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We all know and love RedPen.
You know it as the fastest feedback tool creative teams use to streamline their review and approval process.
But sadly, this beloved feedback tool kinda got stuck in the past. Like waaay in the past. Almost in the dinosaur era.
So, sadly—
Now what? You can’t use the RedPen tool anymore. Do you go back to long email threads and post-its?
No way!
Wipe your tears. To help you move on, here’s a list of top-notch alternatives custom-made for you.
With these tools, you’ll get back into the feedback groove in no time.
Let’s get to it!
Disclaimer: The information below is accurate as of May 7, 2024.
Table of Contents
- An overview of RedPen alternatives
- Alternative #1: MarkUp.io
- Alternative #2: GoVisually
- Alternative #3: Filestage
- Alternative #4: Pastel
- Alternative #5: ProofHub
- Alternative #6: ClickUp
- Alternative #7: Marker.io
- Alternative #8: DesignDrop
- Alternative #9: Approval.studio
An overview of RedPen alternatives
We know. Breaking up with someone is hard. So is switching to another tool. It’s awkward to say ‘Goodbye’ and messy.
Plus, all you want to do is grab a bucket of ice cream. And binge-watch your favorite TV show.
Later, you wonder if you can find a tool that’s the right match for you. Or if it’s just another fish in the pool. 😑
Don’t worry! This article is chock-full of rebound tools that’ll make you forget RedPen in no time.
With these alternatives, you can:
- Request and receive feedback.
- Collaborate with teammates, clients, and stakeholders.
- Share digital files with ease.
- Organize files into folders for smooth structure.
- Improve productivity.
- Stay in sync with the progress of the project.
Wanna learn more about these tools?
Let’s talk about them in detail.
Alternative #1: MarkUp.io
Ever since RedPen.io became inactive, it’s been difficult to request feedback from clients.
Now, you take several screenshots. And send them via email with a short description.
A process you thought you’d parted ways with a long time ago.
Well, with MarkUp.io, you don’t have to revert to the old way of requesting feedback any longer.
It’s a collaborative platform that allows you to request and receive feedback with ease.
On MarkUp.io, all your feedback is organized in a centralized location so you can say goodbye to the endless back-and-forth you’re used to on multiple channels.
All you have to do is simply:
- Upload your digital file to MarkUp.io.
- Share live URLs with collaborators.
- Wait for them to point and click to give contextual feedback.
Simply put, MarkUp.io has an easy review and approval process that anyone can implement.
And if you wanna review a website, MarkUp offers a Google Chrome extension you can add to your browser for quick annotation.
Features
Wondering what else MarkUp.io has in store for you? Here are some of its benefits:
- Supports a variety of file formats such as live websites, HTML, images, videos, PDFs, prototypes, and more.
- Creates comment threads so communications are centralized.
- Allows @Mentions to tag collaborators.
- Integrates with external apps such as Zapier, Slack, and Microsoft Teams for an efficient workflow.
- Provides Folders so you can organize digital files with ease.
- Permits visual annotation.
- Offers a Loom integration, so users can attach video recordings to comments.
Rating
We know that sometimes hearing what other users think of a product can give you all the proof you need to give it a try.
When users on Trustpilot were asked what they thought of MarkUp.io, they gave it 4.8/5 stars. 🤩
Not too bad, eh?
Pricing
MarkUp.io offers a free version with two paid pricing tiers.
The free version provides you with the basic functions you need to request and receive feedback. You get one Workspace that allows you to have 5 active MarkUps as long as they’re not more than 10GB in size.
But if you have more projects, the Pro plan is a great option to consider. You get one Workspace, unlimited MarkUps, 500 GB worth of storage, Folders, and more.
Finally, there’s a custom-priced Enterprise plan available on demand.
Alternative #2: GoVisually
Meet GoVisually. Your next potential partner.
It’s a visual feedback tool that makes you forget about RedPen. And give you the gift of fast feedback in return.
You can invite reviewers to a project whether they have an account or not.
Everyone can leave comments, request additional changes, and give their approvals. All in one swoop!
Features
This Redpen alternative enters the feedback scene with features such as:
- Visual annotations to point and add comments to projects.
- A mobile version so collaborators can work on the go.
- Project archiving to ensure nothing is lost.
- Organization of all your designs, helping you manage teams, collaborators, revisions, and approvals.
- Integration with third-party apps like Slack.
- Private comments and file attachments if you wanna engage with your teammates alone.
Ratings
GoVisually has a rating of 4.4/5 on Capterra. Overall, users consider it to be an efficient tool.
Pricing
GoVisually has a Solo plan that starts at $20 per month and a Professional plan at $50 per month.
Then, there’s also a custom plan available upon request for organizations and large teams.
Alternative #3: Filestage
Love is in the air! 🫶 Filestage knows how to make designers happy. Let’s get to know it better.
It’s a web-based review tool that can help you get feedback on different files in no time.
With this tool, you can create a workflow for different projects, share files, discuss feedback, and track approvals.
It’s a team collaboration tool that helps ensure everyone involved in a project is on the same page.
Features
Here are some of Filestage’s key features:
- Unlimited file sharing.
- Comment threads remove the need for back-and-forth emails.
- Single-click approvals to avoid bottlenecks.
- Insights to know what’s up with your review process.
- Annotations for providing context during reviews.
- Version comparison so you know what’s changed on a file.
Ratings
So, what are users saying about Filestage? They gave it a 4.6/5 star rating on G2.
Pricing
Filestage has four pricing plans you can choose with the least starting at $49 per month.
Alternative #4: Pastel
You’re on a blind date. And you see Pastel standing in front of you.
You’re intrigued by the name. And you want to get to know it better. So, let’s begin!
Pastel is another RedPen alternative you can use for requesting reviews and approvals. Users can leave comments on anything from live websites, PDFs, and image assets.
This web app unites every task in a single location. As a result, stakeholders and colleagues can collaborate better.
You can also create a personalized template when working on Pastel.
Assigning work statuses lets everyone know what’s done. Or what still needs some work. And, most importantly, who’s working on what.
Features
Pastel is considered a proper RedPen alternative thanks to features such as:
- Unlimited guests so you can get user feedback from anyone in real time.
- @Mention to tag someone and get their attention.
- Responsive site test to know if a website is responsive or not.
- Feedback control so you can pause and resume commenting at will.
- Labels for organizing feedback and sharing progress with ease.
- Copying changes on any website.
Ratings
Out of the 12 users asked about Pastel, they rated the tool 4.6/5 on G2.
Pricing
Pastel offers four pricing plans to users:
- Free Forever: A free version.
- Solo: $24/mo.
- Studio: $83/mo.
- Enterprise: $350/mo.
Image Source: Pastel
Alternative #5: ProofHub
What recommends ProofHub? Hmm…
Well, it’s primarily a project management software. But it also has a side job. It entails being a valuable platform that helps teams get approval for their projects.
So, what can you do with ProofHub? Let’s see. Create a custom workflow to monitor projects from start to finish. And make sure everyone is on the same page with you.
It even has a chat feature that helps speed up communication with teams and clients in real time. You can have personal or group conversations when using the software.
Features
Let’s take a look at some of its features:
- File and docs to upload files, organize them, and share them with other users.
- Notes for sharing details about the project.
- @Mention to tag people.
- Discussion for creating discussion topics and sharing ideas.
- Annotation for contextual comments.
- File versioning so you can keep track of changes alongside another older version.
Reviews
ProofHub has a review rating of 4.6/5 on Capterra which is quite impressive, to say the least.
Pricing
ProofHub offers two paid pricing plans — the Essential plan starting at $45/mo and the Ultimate Control plan at $89/mo (when billed annually).
Alternative #6: ClickUp
Another top contender is ClickUp, a management app. And it’s quite the stud. 😉
It can bring you wine and breakfast in bed. Aka, it does multiple stuff like plan, manage, and track from start to finish.
So, if you want a partner that cares about your needs, match with ClickUp.
It also doubles as a collaboration tool creative teams for to share digital files. Users can also brainstorm ideas and request feedback internally and from stakeholders.
So, let’s say you have a design or marketing project. ClickUp automates your review and approval process so there are no delays.
Features
Here are major features that make ClickUp a worthy RedPen alternative:
- Whiteboard for brainstorming ideas and bringing them to life.
- Comments to share feedback on any task on ClickUp.
- @Mentions to assign comments to teammates and collaborators.
- Annotations so reviewers can proof projects with ease.
- Email notifications when changes are made.
Reviews
ClickUp has gathered quite a following, perhaps because it’s an all-in-one tool.
Anyway, users rated ClickUp 4.7/5 on Capterra.
Pricing
The collaboration tool comes with one free plan and three paid pricing plans starting at $7 per member, per month.
Alternative #7: Marker.io
In need of a RedPen alternative strictly for your website projects? Then, you should check out Marker.io.
It’s a website-feedback and bug-reporting tool that allows users to leave comments on your projects.
You can collect feedback from teammates or clients to decipher what they think of the website. Or ask users directly about where to improve.
Plus, you get a video showing exactly what users interacted with while testing the site.
Features
Marker.io’s main features include:
- Website annotation so your reviewers can share their comments.
- Session replay to watch a video of the customer feedback.
- Automatic status-sync to notify everyone changes are made to the project.
- Guest portal for clients and stakeholders to have an overview of reported issues.
- Bug tracking and reporting to manage user feedback.
Reviews
Marker.io has just 20 reviews on G2, but still has an impressive 4.7/5 star rating.
Pricing
Marker.io has three paid plans available and a 15-day free trial. They are:
- Starter at $39/mo.
- Team at $99/mo.
- Company at $259/mo.
Alternative #8: DesignDrop
DesignDrop will put a smile on your face. It’s the perfect rebound! But what makes it so great?
Well, it’s an easy-to-use feedback tool for requesting reviews on design files like wireframes.
So if you’re working on design projects, you just have to follow these steps:
- Upload your design to the platform as long as it’s in PNG or JPG format and doesn’t exceed 20MB.
- Share the URL.
- Receive feedback when reviewers are done annotating.
Features
Even though it’s a simple tool, it can still get the job done because of features such as:
- Visual annotation to specify elements when reviewing the design.
- Short URL to share the design review with ease.
- Real-time commenting.
Reviews
DesignDrop has no official rating on communities like G2 or Capterra. But users have many nice things to say about it.
Pricing
Aside from being simple, DesignDrop is currently a free review tool. According to the people behind it, it’s still in the beta phase so maybe things will change in the future.
Alternative #9: Approval.studio
Approval.studio might be last on our list. But don’t underestimate it! It’s still a sweet software built for digital designs and art projects.
And one that you’ll adore.
This design feedback tool helps people streamline their review process. “But how?” you might wonder.
By ensuring everyone is on the same page. Without the traditional email back-and-forth. 😉
Features
Approval.studio comes with an array of important features, including:
- Annotations to mark areas you wanna comment on.
- Chat-a-like discussions to engage with reviewers on the tool.
- Live comparisons to view different versions, before and after feedback.
- Project history for monitoring the project’s progress.
- Task management to delegate tasks to reviewers and teammates.
Reviews
So, do users consider this tool to be an effective one? Well, the G2 community gave it a 4.9/5 star rating. That says something about the review software.
Pricing
Approval.studio offers four paid plans:
- Lite plan at $45/mo.
- Pro plan at $135/mo.
- Pro XL plan at $255/mo.
- Enterprise plan at $5,999/yr.
***
And that brings us to the end of our brief expedition into alternative RedPen universes.
Some other alternatives you can also consider include Asana, ProjectHuddle, and zipBoard.
Have any of these new worlds (tools) caught your attention yet?
If you’re still unsure about how to move forward, we know of a solution that can help. 🤭
Enjoy a smooth feedback process with the right tool
If the goal is to have a streamlined feedback process, then you’re gonna fall head over heels for MarkUp.io.
It’s a collaboration tool so simple to use that you’ll think it’s a dream.
You’ll have projects reviewed and delivered to you in minutes. And you even have time to drink your coffee in peace. 😉
Sign up for a free trial with MarkUp.io so you can start riding the smooth feedback wave.
