Refero
Refero is a design research platform offering a curated, metadata-tagged library of 132,000+ real product UI/UX screens and 10,000+ user flows, delivered via web, iOS, Figma, and an MCP server for AI agents. It serves UI/UX designers, product builders, and AI development platforms via a $17/month Pro subscription.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- Headquarters—
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Refero does
Refero, founded in 2022, operates a design research platform that provides a curated, metadata-enriched library of 132,000+ real product UI/UX screens and 10,000+ user flows, structured by page type, flow type, UX pattern, UI element, font, and site category. The platform is delivered through a web app (refero.design), iOS apps, a Figma plugin, and an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that integrates with AI development tools including Claude Code, Cursor, Lovable, Codex, Manus, and Antigravity. An AI-powered Research Mode allows natural-language design queries, and the Refero Skill packages an installable design methodology for AI agents to research references before generating code. The library is updated weekly and covers the full product lifecycle from onboarding to account deletion.
The company monetizes via a self-serve $17/month Pro subscription that bundles web screens, iOS screens, user flows, the Figma plugin, MCP access, and the Refero Skill. Distribution is product-led: users can sign up via Google OAuth or email, and the MCP and GitHub-hosted Skill create organic top-of-funnel acquisition through AI agent and developer communities. The company serves three primary segments — UI/UX designers, product builders, and AI agents/code generation platforms — with design tool companies and code generators as a secondary enterprise segment. Refero is privately held with 1-10 employees, no disclosed funding, and no reported revenue.
Strategically, Refero is positioning as a design knowledge layer for the AI era, betting that the proliferation of AI coding and builder agents will create durable demand for curated, real-product design references that can be programmatically accessed during code generation. The MCP-first architecture, the Refero Skill methodology, and the breadth of AI tool integrations are the central offensive moves in a market where the underlying data asset is the primary differentiator.
Refero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Refero
- Website
- https://refero.design
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Refero is a design research platform offering a curated, metadata-tagged library of 132,000+ real product UI/UX screens and 10,000+ user flows, delivered via web, iOS, Figma, and an MCP server for AI agents. It serves UI/UX designers, product builders, and AI development platforms via a $17/month Pro subscription.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Refero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Design Research Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (519290)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Software/SaaS Subscriptions (Consumer & Prosumer) (CRAFAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Social, Community & Creator Platform Feeds (HDAAAGAD)
Keywords
Refero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pro Subscription: Monthly or annual subscription providing full access to the Refero platform including web designs (68,000+ screens), iOS designs (64,000+ screens), user flows (10,000+), Figma plugin, MCP server access, and Refero Skill methodology. MCP access is included in the Pro plan.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Pro Plan - Full platform access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Refero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Refero provides a curated, searchable library of 132,000+ real product UI/UX screens (68,000+ web, 64,000+ iOS) and 10,000+ user flows, each annotated with structured metadata covering descriptions, UX patterns, UI patterns, and layouts. It is delivered through a web app, iOS apps, a Figma plugin, an MCP server for AI agents, and a packaged "Refero Skill" methodology, monetized via a single Pro subscription at $17 per month that includes all of the above.
Product overview
Refero is a design research platform for the AI era, offering a curated library of real product interfaces to help designers, builders, and AI agents make better design decisions. The platform consists of the core Refero Design Library (132,000+ web screens and 64,000+ iOS app screens), enhanced by AI-powered Research Mode for natural language design queries. For AI integration, Refero offers the MCP server enabling AI agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Lovable, Codex, Manus) to access design references during development. The Refero Skill provides a design methodology for AI agents. A Figma Plugin and Search by Image feature round out the offering. Pricing starts at $17/month for Pro access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Refero Design Platform (Web & iOS apps) Curated design reference platform offering 68,000+ web design screens, 64,000+ iOS app screens, and 10,000+ user flows with structured metadata. Targets designers, product builders, and AI agents seeking real product references for design research. Available via web app at refero.design and dedicated iOS apps.
- Refero MCP Model Context Protocol server that connects AI coding agents to a curated library of 132,000+ screens and 10,000+ user flows, enabling automated design research and pattern analysis during AI-assisted software development. Installed via a single line of MCP config and included in the Pro plan.
- Refero Skill Design methodology distributed as an installable skill for AI agents via `npx skills add https://github.com/referodesign/refero_skill`. Guides agents to research real product references, extract design patterns, and apply craft rules for typography, color, spacing, and motion before generating code.
- Figma Plugin Plugin for Figma that surfaces the full Refero design reference catalog inside the Figma design environment, allowing designers to access screens, flows, and patterns without leaving Figma. Included in the Pro plan.
Quantifiable outcome
- 132,000+ screens and 10,000+ user flows available for design research
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Refero
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Refero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration8 records
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Refero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Claude CodecoreClaude Code is an AI coding assistant that can integrate with Refero MCP to access design references for building better-designed products.
- CursorcoreCursor AI-powered code editor can use Refero MCP to incorporate design knowledge into its code generation.
- LovablecoreLovable AI builder can integrate with Refero MCP to access design references for app creation.
- CodexcoreCodex AI agent can connect to Refero MCP for design knowledge during code generation tasks.
- ManuscoreManus AI agent can utilize Refero MCP for design research capabilities.
- AntigravitycoreAntigravity AI tool supports Refero MCP integration for design reference access.
- FigmacoreFigma plugin provides all Refero design references directly inside Figma for seamless design workflow integration.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Refero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Land-book: Land-book is a curated gallery of landing page designs, comparable to Refero's web screens library and serving the same designers, builders, and marketers looking for inspiration and proven conversion patterns.
- One Page Love: One Page Love is a long-running design inspiration site cataloging one-page website designs. It competes with Refero for designer and builder attention in the web design inspiration category.
- Mobbin: Mobbin is the closest direct competitor — a curated library of real product UI/UX screens and user flows for designers. It targets the same prosumer and design-team audience with comparable screens, flows, and pattern categorization.
- Pageflows: Pageflows is a design inspiration library focused specifically on user flows from real mobile and web apps, closely overlapping Refero's 10,000+ flow offering and target audience of UI/UX designers.
Broad incumbents
- Dribbble: Dribbble is a large design community and portfolio platform with discovery features. It overlaps with Refero on design inspiration and pattern discovery but is a much broader social/community product, not a structured design-reference database.
- Behance: Behance (Adobe) is a major design portfolio and inspiration network. While it is broader and not a structured design reference library, it serves a partially overlapping audience of designers seeking UI/UX references.
- Muzli by InVision: Muzli is a design inspiration feed integrated into browsers and Slack. It serves design teams with curated design content, comparable in audience and category to Refero's inspiration use case, though delivered as a feed rather than a searchable library.
- Figma Community: Figma Community is a native resource hub inside the dominant design tool. It competes indirectly with Refero for designer attention and includes files, templates, and inspiration assets that overlap with Refero's design reference offering.
Emerging players
- UI8: UI8 sells design assets, UI kits, and references for designers. It overlaps with Refero's design inspiration category for builders seeking real product patterns, but is asset-commerce rather than a structured screen/flow library.
- v0 by Vercel: v0 is an AI code/design generator with embedded design taste that competes for the AI-builder user Refero targets via MCP. While v0 is a generative product rather than a reference library, it overlaps in the 'give AI agents design knowledge' problem space.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Refero social profiles
Digital presenceRefero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Refero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Refero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Refero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Refero
What does Refero do?
Refero provides a curated, searchable library of 132,000+ real product UI/UX screens (68,000+ web, 64,000+ iOS) and 10,000+ user flows, each annotated with structured metadata covering descriptions, UX patterns, UI patterns, and layouts. It is delivered through a web app, iOS apps, a Figma plugin, an MCP server for AI agents, and a packaged "Refero Skill" methodology, monetized via a single Pro subscription at $17 per month that includes all of the above.
Is Refero a public or private company?
Refero is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Refero founded?
Refero was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
How does Refero make money?
One revenue line is on record: pro Subscription.
Who are Refero's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Land-book, One Page Love, Mobbin and Pageflows. Broad incumbents are Dribbble, Behance, Muzli by InVision and Figma Community. Emerging players are UI8 and v0 by Vercel.
Does Refero have an API?
Yes. Refero MCP (Model Context Protocol) connects AI agents to a curated library of 132,000+ screens and 10,000+ user flows. The MCP server allows AI agents to research competitors, industry standards, and proven UI/UX patterns. Through the API, agents can research design references, compare patterns, find relevant screens, and use them in design tasks. Installation is via a single line of config. Access is included in the Pro plan ($17/month). Developer documentation is at refero.design/mcp.
What industry is Refero in?
Refero's product category is Design Research Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAIAB, Software/SaaS Subscriptions (Consumer & Prosumer), with a secondary code of HDAAAGAD, Social, Community & Creator Platform Feeds. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.