MarkUp.io is a visual commenting tool from Ceros for leaving feedback on websites, images, PDFs, videos, and 30+ file types. 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, MarkUp.io included, is the better pick.
Why teams look beyond MarkUp.io
- 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
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Best MarkUp.io alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| 1. layernote | Design review with Figma vs live comparison | $19/mo flat |
| 2. BugHerd | Client feedback with a kanban workflow | $50/mo (5 members) |
| 3. Pastel | Canvas review of mixed content | $35/mo (2 users) |
| 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
MarkUp.io is a friendly generalist: upload almost anything and let unlimited guests comment on it. layernote is a specialist for design and web work: it imports Figma files natively, compares the design to the live page, and hands the differences to your coding agent. If your reviews are about whether the build matches the design, that specialization is the whole point.
MarkUp.io vs layernote: at a glance
| MarkUp.io | layernote | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple review of many file types | Design review with Figma vs live comparison |
| Starting price | $79/mo flat | $19/mo flat |
| Free to try | 14-day trial | 14-day trial |
| Figma vs live | No | Studio plan |
| MCP handoff | No | Yes |
Why it is on top
- You work from Figma: MarkUp.io's own support docs say Figma files are not supported, the workaround is exporting images. layernote imports frames through its Figma plugin and compares them to the live page.
- Mixed reviews in one project: PDFs, images, and live pages sit together in a single layernote project, so a brand check and a site review share one link.
- You want the loop closed: annotations flow to Claude Code or Cursor over MCP, and fixes are re-verified on the live page. MarkUp.io mentions no AI or agent features anywhere.
- A lower price for small teams: Solo starts at $19 per month against MarkUp.io Pro at $79.
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. BugHerd
BugHerd is a visual feedback and bug tracking tool where clients pin comments on live websites and feedback becomes tasks on a kanban board.
MarkUp.io vs BugHerd: at a glance
| MarkUp.io | BugHerd | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple review of many file types | Client feedback with a kanban workflow |
| Starting price | $79/mo flat | $50/mo (5 members) |
| Free to try | 14-day trial | 7-day trial |
| Figma vs live | No | No |
| MCP handoff | No | Beta |
Pros
- Pin comments on live sites with auto screenshots and browser metadata
- Unlimited client users on every plan, no accounts needed for guests
- Built-in kanban board, including a simplified client-facing version
- Wide native integration set: Jira, Asana, ClickUp, Monday, Linear
Cons
- 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
Pricing
BugHerd starts at $50/mo (5 members) (7-day trial). Checked July 20, 2026 on bugherd.com.
3. Pastel
Pastel is a canvas-based review tool for collecting visual feedback on websites, PDFs, images, and videos.
MarkUp.io vs Pastel: at a glance
| MarkUp.io | Pastel | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple review of many file types | Canvas review of mixed content |
| Starting price | $79/mo flat | $35/mo (2 users) |
| Free to try | 14-day trial | Free plan, 1 active canvas |
| Figma vs live | No | No |
| MCP handoff | No | 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.
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.
MarkUp.io vs Ruttl: at a glance
| MarkUp.io | Ruttl | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple review of many file types | Budget feedback across many surfaces |
| Starting price | $79/mo flat | $18/user/mo |
| Free to try | 14-day trial | Free plan, 10 comments |
| Figma vs live | No | No |
| MCP handoff | No | 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.
MarkUp.io vs Marker.io: at a glance
| MarkUp.io | Marker.io | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Simple review of many file types | Bug reporting into your issue tracker |
| Starting price | $79/mo flat | $59/mo ($39 annual) |
| Free to try | 14-day trial | 15-day trial |
| Figma vs live | No | No |
| MCP handoff | No | 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 MarkUp.io 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 MarkUp.io?
No problem! It is genuinely the better fit if:
- You review everything, not just design work: MarkUp.io takes video and 30+ file types on one flat plan.
- You want unlimited users without thinking about seats: Pro includes unlimited admins, members, and guests.
- You need Google or Microsoft SSO on the entry plan.
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.