Every reference you collect, in one place you own.
Save anything, organize it your way, and arrange it on an infinite canvas, connected on a graph that maps how it all relates. All on your machine, yours forever.
Save everything you see.
Works wherever you browse.
Save on hover
Hover any image on the web and click to save it directly to your library.
Tag it as you save
Add tags while saving so nothing piles up untagged.
Always highest resolution
The clipper grabs the biggest version available, not the thumbnail.
Save as you scroll
Auto-scroll captures lazy-loaded images without extra scrolling.
Other features you might love.
Auto Tagger
On-device AI that suggests tags and recognizes text in your images. Fully offline and private.
Search by meaning
Describe what you want in plain language — refern surfaces matching images even without tags.
Import from Eagle, PureRef & Allusion
Bring your existing library with a single import. Folders, tags, and ratings are preserved.
Keep your metadata
refern never touches your original files. Ratings, tags, and notes live in its database only.
Linked references
Connect related images, create collections, and see how everything in your library relates.
Edit in place
Open any image in your preferred editor directly from refern. Changes save back to the original file.
Timed study
Flip through images on a timer, just like a figure drawing session. Great for gesture drawing practice.
Reference overlay
Keep your canvas always-on-top while you work in another app. Adjust opacity as needed.
Multiple windows
Pop out any image or canvas into its own window to view or edit side by side with the main app.
Many folders, one library
A workspace can hold several separate content folders at once. Browse and search across all of them.
Custom data folder
Choose a separate location for refern's database and thumbnails while your images stay in place.
Recover from a backup
If your workspace database is ever corrupted, restore from an automatic backup with one click.
Built for illustrators and concept artists. And every creative who collects.
“I used to have 40GB of reference folders I could never find anything in. Now everything is tagged, searchable, and connected.”
“The Auto Tagger saved me weeks of manual tagging. I just review the suggestions and click accept.”
“Being able to moodboard on an infinite canvas inside the same app where I organize my references is a game changer.”
“Switched from Eagle and never looked back. The graph view alone is worth it.”
“It runs great on Linux. Finally a reference manager that treats Linux as a first-class platform.”
“I collect references for everything — fashion, architecture, color palettes. refern keeps it all organized.”
Solana Token
$REFERN
The utility token for the refern ecosystem. Hold to unlock premium features, cloud sync, and governance.
Contract Address
REFERNxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Total Supply
1B
Network
Solana
Launch
Soon
Before you download.
Everything you might want to know, answered.
Is this really a one-time purchase?
Yes. You pay once and you own the app. No subscription, no recurring fees, no tiers.
What happens when the free trial ends?
After 30 days the app stops opening until you buy a license. Your library is preserved.
Will refern copy or move my images?
No. refern never copies, moves, or renames your original files. It reads them in place.
Can I bring my Eagle, PureRef, or Allusion library across?
Yes. refern has built-in importers for Eagle, PureRef, and Allusion.
Do I have to tag everything by hand?
No. The Auto Tagger runs on-device AI to suggest tags and describe images.
Does it need an account or an internet connection?
No account needed. The app works fully offline.
How many devices can I use it on?
Up to 3 devices on any combination of Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What is $REFERN?
$REFERN is a Solana utility token. Holders unlock cloud sync, early access, premium AI models, and governance voting.
Who builds refern?
refern is built by a solo developer. The app is free forever, funded by the Creators Fee Reserve from the $REFERN token — 15% of supply goes to development costs and a full-time salary.
Own your references. Forever.
Stop renting your reference library. No subscription, no cloud dependency, no one else has access to your files. It's all on your machine, yours forever.