AnnotateWeb vs Pastel
How AnnotateWeb — the free, no-sign-up way to annotate any webpage — compares with Pastel, and when to choose each.
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The short answer
AnnotateWeb is the free, no-signup alternative to Pastel for quickly marking up a live webpage and sharing it. Choose AnnotateWeb when you want to draw, highlight, and share a link in seconds with no account or install. Choose Pastel when you need persistent feedback threads, approval workflows, comment management, and integrations with Jira, Asana, Trello, or Zapier.
AnnotateWeb vs Pastel: side by side
| AnnotateWeb | Pastel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 (free forever) | $0 Free Forever; Pro $35/mo, Team $119/mo, Enterprise $450/mo (save 17% annually) |
| Free plan | Yes — the full product | Yes — Free Forever: 1 user, 1 active canvas, unlimited guest reviewers, 2GB video storage. Paid plans add a 14-day trial (no card). |
| Sign-up | Not required | Required to create canvases (guest reviewers can comment without an account) |
| Install | None (runs in browser) | None for reviewers (browser-based); creators work in the Pastel web app |
| Real-time | Yes | Yes — real-time visual feedback canvas shared via link; unlimited guest reviewers |
| Integrations | None | Trello, Asana, Jira, Zapier, webhooks (Team plan and up); CSV export on Pro |
| Bug tracking | No | Partial — comments convert to tasks and sync to PM tools; comment management toward inbox zero, but not a dedicated bug tracker |
| Best for | Fast, free visual feedback on public webpages | Agencies, design and marketing teams needing client approval workflows and persistent, managed feedback |
Pastel pricing verified from their site on June 1, 2026. Plans change — check the source for current pricing.
Choose AnnotateWeb if…
- ✓Completely free forever with no paid tiers — Pastel gates canvas count, video storage, and integrations behind paid plans starting at $35/mo
- ✓No sign-up and no install: open a page, annotate, and share a link in seconds, where Pastel requires an account to create a canvas
- ✓Annotate any live public webpage directly with highlighter, lines, circles, squares, and text, plus PNG export and 8-language support
- ✓Privacy-friendly by default — sessions are private to people with the link and annotations auto-delete after 2 minutes of inactivity
Choose Pastel if…
- •Persistent feedback threads, comment management, tags, and deadlines for structured client approval cycles — AnnotateWeb annotations are temporary
- •Integrations that turn comments into tasks in Jira, Asana, Trello, Zapier, and webhooks for teams already using PM tools
- •Broader asset support (PDFs, images, videos, design files) plus responsive testing and team features like SSO and SOC 2 on higher tiers
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Pastel alternative?
Yes. AnnotateWeb is free forever with no paid tiers, no sign-up, and no install. You annotate a live webpage and share a permanent link instantly. Pastel offers a Free Forever plan too, but it limits you to one active canvas and reserves integrations and more storage for paid plans.
Does AnnotateWeb do persistent feedback threads and approval workflows like Pastel?
No. AnnotateWeb is built for fast, lightweight markup — annotations auto-delete after two minutes of inactivity. If you need lasting comment threads, status tracking, deadlines, and client approval cycles, Pastel is the better fit. AnnotateWeb shines when you just want to draw and share quickly.
Do I need an account to use AnnotateWeb?
No. AnnotateWeb requires no account, no install, and no browser extension. It runs in your browser, so you can start annotating a public webpage and share a link immediately. Pastel lets guests comment without logging in, but creating a feedback canvas requires a Pastel account.