Perkoon vs Refbox
Side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right product.
Perkoon enables free unlimited peer-to-peer file transfers without signup, ensuring your files stay private and secure.
Last updated: March 4, 2026
Refbox is a floating app that keeps your reference images and notes visible above any workspace.
Last updated: February 28, 2026
Visual Comparison
Perkoon

Refbox

Feature Comparison
Perkoon
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) File Transfer
Perkoon's flagship feature allows users to send files directly between browsers without any size limitations or sign-ups. This P2P technology ensures that files are transmitted securely and privately, as they do not pass through any central servers. This direct connection makes file sharing efficient and stress-free.
Encrypted Cloud Storage
For instances when recipients are offline, Perkoon provides an encrypted cloud storage solution. This paid feature securely holds files until the recipient is available to download them. The encryption ensures that users' data remains private and protected during transit and storage.
Built-in Automation Tools
Perkoon is designed with the modern user in mind, incorporating built-in tools that allow for automation and integration with AI agents. These features streamline the file transfer process, enabling users to interact with the service directly without the need for cumbersome screen-scraping methods.
Referral and Rewards Program
Perkoon offers a unique referral program that rewards users for sharing the service with others. By sending a referral link, users can earn extra storage space when their friends sign up and transfer files. This incentivizes community growth while benefiting all participants.
Refbox
Always-on-Top Floating Frames
This is the foundational feature of Refbox. It allows you to pin any image, GIF, or video reference into a resizable frame that stays visible above all other application windows. This eliminates the need for disruptive window switching, keeping your reference material directly in your line of sight as you work in your primary creative software, preserving your focus and workflow continuity.
Centralized Reference Library (The Box)
All your media is gathered into a central, organized sidebar called the Box. You can import references by dragging files from your computer, pasting image links or screenshots from the web, or using the clipboard. This creates a single source of truth for your project's inspiration, moving you away from scattered folders and browser tabs to a streamlined, searchable collection.
Multiple Viewing Modes
Refbox provides flexible ways to interact with your references. View your entire collection in a dense Masonry grid within the Box, float individual items as separate windows, or use a full-screen gallery mode ideal for secondary monitors. You can also flip through items like a slideshow for quick comparison, ensuring you have the right visual context at any moment.
Integrated Notes and Tools
Beyond images, Refbox lets you create markdown-enabled notes with styling and checklists, turning it into a full reference hub. Practical tools are built-in, including a color picker to sample colors from any media, GIF frame-by-frame playback, pixel-perfect rendering for pixel art, and the ability to crop images or take website screenshots directly by pasting a URL.
Use Cases
Perkoon
Personal File Sharing
Individuals can use Perkoon to share large files with friends and family without worrying about size limits or fees. Whether sending vacation photos or important documents, Perkoon makes personal file sharing simple and hassle-free.
Team Collaboration
For teams working remotely, Perkoon serves as an essential tool for sharing project files and documents. The ability to send large files without restrictions streamlines collaboration, ensuring that team members can access the resources they need promptly.
Secure Business Transactions
Businesses can rely on Perkoon for secure file transfers, especially when dealing with sensitive information. The P2P feature ensures that confidential documents remain private, and the encrypted cloud storage provides an additional layer of security.
AI Integration
Developers and tech enthusiasts can leverage Perkoon’s capabilities by integrating it with AI agents. This allows for automated file transfers and interactions, enhancing productivity and efficiency in various applications.
Refbox
Digital Illustration and Concept Art
Illustrators and concept artists can keep mood boards, anatomical references, color palettes, and style guides pinned around their canvas. This allows for constant visual comparison and inspiration without breaking concentration to search through files, enabling a more fluid and accurate creative process from sketch to final piece.
UI/UX and Graphic Design
Designers can float brand guidelines, logo variations, typography samples, and competitor website screenshots directly over their design tools like Figma or Adobe XD. This ensures every design decision is made with immediate reference to critical assets and specifications, boosting both speed and consistency in the design workflow.
3D Modeling and Animation
3D artists and animators can pin orthographic reference images, texture maps, character turnarounds, and motion study videos next to their 3D viewport. Having these crucial references always visible allows for more accurate modeling, sculpting, and animation, as artists can match proportions, poses, and movements without guesswork.
Motion Graphics and Video Editing
Editors and motion designers can keep storyboards, style frames, asset lists, and video clips accessible in floating windows above their timeline software. This facilitates quick visual checks and ensures the final product aligns perfectly with the planned creative direction, all while maintaining an efficient editing flow.
Overview
About Perkoon
Perkoon is an innovative file transfer service designed to simplify the way individuals and teams share files. In a digital landscape cluttered with limitations and unnecessary complexity, Perkoon redefines file sharing by offering a straightforward solution that prioritizes user experience and privacy. It caters to anyone frustrated with traditional file transfer methods that impose artificial limits, require mandatory sign-ups, or treat user data as a commodity. Perkoon's core offering includes two efficient ways to send files: a free peer-to-peer (P2P) service that allows users to transfer files directly between browsers when both parties are online, and a secure cloud storage option for offline transfers, available through a paid plan. With its commitment to free usage, privacy, and user-friendly automation tools built for the age of AI, Perkoon stands out as a trusted and robust solution for file transfer needs.
About Refbox
Refbox is a fundamental desktop application designed to solve a persistent problem in creative workflows: the disruptive act of window switching. At its core, Refbox is a floating reference manager that allows artists, designers, animators, and other visual professionals to keep their inspiration and resources visible at all times. It functions by letting users pin images, GIFs, videos, and notes into always-on-top frames that float above any other application. This foundational approach eliminates the need to constantly alt-tab between a creative software and a folder, browser, or note-taking app, thereby preserving a state of deep focus and flow.
The tool is built for professionals across disciplines like 3D art, animation, UI/UX design, illustration, concept art, motion graphics, photography, and pixel art. Its main value proposition is organized visual access without distraction. Users can gather media from the web, their computer, or clipboard into a central sidebar and then choose how to view it: in a Masonry grid, as individual floating windows on the desktop, or in a full-screen gallery for secondary monitors. By integrating markdown-enabled notes and clickable bookmarks directly into the reference ecosystem, Refbox consolidates the entire inspirational toolkit into one always-accessible space. It is the essential companion for any creative who needs their references at their fingertips, not buried in tabs and folders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Perkoon FAQ
Is Perkoon really free?
Yes, Perkoon offers a free P2P file transfer service that does not impose size limits or require user accounts. This service is free because it operates on a decentralized model that costs Perkoon nothing to run.
How does cloud storage work with Perkoon?
When files need to be stored for offline recipients, Perkoon offers encrypted cloud storage as a paid feature. This ensures that files are held securely until the recipient can access them.
Can I use Perkoon on any browser?
Perkoon is compatible with Chrome, Edge, and Brave browsers without any limits. However, users of Firefox and Safari may encounter certain restrictions due to browser-specific limitations.
How can I earn rewards through the referral program?
By sharing your unique referral link, you can invite others to use Perkoon. When they sign up and transfer files, both you and your friend can earn additional storage space, creating a mutually beneficial system.
Refbox FAQ
What types of files does Refbox support?
Refbox supports a wide range of media essential for creative work. You can import standard image files (JPG, PNG, WebP, SVG), animated GIFs, and various video formats. It also supports text-based notes and can generate image screenshots directly from website URLs you paste into the application.
How does Refbox help maintain focus?
Refbox is built on the principle of reducing friction. By allowing references to float in always-on-top windows, it completely eliminates the disruptive cycle of minimizing your work to find a file or browser tab. Your inspiration stays visually accessible, which helps you maintain a state of deep focus, or flow, for much longer periods.
Can I use Refbox with multiple monitors?
Yes, Refbox is excellent for multi-monitor setups. You can use the full-screen gallery mode to turn a secondary monitor into a dedicated reference display. Alternatively, you can spread individual floating frames across multiple screens, organizing your workspace to keep your primary screen clear for your main creative application.
Is there a way to organize different projects?
Yes, Refbox uses a system called Collections. You can create different Collections for each project, client, or theme. Switching between these Collections is instant with a single click, allowing you to keep your references neatly separated and quickly access the exact set of visuals you need for your current task.
Alternatives
Perkoon Alternatives
Perkoon is a unique file transfer service that falls under the category of productivity and management tools. It offers users the ability to send files for free using peer-to-peer technology, which eliminates the need for sign-ups and size restrictions. This straightforward approach appeals to individuals seeking a hassle-free experience when transferring data, especially in an age where many services impose limitations or treat user data as a commodity. Users often look for alternatives to Perkoon for various reasons such as pricing, feature sets, or specific platform compatibility. When searching for a suitable alternative, it's essential to consider factors like the ease of use, privacy policies, file size limits, and any additional functionalities that may enhance your file transfer experience. A good alternative should prioritize user needs without compromising on security or convenience.
Refbox Alternatives
Refbox is a fundamental desktop application in the productivity and management category. It serves as a floating reference manager, designed to keep images, notes, and videos visible above other software to prevent disruptive window switching and maintain creative focus. Users may look for alternatives for foundational reasons like budget, specific feature needs, or compatibility with their operating system. Some may require a simpler tool, while others seek more advanced organizational capabilities not present in their current solution. When evaluating an alternative, consider the core need: persistent visual access to reference material. Key factors include the ability to keep content always on top, support for various file types, and organizational methods that fit your workflow without adding complexity or distraction.