Markup.io costs $79 a month. Drafty's free to start.
Markup.io raised its price 172% in early 2025 and removed the free plan entirely. If you were using it to share a mockup or brief with one client, you're paying enterprise pricing for a freelance job. Drafty does the same thing — your client opens a link, clicks the exact spot, and leaves a note — with no account, no subscription, and no credit card to get started.
The feedback you're getting today
Scattered across iMessage and Slack — every note a guess at which version, which element.
Every message here is a comment that belonged on the artifact. In Drafty they tap the exact spot and the note pins there — threaded, on one link that's always the current version. No “which one,” no screenshots, no “FINAL.html.”
Drafty vs Markup.io
What each is actually built for — so you pick by the reviewer you're sending it to.
| What your client needs | Drafty |  Markup.io |
|---|---|---|
| Free to start — no credit card | ||
| Client comments with no account | Guests see only what they're invited to | |
| Anchored, threaded comments with resolve / reopen | ||
| Searchable library of every artifact you've shared | ||
| Works on docs, designs, PDFs, and live websites | ||
| Video and Loom comments on any annotation | ||
| 30+ file types including video files |
How it works
Share a link — that's the whole setup
Drop your proposal, brief, or mockup into Drafty and copy the link. Your client opens it in any browser — on their laptop or phone — with nothing to install and no account to create.
They pin a note on the exact spot
Your client clicks the heading, the image, the paragraph — wherever the feedback belongs — and types. The comment stays anchored to that element. No "the bit near the top" — no guessing.
You ship the fix on the same link
Make the change, push a new version. The link stays the same; the thread stays attached. Your client sees the update and closes the note — no new email chain, no re-uploading the file.
Why people switch
- Markup.io removed its free plan — you're paying $79/month to collect one client's notes on one doc
- Comments pile up with no way to reply, close, or track what's done
- Last month's client feedback is buried in a list of links you can't search
- Free plan that actually covers a solo freelancer's workflow — Use Drafty for free until you know you need more
- Threaded resolve / reopen on every comment — Every note has a clear owner and a clear status
- A searchable library of every artifact — Find any brief, mockup, or proposal in seconds with ⌘K
Who it's for
Share the mockup as a link. Your client marks the exact section — not a vague reply-all to your email.
The deliverable is the link. Your client comments inline, and it looks like your work — not a $79/month review tool.
Drop the spec doc or v0 app. Collaborators leave notes on the exact line — no account, no subscription.
Questions
- Is Markup.io free?
- No. Markup.io removed its free plan in early 2025. The Pro plan now starts at $79/month (up from $29 — a 172% increase). A 30-day trial requires a credit card. Drafty is free to start with no card required.
- Do clients need an account to use Markup.io?
- Guests on Markup.io can comment without registering, but they can only view markups they've been explicitly invited to. With Drafty, your client opens the link and leaves a note as a guest — no invite list, no account.
- Why did Markup.io get so expensive?
- Markup.io shifted from a freelancer-friendly tool toward a broader collaboration platform — adding integrations, project management features, and team workflows — and repriced accordingly. If you mainly need to collect feedback from one client on one deliverable, you're paying for features you'll never use.
- What does Markup.io do better than Drafty?
- Markup.io supports 30+ file types including video files, and integrates Loom so reviewers can attach screen recordings to comments. If your workflow involves video review or very broad format coverage, Markup.io has more breadth there. Drafty focuses on docs, designs, PDFs, and live websites.
- Can I collect client feedback on a PDF without Markup.io?
- Yes. Drop the PDF into Drafty and share the link. Your client clicks the exact spot and leaves a note — no account, no extension. You get a searchable thread on every annotation.
- What is the best free Markup.io alternative?
- Drafty is free to start — publish your first canvas, share the link, and your client can pin notes on the exact spot with no card required. The free plan covers a solo freelancer's day-to-day review workflow.
Keep exploring
Send your next client a link, not a login.
Free to start. No card. They comment in one click — Claude ships the fix.