Approval Studio vs Cage
Approval Studio
approval.studioCage
cageapp.comSide by side
| Figure | Approval Studio | Cage |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $60/mo | $8/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 7 |
| Spec score · Design Proofing Software | 8.6 (#4) | 9.1 (#2) |
| Spec score · Video Review Software | 8.6 (#9) | 9.2 (#1) |
| Spec score · Online Proofing Software | 8.5 (#7) | 9.1 (#2) |
| Headquarters | Wilmington, Delaware, USA | LinkedIn lists Cage's headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. |
| Integrations | The maker lists integrations and tools including Slack, Shopify, Zapier, Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams, REST API, GraphQL API, and an MCP server. | Official pages list Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD, Slack, Dropbox and Chrome integrations or extensions. |
| Intended users | The maker says it developed the design review tool for creative teams and small and medium businesses, and describes use by freelancers, agencies, and international enterprises. | The maker describes Cage as suitable for freelancers, creative teams, agencies, and studios. |
| Security | The maker says data is stored in controlled facilities in the Netherlands and handled according to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 practices, with confidential data encrypted in transit and payments compliant with PCI DSS. | Cage says it uses 256-bit SSL encryption, PCI-compliant payment processors, and daily backups. |
| Support | The security page says support is available 24/7 by chat and email; plan details list email support on Lite and Pro, 24/7 live chat on Pro XL, and a dedicated phone line on Enterprise. | Cage offers in-product support, live chat and email support, with stated responses within minutes or within an hour during normal business hours depending on the page. |
Plans
Approval Studio
- LITE$60 a month
- PRO$160 a month
- PRO XL$300 a month
- ENTERPRISEPriced on request
Cage
- FreeFree
- FreeFree
- Standard$8 a month
- Standard$8 a month
- Professional$14 a month
- Professional$14 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
In their own words
Approval Studio
Approval Studio is an online proofing tool for reviewing graphic files and handling design approvals. Reviewers can annotate assets, compare versions in four modes, attach files to comments, and review videos and web pages. Workflow tools include project history, Kanban stages, notifications, file versioning, PDF reports, and automation. Listed integrations include Slack, Shopify, Zapier, Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, Dropbox, Microsoft Teams, REST and GraphQL APIs, and an MCP server. Users can sign in with an internal account or Google or OKTA single sign-on. The maker says data is stored in controlled facilities in the Netherlands and confidential data is encrypted in transit. Approval Studio offers iOS and Android apps for project management, artwork review, workflows, notifications, and cross-device syncing. Its Adobe extension supports Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign 2020 or later on macOS and Windows, requires a stable internet connection, and needs a Pro or Enterprise account. Lite costs $60 a month; Pro costs $160 a month; Pro XL costs $300 a month. A 14-day trial is listed.
Cage
Cage is media collaboration and project workflow software for designers, agencies, and in-house teams. Users can annotate images, video, audio, PDFs, and more than 150 other file formats, then coordinate work with projects, tasks, messages, calendars, milestones, and activity streams. Timestamped approvals and file version history support review and change tracking. Branded presentations let users share design files with teams and clients. Listed integrations include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD, Slack, and Dropbox. Its Chrome extension captures files with one click for download or addition to a Cage project for annotation. The free plan is billed Free forever and is limited to one user, one project, and 2 GB of storage, with unlimited reviewers and no credit card requirement. Standard is $8 a month, billed per user, and includes up to 25 people and up to 500 GB of storage. Professional is $14 a month per user and includes up to 2 TB of storage. Paid plans are month to month and can be cancelled, upgraded, or downgraded at any time. Support is available through in-app live chat or email during normal business hours, Monday through Friday Central Time.