zipBoard vs Pastel
zipBoard suits teams reviewing documents, drawings, courses, and websites across a managed workflow; Pastel suits agencies and freelancers collecting feedback on websites and creative assets with a lower-cost entry plan. Both let clients comment through a browser link without creating an account, but their paid plans organize work differently: zipBoard’s Team plan has unlimited projects with a digital-asset limit, while Pastel’s Pro plan limits active canvases.
Last updated November 4, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | zipBoard | Pastel |
|---|---|---|
| Review focus | Documents, drawings, courses, videos, and websites | Websites, images, PDFs, videos, and emails |
| Starting paid plan | Team starts at $99/month | Pro: $35/month; 2 users |
| Free option | 14-day free trial; no credit card required | Free plan: 1 user and 1 active canvas |
| Entry-plan work limits | 20 digital asset pieces; unlimited projects on Team | 3 active canvases on Pro |
| Entry-plan storage | 1 GB storage on Team | 100 GB video storage on Pro |
| Users and reviewers | Unlimited collaborators and reviewers on Team | 2 users on Pro; unlimited reviewers |
| Integrations | Jira, Procore, Wrike, Slack, and Zapier | Trello, Asana, Jira, ClickUp, Monday.com, and Zapier |
| Integration access | Integrations on Agency and above | Project management integrations on Team and above |
| Review workflow | Approvals, version control, Kanban and table views | Approvals, unlimited versions, comment assignments |
| Website review access | Browser reviews; Chrome extension | Browser-based canvases; no extension required |
| Bug report context | Screenshots and environment information | Screenshots, browser details, and device information |
| Entry-plan support | Standard email support and knowledge base on Team | Not published |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose zipBoard if
- Teams reviewing documents, drawings, and SCORM courses
- Projects needing Kanban and table views for review tasks
- Teams connecting reviews with Procore or Wrike
- Teams needing unlimited projects on the Team plan
Choose Pastel if
- Freelancers starting with one active canvas
- Two-user teams reviewing a few active projects
- Agencies collecting feedback on live websites and marketing emails
- Teams wanting responsive testing in the browser
The verdict
Pick zipBoard when document or course review, task tracking, and integrations such as Procore or Wrike are part of the work. Pick Pastel when client feedback on live websites, marketing assets, and emails is the main job, particularly if a free plan or a two-user paid plan fits your team. Compare limits before buying: zipBoard counts digital asset pieces on Team, while Pastel counts active canvases on Free and Pro.
zipBoard vs Pastel: common questions
- Which is better suited to reviewing courses and construction drawings?
- zipBoard supports SCORM course packages, PDF drawings, and document markup alongside website review. Pastel supports websites, PDFs, images, videos, and emails.
- Can clients leave feedback without creating an account?
- Yes. zipBoard lets guests review through a shared browser link, and Pastel lets guest reviewers comment through a canvas link without an account.
- How much do the entry-level paid plans cost?
- zipBoard’s Team plan starts at $99 per month. Pastel’s Pro plan costs $35 per month with monthly billing and includes two users and three active canvases.
- Do zipBoard and Pastel offer a free way to try them?
- zipBoard offers a 14-day free trial without a credit card. Pastel offers a free plan with one user and one active canvas, plus a 14-day trial of its paid plans.
- How do their entry-plan limits differ?
- zipBoard Team includes unlimited projects but limits content to 20 digital asset pieces and 1 GB of storage. Pastel Pro includes three active canvases and 100 GB of video storage.
- Which integrations are available, and on what plans?
- zipBoard lists Jira, Procore, Wrike, Slack, and Zapier, with integrations included on Agency and higher plans. Pastel lists Trello, Asana, Jira, ClickUp, Monday.com, and Zapier, with project management integrations on Team and higher plans.
- Can either product capture context for website bugs?
- Yes. zipBoard captures screenshots and environment information for reported issues. Pastel comments include screenshots, browser details, and device information.
- Do reviewers need to install an extension?
- No. Both products support browser-based review links for guests. zipBoard also offers a Chrome extension, while Pastel says its browser-based canvases need no extension.
