Best and most authentic annotation tools will be discussed in this post. Let’s speak about tools for real-time annotation! We took a close look at the annotation tool industry and selected the most capable solutions that help teams streamline their workflow with fantastic collaboration capabilities.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about:
- The most prevalent scenarios in which annotation tools are used
- The greatest annotation tools available today, including their functionality, features, and pricing
But first, let’s go through the fundamentals.
Disclaimer: As of the date this blog post was published, May 25, 2022, the information contained in this article was gathered from publically available sources.
What is an Annotation Tool, and how does it work?
An annotation tool is a piece of software that allows users to add digital sticky notes, commentary, or annotations to a variety of file formats, such as images, websites, spreadsheets, HTML files, videos, and PowerPoint presentations. Furthermore, annotation tools help teams improve quality control by allowing users to leave contextual, granular input directly in the part that needs to be edited.
This method increases efficiency by eliminating the need to send files back and forth for review and proofing. Furthermore, in an increasingly digital environment, it allows team members to collaborate in real time.
What is the mechanism behind it?
Assume we’re a member of the design team responsible for the visuals used to market the new iPhone 13 Pro. Our manager would have to approve this photograph before it could be added to the website. We’d submit our work for approval via MarkUp.io instead of submitting it over email. We built a markup using the design file to demonstrate the process and give you a better picture of how an annotation tool works.
Our’manager’ left several remarks, as you can see, indicating what has to be corrected.
What’s the best part?
When we use an annotation tool, we can view everything as it happens.
We can not only read the comments in real time, but we can also identify the specific aspects that need to be improved. You might be thinking to yourself, “All right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all right, all That’s only one example, and it’s a very simple one. I understand!
What else may an annotation tool be used for?
Let’s take a stare at the most prevalent scenarios in which annotation tools are used.
Annotation Tools’ 6 Most Common Use Cases There are various types of annotations for various purposes. Their capacity to make proofreading projects painless is something they all have in common. This means that “as per my last email” will no longer be necessary. You’ll get easy-to-implement contextual feedback.
We’ll look into image annotations, video annotations, PDF annotations, audio annotations, HTML annotations, and website annotations today.
Let’s take a closer gaze at the six most prevalent scenarios in which an annotation tool might be useful.
1. Annotation of an image
In modern era of graphic design, where freelancers make up 90% of the workforce, image annotation is critical.
Can you picture the collective anguish of these designers whose proofreading process is still reliant on emails?
Designers won’t be overwhelmed by rivers of their own furious tears, thanks to image annotation tools.
For example, you can upload pictures and design files to MarkUp.io and submit them for review via a sharable link or email.
The reviewer can then add prompt remarks with their preferred adjustments by clicking anywhere on the shared image.
Isn’t it simple to understand?
However, what if you require assistance with file types that are more dynamic than static images?
Let’s get started with the video annotation.
2. Video Annotation
Today, video accounts for more than 80% of all consumer internet traffic – and that figure doesn’t include all of the projects that are now awaiting clearance but have been lost in inboxes due to overcrowding.
This is when video annotation software comes in handy.
For video content creators and editors, these tools open up a whole new world of cooperation possibilities.
That’s why MarkUp.io created a video annotation function that you can test out right now (for free!). Video MarkUp allows you to generate markups for the most common video file types (such as MP4, MPEG, AVI, WEBM, Apple ProRes, and MKV).
You can share your video file with your team and make comments anywhere inside it after you’ve posted it.
Let’s take a look at what PDF annotations are all about.
3. Annotation in PDF
A PDF annotation tool is desperately needed by content writers, students, teachers, marketers, and pretty much anyone else who has to write or provide input for reports, blog pieces, white papers, and other sorts of material.
Why do you need a PDF?
It’s one of the most widely utilised file types today. In fact, 73 million PDF documents are saved to Google Drive every day!
It almost feels like a religious movement with how many people are flocking to PDFs.
The annotation process for a PDF markup is identical to what we’ve seen in other usage cases.
To make a PDF markup, simply upload your document to MarkUp.io. After that, you can leave comments wherever you wish within the document.
4. Annotation in audio
Audio annotation is a technique used by data scientists to classify noises made by animals, humans, the environment, and other sources using specialist data annotation software (such as Prodigy).
Natural language processing (NLP), a branch of artificial intelligence that employs models to educate computers to “understand” language through features such as speech recognition and natural language synthesis, falls under audio annotation.
Chatbots, speech recognition systems, virtual assistants, and other workflow automation use cases are likely to have exposed you to trained NLP models.
Annotation in HTML
Every day, more than 250K new websites are launched. That’s over three new webpages every second!
Consider how much feedback each of these websites will require, especially in today’s remote-first society.
How can remote teams minimise feedback loops and reduce the time it takes to bring a website from concept to completion?
The answer is HTML annotation, as you already know.
Simply paste your link into the Go URL bar on your workspace to annotate an HTML file in MarkUp.
The programme will then generate a markup from your HTML content that you can view, share, and comment on.
So far, we’ve gone over a number of annotation tools that are essential for creating a fantastic website! We’ll remain with the same register for the following use case – web development.
Annotation of a website
The work of a web developer does not end after a website is launched. To keep the website current, it must be updated and changed on a regular basis.
Consider this form of annotation to be similar to bookmarking a web page and making comments directly in your browser.
This is how the MarkUp browser extension works: you click it and it creates a website markup with the same ease as bookmarking your favourite web content.
Your updated markup will appear in your workspace automatically after that. With the necessary commentary, you may begin the review and approval procedure.
Let’s take a gaze at the most popular annotation tools on the market now and see which one provides the types of annotation your company requires.
Table of Comparisons for All Annotation Tools
Let’s have a look at how the 11 annotation tools we’ve assembled compare in terms of functionality before we get started with them.
Take a look:
Now that you’ve received a taste of what these annotation software solutions have to offer, let’s get to the good stuff: a detailed breakdown of their features and cost.
1. MarkUp.io
MarkUp.io is a website that allows you to create your own markup
The first on our list is, of course, us: MarkUp.io.
We are a leading visual commenting platform that uses a variety of unique and flexible annotation capabilities to streamline creative processes.
Our application allows users to share, receive, and organise feedback in real time for a variety of file formats, including PDFs and HTML documents, as well as live webpages and videos.
Examine what we can do for you and your team in further detail.
Breakdown of Annotation Features
Our strategy is based on purposeful simplicity, with the user experience and ease of use at the centre of the product. Also check Technical Documentation Software
All of the tools we provide are specifically designed for teams to simply pull all of their projects together with a single click. And we’re not just saying that; you can use the Chrome extension to make a markup of any tab in your browser with a single click!
With tools like web page annotation, PDF file annotation, image annotation, and video annotation, we’re here to help you manage creativity and bridge the gap between ideas and deliverables.
- File sharing via email and links
- Real-time comments that may be searched
- Attachments to comments can be dragged and dropped in a variety of file formats, including JPG, JPEG, PNG, SVG, BMP, and others.
And there’s more!
Do you want to hear more wonderful news? Go to our price page for more information.
Pricing
MarkUp.io is accessible for free for a short period.
Grab it while it’s still available!
2. Pastel
Pastel is a marketing annotation tool.
It allows marketing teams to collaborate on and receive comments on a variety of digital marketing assets, including live websites, PDFs, and photos.
Let’s take a more intimate look at the capabilities of this tool.
Breakdown of Annotation Features
Pastel allows consumers to provide feedback from any device, using their preferred browser.
The following are the most important Pastel features and capabilities:
- Support for image file attachments within comments • Comment organising system based on labels • PDF, image, and website annotations
Pastel’s features are mostly geared toward making website creation more efficient.
Its image and PDF processing capabilities, on the other hand, make it handy for a broader range of applications.
Pricing
Pastel has four pricing options, one of which is absolutely free (but with limited functionality).
The price of the other three plans is determined by the number of supported users, the number of premium projects (canvases), and the paying mechanism.
Each of the premium plans also comes with a two-week free trial.
The following rates vary from $0 to $350 per month:
- The Free Forever plan is free for one user for a 3-day canvas commenting session.
- The Solo plan costs $24 per user per month if paid yearly; $29 per user per month if paid monthly. • The Studio plan costs $83 per month if paid annually, $99 per month if paid monthly for 5 users. If you pay annually, you’ll pay $17 per user per month, and if you pay monthly, you’ll pay $20 per user per month.
- The Enterprise plan costs $350 per month for ten users, regardless of invoicing method.
3. Red Pen
Designers created Red Pen as a feedback tool for other designers.
Red Pen promotes simplicity and is more concerned with the user experience (UX) than with functionality.
Red Pen also wants to make its tool an essential element of the design process by allowing for quick visual collaboration.
Let’s have a look at what Red Pen has to offer in terms of features.
Breakdown of Annotation Features
Red Pen is built with ease of use in mind rather than features, according to the company’s philosophy. As a result, the tools’ capabilities are limited, but they are extremely simple to use.
Image annotation • Live comment management • Drag and drop function • Collaboration via shareable links are only a few examples of functionality.
Red Pen would be ideal for independent designers and small-to-medium-sized design teams because to its limited feature set.
Pricing
The Red Pen price strategy is based on a project-by-project basis, and there are four different pricing options to choose from.
In addition to the four payment tiers, Red Pen provides a free, basic version that only allows users to exchange files for 20 days after they are uploaded.
Red Pen additionally offers four premium plans, with costs varying according to the number of projects included in each:
- $5 per month for 5 projects; $10 per month for 10 projects; $60 per month for 25 projects; $90 per month for 40 projects
4. Markup Hero
Markup Hero is a snapshot and annotation application for the web.
Markup Hero is a powerful, feature-rich annotation software that allows users to capture screenshots and provide feedback on photos, PDFs, and websites.
Breakdown of Annotation Features
Markup Hero provides its customers with a variety of collaboration tools in addition to screenshots and comments, such as: • Image, PDF, and web annotation • Full website screen capture
- On-screen painting • Shareable link-based cooperation
With Markup Hero’s Annotation API, this tool may also be easily integrated into users’ web apps.
Naturally, not all of these features are offered in every pricing level. Let’s look at it more closely.
The pricing structure of Markup Hero is fairly simple, with three pricing levels based on a per-user model.
Two of the three pricing options are completely free. In general, their pricing scheme is as follows:
- The Sidekick plan is free and has restricted functionality. It can be used without creating an account.
- The Hero plan: It’s free and comes with a lot of extras when you sign up.
- The Superhero plan costs $4 per user per month if paid annually, $5 per user per month if paid monthly, and includes all features.
5. GoVisually
GoVisually is a design and video collaboration solution that includes features like proofing and annotation.
Designers, video editors, creators, creative agencies, and marketers will benefit from GoVisually.
Let’s have a little glance at the features of the GoVisually annotation software.
Features of Annotation Breakdown
GoVisually supports a wide range of file types and offers a variety of collaborative tools to help users with job management and content modification, including: • Image, PDF, and video annotation tools
- Link sharing for projects • Private and public comments
- Monitoring the status of the project
Only the Team price level gives you access to this extensive tool set.
What is the cost of that?
Pricing
The pricing structure of GoVisually is divided into two paid programmes that can be billed monthly or annually.
The programme from GoVisually does not come with a free version. A free two-week trial is offered, though.
In terms of premium plans, GoVisual divides its price into two categories:
- The Solo plan: $20 per month if billed annually, $25 per month if billed monthly for single users • The Team plan: $50 per month if billed annually, $60 per month if billed monthly for teams of up to 5 people
6. Prodigy
Prodigy differs from the other annotation tools on this list in a number of ways.
It’s a data annotation tool that uses active learning and AI to assist data scientists in analysing data issues and creating training and assessment data for machine learning models.
Prodigy also has a number of capabilities that assist users with data labelling.
Breakdown of Annotation Features
Data annotation for natural language processing (NLP) is made easier using the Prodigy data labelling tool, which includes capabilities like:
- Recognize named entities
- Text classification for semantic role labelling and sentiment analysis, for example.
- Image classification and segmentation using computer vision
- Annotation of sound and video
Prodigy’s data annotator is priced differently than the other tools we’ve discussed so far in this post.
Pricing
With limitless annotators and 12-month free upgrades, the Prodigy data annotation tool offers two lifetime license-based pricing options.
The following are the two price models that are available:
- The Personal plan costs $390 for a single user’s lifetime licence.
- The Firm plan: $490 per user, only available in packs of 5 users; the customer’s company receives a lifetime licence.
7. Filestage
Another annotation application, Filestage, seeks to make the process of reviewing and approving creative deliverables easier. Also check Best time tracking software
Additionally, Filestage provides a variety of collaboration and project management tools to assist teams in sharing, approving, and delivering information more quickly.
Breakdown of Annotation Features
From a feature standpoint, Filestage has a lot to offer. • Text document, video, image, website, and audio annotations are among its primary features.
- Version comparison and monitoring
- Tracking project progress • Adding attachments to comments
Let’s take a look at how much all of this costs.
Pricing
Filestage has four pricing tiers dependent on the number of users.
All four pricing plans are available on a monthly or annual basis. Each plan costs 25% less if billed annually.
The following is the Filestage price structure:
- The Essential plan: €9 (nearly $10) per user per month if billed yearly, and €12 (around $13) per user per month if billed monthly • The Advanced plan: €19 (nearly $21) per user per month for the first 5 users, then €95 per month for each additional user if billed yearly; €24 (nearly $26) per user per month for the first 5 users, then €120 (around $132) per month for each additional user if
- The Professional plan: €39 (roughly $43) per user per month for the first 5 users, then €195 (roughly $215) per month for each additional user if billed annually; €49 (roughly $54) per user per month for the first 5 users, then €245 (roughly $270) per month for each additional user if billed monthly Pricing information is only available upon request.
8. Frame.io
Frame.io is a cloud-based collaboration tool owned by Adobe that was designed specifically for video production teams.
Users can give and receive live feedback on video material using this technology. It has multi-team management capabilities and is geared for high-volume creators.
Breakdown of Annotation Features
Frame.io, being a video-centric platform, includes a variety of video annotation options, including: • Sequence and frame-based video annotations, image annotations, and PDF annotations.
- Making handwritten notes
- Keeping track of project approvals
- Shareable links for collaboration
Let’s have a glance at the pricing now.
Pricing
Frame.io has a number of price options dependent on the number of users.
Frame.io’s price structure is divided into four pricing models:
- The Free plan: Free for up to 2 users • The Pro plan: $15 per user per month if billed monthly, $13 per user per month if billed annually • The Team plan: $25 per user per month if billed monthly, $22 per user per month if billed yearly
* Pricing information for the Enterprise plan is only available upon request.
Now let’s have a look at tool number nine.
9. Annotate
Annotate is a tool for managing, sharing, and annotating documents.
This solution was created to assist professionals in financial services, technology, media, marketing, and education in creating, sharing, receiving, reviewing, and approving documents in a more efficient manner.
Features of Annotation Breakdown
Annotate integrates with Microsoft Office to make document annotation easier. Annotate also includes a number of text annotation tools and capabilities, including: • Document and PDF annotation • Text highlighting • Color-coded and topic-based note organisation system • Document version control
To understand more about price, move on to the next section.
Pricing
Annotate does offer some details on their three pricing options. The precise pricing of the paid plans, on the other hand, is only provided upon request.
However, we do comprehend that there is a free version available.
Bubbles is a file-sharing and collaboration application featuring annotation capabilities.
This tool can be used for asynchronous collaboration without requiring an account. Through screen recordings and other collaborative tools, it intends to reduce the need for Zoom meetings and real-time communications.
Take a peek at the features that Bubbles has to offer.
Features of Annotation Breakdown
Bubbles has a simple, intuitive UI with simple capabilities like: • Image annotations • Screen captures and recordings
- Collaboration via email and sharing links
Pricing
The annotation tool Bubbles is absolutely free.
10. Hypothes.is
Hypothes.is is a word that can be used to describe a hypothesis Hypothes.is is a social annotation programme that allows users to annotate websites. As a result, it’s rather unusual in comparison to what we’ve seen so far.
Hypothes.is, in particular, allows users to highlight material and take and keep notes while exploring the web. As a result, it’s more of an educational tool than a business solution.
Individuals that conduct a lot of research as part of their employment, on the other hand, may find it advantageous.
Let’s have a look at what it has to offer.
Hypothes.is Breakdown of Features
Hypothes.is has been dubbed “a peer review layer for the entire Internet” by Wikipedia because it encourages individuals to leave comments on online material in order to assess source credibility.
Furthermore, the solution is built on a reputation-based ranking system for user comments. That is to say, users can rank other users in the community in order to determine a user’s trustworthiness.
The following are some of the most useful features of Hypothes.is: • Web annotation • PDF annotation • Text highlights • Public and private annotations
Let’s have a look at the numbers.
Pricing
Hypothes.is is free to use because it is an open-source software solution.
Now it’s up to you. We hope you’ve attained a better grasp of the annotation software ecosystem and are ready to move forward.
MarkUp.io can help you get more done if your creative process includes feedback, comments, approvals, and everything in between.
Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)
Before you leave, read through the most frequently asked questions concerning annotation tools, which we’ve answered below. Send us a missive if you can’t find the information you’re looking for. We’d be delighted to assist! Also check Best File and Folder software
Q1. What are the three different kinds of annotations?
The following are the three sorts of annotations:
- Manual annotation: manually adding remarks to a piece of content • Screen annotation: using digital tools to make notes on a screen
- Collaborative annotation is a literacy approach for teaching pupils critical thinking, teamwork, and writing abilities.
Q2. What are the tools of utilising annotation software?
Annotation tools have the following advantages: • the ability to provide and receive live contextual comments • the ability to sprint up the project approval process • the ability to improve collaboration • the ability to simplify job management
Q3. What are the most effective annotation software tools?
- MarkUp.io • GoVisually • Bubbles • Pastel are some of the best annotation tools.
