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SpikeUI vs Reference

A side-by-side comparison built from both listings. Blank cells mean the company has not given that detail; we never guess.

SpikeUI compared with Reference
DetailSpikeUI logo SpikeUIReference logo Reference
What it doesVisual UI Designer & Native App Builder Private visual moodboard app for collecting and organizing creative references
StageNot given Not given
FoundedNot given Not given
Based inES Not given
Pricing modelPaid Paid
PricingNot given $5.99 USD one-time purchase for all platforms (iPhone, iPad, Mac). Includes Reference Pro with unlimited boards and items. Family Sharing supported. Existing Free users can unlock Pro for the same $5.99 price.
Key features
  • WYSIWYG editor
  • No external dependencies
  • Multi-language support
  • Built-in AI assistant
  • Multi-target export
  • Visual code control
  • Component library
  • Theme system
  • Animation and transitions
  • Project management
  • Infinite spatial canvas with zoomable, reorganizable boards
  • OCR text recognition for searchable text in images
  • Automatic tag generation and organization
  • Visual similarity search to find related images
  • Mixed media support (images, video, YouTube, GIFs, sticky notes)
  • Web publishing and public board sharing
  • Apple Pencil support for annotations on iPad
  • Safari and Chrome browser extensions for web import
  • iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • AI client integration via MCP for Mac
What makes it different
  • Buy once, lifetime license with no subscriptions
  • Single executable with no external dependencies or CDN
  • Direct export to Windows executables and web formats
  • AI-powered design assistant
  • Full code control with visual editing
  • Private and personal - data is not tracked, sold, or locked behind paywalls
  • One-time $5.99 purchase with no subscription required
  • Unified cross-platform experience with one purchase covering all devices
  • Native Apple integration with Pencil support and seamless iCloud syncing
  • Understands visual details through OCR, color search, and automatic organization
Free planNot given Not given
Open sourceNot given Not given
PlatformsNot given Not given
Public APINot given Not given
Community votes00
DR (Domain Rating by Ahrefs)12 −2 (down) since last check3 no change since last check
Trust Flow (Majestic)175
Citation Flow (Majestic)1219
Referring domains (Majestic)6420

4 details filled in for both companies.

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