Pin Feed vs Pastel
The two closest tools in website feedback. Both pin comments on live sites. The differences are what guests can do, what mobile review feels like, and how the bill is structured.
The short version
Pastel is the closest comparison we get, so this table stays scrupulously fair. Where Pastel wins, it says so.
| Feature | Pin Feed | Pastel |
|---|---|---|
| Loads the real, live website | Reverse proxy, plus snapshot mode for stubborn SPAs | Custom proxy |
| Nothing to install, no script, no extension | Yes | Yes |
| Clients join with just a name and email | Yes | Yes |
| Guests can resolve and reopen threads | Yes | Comments and replies only, per their docs |
| Guests can draw on the page | All 6 tools work from the share link | No drawing tools that we found |
| Viewports with separate pin sets | Desktop 1440, tablet 768, mobile 375 | Screen-size switcher, comments tagged with device data |
| Leave feedback from a real phone | Works in iPhone Safari, locks to mobile view | Their docs describe desktop review |
| Auto screenshot when a pin is placed | Yes | Yes |
| Image and PDF proofing with versions | JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP, SVG, PDF | PDF, PNG, JPG, GIF |
| Project management integrations | Slack today, Jira / Linear / Trello coming soon | Trello, Asana, Jira, Monday, Zapier on Team plan |
| Free plan | 3 projects, 500 MB, every feature | 1 active canvas, 1 user |
| Paid pricing | $49/mo flat, or $39/mo billed yearly | $35 to $450/mo, per-user fees on bigger tiers |
Pastel details checked June 2026 on usepastel.com and their help center. If something changed, tell us and we will fix it.
Where the two agree
A lot of comparison pages pretend the other tool barely works. Pastel works. Here is what both get right.
Both load the live site through a proxy
Neither tool makes you install a script or a browser extension. Paste a URL, get a link, and the real page loads with comments layered on top. Pin Feed adds a snapshot render mode for modern SPA sites that refuse to load through a live proxy, and a public whitelist guide for sites behind strict firewalls.
Both let clients in with a name and email
No client accounts in either tool. Your client opens the share link, types a name and an email, and starts leaving feedback. Where they differ is what happens next: Pastel guests comment and reply, Pin Feed guests can also draw and resolve.
Both proof images and PDFs with versions
Upload a file, collect pinned comments, push a new version without losing the old feedback. Pastel keeps comments pinned across PDF and image updates; Pin Feed stores a separate pin set per version, so v2 feedback never mixes into v3. Pin Feed also takes WebP and SVG.
Where each one wins
Pick by workflow, not by logo. These are the honest tradeoffs.
Pick Pin Feed if you want
- Guests do more than comment: they can pin, draw, resolve, and reopen, straight from the share link
- Three viewports (1440 / 768 / 375), each keeping its own pins, with an unresolved count per device
- Review from an actual phone: the link opens in iPhone Safari and locks to the mobile view
- Six drawing tools with any-hex color, undo, and a pause toggle so you can scroll mid-drawing
- Every feature on every plan, including Free. The paid plan only adds projects and storage
- Free plan covers 3 projects instead of 1 active canvas
Pick Pastel if you want
- Integrations you can use today: Trello, Asana, Jira, Monday, webhooks, and Zapier on the Team plan
- CSV comment export on paid plans
- A longer list of simulated screen widths, grouped by device preset
- SAML SSO and a SOC 2 report on the Enterprise tier
- Years in the market. Pin Feed launched in 2026; Pastel has had longer to sand down edge cases
The deepest difference is the guest. Pastel treats reviewers as commenters; everything past comment-and-reply belongs to paid seats. Pin Feed treats the person behind the share link as a full participant: they can draw on the page, resolve what got fixed, and reopen what did not, without anyone buying them a seat.
One flat plan vs four tiers
This is less about the sticker price and more about how the bill grows as your team does.
Two plans, same features
- Free$0
3 projects, 500 MB, every feature
- Pro$49/mo
Or $39/mo billed yearly ($468, save 20%). Unlimited projects, 100 GB, storage add-ons
The yearly $39 is a founding price: lock it in and it stays yours for as long as you stay subscribed. No per-user fees, no feature gates. Full details on the pricing page.
Four tiers, per-seat on top
- Free Forever$0
1 user, 1 active canvas, unlimited guest reviewers
- Pro$35/mo
2 users, 3 active canvases, CSV export
- Team$119/mo
Starts at 5 users, $24 per extra user, unlimited canvases, integrations
- Enterprise$450/mo
Starts at 10 users, $45 per extra user, SSO, SOC 2
As listed on usepastel.com in June 2026. Annual billing saves 17%, and paid plans come with a 14-day trial. Guest reviewers are unlimited and free on every Pastel plan, same as Pin Feed.
The structural difference: Pastel gates features by tier and bills per user as the team grows, so unlimited canvases plus integrations start at $119 a month for five people. Pin Feed gates nothing. Free and Pro have the same features, and the only questions are how many projects you run and how much storage you need.
0 client accounts needed3 viewports6 drawing tools$49/mo flat
Dig into the details
The pages behind the claims on this one.
Pastel alternatives, the full list
Comparing more than these two? The roundup covers the whole website feedback field, honestly.
Three viewports, separate pins
How desktop, tablet, and mobile each keep their own feedback, and why phones lock to the mobile view.
Client review without accounts
The share link flow that gets clients pinning in seconds, with nothing but a name and an email.
Pin Feed vs Pastel, answered
Try the one where guests do more.
Paste a URL, send the link, and watch your client pin, draw, and resolve without an account. Free for 3 projects, with 14 days of Pro included.
Start free