HN: How to save bookmarks locally including searchable content?
    Eagle Filer is really good for this on Mac![1] (Not affiliated) [1]: https://c-command.com/eaglefiler/. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2021 🔥 List of Best Deals
    💸 (25% OFF) EagleFiler - Organize files on your Mac, archive e-mails, save Web pages, search everything. - Source: dev.to / almost 5 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

Eagle App - Unify your creative inspiration in one place. Store anything – inspiring images, design mockups, illustrations, screenshots and more.

BeeRef - A Simple Reference Image Viewer

Sparkbox - Everyone cares about the homepage, but the truth is that it can be a big time suck without a lot of benefit when you tackle it at the beginning of a project.

Milanote - Milanote is a note taking app for creative work.

Collectie - Create moodboards to organize your content.

Pinterest - Pinterest is a visual discovery tool that you can use to find ideas for all your projects and interests.