Refero Research

At a glance

Refero Research pairs a design question with interface references and an AI-written explanation of patterns to consider. It is worth trying when you need visual directions before designing a screen. The references give you something concrete to inspect, but their presence does not establish that a layout will work for your users.

Good fit

Designers and builders comparing how existing interfaces handle a particular task. In a public-demo trial, a request for readable documentation examples returned grouped references and explanations of navigation and typography. That can start a visual discussion without first collecting every example by hand; the selection still needs a human relevance check. For an introduction or paywall, before.click provides captured sequences to compare.

Consider something else when

You need user research, verified accessibility or a finished implementation. One reference opened from the documentation request showed an Acceptable Use Policy rather than an API or getting-started page. Its appearance could inform typography, but it did not answer the whole task. Generated descriptions should guide inspection rather than stand in for it.

Start here

Open the public demo and ask one specific design question. Open a suggested reference, check whether the actual screen addresses your task, then identify a pattern worth adapting. Compare it with your own content and requirements before building. Agent integration is separate: the documented MCP setup requires Pro, a compatible client and Refero account authorization.

Cost and requirements

The public demo accepted the tested request without an account or payment. Refero’s pricing page lists Free with a limited library and three Research searches daily. The annual individual Pro offer displayed $120 billed yearly, equivalent to $10 monthly, before applicable taxes. Check the current checkout and integration allowance before subscribing; embedding Refero in a customer-facing product requires separate business terms.

Limits to know

Refero’s privacy policy says AI features can send prompts, uploaded content and context to third-party model or routing services. Avoid confidential design material without reviewing those terms. The bounded trial tested one demo request and one preview, not MCP, generated code or design outcomes. Reference material also has reuse restrictions: ordinary internal and client design reference is permitted, while republishing a library or training models requires separate permission.

Related work

• before.click: captured onboarding and paywall sequences (context)

Still unclear

• How consistently does Research retrieve relevant screens for your particular product and flow?