Software Alternatives & Startups

refern. VS Flex Software

Compare refern. VS Flex Software and see what are their differences

refern.

A visual reference manager for creatives. Organize your reference library and build moodboards on an infinite canvas, all in one desktop app.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Paid Free trial $30 / One-off
Flex Software

We are excited about solving customer’s complex accounting, distribution, POS, Payroll and mobiles sales application problems.

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, Flex Software seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 3 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 3
Reference Management popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

refern.
Flex Software
Website refern.app flexsoftware.com.my
Pricing
Paid Free trial $30 / One-off Official pricing
—
Platforms
Desktop Windows Linux MacOS +1
—
Company Startup from Canada · 1 - 9 employees · 2026 —
Listed in

About refern. and Flex Software

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

refern.
Flex Software

refern is a local-first desktop app for collecting, organizing, and working with visual references. The library side gives you folders, hierarchical tags, smart folders, ratings, color labels, color search by hex, image-to-image visual similarity, and more than 14 typed search operators, all...

Read more about refern.

Flex Software is an accounting software company that is developing a software solution for Insurance Agents. Our product is called SAMS (Smart Agent Management System). The software will be cloud based online Customer Relationship Management for Life and General Insurance Agents. The platform...

Read more about Flex Software

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

refern. 31 features
Flex Software 5 features
  • Infinite Canvas
    Arrange references on an infinite spatial canvas with layers, text, and groups.
  • Canvas Drawing & Shapes
    Freehand pen with pressure, eraser, 9 shape tools, and color swatches.
  • In-App Image Cropping
    Crop images in place or save as a new copy, with crop provenance tracked.
  • Image Filters
    Adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and hue on images and canvas elements.
  • Never Copies Your Files
    References images from your own folders. No proprietary library, no doubled disk.
  • Relationship Graph View
    Navigate your library as a graph of folders, tags, canvases, and linked images.
  • Visual Similarity Search
    Find similar images locally with a built-in feature vector. No uploads, no API cost.
  • Color Search
    Search your library by hex code or dominant color with fast local scoring.
  • Operator Search
    Full-text search with 16 inline operators like type:, tag:, rating:>=3, and color:.
  • Hierarchical Tags
    Parent-child hierarchies, tag groups, linked tags, and macros for bulk tagging.
  • Smart Folders
    Saved multi-condition searches that stay up to date automatically.
  • Image Grouping
    Stack related references into groups shown as fan cards in the grid.
  • Cross-References & Backlinks
    Link any asset to any other and see backlinks across folders and canvases.
  • Grid Layout Modes
    Masonry, justified, and horizontal layouts, set globally or per folder.
  • Duplicate Detection
    Find duplicate images by perceptual hash with an is:duplicate query.
  • Metadata Management
    Rating, color labels, description, notes, source URL, creator, and custom fields.
  • Directory Metadata Presets
    Auto-apply tags and metadata when files are added to a folder.
  • EXIF / IPTC / XMP Import
    Read embedded tags and ratings from images for DAM interoperability.
  • Import Staging
    Drag, drop, or paste images into a staging area with metadata pre-fill and dedup.
  • Browser Extension
    Save images from the web with hover buttons and batch save (Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
  • Eagle Import
    Migrate an existing Eagle library into refern.
  • Disk Sync
    Detect external file changes and reconcile your library with what is on disk.
  • Timed Study Mode
    Full-screen reference practice sessions with configurable duration and count.
  • Pin Window On Top
    Always-on-top mode keeps references visible while you work.
  • Window Transparency
    Adjustable window opacity for overlay reference.
  • Click-Through Mode
    Interact with apps beneath the transparent window.
  • Desktop Screenshot Tool
    Capture your screen directly into your library.
  • Scales to Millions of Images
    Streaming indexer handles 2M+ file libraries with bounded memory.
  • RAW & HEIC Support
    Decodes camera RAW, HEIC, SVG, and standard image formats into thumbnails.
  • Directory Customization
    Custom folder icons, cover images, and backgrounds in the tree and grid.
  • Local-First & Private
    Works fully offline. No account, no telemetry. Files stay on your disk.
  • Comprehensive Features
    Flex Software offers a wide range of features that cater to various needs, such as inventory management, accounting, and customer relationship management, making it a one-stop solution for businesses.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software is designed with a user-friendly interface that allows users to easily navigate through different modules, reducing the learning curve for new users.
  • Customization Options
    Flex Software provides customization options that allow businesses to tailor the software according to their specific needs and industry requirements.
  • Scalability
    The software is scalable, making it suitable for small businesses and large enterprises alike, supporting growth and expansion plans.
  • Good Customer Support
    The customer support team is responsive and knowledgeable, providing timely assistance and solutions to user queries and issues.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    Flex Software can be relatively expensive compared to other similar solutions, which might be a concern for small businesses with tight budgets.
  • Integration Challenges
    Some users have reported challenges with integrating Flex Software with other third-party applications, which can cause disruptions in business workflows.
  • Limited Training Resources
    The availability of training resources is limited, which might pose difficulties for users who require extensive training and onboarding support.
  • Periodic Updates
    The software requires periodic updates, which can sometimes lead to temporary disruptions or the need for additional support during the update process.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

refern.
Flex Software

Overall verdict

  • Refern (refern.app) is a solid referral and networking platform that helps professionals and businesses streamline referrals, connect with trusted contacts, and grow through word-of-mouth. It offers a clean interface and useful tools for managing and tracking referrals, making it a worthwhile choice for those looking to leverage their networks.

Why this product is good

  • Simplifies the process of giving and receiving referrals
  • Helps build and maintain a trusted professional network
  • Offers tracking and management tools to monitor referral activity
  • User-friendly interface that reduces friction for both parties
  • Can drive business growth through word-of-mouth and warm introductions

Recommended for

  • Freelancers and independent professionals seeking new clients
  • Small businesses that rely on referrals for growth
  • Sales and business development teams
  • Professionals looking to expand their trusted network
  • Anyone wanting to organize and track referral relationships more effectively

Overall verdict

  • Flex Software is a Malaysia-based provider of business software solutions, including accounting, payroll, HR, and point-of-sale systems, generally regarded as a solid choice for local SMEs seeking affordable, compliant, and locally-supported software.

Why this product is good

  • Offers software tailored to Malaysian regulatory requirements, such as tax and payroll compliance
  • Provides a suite of integrated business solutions including accounting, HR, payroll, and POS systems
  • Local presence in Malaysia allows for better customer support and understanding of regional business needs
  • Generally positioned as an affordable option for small and medium-sized enterprises
  • Established track record serving the Malaysian market

Recommended for

  • Small and medium-sized businesses in Malaysia
  • Companies needing payroll and HR systems compliant with local regulations
  • Retail businesses looking for POS solutions
  • Organizations seeking locally supported software with regional customer service
  • Businesses wanting an integrated suite of accounting and management tools

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
refern.
Flex Software
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
POS
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing refern. and Flex Software.

What's the story behind your product?

refern.'s answer

I'm an artist, and too often I was frustrated: I couldn't find the right pictures, I struggled to organize and keep track of my reference images, and I was juggling too many apps when all I wanted to do was draw. I wanted one tool that could do it all, with every component well integrated. So I made refern.

What makes your product unique?

refern.'s answer

The flow of collecting references for art usually goes like this:

find references and inspiration online -> save and organize those images -> use them on their own or in a moodboard -> reuse them for the next project or share them with others

Normally that means a different app for each step. refern does all of it in one place, with every part built to work together.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

refern.'s answer

Most tools solve only one part of the reference workflow, so artists end up juggling several. refern combines them in one app: Eagle-style organization and search, a PureRef-style infinite canvas, and an Obsidian-style graph of how your references connect. It never copies your files, so it doesn't double your disk usage. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, works fully offline, and is a $30 one-time purchase with no subscription. Built in Rust, it stays fast even on libraries with hundreds of thousands of images.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

refern.'s answer

Individual artists and creative professionals: illustrators, concept artists, digital painters, designers, and photographers. They collect and organize large libraries of visual references, build moodboards, and study from reference. refern is built for solo creators rather than teams, spanning hobbyists and students through working professionals.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

refern.'s answer

refern is a Tauri v2 desktop app with a Rust backend and a React 19 (with React Compiler) plus TypeScript frontend. Data is stored locally in SQLite (rusqlite) with FTS5 full-text search. The interface uses Tailwind CSS, Zustand, and TanStack Query, with motion/react for animation. The infinite canvas and graph view are built on react-three-fiber and three.js. Thumbnailing, perceptual hashing, and color and visual similarity run in Rust with rayon and SIMD.

User comments

Share your experience with using refern. and Flex Software. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

refern. 0 mentions
Flex Software 3 mentions

Tracking refern. since Mar 2024.

  • Flex Software Consulting - Software Solution Provider In Penang
    Flex Software is the Best Accounting Software Companies in Malaysia that provides specialised IT services, for individual companies with specialised Hardware or Software product requirements while making every effort to provide the best... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Malaysia Cloud Accounting System Software - FlexSoftware
    Flexsoftware is a comprehensive and reliable accounting software based in Malaysia. It provides a range of features to help businesses track their financials more efficiently. Users benefit from intuitive controls and the ability to... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Online Accounting Software System in Malaysia Flex Software
    Flex Software is the best online Accounting Software in Malaysia for Small, Mid-size and Large Businesses at Best Prices. It is easy and user-friendly accounting software to manage your business. Customers have different needs and Flex... Source: almost 4 years ago

Alternatives to refern. and Flex Software

When comparing refern. and Flex Software, you can also consider the following products.