What happens to my guest comments when I sign in?

They come with you. Signing in claims the canvases and comments you made as a guest into your account, so nothing is lost when you go from guest to signed in.

Can I sign in from my phone and my laptop?

Yes. You sign in with a magic code — a one-time code emailed to you — from any device. Once you're signed in, your canvases and comments follow you to that device.

Do viewers have to sign in to comment?

No. Anyone with the link can comment as a named guest with no signup, as long as the canvas is public. Sign-in-only and private canvases do require an account.

How does the magic code work?

Enter your email and Drafty emails you a one-time code. Type it in and you're signed in — no password to set or remember.

Updated June 10, 2026

Guest vs account on Drafty, and claiming your canvases

Quick answer

You can use Drafty as a named guest with no signup. Signing in with a magic code keeps your canvases and comments and lets you reach them from any device. Signing in claims your guest work into your account.

You can use Drafty as a named guest with no signup. Open any public canvas, pick a name, and leave comments — that's it. There's nothing to install and no account to set up before you can take part.

Signing in with a magic code keeps that work. It claims your guest canvases and comments into an account, so you can reach them from any device instead of only the browser you started in.

Commenting as a guest (no signup)

Anyone with a link to a public canvas can comment as a guest. Click any element — a heading, paragraph, list item, image, table, or code block — and leave a threaded comment pinned to that exact spot. You pick a name so others know who's talking, but you don't create an account.

This is the fastest way to give feedback. The trade-off: your comments live in that one browser until you sign in. Clear your cookies or switch devices and you'd start fresh as a new guest.

Signing in with a magic code

There's no password. You sign in with a magic code — a one-time code emailed to you.

Choose to sign in, on the web or from the CLI with drafty login.
Enter your email address.
Open the email and copy the one-time code.
Paste it back into Drafty to finish signing in.

You can do this from any device — your phone, your laptop, or both.

What claiming does: folds guest canvases and comments into your account

When you sign in, Drafty claims the work you did as a guest. The canvases you published and the comments you left are folded into your account under your name. You don't have to copy anything over or re-publish — it carries across as part of signing in.

After that, anything new you create or comment on is tied to the same account.

Why sign in (cross-device, ownership)

Two reasons to sign in. First, cross-device access: your canvases and comments follow you, so you can publish from your laptop and read replies on your phone. Second, ownership — your work lives in an account you control rather than in a single browser session.

If you only need to drop a quick comment on someone else's public canvas, staying a guest is fine. Sign in when you want to keep what you make.

Create your first canvas

Frequently asked

What happens to my guest comments when I sign in?: They come with you. Signing in claims the canvases and comments you made as a guest into your account, so nothing is lost when you go from guest to signed in.
Can I sign in from my phone and my laptop?: Yes. You sign in with a magic code — a one-time code emailed to you — from any device. Once you're signed in, your canvases and comments follow you to that device.
Do viewers have to sign in to comment?: No. Anyone with the link can comment as a named guest with no signup, as long as the canvas is public. Sign-in-only and private canvases do require an account.
How does the magic code work?: Enter your email and Drafty emails you a one-time code. Type it in and you're signed in — no password to set or remember.