Layerdock vs Pastel

By LayerdockUpdated

How this comparison was made

Both sets of prices were read off each vendor’s own pricing page on — not from a directory or another roundup, which are routinely months stale.

Layerdock makes one of these two tools. The section naming where Pastel is the better choice is real and is not a softened weakness — if it fits your work better, buy it.

Pastel if you are a solo designer on straightforward projects and want the simplest setup. Layerdock if you run several clients at once or need technical context.

Pastel vs Layerdock at a glance

 PastelLayerdock
Entry price$35/mo ($29 annually)$19/mo
Limits at entry2 users, 3 canvases7 members, 5 docks
Free plan1 user, 1 active canvas1 seat, 2 docks, 35 pins/mo
Team tier$119/mo ($99 annually), 5 usersAgency $69/mo ($59 annually)
Console + networkNoAgency
ReviewersUnlimitedUnlimited

Pastel is the simplest tool in this group and that is the point of it. You paste a URL, share a link, and reviewers comment without creating an account.

The limits are where it pinches. Three canvases on Pro go quickly for an agency with several clients at once, and Team pricing climbs per user. Layerdock prices the workspace and lets you have more docks for less, adding console and network capture (read on Agency).

When Pastel is the better choice

  • The lowest-friction setup here: paste a URL, share a link, reviewers comment without an account.
  • Unlimited reviewers on every tier, the free tier included.
  • Each comment records screen resolution and browser automatically.

When Layerdock is the better choice

  • $19/mo against $35/mo at entry, and 5 docks on Pro against Pastel’s 3 canvases.
  • Console errors and failed network requests on every pin. Pastel captures none.
  • Per-workspace pricing. Pastel Team is $119/mo starting at 5 users, then $24 per extra user.

Layerdock pricing

$19/mo — Pro: per workspace, unlimited reviewers, 5 docks

$69/mo — Agency ($59/mo billed yearly): unlimited docks, console + network diagnostics

Console and network diagnostics are on the Agency plan, not the entry plan. Compare that tier, not the headline price, if diagnostics are what you are buying. See full pricing.

Common questions

Is Pastel cheaper than Layerdock?

No. Pastel starts at $35/mo ($29 annually) against Layerdock at $19/mo. Its free tier (1 user, 1 active canvas) is the only cheaper route, and Layerdock has a free plan too.

Other comparisons

Want the whole category rather than one head-to-head? Compare 17 website feedback tools, read what a dock is, or go straight to pricing.