Tools

The Client Feedback Tool I Switched To After Markup’s Price Increase (And Why It’s Actually Better)

If landed here because you’re Googling ‘Markup.io alternative’, I see you. I’ve been using Markup.io for years to collect client feedback on website drafts. You know the drill—clients click around the live site, leave comments exactly where they want changes, everything’s grouped by page. It was magic.

Until February 2024, when Markup killed their free plan and launched a single pricing tier at $79/month.

For context, that’s more than I spend on Showit, Google Workspace, and my project management tool combined. For a one-person design business that needs basic feedback functionality? That pricing felt wildly out of touch.

And apparently I wasn’t alone. Designers everywhere started scrambling for alternatives.

Then Loom also raised their prices on February 1st, 2026. Not as dramatically, but still—the tools we relied on were getting expensive fast.

So I did what any designer would do: I looked for the best Markup.io alternative I could find. And I landed on something I actually like better than what I was using before.


Why I Needed a Feedback Tool in the First Place

Google doesn’t care if your website is built on Showit, Squarespace, WordPress, or carved into stone tab Before I found tools like Markup, client feedback was a nightmare. Here’s how it used to go:

Client email: “Can you make the button blue?”

Me: “Which button?”

Client: “The one on the right.”

Me: “Which page? There are four pages with buttons on the right.”

Client: sends screenshot with no context

Sound familiar?

I needed a tool that let clients:

  • Click around the actual live site (not just screenshots)
  • Leave comments directly on the spot where they want changes
  • See how things actually work (animations, hover effects, links)

Markup did all that beautifully. But at $79/month for features I was only using 20% of? I needed to find something else.


What I Looked For in a Loom & Markup.io Alternative

My requirements were pretty simple:

Must-haves:

  1. Pin comments directly on live websites
  2. Clean, simple interface
  3. Easy for non-tech-savvy clients (no login required)
  4. Actually affordable for solo designers
  5. Works with Showit, Squarespace, WordPress—all platforms

Nice-to-haves:

  • Task tracking or status groupings per comment
  • Some kind of pre-built intro tutorial for clients
  • Lock comments

Don’t need:

  • Complex project management features
  • Team collaboration for 50+ people
  • Video editing capabilities

I tested Pastel, Ruttl, and a few others. But to be honest I hated all of them—either too expensive, too complicated, or missing key features.

Then I found Workflow.


Why Workflow.design Actually Works

Here’s what sold me:

1. It Does Everything Markup Did (The Basics)

  • Pin comments anywhere on live websites ✓
  • Comments automatically grouped by page ✓
  • Clients don’t need an account to leave feedback ✓
  • Works across all platforms (Showit, Squarespace, WordPress, etc.) ✓
  • Supports desktop and mobile views ✓

The basics are rock solid. Clients click the link, click anywhere to comment, and I get organized feedback without the “which button are you talking about?” chaos.

2. The Client Onboarding is Chef’s Kiss

When a client opens their Workflow link for the first time, there’s an automatic built-in tutorial that shows them exactly how to use it.

I cannot overstate how huge this is.

With other Markup.io alternative options, I had to create a Loom video explaining how to leave feedback. That’s an extra 10 minutes per client project just for onboarding.

Workflow handles it automatically. Clients see a quick popup: “Click anywhere to start leaving feedback. Need help? Watch this quick video.”

They figure it out instantly. I’ve never had a single client struggle with it.

3. You Can Pin Video Comments

This is one of my favorite features that other tools don’t have.

Sometimes a comment needs more context than text can provide. With Workflow, you can record a quick video comment and pin it directly to the spot on the page where you want to explain something.

It’s perfect for:

  • Walking through a design concept
  • Explaining why something works better a certain way
  • Showing how an interaction should feel
  • Giving context for a more complex change

It combines the best of Loom (video explanation) with the precision of pinned feedback. Game changer.

4. It Works on More Than Just Websites

While I primarily use Workflow for website feedback, it also works on:

  • PDFs
  • Images
  • Design files
  • Documents

So if you need feedback on a brand guide, proposal, or mockup? Same tool. No need to juggle multiple platforms for different file types.

5. It’s Actually Affordable (Especially With My Code)

Workflow is $20/month—already way more reasonable than Markup’s $79/month.

But here’s the best part: with my affiliate code, you get 50% off for your first 3 months.

That’s $10/month for three months to fully test it with real client projects. And after that? Still only $20/month.

There’s also a 14-day free trial so you can test it before committing to anything.

6. Clean, Intuitive Interface

The interface is gorgeous and uncluttered. Everything you need is right there, nothing you don’t need is getting in the way.

Comments have clear status options (open, in progress, resolved), so both you and your client can track what’s been addressed.

7. It’s Fast

Pages load quickly, comments save instantly, and there’s zero lag when switching between pages or marking comments as resolved.

When you’re trying to zip through client revisions, speed matters.


What About Loom?

Some designers swear by Loom for client feedback—record a video walking through the site, clients leave timestamped comments.

It works, but here’s why I don’t love it for website feedback specifically:

The problem with video feedback:

  • Clients can’t actually click anything (they’re watching a video, not interacting with the site)
  • They can’t test links or check mobile responsiveness themselves
  • Comments aren’t as precise (they might not pause fast enough, or reference the wrong element)
  • You have to watch the entire video to catch all feedback

Loom is fantastic for async communication, tutorials, and quick explanations. I use it all the time for that.

But for gathering specific feedback on website revisions? A tool like Workflow where clients interact with the actual live site (and can add video comments when needed) is way more effective.

Plus, Loom’s pricing went up February 1st, 2026—their Business plan is now more expensive for what amounts to less targeted feedback on web projects.


My Process Now

Here’s my current client feedback process with Workflow.design:

1. Finish the website draft (or a specific revision round)

2. Create a Workflow review link (takes 30 seconds)

3. Send client an email:

“Your website is ready for review! Click this link, then click anywhere on the site to leave feedback. The tutorial will walk you through it—super simple.”

4. Client leaves feedback (comments are automatically organized by page)

5. I work through comments, marking each as “resolved” as I complete them

6. Repeat for any additional revision rounds

Done. No confusion, no endless email chains, no “which page were you talking about?”


Real Talk: What Workflow.design Doesn’t Do

To be fair, Workflow is focused on feedback—not project management or team collaboration.

If you need:

  • Complex task assignments across teams
  • Time tracking or invoicing
  • File storage or asset management
  • Advanced permissions for large agencies

You’ll probably want a more robust tool or supplement Workflow with your existing project management software.

But for solo designers or small teams who just need clean, organized client feedback on websites, PDFs, and documents? Workflow nails it.


My Honest Recommendation

If Markup’s pricing pushed you out (or Loom’s price increase has you rethinking your feedback workflow), try Workflow.

It does the job beautifully, clients love how easy it is, video comments are incredibly useful, and the pricing actually makes sense for small businesses.

Start with the 14-day free trial, then use my code to get 50% off your first 3 months. You’ll know within one revision round if it works for your workflow.

Try Workflow+ get 50% off → (Use code: ZMVAWT at checkout)


The Bottom Line

Markup’s price increase sucked. But it forced me to find a tool that actually fits my business better.

Using Workflow as a Markup.io Alternative is cleaner, more affordable, has video comments (amazing), works on multiple file types, and honestly is easier for clients to use. If you’re still using email or Google Docs for feedback (or paying $79/month for features you don’t need), give it a shot.

Your future self—and your clients—will thank you.

Ready to streamline your client feedback? Workflow trial + get 50% off for 3 months → (Use code: ZMVAWT)

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