Stop chasing sticky notes. Start getting projects approved
Pastel is great for marking up live websites and digital assets, but growing teams often hit walls with tier-based pricing jumps.
Workflow lets you scale seats granularly one at a time, manage tasks with a built-in Kanban board, and keep your versions organized in one spot without making your clients jump through hoops - like signing in!
At a glance
The major breaking points with Pastel
Thinking of moving from talking about work to actually getting work done? Here is how Workflow compares to Pastel where it counts:
The "bucket" trap vs. solo seats
Pastel: Pastel’s pricing jumps from $35/mo (Solo plan supporting 2 users) straight up to $119/mo (Team plan for up to 5 users). If you need to add a third person, you are forced into a major tier jump.
Workflow: Add one seat at a time. $20/month per seat. No empty seat tax, ever.
External sync vs. native Kanban
Pastel: Pastel features an internal dashboard to manage and sort feedback, but relies on external integrations (like Asana, Jira, and Trello) to push tasks out, which require higher-tier plans.
Workflow: Your Kanban board is built right in. When a client leaves a comment, it’s instantly a task you can assign, schedule, and track to completion without switching apps.
Tiered team limits vs. linear growth
Pastel: Scaling up means navigating structured pricing tiers ($35/mo for Solo, $119/mo for Team, and $450/mo for Enterprise).
Workflow: Scale cleanly as you grow - whether it's 2 seats for $40/mo or 10 seats for $400/mo.
Pick Pastel if…
- You want a free-forever plan with 1 active canvas, 1 user and 2GB of video.
- You want automatic snapshots of live URLs, so you can see the page as it was when each comment was left.
- You need a dedicated Video Canvas for reviewing video files.
If that's you, Pastel is a solid choice.
In depth
Let’s see how Workflow & Pastel stack up against each other:
Feedback and review
Projects and tasks
Clients and scaling
Pricing
Pastel uses a tier-based model that forces significant price jumps as you add users, while Workflow utilizes a per-seat model designed for linear scaling.
$20/mo per Creative
Teammates and Guests are always free.
Upload and manage your creative work: add websites, images, videos and files, create new versions, and see every public project. Perfect for designers, developers and anyone who uploads work.
View every public project, leave comments, and create text-only tasks and design requests. They can't upload work or create versions. Perfect for project managers and stakeholders who review work.
See only the projects they're invited to, leave comments, and create and edit tasks there. Perfect for clients and freelancers on a single project.
Workflow is loved by busy designers
Absolutely loving this program!
Tomi Lucien, Web Designer
Brilliant for easy collaboration with my clients.
Alex Collier, Brand & Website Designer
Clients immediately learn how to use it.
Kirsten Meyerson, Founder of Aspen Theory
The best customer support I experienced so far. The software is fantastic as well!
Nikola Marinkovic, Website Designer
My first client got in there and has taken to it super easily — so you’ve pretty much nailed it.
Kessiah Carlbon, Designer
I never had to onboard people onto Workflow. They just get it.
Johnny Lam, Formfactor Design
I said to my director, “why haven’t you signed us up yet? This is a no brainer — we need it.”
Kristie Sheryn, Head of UX
Brilliant product. Increased our communication feedback and clarity.
Nicholas O’Donnell-Hoare, Head of Design
This product is a game changer. My team think it’s the best thing they’ve seen.
Mark Wells, Entrepreneur
Frequently asked questions
I already use Pastel for some projects. Can I switch easily?
Yes! You can start your next project in Workflow today. You can also add your legacy links to a Workflow Portal if you want to keep everything centralized.
I like recording videos to explain my work. Can I do that in Workflow?
Yes! Workflow includes built-in video and voice recording, left as comments right on the design. Record a walkthrough, attach it to the exact frame, and your client sees exactly what you mean.
Do my clients need to create an account or log in to leave feedback?
No. Clients can access projects via a seamless, friction-free link without wrestling with passwords, login walls, or forced account creations.
How do I keep client feedback from spiraling into endless revisions?
Workflow turns review comments directly into actionable checklist tasks so you can establish clear boundaries, lock down your rounds, and move on with your day.
Can I manage multiple clients and projects in one place?
Yes. Workflow is built as a complete client operations hub, allowing you to organize separate projects, assets, and client spaces without juggling multiple apps.
Is Workflow more expensive than Pastel?
Workflow often ends up being more cost-effective for growing teams because you don't face sudden tier jumps - you simply scale one seat at a time as you expand.
Stop managing scattered notes and start managing approvals
Your client comms don't have to be stuck or expensive.