Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PureRef VS Plot Factory

Compare PureRef VS Plot Factory and see what are their differences

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.

PureRef logo PureRef

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

Plot Factory logo Plot Factory

Online story planner, organizer, and writing application.
  • PureRef Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-23
  • Plot Factory Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-30

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 usersโ€™ 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.

Plot Factory features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Plot Factory offers a clean and user-friendly interface that allows writers to easily navigate and manage their writing projects without needing extensive technical knowledge.
  • Cloud-Based Platform
    Being a cloud-based platform, Plot Factory allows users to access their stories from any device with internet access, providing flexibility and convenience for writing on-the-go.
  • Story Elements Organization
    The platform provides tools for organizing story elements such as characters, settings, and plot points, which helps writers keep track of intricate details and maintain consistency.
  • Collaboration Features
    Plot Factory supports collaborative writing, enabling multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously, which is beneficial for co-authors and writing groups.
  • Export Options
    Users can export their stories in various formats, allowing for greater compatibility with other writing and publishing tools.

Possible disadvantages of Plot Factory

  • Subscription-Based Pricing
    Plot Factory operates on a subscription model, which might not be ideal for users looking for a free solution, potentially making it costly for those with limited budgets.
  • Feature Limitations in Free Tier
    The free version of Plot Factory comes with restricted features, which might not be sufficient for all users, pushing them towards the paid plans for full functionality.
  • Internet Dependency
    As a cloud-based service, Plot Factory requires an active internet connection to access and work on projects, which may pose issues for users in areas with unreliable connectivity.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functions are intuitive, some advanced features might have a learning curve, requiring users to spend time learning how to effectively utilize them.
  • Customization Limitations
    Some users may find the customization options for templates and layouts limited compared to standalone writing software.

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

Plot Factory videos

StoryShop Loves Plot Factory Outlining

More videos:

  • Review - Secret Sauce of Plot Factory

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PureRef and Plot Factory)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Writing
0 0%
100% 100
Digital Drawing And Painting
Writing Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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

Based on our record, Plot Factory 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 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 canโ€™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 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: almost 5 years ago

Plot Factory mentions (8)

  • (Help) All the material for my book is on plotfactory.com and the website is down
    Hi, can you help me also please? I have windows software and I did the textfile thing, copied 104.21.72.220 plotfactory.com 172.67.155.162 plotfactory.com but nothing happens, why? Source: over 3 years ago
  • (Help) All the material for my book is on plotfactory.com and the website is down
    Save the file and access the URL https://plotfactory.com/ (edited). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Any approachable Outlining resources out there?
    You can also test https://plotfactory.com/. This page on the site shows a few planning methods including the Snowflake method. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Story Planner Resource
    I write as a hobby too (although I would love to write full-time someday!). A few years ago, I tried a number of software solutions including Scrivener. I found the software somewhat too complex for my needs. I also wanted a platform to enable collaborative writing - not just share a document. I found StoryShop in 2020 and migrated my in progress novel from Scrivener. All looked good, until StoryShop decided to... Source: over 3 years ago
  • I want to write my series before its too late
    You could also organize the skeleton or broad structure of your epic saga in a gigantic spreadsheet or chart. There are multiple free and paid tools online. For example https://plotfactory.com. Source: almost 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

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

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

Scrivener - Scrivener is a content-generation tool for composing and structuring documents.

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

Plottr - The #1 rated visual book planning and series bible software for professional and aspiring writers.

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

bibisco - bibisco is a novel writing software.