Looking for the best annotation software tool to streamline your team's collaboration and feedback processes?
You're not alone. With so many options available, it can be tough to know where to start. Fortunately, we've got you covered.
In this article, we'll explore the top annotation software options, their features, and how they can enhance your team's productivity and creative workflow. Whether you're working on digital images, video projects, print designs, websites, legal documents, or anything in between, we'll help you find the perfect annotation software solution for your needs.
Annotation tools help you add information to text, images, videos, PDFs, and other types of content files. You can use them in various formats, such as a whiteboard or PowerPoint presentation to describe the selected content.
For instance, Ziflow has various commenting and markup tools, including lines, arrows, squares, ovals, and text selection, that allow content reviewers to provide detailed and actionable feedback. Plus, you can combine these annotation tools to offer more granular direction on a single annotation.
Here are three of the many ways you can use annotation tools.
Not everyone will use the exact words to describe what they see in an image or design when giving feedback. Annotation tools allow you to pinpoint an area in an image or design when you leave feedback so that designers understand the change request.
Ziflow’s markup and annotation tools allow creative teams to collect and share effective, actionable feedback and keep creative projects on track.
Text inspection and markup tools let you review and annotate the fine-print disclaimers on your content assets so that you comply with industry regulations.
For example, the healthcare industry has to ensure all packaging and labeling information is correct:
Ziflow also automatically incorporates comments and attachments onto the asset so that all reviewers can see what’s required.
You can use annotation tools for video reviews, too. Video is one of the most popular yet complex types of creative content to approve team-wide. With so many moving parts and elements and many stakeholders from design to video productive to client review, it can be difficult to provide accurate feedback directly on a video.
However, creative collaboration tools like Ziflow allow reviewers to leave feedback on the precise time code or range of frames that require attention, including subtitles. Side-by-side comparison, as well as integrations with video editing software, simplifies the creation and sharing of annotations throughout the video production process.
Annotation tools are not just “nice-to-have” – they also bring additional benefits to your organization.
Annotations provide clear, specific feedback, which reduces misunderstandings and the need for multiple revisions. Plus, feedback is centralized in one place instead of getting lost in chaotic email chains.
Whether you’re working remotely or in the office, annotation tools also allow team members and stakeholders to collaborate in real-time. You can review and annotate the content, leave a comment for your colleague, and get an instant reply.
Another benefit of annotation software is that you can see a detailed history of the edits and changes, including the person who requested them and the team members who actioned them and marked discussions “resolved”. This level of tracking ensures your content assets are audit-ready for internal or external compliance reviews.
Now that you know some of the use cases and benefits let’s look at seven of the best annotation tools.
We’ve included a selection of free and premium annotation tools for designers and creative agencies that you can scale to enterprise-level depending on your requirements.
Best for: Creative content collaboration, review and approval.
Ziflow’s annotation, markup, and commenting tools allow creative teams and designers to collect and share effective, actionable feedback, keeping creative projects on track and brand-compliant.
Annotation features:
Pricing:
Ziflow has a range of subscription plans for different-sized businesses:
Best for: Any individual, organization, or university who wants to annotate PDFs.
PDF Annotator lets you add notes and annotations, including comments, corrections, signatures, and highlighting to any PDF document such as photos, designs, and drawings.
Annotation features:
Pricing:
PDF Annotator offers 3 pricing options:
Best for: Any team working on creative projects.
Proofhub is an online proofing software for teams who insist on reviewing, proofing, collaborating, and approving files easier, faster, and smarter.
Annotation features:
Pricing:
Proofhub has two flat subscription plans:
Best for: Individuals and teams who want real-time, collaborative feedback on live websites and digital content.
MarkUp is a free visual commenting platform that lets you collect feedback directly on your website, PDFs, and images. It's the perfect tool for simplifying the creative process and making life easier.
Annotation features:
Pricing:
MarkUp is Free Forever. No credit card required.
Best for: Enterprise teams.
GoProof’s diverse range of online proofing and markup tools helps creative brands and agencies annotate, share, and collaborate on designs.
Annotation features:
Pricing:
GoProof pricing starts from $1500/year (according to Capterra).
Best for: Purpose-made for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) teams.
Drawboard Projects enables real-time collaboration and seamless markups for design and construction teams.
Annotation features:
Pricing:
Drawboard Projects has three subscription plans:
Best for: Media, marketing, and entertainment teams.
Annotate is a single, secure platform that provides smarter document collaboration to get everyone working together seamlessly, from the first draft to final sign-off.
Annotation features:
Pricing:
Ziflow has all the commenting, discussion, and annotation tools you need to collect and share effective, actionable feedback to keep your project timelines on track.
You can annotate text, video, designs, and images to help you reduce errors and rework, accelerate decision making, and banish email threads forever.
Don’t let the review and approval process slow you down. Take Ziflow for a 14-day free trial today.