MarkLayer and Ruttl both annotate live websites with comments and drawings, and on that core action they're close: both work directly on the rendered page, both sync collaborators in real time, neither requires the reviewer to install anything. Ruttl builds a persistent project layer on top of that: named workspaces, version history that lets a client see what changed between drafts, and a live CSS/text edit mode where a reviewer can propose an actual style change on the page instead of just describing one.
That live edit mode is the one feature on this page nothing free replicates, and it's worth being honest about what it actually requires: a reviewer who understands enough CSS to make a specific suggestion, not just flag a problem. For a lot of review workflows, especially ones where the reviewer is a client or a PM rather than a developer, that's more precision than the feedback ever needed. Pointing at the wrong thing and saying so in plain language, which is what MarkLayer does, covers the same ground for most bugs and design notes.
Where Ruttl's project-workspace layer earns its price is recurring, structured review: an agency running the same client through monthly rounds benefits from persistent history and version comparison in a way a one-off annotation link never will. MarkLayer's link-based model has no equivalent, deliberately, since there's no project object underneath it to version in the first place.
Choose MarkLayer for free, instant visual feedback with no project setup and no paid tier. Choose Ruttl if you run an agency that needs project workspaces, version comparison, live CSS edit mode, and PDF/static-image annotation alongside web pages.
| Feature | MarkLayer | Ruttl |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no tiers | Freemium with project limits; paid plans per user |
| Sign-up required | No | Yes |
| Real-time live cursors | Yes | Yes |
| Drawing tools | Freehand, shapes, arrows, lines | Pin comments + draw |
| Live edit mode (CSS / text) | No | Yes. Reviewers suggest inline changes |
| Project workspaces | No. Link-based | Yes. Persistent projects with versions |
| Version comparison | No | Yes |
| PDF / image annotation | No. Web pages only | Yes |
| Recipient install required | No | No |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Best for | Lightweight, no-setup feedback | Agency project workflows with versioning |
Ruttl is a paid visual feedback platform with project workspaces, version comparison, and live website edit mode.
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.
Ruttl's live CSS edit mode is the standout feature; if reviewers genuinely need to suggest specific code changes, it's hard to replace. MarkLayer skips that and stays free. Most teams I talk to don't need the edit mode. They need the annotation to work in 30 seconds.
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