TL;DR: Pastel is a solid tool — but its pricing jumps from $35/mo (3 canvases) straight to $119/mo for anything more. If you're a freelance designer or small studio who just needs clients to stop emailing annotated PDFs, Redline starts at $19/mo with no seat limits.
Pastel's Pro plan ($35/mo) limits you to 3 active canvases. If you have more than 3 active client projects — which most working freelancers do — you're looking at $119/mo for the Team plan. That's a steep jump for a solo designer.
Pastel's pricing is seat-based ($24/user/mo for additional members on Team). If you're working solo or with one partner, you're paying for a structure you don't need.
Pastel works by injecting a script into a live URL. If you deliver static HTML redesigns before they're deployed, there's nothing for Pastel to hook into.
Redline is built around one workflow: you upload a static HTML bundle, share a link, and your client clicks directly on the design to leave pinned annotations. No email threads. No annotated PDFs. No “which header do you mean?”
| Pastel Pro | Pastel Team | Redline Freelancer | Redline Studio | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $35/mo | $119/mo | $19/mo | $49/mo |
| Active projects | 3 canvases | Unlimited | 3 projects | 15 projects |
| Client login required | No | No | No | No |
| Pricing model | Seat-based | Seat-based | Project-based | Project-based |
| Works on static HTML | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works on live sites | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Self-hosted option | ✗ | ✗ | On request | On request |
| Version history | ✓ | ✓ | Last 3 bundles | Full history |
| Integrations | Zapier, Jira, Asana | Zapier, Jira, Asana | — | — |
Both tools let clients leave pinned feedback without logging in. The difference is in how that feedback reaches you.
In Pastel, feedback lives in a canvas workspace you manage. In Redline, every annotation appears in a project feed where you can reply, thread, and resolve each note individually — a workflow built around the revision loop, not just the collection of comments. Every round of feedback has a formal close.
| Redline | Pastel | |
|---|---|---|
| Solo freelancer, 3 projects | $19/mo | $35/mo (at the Pro limit) |
| Freelancer, 10 active projects | $49/mo | $119/mo |
| Small agency, 20+ projects | $99/mo | $119/mo+ |
| Annual discount | 2 months free | 17% off |
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