Design approval software should make one decision easier: can a client give precise feedback and make a clear approval decision without creating more work for your team?
Design agencies have a specific approval problem. Unlike text documents or spreadsheets, design work is visual. Feedback needs to be spatial. "Make the blue more teal" isn't helpful. "This element right here needs to be more teal" with a pin placed on the exact element is.
Most general project management tools don't handle this well. They're built for task tracking, not visual review. So design agencies end up either suffering through email (screenshots in threads, feedback in paragraph form) or adopting specialized design approval software.
This article compares the platforms worth considering if your agency does primarily visual work.
What design approval software should do
Visual annotation
This is non-negotiable. Your clients need to click on a specific part of a design and attach their feedback to that exact spot. Not a general comment on the whole piece, but a pin or highlight connected to a note.
Without this, you're back to "the thing on the left should be different." With it, feedback becomes precise and actionable.
Version comparison
Design is iterative. Clients need to see how v2 compares to v1. The best tools let you view versions side by side or toggle between them. Some even highlight the differences automatically.
File format support
Design files come in many formats. Your tool should handle PNGs, JPGs, PDFs, and ideally support direct embeds or previews for larger file types. If clients need to download files to review them, you've added friction.
Mobile review
Clients review work on their phones more than you'd expect. If your approval tool doesn't render designs well on mobile, you're adding days to every review cycle because clients postpone until they're at a desktop.
The platforms compared
TryApprove
TryApprove was built specifically for the approve-or-reject workflow. Upload designs as task attachments, clients pin visual annotations directly on images, and approve or request changes with one click. The white label branding means clients see your agency identity throughout.
Strengths: Magic link access (no client accounts), white labeling, visual annotations, dead simple interface.
Trade-offs: Focused on images and files. Not designed for annotating live websites.
Pricing: Free for 2 projects. See the current TryApprove plans for paid-plan details.
Not the best fit for: Teams that need automated visual-difference detection or several formal approval stages before a client sees the work.
Filestage
Filestage supports many file formats including video and audio, with sequential review workflows for organizations that need multi-step sign-off chains. The annotation tools are solid across file types.
Strengths: Broad file format support, multi-step workflows, video annotation.
Trade-offs: More process to configure than a simple agency approval flow. Review its current plans and reviewer settings for your workflow.
GoVisually
GoVisually focuses specifically on visual proofing. The design review interface is clean and annotation tools work well on images and PDFs. It's been around for a while and has a loyal user base.
Strengths: Clean proofing interface, good image and PDF annotation.
Trade-offs: A focused proofing product rather than a complete client-management workspace.
PageProof
PageProof's standout feature is automated version comparison. Upload a new version and it can highlight the differences between old and new. Useful for teams doing detailed iterative work where small changes matter.
Strengths: Version comparison, smart annotations, broad file support.
Trade-offs: More product depth than a team needs when the goal is simply to collect client feedback and approval.
Ziflow
Ziflow is built for enterprise creative operations. It integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud and offers automated proofing pipelines. Powerful if you need it, overkill if you don't.
Strengths: Adobe integration, automation, enterprise features.
Trade-offs: A heavier setup than most small agency teams need for a single client-review step.
Side by side comparison
| If your priority is | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A simple client portal for design approval | TryApprove | It keeps the deliverable, feedback, approval, and client workspace together. |
| Multi-stage internal and external review | Filestage | Reviewer groups and structured stages are the central workflow. |
| Focused image and PDF proofing | GoVisually | The product is built around simple visual review. |
| Automatic visual difference review | PageProof | Version comparison is a primary consideration. |
| Enterprise creative operations | Ziflow | Workflow automation and integrations matter more than lightweight setup. |
How to choose
If you're a small agency or freelancer doing primarily static design work (logos, websites, social media, brand assets), prioritise the client review experience. You need a clear task, contextual feedback, a visible approval decision, and an easy way to retrieve the final version later. TryApprove is designed for that workflow.
If you work with video and audio and need approval workflows for those formats specifically, Filestage has the strongest support.
If you do detailed iterative work where tracking exact changes between versions matters, PageProof's automated comparison features stand out.
If you're a large creative department with formal approval chains and Adobe workflow integration, Ziflow or Filestage make sense despite the higher cost.
The bottom line
The best design approval tool is the one your clients actually use. Enterprise features mean nothing if your clients find the interface confusing or skip the review because they don't want to create another account.
Start with the client experience and work backward. If the tool is easy for your clients, everything else follows.
Want to see what a frictionless approval experience looks like? Try TryApprove free on your next project.
For a broader comparison that includes non-design focused tools, see our roundup of the 7 best client approval tools in 2026.