Refframe vs Cosmos
When broad visual discovery is useful-and when a structured web-reference library makes research easier to retrieve and defend
Cosmos is suited to broad visual discovery and collecting images across creative disciplines, with attention to sources and a calm browsing experience. Refframe is more structured for web-design research, using sections, elements, styles, industries, colors, and effects alongside boards and uploads. Choose by whether you need association or repeatable UI retrieval.
Method and pricing note
We reviewed the official public products on 3 August 2026. Cosmos did not expose a public pricing page at the tested URL, so no paid figure is stated here. Its public presentation emphasizes visual discovery, clusters or collections, attribution, and controls around AI-generated material.
| Criterion | Refframe | Cosmos |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Web designers and reference-library teams | Designers and visual creatives across disciplines |
| Content | Web screens, sites, elements, uploads | Broad visual images and inspiration |
| Search and filters | Section, element, style, industry, color, effect | Visual and text-led discovery and related images |
| Saving | Boards | Collections or clusters |
| Teams | Team features are listed as coming soon on Max | Team workflow is not the main public proposition |
| Export | Downloads on paid plans | Source visits and sharing are more central than UI research export |
| AI | AI features on paid plans | AI-assisted discovery and AI-content controls |
| Limitations | Narrower than a cross-discipline visual universe | Less precise for recurring web-section comparison |
| Free access | Demo plan | Public discovery available |
| Price observed | Pro $8/mo or $60/year; Max $10/mo or $84/year | No public pricing page available during the check |
Use Cosmos before the taxonomy is clear
Broad discovery is valuable during framing. A texture, photograph, poster, interface, or material reference may unlock a direction that a UI-only taxonomy would hide. Cosmos is therefore useful for mood, association, and visual culture, especially when provenance remains visible.
Use Refframe when retrieval must be repeatable
A design review often needs comparable evidence: several pricing sections, minimal finance heroes, or navigation patterns with a specific visual effect. Refframe’s taxonomy and boards make those questions easier to repeat, document, and share with a team.
Decision rule
Choose Cosmos for open-ended visual discovery. Choose Refframe for structured web-design research and a library that mixes discovery with your own references. The design reference workflow shows how to promote only decision-relevant findings into a project board.
Sources
- Refframe pricing, Refframe
- Cosmos visual discovery platform, Cosmos