Approval Studio vs Clapshot
Approval Studio
approval.studioClapshot
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Approval Studio | Clapshot |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $60/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Spec score · Video Review Software | 8.6 (#9) | 8.9 (#4) |
| 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. | Authentication can be connected through a reverse proxy to systems such as OAuth, LDAP, Kerberos, or SAML, and custom Organizer plugins support external integrations. |
| 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 project advises users who do not need local hosting or are not comfortable with networking and Linux to consider commercial cloud services instead. |
| Purpose | Approval Studio is an online proofing tool that streamlines the approval process for graphic files and design review workflows. | Clapshot is an open-source, self-hosted tool for collaborative video and media review and annotation, aimed mainly at organizations that cannot or will not put media in commercial cloud services. |
| Review features | Reviewers can annotate assets, compare versions in four modes, attach files to comments, and review video and web pages. | Reviewers can synchronize playback in real time, add drawing annotations, and discuss time-coded comments in threads. |
| 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. | The project recommends HTTPS through a reverse proxy for internet-facing deployments and warns that monitored-folder file ownership must match the intended access model. |
Plans
Approval Studio
- LITE$60 a month
- PRO$160 a month
- PRO XL$300 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.
Clapshot
Clapshot is a self-hosted tool for teams reviewing video, audio, and image files, including subtitle tracks. It is aimed at organizations that want to keep media outside commercial cloud services. Reviewers can watch together with synchronized playback and seeking, share review links, and discuss time-coded comments in threads. The browser player includes frame-by-frame navigation, loop controls, editable SMPTE timecode fields, waveform visualization for audio, timeline pins, and drawing annotations with seven colors.
Media can be uploaded through the web interface or read from a monitored folder, which can assign users based on file ownership or folder names. FFmpeg handles transcoding, thumbnails, and metadata extraction; custom scripts and hardware acceleration are supported. Authentication can connect through a reverse proxy to OAuth, LDAP, Kerberos, or SAML, and notification hooks can connect to email, Slack, or other systems. Deployment options include Docker Compose and a Debian package for Debian 12 or 13. The server and client are GPLv2 licensed. Clapshot is free at free. Mobile browser support is limited, and desktop Chrome or Chromium is recommended.