Approval Studio vs Workflow
Approval Studio
approval.studioWorkflow
workflow.designSide by side
| Figure | Approval Studio | Workflow |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $60/mo | $16/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 4 | 2 |
| Spec score · Design Proofing Software | 8.6 (#4) | 7.7 (#20) |
| Headquarters | Wilmington, Delaware, USA | London, United Kingdom |
| 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. | Workflow describes a Figma sync that sends Workflow comments to Figma, and says the sync is one-way. |
| Purpose | Approval Studio is an online proofing tool that streamlines the approval process for graphic files and design review workflows. | Workflow helps designers collect, organize, and act on design feedback in one place. |
| 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. | Workflow says it uses backups, redundancies, and encryption, and encrypts data transmitted from the public internet, with some edge-case exceptions. |
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.
Workflow
Workflow gives designers a place to collect, organize, and act on design feedback. It runs on the web and as an extension. For website reviews, people can open a shared link and leave comments directly on a live page; Workflow attaches an automatically captured screenshot to each comment. It also accepts feedback on PDFs, videos, Figma designs, newsletters, and more than 30 other media types. Review pages keep earlier comments and versions together, and reviewers can approve work without a Workflow account. Voice and video feedback are built in. A one-way Figma sync sends Workflow comments to Figma, while the Pixel Perfect Chrome extension overlays a design image on a live webpage to help spot visual differences. The free plan includes unlimited projects and reviewers, but after 14 days an upgrade is needed to start something new. Standard costs $16 a month per seat on annual billing. Videos have a 100 GB limit; each additional 100 GB costs $5. Workflow says it does not work on single-page applications or apps such as Google Docs.