Online Proofing Software for Creative Teams

Review, annotate, and approve designs in an online proofing tool built for artwork, marketing, and packaging teams. No back-and-forth emails, no lost feedback, and no version confusion.

What is online proofing?

Online proofing is the process of reviewing, annotating, and approving a creative asset in a browser. The approver does not need to download the file. They can easily do everything on the asset. In this way, all the feedback stays in one place, and decisions are trackable and structured. 

Everything a Creative Team Needs in a Proofing Software

Annotation tools

Full annotation support across 24 file formats. Highlight, point, draw, and leave comments directly on the artwork, including full PDF proofing with page-by-page annotation.   

 

Version Control &Comparison

Upload new versions with a single click. 4 comparison tools for precise change tracking where it matters. Store all assets in a built-in Digital Asset Library.

 

One-click approvals

Reviewers approve, reject, or request changes with a single action in an intuitive UI. Approval Studio records who approved, when, and which version for full accountability. 

 

Client Access without an Account

Send the client a link or an email for access without the need to sign in. A client can annotate, approve, discuss, compare, and more.

Real-time notifications

Get notified when feedback is left, a version is approved, or a deadline is approaching. Clients can stay on top of updates, too, if you choose to notify them.

 

Integrations & API

Connect Approval Studio to tools your team already uses with built-in integrations or REST and GraphQL API. Connect to Claude, ChatGPT, n8n, or Make with a native MCP server.

 

Quick check

Do you need an online proofing tool?

Select everything that applies — we'll tell you which plan fits best.

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Freelancers

For solo designers who want to look professional and stop managing revisions over email. Send a link, get structured feedback, bill with confidence.

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In-House
Teams

For marketing and creative teams with a fixed group of internal reviewers. Assign roles, automate routing, and get to approval faster.

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Creative
Agency

For agencies juggling multiple client projects at once. Clear distinction between internal team and external users, no feedback buried in email, no version mix-ups.

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Packaging
& Artwork:

For FMCG, pharma, and retail teams where artwork goes through legal, regulatory, and print checks. Full audit trail, barcode verification, DAL integration.

How Online Proofing Works in Approval Studio

Person reviewing design work
Watch how it works
1
Upload A File
Upload a supported file type or bring assets directly from Adobe. You can set a deadline, assign reviewers, protect assets, or just send a link. No one needs to install anything.
2
Review & Annotate
Reviewers open a link and leave feedback directly on the file, pin comments for specific areas, and draw over the design. "On the top left of the third page..." era is over.
3
Approve Or Reject
Reviewers click Approve or Reject, and you instantly get a notification. Every approval is logged with a timestamp and the reviewer's name for a complete audit.

Connect your Stack to Approval Studio

Approval Studio online proofing tool integrations fit into every step of your online proofing process. For every action you do during this process, there is a native integration or API endpoint, allowing you to connect to practically anything.

Connect your Stack to Approval Studio

Approval Studio online proofing tool integrations fit into every step of your online proofing process. For every action you do during this process, there is a native integration or API endpoint, allowing you to connect to practically anything. 

Pricing Packages

Cheaper than missed deadlines and chaotic stressful workflow

LITE

Fast review tool perfect for freelancers and small teams.

$12

per user / month

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

MOST POPULAR

PRO

Project management tool for medium and large businesses.

$32

per user / month

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

PRO XL

More seats, lower price per user. Same tools, bigger team.

$20

per user / month

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

FAQs

Online proofing software is a platform where creative teams share design files with reviewers, collect structured feedback directly on the file, and manage the approval process, all in a browser and without email. It replaces the traditional cycle of exporting files, emailing attachments, and consolidating feedback from multiple reply chains into one centralised workflow.

Approval Studio supports PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF, MP4, HTML banners, and multi-page documents. PDF proofing is fully supported with page-by-page annotation. For packaging artwork, the platform also handles layered files for color separation and barcode verification.

No. Clients and external reviewers receive a link and can leave feedback directly in the browser without signing up or downloading anything. This is one of the most common reasons teams switch to Approval Studio: no friction for the people giving feedback.

Email proofing scatters feedback across threads, makes version tracking manual, and creates no audit trail. Online proofing tools like Approval Studio centralise all feedback in one place, keep a full version history, and record who approved what and when, which matters for compliance-sensitive industries and for any team that bills by revision.

Yes. As online proofing software for designers, Approval Studio is built around the designer’s workflow: upload a file, share a link, collect precise annotated feedback, upload a revision, and get to approval faster. The comparison mode is especially useful for designers who need to show exactly what changed between versions.

Approval Studio is fully browser-based, which means it works on any device, including mobile and tablet, without a native iOS app download. Reviewers can leave feedback on the go, and team members get push notifications for new comments and approvals.

Approval Studio includes built-in barcode verification and color separation tools that generic online proofing platforms don’t have. Combined with a full audit trail, multi-stage approval workflows, and DAM integration, it’s designed for the compliance and accuracy requirements of FMCG, pharma, and retail packaging artwork.

Your next approval shouldn’t take a week

Your next approval shouldn’t take a week