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Top 5 MarkUp.io alternatives for design teams

Dinofounder of layernote

MarkUp.io is a visual commenting tool by Ceros for pinning feedback on live websites, images, PDFs, and video, over 30 file types in all. 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 September 28, 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.

MarkUp.io review: pros and cons

Verdict

MarkUp.io is a simple, capable way to collect feedback on almost any file, and unlimited users plus guests who never sign up make it easy to roll out. Since 2026 it is no longer the flat, unlimited deal it used to be: $79 now buys 50 new MarkUps a month, which suits a steady, modest review volume best. It has no Figma file support or coding agent handoff, so if your reviews end in changes to a website, a tool built for that fits better.

Pros

  • Unlimited users on every plan, and guests comment without signing up
  • 30+ file types, including live websites, PDFs, Office documents, and video
  • Integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zapier, plus a Chrome extension
  • Google and Microsoft SSO on every plan
  • New versions of a MarkUp do not count toward the monthly allowance

Cons

  • Pro includes 50 new MarkUps a month since 2026, where it used to be unlimited; 75 or 100 cost $99 or $129
  • Deleting or archiving a MarkUp does not return it to the allowance, unless you delete it within 15 minutes
  • No Figma file support per their own help center; the suggested workaround is a PDF export
  • No AI features or coding agent handoff (MCP)
  • One workspace on Pro and Business; more workspaces need Enterprise

Verified on markup.io. Spot something outdated? Tell us and we will fix it.

MarkUp.io pricing

MarkUp.io has three plans: Pro from $79 a month, Business from $499 a month, and Enterprise on request. Each one comes with a monthly allowance of MarkUps, the reviews you create from a URL or a file, and every plan includes unlimited users.

PlanMarkUps per monthPer monthPer year
Pro50$79Not offered
Pro75$99$990
Pro100$129$1,290
Business200$499$4,990
Business400$649$6,490
Business600$799$7,990
EnterpriseUnlimitedCustomCustom

Pro includes one workspace and 100 to 200GB of storage. Business adds branding, a vanity domain, full metrics, and priority support. Enterprise adds unlimited workspaces, SAML SSO, and SOC II documentation.

The allowance counts every new MarkUp, from a URL, an upload, the API, or the Chrome extension, and resets on the first of each month. Comments, guests, and new versions of an existing MarkUp do not count. Deleting a MarkUp does not give it back, unless you delete it within 15 minutes.

Need more in a month? Extra MarkUps cost $4 each, in bundles of 10, 20, or 30 that do not expire. Pro and Business start with a 14-day free trial, and there is no free plan.

How MarkUp.io pricing changed

The sticker price stayed at $79, but what it buys shrank. Until at least March 2026, Pro meant unlimited MarkUps, 500GB of storage, and a 30-day trial. By September 2026 the same $79 bought 50 new MarkUps a month, 100GB, and a 14-day trial. Teams that create more now pay $99, $129, or $4 per extra MarkUp.

  1. January 2023

    Pro from $49 a month with unlimited MarkUps and 500GB of storage, and core features free for personal use.

    Source: MarkUp.io blog
  2. August 2025 to March 2026

    Pro at $79 a month, still with unlimited MarkUps and 500GB, and a 30-day free trial.

    Source: markup.io/pricing, archived
  3. September 2026

    Pro at $79 a month for 50 new MarkUps a month and 100GB, with a 14-day free trial. 75 MarkUps cost $99 and 100 cost $129.

    Source: markup.io/pricing

Prices in US dollars, checked on September 28, 2026.

Best MarkUp.io alternatives at a glance

ToolBest forStarting price
1. layernoteAnnotating websites and design files$19/mo flat
2. PastelCanvas review of mixed content$35/mo (2 users)
3. RuttlBudget feedback across many surfaces$18/user/mo
4. BugHerdClient feedback with a kanban workflow$50/mo (5 members)
5. Marker.ioBug reporting into your issue tracker$59/mo ($39 annual)

1. layernote

Comments8Homepage redesign
Desktop76%
ReviewTasksFinish review
8 Active1 Resolved
Page: Home(5)
5
Amelia MoreauThe photo crops her hair at the top. Can it sit a little lower?Yesterday•Oct 20
4
Sara LindqvistContact us moves down a pixel on hover.1 hour ago•2 replies
3
Jordan LeeThe faded cards are hard to read. Can they be a bit stronger?27 minutes ago•Sep 26
2
Marc KellerGet template is a bit too dark. In the design it is our ink, not pure black.26 minutes ago•1 reply
1
Amelia MoreauThe headline wraps too early on desktop. Can it stay on two lines like in the design?25 minutes ago•Sep 24
Page: Pricing(3)
8
Priya ShahThe yearly toggle jumps a little when you click it.10 minutes ago•Oct 21
7
Jordan LeeCan the Team card be as tall as the other two?1 hour ago•3 replies
6
Marc KellerThe footnote under the plans is hard to read.Yesterday•1 reply

Your busiest workflows,
now running on their own.

Forge connects to the tools your team already uses and runs
the repetitive work in the background, so your people can
spend their day on the work that needs them.

Contact usGet template
Running today3 workflows · 214 tasks done
Live
Inbox triageSorting 48 new requests
Running
Invoice follow-ups12 reminders sent this morning
Done
Weekly reportDrafting the Monday summary
Queued
54321
Amelia Moreau25 min ago

The headline wraps too early on desktop. Can it stay on two lines like in the design?

In progress2 replies
Reply to Amelia…⌘↵

MarkUp.io is a friendly generalist: upload almost anything and let unlimited guests comment on it. layernote is a specialist for web work: it pins annotations on the live page, shows the CSS of the annotated element, and hands every annotation to your coding agent over MCP. It also imports your Figma frames for review. If your reviews end in changes to a site, that specialization is the whole point.

MarkUp.io vs layernote: at a glance

FeatureMarkUp.iolayernote
Best forSimple review of many file typesAnnotating websites and design files
Starting price$79/mo for 50 MarkUps$19/mo flat
Free to try14-day trial14-day trial
MCP handoffNoYes
Figma importVia PDF exportYes
Kanban boardNot documentedStudio plan

Every feature and both prices: layernote vs MarkUp.io

Why it is on top

  • You want the loop closed: annotations flow to Claude, Claude Code, Cursor, or Codex over MCP, and the agent marks each one resolved with what changed. MarkUp.io's site mentions no AI or coding agent features.
  • You work from Figma: MarkUp.io's help center says Figma files are not supported and suggests exporting a PDF. layernote imports your Figma frames, so you pin feedback on the design itself.
  • No allowance to count: layernote is a flat $19 a month on Solo, or $49 on Studio with unlimited projects. MarkUp.io Pro is $79 for 50 new MarkUps a month.

Solo is $19 a month, Studio $49 and Team $89, or 20% less billed yearly. Studio includes 10 members and Team 20; past that, and on Solo for anyone but you, a member is $8 a month. Clients always review free. Every account starts with a 14-day free trial of Studio, no credit card needed.

2. Pastel

Pastel is a visual feedback and QA tool that turns a link or file into a canvas for comments: websites, PDFs, images, videos, and emails.

FeatureMarkUp.ioPastel
Best forSimple review of many file typesCanvas review of mixed content
Starting price$79/mo for 50 MarkUps$35/mo (2 users)
Free to try14-day trialFree plan, 1 active canvas
MCP handoffNoYes
Figma importVia PDF exportVia image or PDF export

Pros

  • Free plan with one active canvas, and unlimited reviewers on every plan
  • Websites, PDFs, images, video, and email, each on its own canvas

Cons

  • No Figma integration; their FAQ says to export designs as images or PDFs
  • Pro covers 2 users and 3 active canvases; Team starts at $119 a month

Pastel starts at $35/mo (2 users) (free plan, 1 active canvas), checked October 13, 2026 on usepastel.com. Every pro and con, and who it suits better than MarkUp.io, is in our Pastel alternatives guide.

3. 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.

FeatureMarkUp.ioRuttl
Best forSimple review of many file typesBudget feedback across many surfaces
Starting price$79/mo for 50 MarkUps$18/user/mo
Free to try14-day trialFree plan, 10 comments
MCP handoffNoNo
Figma importVia PDF exportComing soon
Kanban boardNot documentedYes

Pros

  • Free plan, and live sites, web apps, mobile apps, images, and PDFs in one tool
  • Guest commenting through a share link, no signup

Cons

  • Per-seat pricing: $18 per user per month on Pro
  • Figma is listed as coming soon on their own integrations page

Ruttl starts at $18/user/mo (free plan, 10 comments), checked July 20, 2026 on ruttl.com. Every pro and con, and who it suits better than MarkUp.io, is in our Ruttl alternatives guide.

4. 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.

FeatureMarkUp.ioBugHerd
Best forSimple review of many file typesClient feedback with a kanban workflow
Starting price$79/mo for 50 MarkUps$50/mo (5 members)
Free to try14-day trial7-day trial
MCP handoffNoBeta
Figma importVia PDF exportPrototype feedback
Kanban boardNot documentedYes

Pros

  • Pin comments on live sites with auto screenshots and browser metadata
  • Unlimited client users on every plan, no accounts needed for guests

Cons

  • No free tier, and the entry plan is $50 per month for 5 members
  • Member caps per tier with paid add-on seats

BugHerd starts at $50/mo (5 members) (7-day trial), checked July 20, 2026 on bugherd.com. Every pro and con, and who it suits better than MarkUp.io, is in our BugHerd alternatives guide.

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.

FeatureMarkUp.ioMarker.io
Best forSimple review of many file typesBug reporting into your issue tracker
Starting price$79/mo for 50 MarkUps$59/mo ($39 annual)
Free to try14-day trial15-day trial
MCP handoffNoBeta
Comment on live websitesYesWidget or extension
Annotate imagesYesNo
Annotate PDFsYesNo
Figma importVia PDF exportNo
Clients review freeYesReporters free, guests capped
Kanban boardNot documentedNo

Pros

  • Two-way sync with Jira, Linear, GitHub, and Azure DevOps
  • Session replay plus console and network logs with every report

Cons

  • Website-only: no image, PDF, or design file review
  • No Figma integration

Marker.io starts at $59/mo ($39 annual) (15-day trial), checked July 20, 2026 on marker.io. Every pro and con, and who it suits better than MarkUp.io, is in our Marker.io alternatives guide.

Next steps: choosing your MarkUp.io alternative

Shortlist two tools from this page and run one real review round in each, with a client who has never seen either. The one your client actually uses is the answer. If your MarkUp.io reviews end in changes to a website, start that round in layernote.

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 web work: MarkUp.io takes 30+ file types, Word and other Office documents included.
  • Your team is big or changes often: every MarkUp.io plan includes unlimited users.
  • You create fewer than 50 new reviews a month, and new versions of an existing MarkUp do not count toward that.
  • You need Google or Microsoft SSO on the entry plan.

MarkUp.io FAQ

MarkUp.io is a visual commenting tool made by Ceros. You create a MarkUp from a website URL or an uploaded file, share it with a link, and reviewers pin comments right on the content. It supports more than 30 file types, including live websites, images, PDFs, Office documents, and video.

Pro costs $79 a month for 50 MarkUps, $99 for 75, or $129 for 100. Business starts at $499 a month for 200 MarkUps, and Enterprise is priced on request. Paying yearly gives two months free on every tier except the 50 MarkUp one, and extra MarkUps cost $4 each in bundles of 10.

Not the sticker price, but what it buys. Until at least March 2026, $79 a month got you Pro with unlimited MarkUps, 500GB of storage, and a 30-day trial. By September 2026 the same $79 included 50 new MarkUps a month and 100GB, with a 14-day trial. In January 2023, MarkUp.io's own blog listed Pro from $49 a month.

Every new MarkUp you create, whether from a URL, a file upload, the API, or the Chrome extension. Comments, replies, sharing, inviting people, and uploading a new version of an existing MarkUp do not count. The allowance resets on the first day of each month, and deleting a MarkUp only gives it back if you delete it within 15 minutes.

No. MarkUp.io's pricing page lists no free plan, and Pro and Business start with a 14-day free trial. In 2023 their blog still described free use for personal projects.

Not directly. MarkUp.io's help center says Figma files are not supported and suggests exporting the design as a PDF and uploading that instead.

It depends on what you review. If your reviews end in changes to a website, layernote pins annotations on the live page and hands them to your coding agent over MCP, at a flat price from $19 a month. Pastel suits mixed content on a canvas, BugHerd client feedback on a kanban board, Marker.io bug reports into your issue tracker, and Ruttl feedback across many surfaces on a budget.

Written by DinoFounder of layernote · @dino_murs on X

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