Free Pastel alternatives

Bottom line: MonkLayer is the only open-source, flat-rate Pastel alternative. Chrome extension, real-time live cursors, link-based sharing, no account. Markup.io (Pastel’s sister product) has a free tier with limits. PageProofer and BugHerd are paid alternatives.

By MonkLayer · Last updated: April 2026

Looking for a free Pastel alternative? Pastel is a polished but paid platform for agency client reviews. Below are the strongest free or freemium options for visual feedback on live websites in 2026.

Top free Pastel alternatives

1. MonkLayer

Open-source Chrome extension. Real-time visual annotation on any live webpage, with live cursors and link-based sharing. Reviewers need no account. Free to try, flat-rate plans from $19/month.

Best for: Anyone who needs the core Pastel use case without a per-seat bill.

2. Markup.io

Pastel's own free tier, with project limits. Same parent company.

Best for: Teams who like the Pastel ecosystem but want a free entry point.

3. PageProofer

Visual feedback for staging sites. Paid, with a free trial.

Best for: Teams comfortable on a paid SaaS plan.

4. BugHerd

Visual bug tracker with full workflow tooling. Paid only.

Best for: QA-heavy teams who need a Kanban + integrations.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free version of Pastel?

Pastel offers a free trial but no permanent free tier. Markup.io (Pastel's sister product) has a free tier with project limits. MonkLayer is flat-rate from $19/month, with unlimited members and guests.

What's the best free Pastel alternative?

MonkLayer for the visual-feedback core use case. Markup.io if you're comfortable in the same product family. BugHerd if you need full bug-tracking workflow.

Can I self-host a Pastel alternative?

MonkLayer is open source and self-hostable on any VPS. Most other options are closed-source SaaS.

Related comparisons

Try MonkLayer

MonkLayer annotates and shares a single page free with no sign-up, charges a flat rate for team projects, and works on any webpage. Recipients of your share links don't need to install anything.