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Pastel

usepastel.com

From $25/mo Free plan WebiOSAndroidAPIBrowser extension
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Spec score 9.0 #2 of 31 in Web Annotation Tools

What it is

Pastel is a visual feedback and approval tool for websites and creative files, including PDFs, images, and videos. Users create a canvas from a website to place comments directly on the page in a browser, or share live sites and upload files for review. Updates are real time, and teams can keep comments private while inviting guest reviewers who do not need accounts. Review workflows support assignments, labels, deadlines, approvals, pausing comments, responsive testing, and CSV export. Listed connections include Trello, Asana, Jira, ClickUp, Monday.com, Zapier, custom webhooks, and API-based integrations. Pastel also says Cursor, Claude, and ChatGPT can act on feedback through its MCP. The Free plan allows one active canvas at a time, though users can archive one canvas and restore it later. The 14-day trial gives access to any paid plan without requiring a credit card. Pro is $29 a month, billed at $350/year; Team is $99 a month, billed at $1,190/year.

Spec sheet

What it does
Pastel is a cloud SaaS service for collecting and organizing visual feedback on live websites and other digital assets.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Purpose
Pastel collects visual feedback and approvals on websites and other creative work, including PDFs, images, and videos.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Trial
The free trial gives 14 days of access to any paid plan and does not require a credit card.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Integrations
Documented integrations include Trello, Jira, Asana, Monday.com, ClickUp, Zapier and custom webhooks.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com
Security
Pastel's privacy policy describes protections including user IDs, passwords, encryption, firewalls, restricted employee access, and security requirements for service providers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Support
GetApp lists chat and email/help-desk support options for Pastel.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Founded
2017Read 28 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Company
The company identifies itself as Pastel Labs Inc. and says it was created by freelance designers and developers to make website feedback easier.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
AI agents
Pastel says Cursor, Claude, and ChatGPT can act on feedback through its MCP.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Canvas workflow
Users create a canvas from a website URL, share it, receive comments, and resolve or export feedback.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Chrome extension purpose
The extension creates canvases for websites behind VPNs or firewalls and supports one-click feedback capture.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com
Collaboration
The product supports real-time updates, team-only comments, and unlimited guest reviewers who can comment without an account.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Comment controls
Users can mention teammates, attach images, apply labels, pause commenting, assign comments and mark them resolved.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Company facts
LinkedIn lists Pastel as a privately held Toronto company founded in 2016 with 2–10 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ca.linkedin.com
Company legal name
Pastel Labs Inc is identified as the owner of Pastel.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Copy editing
The product allows copy changes on a website canvas with a click.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Deadlines
Pastel provides feedback deadlines and deadline reminders for canvases.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com
Documentation
The help center lists 38 usage articles, 13 account/privacy articles, 10 integration articles and 6 MCP articles.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com
Enterprise compliance
The Enterprise plan includes access to a SOC 2 report and SAML single sign-on.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Enterprise security
The Enterprise plan includes a SOC 2 report and SAML single sign-on.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Founders
Crunchbase names Aloke Pillai, Haneef Ghanim and Valentin Staykov as founders.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Free plan limit
The Free plan allows one active canvas at a time; users can archive canvases to create another and unarchive them later.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Funding
Crunchbase lists Pastel as a private pre-seed company funded by DMZ, with one recorded funding round.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Guest access
People invited through a canvas link can comment as guests without creating an account or installing software.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com
Limit: bugs and adoption
G2 reviewers report occasional bugs and say some clients do not understand the board or prefer email.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: pricing
G2 reviewers say pricing was less competitive than BugHerd and that monthly pricing could be high for occasional use.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: value
A Capterra/GetApp reviewer said Pastel felt expensive for how little it was ultimately used.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Live-site proxy
Pastel overlays comments on the live website through proxy technology instead of storing a copied snapshot.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
MCP server
Pastel hosts an MCP server at https://api.usepastel.com/mcp for compatible AI agents.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com
MCP tool depth
The MCP server exposes 19 read and write tools for canvases, comments, replies, assignments, statuses and uploads.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com
Outage
Pastel’s status page records a major backend API outage on February 18, 2026 that lasted about 40 minutes.Read 14 Oct 2026 · status.usepastel.com
Praise: direct visual feedback
G2 reviewers praise placing comments directly on websites and replacing vague email-based feedback.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: ease of use
G2 reviewers repeatedly describe Pastel as intuitive, easy for customers and friendly to nontechnical teams.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Privacy controls
Canvas visibility can be restricted and comments can be private to team members.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Public API
Pastel provides API tokens for integrations such as Zapier and advertises a webhook and API for custom integrations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com
Rating on Capterra
4.5 out of 5 from 43 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on Chrome Web Store
5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratingsRead 14 Oct 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com
Rating on G2
4.5 out of 5 from 14 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
4.5 out of 5 from 43 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Real-time collaboration
Comments and feedback are displayed for collaborators in real time.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Responsive review
Users can switch between screen sizes to check responsive website layouts.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Security statement
Pastel says data is encrypted in transit and at rest and access is controlled with links, passwords and permissions.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Supported assets
Pastel supports live websites, PDFs, images, videos, wireframes, social posts and site maps.Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Website data handling
Pastel says it overlays comments on live websites and does not log or store canvas requests, while storing comment content and related metadata.Read 30 Sep 2026 · help.usepastel.com
Website review
Users can create a canvas from a website and leave visual comments directly on it in a browser on any device.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Workflow features
Features include comment assignments, labels, deadlines, pausing comments, approvals, responsive testing, and CSV export.Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Zapier integration
Zapier can trigger automations from new Pastel comments across more than 5,000 connected apps.Read 14 Oct 2026 · help.usepastel.com

Plans and prices

Free Free 1 user · 1 canvas Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Free Forever Free $0/mo 1 user · 1 active canvas · unlimited guest reviewers · unlimited versions per canvas · 2GB video storage Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Pro $25 a month $25/mo; $29 shown before 15% discount 2 users · 3 active canvases · CSV export · 100GB video storage Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Pro $29 a month Billed at $350/year 2 users · 3 canvases · 100GB video storage Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Team $84 a month $84/mo; $99 shown before 15% discount Starts at 5 users · $17/user/mo for additional users · unlimited active canvases · Trello/Asana/Jira exports · webhook or Zapier export · 500GB video storage Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Team $99 a month Billed at $1,190/year Starts at 5 users · Unlimited canvases · $24 per additional user · 500GB video storage Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com
Enterprise $383 a month $383/mo; $450 shown before 15% discount Starts at 10 users · $38/user/mo for additional users · SAML SSO · SOC 2 report · custom terms · dedicated account representative Read 14 Oct 2026 · usepastel.com
Enterprise $450 a month Billed at $5,400/year · Billed yearly Starts at 10 users · Unlimited canvases · Contact us · SOC 2 Report · SAML SSO · Custom legal terms · Dedicated account representative Read 30 Sep 2026 · usepastel.com

Every Pastel plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Comments can be placed directly on website canvases.
  • Guest reviewers can participate without accounts.
  • Workflows support assignments, deadlines, and approvals.
  • Integrates with listed project tools and Zapier.

Limits

  • The Free plan allows one active canvas at a time.
  • The 14-day trial requires a paid-plan choice afterward.
  • Pro is billed at $350/year.

Who it suits

Pastel suits people and teams who need to collect visual comments on websites or creative files, including from guest reviewers without accounts.

Pastel in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Pastel is a visual review tool for websites and creative files, best suited to teams that need clients or other outside reviewers to comment in context. Its guest access and workflow controls make shared approvals practical, but the one-canvas Free plan is restrictive for concurrent projects.

Reviewers can comment on a website canvas in a browser on any device; teams can also share live sites, upload images and mark up PDFs. Real-time updates and team-only comments help keep internal discussion alongside feedback, while unlimited guest reviewers can contribute without accounts. That combination makes Pastel a natural fit for client review, though teams with several reviews in progress will need a paid plan or an archiving routine.

Key features

Pastel adds workflow structure to visual comments: teams can assign and label feedback, set deadlines, pause comments, record approvals and test responsive layouts. CSV export provides a way to move review data out of the canvas. These controls suit teams managing feedback through multiple rounds; for occasional informal reviews, they may be more process than necessary.

Integrations include Trello, Asana, Jira, ClickUp, Monday.com and Zapier, plus custom webhooks and API-based integrations. Cursor, Claude and ChatGPT can act on feedback through Pastel's MCP. This is useful when reviews need to connect with project tracking or AI-assisted work, rather than remain isolated annotations.

Pastel says it overlays comments on live websites without logging or storing canvas requests, while it does store comment content and related metadata. Its privacy policy describes safeguards including encryption, firewalls, restricted employee access and requirements for service providers. Enterprise adds a SOC 2 report and SAML single sign-on, which may matter to organizations with formal security and identity requirements.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and includes 1 user and 1 canvas. Only one canvas can be active at a time, but users can archive it to make another and later unarchive it. That works for a single ongoing review or intermittent projects, not several active engagements.

Pro costs $29 a month, billed at $350/year, and includes 2 users, 3 canvases and 100GB video storage. It is the smallest paid step for a compact team that needs a few concurrent canvases and substantial video storage; it still caps the team at two users.

Team costs $99 a month, billed at $1,190/year, starts at 5 users and includes unlimited canvases and 500GB video storage. Additional users cost $24 each. This is the more suitable tier for teams handling concurrent reviews, though its starting seat count and annual billing make it a larger commitment than Pro.

Enterprise costs $450 a month, billed at $5,400/year, billed yearly, and starts at 10 users. It includes unlimited canvases, a SOC 2 report, SAML SSO, custom legal terms and a dedicated account representative; contact Pastel about the plan. It fits larger organizations needing those security and service provisions, rather than teams seeking only more canvas capacity.

A 14-day trial provides access to any paid plan without requiring a credit card. Pastel's pricing note says paid plans start at $35/mo, while the plan prices above give the stated monthly amounts and annual billing terms.

Platforms

Pastel supports web, Android, iOS and API platforms. Website review happens in a browser, including on mobile devices, so external reviewers can respond without needing a desktop-only workflow.

Who it's for

Pastel is a good match for design, development and marketing teams that collect approvals from clients or other guests, especially when they review both websites and creative files. Teams with a steady stream of simultaneous projects should look beyond Free; organizations requiring SAML SSO and a SOC 2 report have a specific reason to consider Enterprise. It is less compelling for a solo user who needs several active projects or does not need structured review controls.

Pros and cons

Pros: Unlimited guest reviewers can comment without accounts, lowering friction for client feedback.

Pros: Assignments, labels, deadlines, approvals and pause controls bring review management into the same workflow as annotations.

Pros: Website, image and PDF review, plus video storage on paid plans, cover multiple creative formats.

Cons: Free allows only one active canvas, requiring archiving to switch projects.

Cons: Pro includes only two users, while Team starts at five users and charges $24 per additional user.

Cons: The listed paid-plan prices use annual billing, so they represent a commitment beyond a month-to-month trial.

Alternatives

For education-focused annotation, Hypothesis offers a free plan with core annotation and private groups, and supports API, extension and web platforms. Choose Annot if its $9 a month Freelance plan's one active project, unlimited guests, file uploads in comments and Slack integration better match a solo workflow. AnnotationBase is worth considering for a free Lite plan with five active projects, up to five collaborators and guest commenting. dotts offers a free Testing plan for up to three projects and unlimited reviewers, or a $15 a month Pro plan with unlimited projects. Ruttl has a free plan with five users, one project, five pages and unlimited guests, which may suit a small review with limited page needs. SiteDots is another web and extension alternative. Annot8 has a free plan with two projects, three team seats and three guest reviewers, and no free trial. Huddlekit is another web and API alternative.

Browse Web Annotation Tools or Online Proofing Software for broader categories.

Verdict

Choose Pastel if your team needs visual feedback across websites and creative files, with guest reviewers able to comment without accounts and approvals managed in the same workflow. Its clearest drawback is capacity at the low end: Free permits one active canvas, and Pro stops at two users. Teams with concurrent projects or formal enterprise security needs have sensible upgrade paths, but solo users and teams unwilling to archive work or commit to annual billing should compare alternatives first.

Verdict

Pastel keeps visual review comments and approval steps around the work being reviewed. The free canvas limit may require archiving between projects, while guest access can help bring outside reviewers into a review without accounts.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to PastelAll alternatives →