Inflight vs MarkLayer: a free Inflight alternative
MarkLayer and Inflight both put a comment layer over a page so reviewers can point instead of describe, and both hand that feedback to an AI coding agent over MCP. They differ on what the page is. Inflight is built for prototypes: a script tag goes into the preview build, each build becomes a version, reviewers leave pinned comments, video replies and poll answers, and the feedback rolls up into next steps for an agent to complete. MarkLayer is built for any page that already exists: paste the URL at marklayer.app and the annotation layer loads over the live site with nothing deployed, or open the free browser extension on localhost or a page behind a login.
The second difference is who pays. Inflight charges $15 to $18 per member a month, with reviewers free. MarkLayer is free with no seats, and neither the reviewer nor the person who starts the review needs an account.
Feature for feature the two are now close. Both pin comments to elements, take video with transcripts, run polls, keep a version per build, password a link, sync Slack threads both ways and give an agent next steps to work through. The differences are in how you get there. Inflight's agent flow wants the widget tag committed on the build it shares; MarkLayer's share_preview takes any URL. Inflight is a per-seat workspace with SSO and a SOC 2 report; MarkLayer is free, anonymous by default and open source, and adds what a shared room is good for: live cursors, a peer-to-peer voice or video call on the page, drawing and measuring tools, an inspector that builds a prompt-ready block, and an MCP server on every link that can also leave its own pins and text suggestions.
Choose MarkLayer when you want the same review loop for free: pins, polls, transcribed video, versions per build and an agent that ticks off next steps, on any URL with no tag to deploy. Choose Inflight if procurement needs SAML SSO and SOC 2 on the vendor, or your team already lives in its per-seat workspace.
On this page
At a glance
| Feature | MarkLayer | Inflight |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Pro $15/member/mo yearly or $18 monthly, 14-day trial; Enterprise custom |
| Sign-up required | No, for anyone | Yes for members; reviewers leave feedback under a display name |
| Install on the page | None. Paste the URL, or use the free browser extension for localhost and logged-in pages. An optional script tag puts comment mode on your own site | One script tag in the preview URL or HTML file |
| What it reviews | Any live website, staging or production, plus PDFs and images | Prototypes and previews that carry the tag |
| Versions | Yes. An agent's share_preview with the same repo and branch opens the next version, with a switcher between builds | Version history per project |
| Password per link | Optional, set by the link's owner; new versions inherit it | Yes, per build; new versions inherit it |
| Drawing and shapes | Freehand, shapes, arrows, area boxes, text | Pinned comments on elements |
| Video | Recorded video notes on a thread, transcribed into the comment text | Built-in video replies with transcripts, unlimited |
| Polls and structured questions | Yes. Polls from the reviewer or the agent, one vote per person, live tallies | Yes |
| Next steps for the agent | The agent writes a checklist from the feedback and ticks items off live in the room | Feedback organized into next steps the agent completes |
| Screenshot on each pin | Yes, attached automatically and removable before posting | Yes, sent to Slack |
| Real-time live cursors | Yes | Not advertised |
| Voice and video calls in the room | Yes, peer to peer | No |
| Slack | Two-way thread sync through the MarkLayer Slack app; one-way to Teams, Discord and any webhook | Automatic screenshots to Slack and two-way thread sync |
| Task trackers | Files a Linear, GitHub, Jira, Trello, Notion or ClickUp item from a thread, one way | Not advertised |
| AI coding agent access (MCP) | Every share link is an MCP server at /s/<id>/mcp, nothing to install, plus the marklayer-mcp stdio package | Remote MCP at mcp.inflight.co: share_html, share_preview, get_feedback, complete_next_step, list_projects |
| Agent shares a build for review | Yes, marklayer_share_preview opens a room on any URL; no tag to commit | Yes, share_preview needs the widget tag committed on that sha; share_html hosts a single HTML file |
| Agent can leave feedback | Yes. Comment pins and exact text suggestions the reviewer accepts as a diff | Agent shares builds and reads feedback |
| SSO and compliance | No SSO; anonymous by default | SAML SSO and SOC 2 Type 2 on Enterprise |
| Open source | Yes (Apache-2.0) | No |
| Best for | Reviewing any page that already exists, with or without an agent | Design and product teams reviewing prototypes build by build |
About Inflight
Inflight is a paid feedback layer for prototypes, installed with one script tag on a preview URL, with video replies, polls, Slack sync and a remote MCP server for coding agents.
About MarkLayer
MarkLayer is a free, open-source web app for annotating any live webpage. Paste a URL atmarklayer.app and draw, comment, arrow, or highlight directly on the page in your browser — no install, no account, no sign-up. Share a single link and anyone can open the annotations in any browser. A free Chrome extension is available for the sites the web app cannot embed, such as pages behind a login, but it is optional and never required to view a share link. There is no paywall and no trial period.
Inflight asks for a script tag in the build and a seat per member. MarkLayer asks for the URL. Both now give an agent versions, polls, transcribed video and a checklist to work through.
When to choose MarkLayer
- The thing under review is already live at a URL and nobody has deploy access to add a tag.
- You want it free, with no member seats and no account on either side.
- You review together: live cursors and a voice call on the page itself.
- You want the agent on the link to resolve threads and leave its own pins and text edits, not only read.
- You want open source you can read, audit or self-host.
When to choose Inflight
- Procurement needs SAML SSO and a SOC 2 Type 2 report.
- You want an agent to host a standalone HTML file for review. Inflight's share_html does; MarkLayer reviews pages that already have a URL.
- Your team already works in a per-seat workspace and wants feedback filed there.
Frequently asked questions
- Is MarkLayer a free Inflight alternative?
- Yes for most teams: MarkLayer is free, needs no script tag, and neither the reviewer nor the person who started the review needs an account. It covers versions per build, polls, transcribed video notes, a next-steps checklist for the agent, link passwords and two-way Slack threads. It does not offer SAML SSO or a SOC 2 report, and it does not host standalone HTML files.
- How much does Inflight cost?
- Per its pricing page on 16 October 2026: Pro at $15 per member a month billed yearly or $18 monthly, with a 14-day trial, free reviewers and unlimited video; and an Enterprise plan at custom pricing with SAML SSO and SOC 2 Type 2. MarkLayer has no plans.
- Do I need to add anything to my page for MarkLayer?
- No. Paste a public URL at marklayer.app and the page loads through MarkLayer's proxy with the annotation layer on top. For localhost or a page behind a login, the free Chrome or Firefox extension overlays your own tab instead. Inflight needs its script tag in the preview URL or HTML file, and its share_preview tool requires the tag to be committed.
- How do the two MCP servers differ?
- Inflight's remote server at mcp.inflight.co lets an agent share an HTML file or a preview build, read the feedback and complete a next step. MarkLayer's is on every share link at /s/<id>/mcp with nothing to install, and the marklayer-mcp package covers clients that only run local servers. Its tools let an agent read the page, watch the room live, acknowledge, resolve, dismiss or reply, leave its own comment pins and propose exact text edits the reviewer accepts as a diff.
- Does MarkLayer do video?
- Yes. A reviewer can record a short video note on a thread; it plays back inline and its speech is transcribed into the comment text, so an agent reading the room gets the words. Voice notes are transcribed the same way.
- Does MarkLayer keep versions of a prototype?
- Yes, when an agent shares builds. Calling marklayer_share_preview with the same repo and branch as a room it already holds opens the next version, and reviewers step between builds with a switcher. A protected room's password carries over to the next version. An ordinary room still belongs to one URL and re-anchors as the page changes.
- What happens to a MarkLayer link if nobody claims it?
- It is deleted 90 days after its last view, comment or edit. Claiming it with the free magic-link account removes the idle clock. Inflight projects live in a member's workspace for as long as the subscription does.
Related comparisons
Try MarkLayer
Paste any URL at marklayer.app and annotate the live page in your browser. No install, no account, no sign-up. Recipients of your share links don't need to install anything either.
Annotate a page