Ruttl
Live website feedback with inline CSS and content editing. The closest Pastel peer, with the addition of real-time collaboration and developer-tool integrations.
Aligno vs Ruttl →Fair Comparison
Aligno vs Pastel
Compare an approval-first review workflow with a website-review tool that also supports PDFs and image files.
Both tools collect visual feedback from clients. The difference is what happens after. Can reviewers formally approve a version, and do you have a record to point to when scope questions come up later?
Last reviewed: April 29, 2026
How the products differ
Pastel supports live website review and also documents review flows for PDFs and image files. Its product and help pages also describe review completion states such as approve and request changes.
Aligno covers the same broad asset categories for client review, but it cares more about the approval step at the end of each version round.
It supports images, PDFs, videos, and live webpages in the same workspace, and it adds an explicit approval step at the end of each review round. Free plan available with no credit card required.
Side-by-Side View
This table summarizes publicly visible positioning and product scope.
Both tools support collecting visual feedback from clients. The key difference is workflow emphasis and how teams run review rounds.
Category
Aligno
Pastel
Core focus
Approval-first client sign-off workflow
Visual review for websites, PDFs, and image files
Content support
Images, PDFs, videos, and live webpages
Live websites plus PDFs and image files
Client access model
Share link, so clients review and approve without an account
Share link for feedback; no client account required to comment
Explicit approval states
Approve / Request Changes on every version
Approve / Request Changes available in review workflow
Free plan
Yes. Free plan available, no credit card required
Free plan available; paid plans add higher limits and team features
Approval record
Timestamped sign-off tied to a specific version
Review completion states including approve/request changes
Best fit
Freelancers and agencies who need explicit client sign-off
Teams focused on live website annotation and quick iteration
Pricing
Free plan available. Pro from $18.00/mo, flat (clients always free).
Free Forever. Pro $35/mo (2 users). Team $119/mo (5 users). Enterprise $450/mo (10 users).
What a 4-person studio actually pays
- Aligno Pro: $18.00/mo, flat (clients never count)
- Pastel Team: $119/mo (you need Team for ≥3 users; Pro caps at 2)
Other Pastel alternatives worth comparing
If Pastel isn't the right fit, the tools below each bring a different emphasis to client feedback and website review — from inline editing to multi-format proofing to developer bug tracking. Each link goes to a focused side-by-side comparison.
Markup.io
Broad multi-format review covering websites, images, PDFs, and video with 30+ file types. Heavier than Pastel; Pro recently moved to $79/mo.
Aligno vs Markup.io →BugHerd
Visual bug tracking on live websites with automatic technical metadata. Better when website feedback needs to flow into a developer ticket queue.
Aligno vs BugHerd →GoVisually
Creative proofing with version comparison and approval rounds. A stronger fit when the workflow involves image- and video-heavy creative deliverables alongside websites.
Aligno vs GoVisually →Want the full field? See all design feedback tool alternatives compared.
Where Pastel can be stronger
- Purpose-built for live website review, with an annotation experience tuned for clicking directly on rendered pages.
- Lightweight and fast for teams focused on campaign and website review workflows.
- Clean interface for non-technical reviewers who are primarily annotating live marketing sites.
Where Aligno can be stronger
- Approval-first flow tied directly to each version round, with client decision states built into the main review loop.
- Supports images, PDFs, videos, and webpages in one workspace. No need for separate tools depending on what you're delivering.
- Free plan available with no credit card required. No trial clock.
- Approval record tied to a specific version, which helps when scope disputes come up after handoff.
Frequently asked questions
Does Aligno have a free plan?
Yes. Aligno has a free plan with no credit card required. You can upload designs, share review links with clients, and collect pinned feedback and approvals on the free tier.
Do my clients need to create an account?
No. Clients access your review via a share link and can leave comments and approve designs without creating an Aligno account. This is true on all plans.
Does Aligno support live website review like Pastel?
Yes. Aligno supports live webpage review alongside images and PDFs. Clients can click anywhere on the live page to leave a pinned comment, the same way they would on an image or PDF.
What's the difference between feedback and approval?
Feedback collects opinions. Approval creates a decision record. When a client clicks Approve in Aligno, that action is logged against the exact version they reviewed. You get a clear record of what was signed off and when, not just a comment thread to interpret.
Product details may change over time. Always review official vendor pages before making a purchase decision.
Source pages used for this comparison: Pastel homepage, Pastel plans, Pastel approval workflow docs, Aligno docs, Aligno pricing.
Related pages: Design feedback tool, Client approval software, Markup.io alternative comparison, See all design feedback tool alternatives.
Free to try — no credit card
Clients never pay or sign in
One share link, no account
Explicit approval on every version
Try Aligno with no client login required
The fastest way to choose fairly is running the same review on each tool. Aligno's free plan takes minutes to set up.