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Approval Studio
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Client Proofing Tool Built for Collaboration

Clients shouldn’t have to log in just to tell you what they think. Approval Studio gives you a dedicated client proofing software. You share a link, receive feedback, and get a formal sign-off, with no account required on the client’s end.
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Client collaboration for creative teams

Client collaboration is every touchpoint between you, your team, and the people approving your work. It includes sharing files, collecting feedback, discussing it, making revisions, and getting approvals. Usually, it happens in long email threads or gets lost in Slack threads. However, a good proofing tool replaces that with a single shared workspace.

 

Feedback always arrives, but never in the right place:

Drag the handle to compare your old chaotic workflow vs. a streamlined approval process

Gmail inbox with a long reply thread on a file named Final_APPROVED_v3_use_this.pdf.
BEFORE
Design file open in Approval Studio with pinned annotation comments from multiple reviewers.
WITH APPROVAL STUDIO
VS

How Client Collaboration Works in Approval Studio

Person reviewing design work
Watch how it works
1
Upload your file
Drag in your design, PDF, AI, image, or video. Set a deadline, add internal notes, and generate a review link. The whole thing takes under a minute.
2
Send the link to your client
Share the aprv.io/xxxxx link however you communicate. Your client clicks it, and they're inside the review tool instantly, no account, no friction. You see the moment they open it.
3
Clients annotate directly on the file
Clients click where they want changes and type their comment. No 'refer to the top-left area' guesswork. You get a pinned note on the exact pixel they mean and timestamped evidence of approval.
What Designers Get Back:
How Approval Studio improves the client approval process
01
Full project timeline:
Every comment, reply, and status change is logged with a timestamp and a name. No more "I mentioned this in an email". The timeline is the record.
02
Open tracking:
See the moment your client opens the review link. If they haven't, you know before chasing. If they opened it and haven't replied, you know that too.
03
Timestamped PDF proof report:
When approval lands, Approval Studio generates a PDF report with every annotation, decision, and timestamp. One file, full sign-off evidence, ready for archive or handoff.
04
Version history per asset:
Revisions live in one place, in order. Old versions don't disappear, but still stay accessible for comparison. Choose to show or to hide them.
05
Integration support:
Integrate Approval Studio with tools necessary for your online proofing workflow: Adobe, Slack, Shopify, or Zapier automations. Build custom workflows with the API and the MCP server.
06
Automated next steps: PRO
Set a workflow so client approval automatically triggers the next stage, like a notification, a task, or a handoff. The project moves without a manual push.

What Your Client Sees (and Can Do) Without Logging In

What Your Client Sees and Can Do Without Logging In

 

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Pinned annotations:

Click anywhere on the asset to pin the comment with feedback. Use 5 annotation shapes for more precise feedback and react to comments with replies and reactions.

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Version comparison

Clients can switch between the current file and any previous version to confirm their changes landed. Four comparison modes (side-by-side, fader, difference, and toggle) make it impossible to miss what changed.

 

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Forward to collaborators

You decide whether clients can forward the review link to their colleagues fpr every design review cycle or asset. Every open, comment, and decision is still tracked in your timeline.

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Mobile review

Clients don’t have to be at the desktop to give great feedback. Approval Studio supports mobile review and approval with the exact same features on the go. 

 

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Color separation & barcode reader

For packaging and print clients, Approval Studio goes deeper to make design review easier. Verify barcodes, separate colors, and measure distances with no extra software. 

 

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Formal approval

Depending on the workflow, choose one of many versions or click Approve or Reject to make a decision on the current one. The system automatically records who, when, and how for audit. 

 

Plans to Fit Every Team

Cheaper than missed deadlines and chaotic stressful workflow

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LITE

Fast review tool perfect for freelancers and small teams.

$12

per user / month

14-day free trial
5 users minimum
Unlimited reviewers & projects
5 GB storage space
5 annotation shapes
4 comparison modes
Live chats in review tool
Reporting & project history
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MOST POPULAR

PRO

Project management tool for medium and large businesses.

$32

per user / month

14-day free trial after dem
5 users minimum
All Lite Package features +
5 GB storage space
Email support
User groups
Smart notifications
Adobe CC Integration
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PRO XL

Project management tool for medium and large businesses.

$20

per user / month

14-day free trial after demo
15 users minimum
All Lite Package features +
30 GB storage space
Task management system
User groups
Smart notifications
Adobe CC Integration
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FAQs

What is a client proofing tool?
A client proofing tool is software that lets designers and agencies share files with clients for review, annotation, and approval without using email. Clients view the file in a browser, leave pinned comments directly on the design, and formally approve or request changes. The designer keeps a full audit trail of every round.
Do clients need to create an account to review designs?
No. With Approval Studio, clients receive a short link (aprv.io/xxxxx) and open it directly in their browser, no account, app download, or password required. They can annotate, comment, and approve the file immediately. You can, however, add an optional password if the file is sensitive.
How does external client review work in Approval Studio?
You upload your file, generate a review link, and send it to your client by email, Slack, or any other channel. Your client clicks the link, opens the file in the review tool, leaves annotated comments by clicking directly on the design, and clicks Approve or Request Changes when done. You receive a timestamped PDF proof report automatically.
Can clients compare different versions of a design?
Yes. Clients can use Approval Studio's version comparison mode to view the current version alongside a previous revision, helping them confirm that their requested changes were made. Four comparison modes are available: side-by-side, fader, difference, and toggle.
What file formats does the client proofing tool support?
Approval Studio supports 24+ file formats for client review, including PDF, AI, TIFF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and MP4 (video), as well as live website proofing. Clients can review all these formats in the browser without any software installed on their end.
Can multiple clients review the same file?
Yes. You can invite multiple external reviewers to the same file, or your client can forward the review link to colleagues. All collaborators can discuss the design live in the tool, without refreshing. Every reviewer's annotations are tracked separately in the timeline, and you can see who left which comment and when.
Is client proofing included in all Approval Studio plans?
Yes, external client reviews are available on all Approval Studio plans, including Lite ($60/month for 5 users). Higher plans (Pro, Pro XL) add workflow automation, which lets approval from a client trigger the next stage in your process automatically.
How is this different from sending a PDF for feedback by email?
Email feedback is unstructured, clients describe changes in words without a visual anchor, and version history gets buried in threads. A client proofing tool keeps all feedback pinned to the exact location on the file, maintains a complete version history, tracks whether the client opened the file, and produces a signed proof report. The result is fewer revision rounds and a clear record of what was approved.

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