Comparison

Reference Board vs Nem

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Reference Board

This app offers an infinite canvas for visually organizing thoughts and inspiration. Users can drop in various media types, arrange them freely, and zoom in or out to explore connections. Instant search functionality helps locate specific items across all boards.

Highlights
  • Infinite canvas
  • Visual idea organization
  • Supports images, videos, quotes
  • Freeform arrangement
  • Instant search
  • Zoom in/out functionality
Features
Read full description

Reference Board is a private visual workspace for collecting inspiration, developing ideas, and keeping creative research close at hand on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. BUILD VISUAL BOARDS • Collect images, videos, links, text, colors, and PDFs in one place. • Arrange references freely on an infinite canvas or switch to an organized grid. • Move, resize, group, stack, crop, flip, and annotate without changing your original media. • Use the loupe to inspect fine details in images and videos. FIND WHAT YOU NEED • Search across boards and references. • Use on-device analysis, OCR, colors, metadata, and visual similarity to rediscover material quickly. • Keep notes and details attached to the work they describe. SYNC, COLLABORATE, AND SHARE • Keep your library in sync across Mac, iPhone, and iPad with iCloud. • Invite others to collaborate on shared boards. • Publish a separate public, view-only webpage when you want to present your work more widely. • Update or unpublish a published board whenever you like. WORK YOUR WAY • Import from Photos, Files, Safari, drag and drop, or the Share Sheet. • Export boards as images, PDFs, or Reference Board archives. • Use widgets, Shortcuts, the screen saver, and optional MCP automation to connect Reference Board to your workflow. ONE PURCHASE. NO SUBSCRIPTION. New customers receive Reference Pro with their App Store purchase, including unlimited private boards and items, Publish to Web, AI metadata and visual discovery, new collaborations, PDF export, and MCP automation. People who acquired Reference while it was free keep their existing Free plan with one private board and up to 20 items. They can unlock lifetime Reference Pro with a one-time in-app purchase. Reaching a Free limit never deletes or hides existing work. Original paid-app customers and people who already purchased lifetime Reference Pro keep permanent Pro access automatically.

About

Nem

This app streamlines manga storyboarding with multi-page overviews, integrated script editing, and efficient text management. Seamlessly transition from script to visual layout and export your work in various formats for further editing.

Highlights
  • Multi-page overview
  • Script editor integration
  • Automatic text layer management
  • PSD, PNG, PDF export
  • Two-page spread editing
  • Hierarchical scene/panel structure
Features
Read full description

Nem-S: Dedicated Manga Storyboard App The ultimate manga storyboard tool with multi-page, script-editing, and PSD export. Nem-S is a dedicated software designed specifically for creating manga names (storyboards). Developed by an active manga artist based on real-world studio experience, this utility-focused tool eliminates the friction and lag in the storyboarding process. [Key Features of a Dedicated Storyboard Tool] All-Page Overview & Two-Page Spread Editing Manage all your pages seamlessly on a single screen without having to constantly switch tabs. Review the rhythm and flow of your story instantly without the stress of navigating back and forth. Supports multi-column grid adjustments as well as smooth page insertion, deletion, and reordering. Text Editing Features text layer management triggered by line breaks. The software automatically splits text into layers or separate pages based on where you break lines, making it highly efficient to adjust dialogue across multiple pages. Export Options (PSD / PNG / PDF) Exported images and text can be easily imported into drawing software like CLIP STUDIO PAINT, ensuring a smooth transition to the next step of production. Script Editor Manage dialogue and character names within a hierarchical scene/panel structure. Reflections made in the script can be applied directly to the storyboard, allowing you to seamlessly move between organizing your plot and drafting your art. [Recommended For] Creators using general note-taking apps or drawing tools for storyboarding who find the process inconvenient. Creators who want to adjust text while keeping an eye on the flow of the entire manuscript. Creators looking to manage everything from script to storyboard in a single workflow. Creators who use CLIP STUDIO PAINT or similar tools for final inking but prefer a dedicated tool for storyboarding. [Highlights] Multi-platform support lets you create anywhere. One-time purchase (No subscription required). Built by a manga artist, for everyone who creates manga. Nem-S eliminates the repetitive cycle of opening and closing pages during storyboarding, minimizes the effort needed for text adjustments, and provides a unified environment from scriptwriting to final export.

Screenshots

Reference Board4 screens
Nem4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Reference Board at 70% against Nem's 0%. Reference Board also leads on chart position (#165 vs unranked) and price ($5.99 vs $7.99). Nem's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Reference Board costs $5.99 and Nem $7.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Reference Board versus Nem: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReference BoardNem
Price$5.99 — better$7.99
Rating4.7 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#165 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJordan RuchtieE-WORKS JP

Customer experience

Reference Board

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative20.0%

Nem

Written reviews7 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral28.6%
Negative71.4%

In-app purchases

None

Reference Board

No in-app purchases

None

Nem

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Reference Board free?
Reference Board costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Nem free?
Nem costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Reference Board or Nem have ads?
Neither Reference Board nor Nem shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reference Board or Nem?
Reference Board ships an update every 4 days, and Nem every 4 days. Most recently, Reference Board was updated on October 25, 2026 and Nem on October 25, 2026.

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