Software Alternatives & Startups

Scryfall VS PureRef

Compare Scryfall VS PureRef and see what are their differences

Scryfall

A powerful Magic: The Gathering card search

Rating
0 reviews
PureRef

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

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, Scryfall seems to be a lot more popular than PureRef. While we know about 419 links to Scryfall, we've tracked only 4 mentions of PureRef.

social mentions
419 vs 4
Card Games popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
9 vs 66

Base details

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

Scryfall
PureRef
Website scryfall.com pureref.com
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Scryfall 4 features
PureRef 6 features
  • Comprehensive Database
    Scryfall offers an extensive and up-to-date database of Magic: The Gathering cards, including detailed card information, images, and rulings. This makes it a valuable resource for players and collectors seeking accurate and complete information.
  • Advanced Search Features
    The site provides powerful search capabilities with a variety of filters and query options that allow users to find cards based on multiple criteria, such as card type, color, set, rarity, and more.
  • API Access
    Scryfall offers a robust API that developers can use to integrate Magic: The Gathering card data into their own applications or websites, making it a useful tool for developers and third-party services.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The website is designed with an intuitive and clean interface, making it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need without unnecessary complexity.

Possible disadvantages

  • Dependent on Internet Access
    As an online platform, accessing Scryfall requires an internet connection, which can be a limitation for users who want to access card information offline or in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited to Magic: The Gathering
    Scryfall focuses exclusively on Magic: The Gathering, which means it does not provide resources for players of other trading card games, potentially limiting its appeal to a broader audience.
  • Commercial Usage Restrictions
    While the API is free to use for personal or non-commercial projects, there are limitations and restrictions for commercial use, which might be a consideration for businesses looking to integrate the data commercially.
  • 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.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Scryfall 2 videos + Add
PureRef 3 videos + Add

Like Google for MTG - Scryfall!

More videos

  • - How to Use Scryfall

The Best Free Tool for Artists - PureRef

More videos

  • - PureRef tutorial: a free, cross-platform virtual board for artists!
  • - PureRef 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
Scryfall
PureRef
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Scryfall and PureRef. 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.

Scryfall 419 mentions
PureRef 4 mentions
  • Show HN: Cardstock- Free TCG Proxy Manager for Magic, Yugioh, & Pokemon
    Yeah I wonder why https://scryfall.com/ never gets a C&D. I think the problem is money changing hands which isn't happening. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • How to determine what is valid for Standard when looking at precon Commander deck?
    You can use sites like Scryfall to look up what cards are legal in standard or look up what sets are legal a card you want to use lines up having appeared in one of those sets your good to go. What's in Standard will also give you a... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • how does this work?, if i attack with life linkers at the same time does it count as one instance of life gain? also if one has first strike is that the first life gain?
    For more info you can look up the gatherer (or if you want an actually good site with the same info scryfall). Source: almost 3 years ago

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  • 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: over 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: over 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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Alternatives to Scryfall and PureRef

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