Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PureRef VS MacinCloud

Compare PureRef VS MacinCloud and see what are their differences

PureRef logo PureRef

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

MacinCloud logo MacinCloud

MacinCloud is a Mac cloud platform that provides on-demand Mac cloud servers, flexible dev workload infrastructure and comprehensive Mac in the Cloud solutions
  • PureRef Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-23
  • MacinCloud Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-05-07

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.

MacinCloud features and specs

  • Ease of Access
    MacinCloud provides easy access to macOS environments from any device, allowing users to work on Mac-specific applications without owning an Apple computer.
  • Cost-Effective
    It offers a cost-effective solution for users who need intermittent access to a Mac without having to purchase expensive hardware.
  • Flexible Plans
    MacinCloud offers a variety of plans tailored to different needs, such as hourly plans for occasional use or dedicated plans for continuous access.
  • Software Pre-installed
    Many essential software and development tools come pre-installed, saving users time and effort in setting up their environment.
  • Scalability
    Users can easily scale their usage depending on their needs, whether for short-term projects or long-term commitments.

Possible disadvantages of MacinCloud

  • Performance Limitations
    As a cloud-based service, performance may be affected by bandwidth limitations and latency issues, especially for resource-intensive tasks.
  • Cost Over Time
    While initially cost-effective for light users, costs can add up over time for heavier users compared to owning a physical Mac.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Users need a stable and fast internet connection to use MacinCloud effectively, which might be problematic in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any cloud service, there's a level of distrust regarding data security and privacy, especially for sensitive and proprietary information.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    Unlike a physical Mac, MacinCloud does not offer offline access, which can be a drawback for users needing uninterrupted access.

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

MacinCloud videos

Xcode On Windows using MacInCloud.com

More videos:

  • Review - Apple Mac For $1 - Run Software & Develop Apps & Games MacinCloud Review
  • Review - Evaluating MacInCloud performance

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PureRef and MacinCloud)
Digital Drawing And Painting
Cloud Computing
0 0%
100% 100
Image Editing
100 100%
0% 0
Dedicated Cloud Hosting
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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

Based on our record, MacinCloud should be more popular than PureRef. It has been mentiond 8 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: almost 3 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: almost 3 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: about 3 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: over 3 years ago

MacinCloud mentions (8)

  • Can I control a Mac with RDP?
    I know that VNC is a thing but it can easily become unbearably slow so I'm looking for a way to remotely access my Mac using RDP. In theory it should be possible since when you rent a Mac on macincloud.com you use it trough RDP but I don't know how to achieve that. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Debug/Deploy iOS/MacOS MAUI Platform App on Amazon EC2 instance.
    I haven't used AWS specficially, but macincloud.com has worked for me in the past. the only caveat is you can't use the remote simulator, you'd need to be interacting with the simulator via the remote desktop connection. I don't see why AWS would be any different. Source: over 2 years ago
  • I want to do freelance with flutter but I don't have a mac.
    Yo can use services like macincloud.com to rent a mac running on a server and compile/deploy your iOS app from there. Just clone your repo, install flutter, Xcode, etc. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Mac OS on Proxmox, is it legal?
    If you're in doubt I guess you can request your company to rent you a macincloud.com VM. I've recently used them... They're alright I guess. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Flutter builds are way faster with M1 machines: A comparison of VMs
    Do know macincloud.com? You could rent a macbook on the cloud and test your apps there. Source: about 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

Kuadro - Kuadro is an image viewer that allows you to open as many windows as you want, lay them out as you...

MacStadium - MacStadium offer Mac colocation and dedicated server rentals plus VMware Mac Pro private cloud environments for large-scale iOS app

Epic Pen - A windows tool for drawing over your desktop and applications

wenz - Our platform allows you to host and run your Mac application in the cloud.

refern. - All-in-one online art reference saver, finder, viewer, and organizer with built-in moodboard editor

XCodeClub.com - Rent your own private Virtual Mac with latest XCode.