AnnotationBase vs Pastel

AnnotationBase is a web tool for placing visual feedback on website elements. Users can pin comments to a specific element, add context or screenshots, and tag teammates; replies, updates, and resolutions stay in a thread associated with that element. Clients and stakeholders can comment through a shared link without an account or download. It works with live websites, staging environments, and localhost sites that open in a browser. Listed platforms include Elementor, Framer, Shopify, Squarespace, Webflow, Wix, WordPress, and GoDaddy. Open feedback can be copied as a structured prompt for an AI editor, and comments and project data can be exported at any time. The free Lite plan allows five active projects and up to five collaborators. Monthly Pro costs £9.99 a month, and Yearly Pro costs £99 a year; both allow unlimited active projects and collaborators. API access is marked as coming soon, with planned connections to Linear, Notion, Jira, or custom systems.

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.