Friday, February 2, 2025
4 Cheaper Markup.io Alternatives
Markup.io has long been a popular tool for collecting website feedback. However, with recent removal of free tier and price hike to 79$/month, many users are now exploring more affordable alternatives. In this post, we compare four leading options—QualityHive, Workflow.Design, and Simple Commenter—detailing their pros, cons, pricing, and unique features. Whether you're a freelancer, design agency, or part of a larger enterprise, this guide will help you choose the best tool for gathering client feedback.
Evaluation Criteria
When comparing these tools, we considered several important factors:
- Pros & Cons: What each platform does well and where it may fall short.
- Pricing: Subscription models, one-time fees, and overall cost-effectiveness.
- Features & Functionality: Core capabilities, ease of use, integrations, and any standout tools.
- User Experience: Interface design, intuitiveness, and overall satisfaction.
- Additional Considerations: Scalability, customer support, mobile compatibility, and unique functionalities.
Competitor Reviews
1. Simple Commenter
Overview:
Simple Commenter is a straightforward tool for gathering client feedback directly on live websites. It integrates seamlessly with your site and offers PDF-like commenting features, streamlining the feedback process between developers and clients.
The tool was built by a webmaster who grew tired of discussing screenshots and compiling them into a single PDF—only to have the file turn out too large for email sharing.
This led to two key ideas behind Simple Commenter:
- PDF-like Experience: Most clients are already comfortable annotating PDFs, so this approach feels intuitive and familiar.
- Lightweight and Easy Implementation: The tool is simple to set up without the need for extra downloads or extensions.
I often use platforms like Vercel that provide simple, shareable preview URLs. With Simple Commenter, you just add a small snippet to your preview or staging site, send the preview link to your client, and they’re ready to start submitting feedback and collaborating directly on your website.
No extensions to download, no account creation, and perfect responsiveness on both mobile and desktop—making the entire process hassle-free for your clients.
You can test the functionality right on the page! Just click the toolbox in the bottom right corner to share your thoughts and help us improve this guide in real-time.
Pros:
- Super Simple to Use: Easy integration with a single line of code, making it accessible for users without extensive technical expertise.
- Dashboard Management: Offers a centralized dashboard for efficient comment management.
- Collaborate on feedback directly on the website: Supports threaded discussions, enabling clear back-and-forth communication.
- Email Notifications: Provides real-time notifications on new comments and replies.
- Universal Compatibility: Works seamlessly with major CMS platforms such as WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, Bubble, and more.
- Mobile Access: Optimized for mobile devices, so you can manage feedback on the go.
- Multiple Domain Support: Manage comments across various websites from a single account.
- Super light weight: There are no screenshots to be made, and no large file storages. Thus allowing us to offer this tool at a such low price.
Cons:
- Limited Media Support: Currently does not support uploading videos or photos; these features are under development.
- Basic Functionality: Focuses on core commenting features and may lack some advanced multimedia capabilities available in other tools.
Pricing:
- 59$ One-Time Purchase: Simple Commenter is available as a one-time purchase with no recurring fees, granting perpetual access to the current feature set.
- Future Tiers: While new pricing tiers with additional features (such as file uploads) may be introduced in the future, your current purchase will always retain its full functionality.
Additional Features:
- Designed for straightforward, PDF-like annotations.
- A robust, user-friendly interface that prioritizes essential feedback functionalities.
2. QualityHive
Overview:
QualityHive is a cloud-based website feedback and bug tracking tool designed for development agencies. It enables users to collect detailed feedback directly on live websites, streamlining the process of identifying and resolving issues.
Pros:
- Intuitive Feedback Widget: Users can raise tasks directly on the website without leaving the page.
- Robust Debugging Information: Automatically captures screenshots, browser details, screen dimensions, and JavaScript errors.
- Kanban Board Integration: Built-in Kanban board for effective task management and team collaboration.
- Video Recording: Includes a video recording feature for comprehensive feedback.
Cons:
- Storage Limitations: Lower-tier plans offer limited storage, which may not suit larger projects.
- Learning Curve: New users might need time to adapt to the tool’s interface and functionality.
Pricing:
- Lite: $18/month – 2 members, 500MB storage, 2 projects.
- Essential: $40/month – 5 members, 2GB storage, unlimited projects.
- Mega: $78/month – 10 members, 5GB storage, unlimited projects.
- Colossal: $140/month – 30 members, 40GB storage, unlimited projects.
Note: Annual billing options offer additional savings.
Additional Features:
- Browser extensions and a WordPress plugin for seamless integration.
- Automatic notifications when bugs are resolved.
- API access and webhooks for enhanced customization.
Check out the tool here: https://qualityhive.com/
3. Workflow.Design
Overview:
Workflow.Design is a free project management and design feedback platform that emphasizes ease of use and collaboration. It is particularly suited for teams looking for a no-cost solution to manage and review design projects.
Pros:
- Free Core Features: Manage projects and invite reviewers at no cost.
- Unlimited Tasks: No limits on the number of tasks or projects you can create.
- Simple Reviewer Access: Reviewers can provide feedback without needing to create an account.
Cons:
- Storage Costs: Beyond the initial 100GB of free storage, additional space is charged at $5 per 100GB per month.
- Potential for Future Paid Upgrades: Some advanced features, especially those powered by AI, may eventually require payment.
Pricing:
- Free Tier: Basic features with up to 100GB of storage.
- Additional Storage: $5 per 100GB per month.
Additional Features:
- Plans to introduce paid upgrades for select AI-enhanced features.
- A user-friendly design that simplifies both project management and feedback collection.
- The tool is in early access, so we're sure they will make the product event better as it already looks promising.
4. Feedbucket
Overview:
Feedbucket is a website feedback and bug-reporting tool designed for web agencies. It allows clients and team members to submit annotated screenshots and video recordings directly on a live website, capturing key technical details like browser type and screen dimensions. Feedback is collected in Feedbucket’s dashboard and integrates with project management tools like Trello, Jira, Asana, and ClickUp.
Pros:
- Easy Setup: No extensions or installations required for clients.
- Comprehensive Feedback Collection: Supports screenshots, video recordings, and automatic technical data capture.
- Seamless Integrations: Works with major project management tools.
- Collaboration Features: Includes threaded comments and status tracking.
Cons:
- Limited Customization: Branding removal and advanced features require higher-tier plans.
- Mobile Video Feedback Issues: Recording feedback on mobile can be inconsistent.
Pricing:
- Pro: $33/month – Unlimited feedback, 5 team members.
- Business: $72/month – 25 team members, branding removal, custom metadata.
- Enterprise: $207/month – 50 team members, priority support, SSO (coming soon).
Additional Features:
- Screenshot and video annotations.
- Automatic bug reporting with technical data.
- Collaboration tools for streamlined feedback management.
- Works without extensions or extra setup for clients.
Conclusion
Choosing the right website feedback tool depends on your specific needs and budget. QualityHive and Workflow.Design offer robust features suited for teams of varying sizes, while FiidBakk presents an emerging option ideal for design-centric workflows. Simple Commenter stands out for its simplicity, ease of use, and cost-effective one-time purchase model—making it an excellent option for those seeking a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to client feedback.
Happy commenting!
Aleksander Kaaberma,
Creator of Simple Commenter
Simple Commenter in 2 minutes