Is MarkLayer a Markup.io alternative?

Yes. MarkLayer covers the core Markup.io use case (visual feedback on live websites) for free with no sign-up. It does not replace Markup.io for teams that need project-level workflow tooling.

Yes. Many teams use MarkLayer for ad-hoc feedback and Markup.io for tracked client review cycles. They overlap but serve different stages of feedback workflow.

Does MarkLayer have a free tier or is it fully free?

MarkLayer is fully free with no tiers. There is no paid plan, trial period, or credit-card requirement.

Do recipients need to install MarkLayer to view annotations?

No. Share links open the annotated page in any browser. The Chrome extension is only required to create annotations, not to view them.

MarkLayer vs Markup.io

Bottom line: Choose MarkLayer for fast, sign-up-free visual feedback on any live page with real-time live cursors. Choose Markup.io if you need persistent project workspaces, version tracking, and a team account tied to client deliverables.

By Vadym Rusin · Last updated: April 2026

MarkLayer and Markup.io are both visual feedback tools for live websites. The core difference: MarkLayer is a free Chrome extension with no sign-up and works on any page in real time, while Markup.io is a web app that organizes feedback into project-based reviews tied to a team account.

At a glance

Feature	MarkLayer	Markup.io
Price	Free, no tiers, no paywall	Free tier with limits; paid plans for teams
Sign-up required	No	Yes
Works on live websites	Yes. Annotate the actual live page	Yes. Imports URL into a project
Real-time live cursors	Yes	No (comment-based)
Drawing tools	Freehand, shapes, arrows, lines	Limited drawing; primarily pin comments
Recipient install	Not required. Share link opens in browser	Not required. Link-based reviewing
Open source	Yes	No
Browser	Chrome / Chromium	Web app (no extension required)
Best for	Quick visual feedback on any page	Agency project reviews with version tracking

About Markup.io

Markup.io is a project-based feedback tool from Pastel for reviewing live websites and PDFs.

About MarkLayer

MarkLayer is a free, open-source Chrome extension that lets you annotate any live webpage with drawings, comments, arrows, and highlights, then share a single link so anyone can view the annotations without installing anything. There is no account, no paywall, and no trial period.

When to choose MarkLayer

You want to mark up live, dynamic web pages without signing up.
You need real-time collaboration with live cursors.
You value open source and want to self-host or audit the code.
You want zero friction. Install once, share a link, done.

When to choose Markup.io

You need persistent project history tied to a team account.
You review static deliverables (PDFs, design files) alongside web pages.
You need agency-grade workflow: project status, approvals, version tracking.
You want integrations with project management tools.

Frequently asked questions

Is MarkLayer a Markup.io alternative?: Yes. MarkLayer covers the core Markup.io use case (visual feedback on live websites) for free with no sign-up. It does not replace Markup.io for teams that need project-level workflow tooling.
Can I use both?: Yes. Many teams use MarkLayer for ad-hoc feedback and Markup.io for tracked client review cycles. They overlap but serve different stages of feedback workflow.
Does MarkLayer have a free tier or is it fully free?: MarkLayer is fully free with no tiers. There is no paid plan, trial period, or credit-card requirement.
Do recipients need to install MarkLayer to view annotations?: No. Share links open the annotated page in any browser. The Chrome extension is only required to create annotations, not to view them.

Related comparisons

Free Markup.io alternatives MarkLayer vs Pastel MarkLayer vs BugHerd MarkLayer vs AnnotateWeb MarkLayer vs Jam.dev MarkLayer vs Marker.io MarkLayer vs Userback MarkLayer vs Ruttl MarkLayer vs Loom MarkLayer vs Hypothesis

Try MarkLayer

MarkLayer is free, requires no sign-up, and works on any webpage. Recipients of your share links don't need to install anything.

Add to Chrome · It's Free