BugHerd is a visual feedback and bug tracking tool where clients pin comments on live websites and feedback becomes tasks on a kanban board. Plenty of teams are happy with it. This page is for the ones who are not sure it fits anymore, with five options checked against each tool's own site on July 20, 2026.
Full disclosure: layernote is ours, and it is first on this list. That is exactly why every claim below links back to what each vendor says about themselves, including the cases where another tool, BugHerd included, is the better pick.
Why teams look beyond BugHerd
- Figma support is prototype feedback only, no design-vs-live comparison
- No free tier, and the entry plan is $50 per month for 5 members
- Member caps per tier with paid add-on seats
- AI and MCP features are still in beta
Verified on bugherd.com. Spot something outdated? Tell us and we will fix it.
Best BugHerd alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| 1. layernote | Design review with Figma vs live comparison | $19/mo flat |
| 2. Pastel | Canvas review of mixed content | $35/mo (2 users) |
| 3. MarkUp.io | Simple review of many file types | $79/mo flat |
| 4. Ruttl | Budget feedback across many surfaces | $18/user/mo |
| 5. Marker.io | Bug reporting into your issue tracker | $59/mo ($39 annual) |
1. layernote
BugHerd and layernote solve the same first problem: clients point at the exact spot on a live site instead of writing vague emails. Where they part ways is design QA. BugHerd collects feedback on a synced Figma prototype; layernote compares the Figma design to the built page and flags every difference, then verifies the fixes.
BugHerd vs layernote: at a glance
| BugHerd | layernote | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Client feedback with a kanban workflow | Design review with Figma vs live comparison |
| Starting price | $50/mo (5 members) | $19/mo flat |
| Free to try | 7-day trial | 14-day trial |
| Figma vs live | No | Studio plan |
| MCP handoff | Beta | Yes |
Why it is on top
- Design comparison, not just design feedback: BugHerd lets clients comment on a Figma prototype, layernote measures the live page against the design and lists what drifted.
- Verified fixes: a finding only closes when the re-checked page proves the difference is gone, automatically on every deploy.
- A lower entry point: Solo starts at $19 per month against BugHerd Standard at $50, with coding agent handoff included on every plan.
Pricing
Solo at $19 per month, Studio at $39 with unlimited design comparisons, Team at $59. Flat per workspace, never per seat, and clients always review free. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial on Studio, no credit card needed.
2. Pastel
Pastel is a canvas-based review tool for collecting visual feedback on websites, PDFs, images, and videos.
BugHerd vs Pastel: at a glance
| BugHerd | Pastel | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Client feedback with a kanban workflow | Canvas review of mixed content |
| Starting price | $50/mo (5 members) | $35/mo (2 users) |
| Free to try | 7-day trial | Free plan, 1 active canvas |
| Figma vs live | No | No |
| MCP handoff | Beta | No |
Pros
- Free Forever plan, and paid tiers include unlimited free guest reviewers
- Websites, PDFs, images, and video on one canvas
- Approval workflow built in: deadlines, approvals, pause commenting
- Zero-friction reviews: paste a URL, share a link, no extensions
Cons
- No documented Figma integration; their docs cover Adobe XD instead
- No comparison between the design and the built page
- No first-party AI features or MCP server
- Free plan allows one active canvas with a 3-day commenting window
Pricing
Pastel starts at $35/mo (2 users) (free plan, 1 active canvas). Checked July 20, 2026 on usepastel.com.
3. MarkUp.io
MarkUp.io is a visual commenting tool from Ceros for leaving feedback on websites, images, PDFs, videos, and 30+ file types.
BugHerd vs MarkUp.io: at a glance
| BugHerd | MarkUp.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Client feedback with a kanban workflow | Simple review of many file types |
| Starting price | $50/mo (5 members) | $79/mo flat |
| Free to try | 7-day trial | 14-day trial |
| Figma vs live | No | No |
| MCP handoff | Beta | No |
Pros
- 30+ file types on one flat plan, including video
- Unlimited admins, members, and guests on the Pro plan
- Guests comment without registration
- Google and Microsoft SSO included on the entry plan
Cons
- No Figma file support per their own docs; the workaround is exporting images
- No design comparison, AI features, or MCP
- $79 per month for a single workspace; each extra workspace is a full extra subscription
- Private MarkUps become public if the subscription lapses, per their FAQ
Pricing
MarkUp.io starts at $79/mo flat (14-day trial). Checked July 20, 2026 on markup.io.
4. Ruttl
Ruttl is a website feedback platform for commenting on live sites, web apps, mobile apps, images, and PDFs, with a built-in kanban workflow.
BugHerd vs Ruttl: at a glance
| BugHerd | Ruttl | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Client feedback with a kanban workflow | Budget feedback across many surfaces |
| Starting price | $50/mo (5 members) | $18/user/mo |
| Free to try | 7-day trial | Free plan, 10 comments |
| Figma vs live | No | No |
| MCP handoff | Beta | No |
Pros
- Free plan, and live sites, web apps, mobile apps, images, and PDFs in one tool
- Guest commenting through a share link, no signup
- Built-in kanban workflow and versioning
- Native Jira, Trello, Asana, ClickUp, and Slack integrations
Cons
- Per-seat pricing: $18 per user per month on Pro
- Figma is listed as coming soon on their own integrations page
- No design-vs-live comparison and no MCP or coding agent handoff
- Free plan is tight: 1 project, 5 pages, 10 comments
Pricing
Ruttl starts at $18/user/mo (free plan, 10 comments). Checked July 20, 2026 on ruttl.com.
5. Marker.io
Marker.io is a website bug reporting tool for QA and UAT, built around screenshots, console logs, and deep issue tracker integrations.
BugHerd vs Marker.io: at a glance
| BugHerd | Marker.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Client feedback with a kanban workflow | Bug reporting into your issue tracker |
| Starting price | $50/mo (5 members) | $59/mo ($39 annual) |
| Free to try | 7-day trial | 15-day trial |
| Figma vs live | No | No |
| MCP handoff | Beta | Beta |
Pros
- Two-way sync with Jira, Linear, GitHub, and Azure DevOps
- Session replay plus console and network logs with every report
- Unlimited free reporters; feedback without an account
- MCP integration so coding agents can read and update issues (beta)
Cons
- Website-only: no image, PDF, or design file review
- No Figma integration and no design comparison
- No native task board; workflow lives in your issue tracker
- Entry plan is $59 per month billed monthly, with session replay and Jira on higher tiers
Pricing
Marker.io starts at $59/mo ($39 annual) (15-day trial). Checked July 20, 2026 on marker.io.
Next steps: choosing your BugHerd alternative
If your reviews are about whether the built page matches the design, we obviously recommend starting with layernote's free 14-day trial, for three reasons:
- It is the only tool on this list that compares the live page to your Figma design and reports expected against actual values.
- Annotations flow to Claude Code or Cursor over MCP, and every fix is re-checked on the live page before it closes.
- Pricing is flat per workspace and clients always review free, so a review round never costs your client anything.
Start your free 14-day layernote trial, no credit card required.
Sticking with BugHerd?
No problem! It is genuinely the better fit if:
- You need the integration catalog: BugHerd ships native syncs for Jira, Asana, ClickUp, Monday, Trello, Linear, and more.
- You want video feedback and client-suggested text edits, which layernote does not offer.
- You are a larger team: BugHerd plans scale to 25+ members with add-on seats.
The honest advice: most of these tools have a free trial or free plan. Run your next review round in two of them and see which one your clients actually use.
Founder of layernote. Making sure what you design is what you ship.