Best Web Annotation Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: Pastel is ranked #1 of 31 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of AnnotationBase and Hypothesis. The best-ranked option with a free plan is AnnotationBase. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Annot8 at $8/mo.
Web annotation tools let you mark up and discuss content viewed online or in documents. Compare annotation modes and document support to see what kinds of material you can work with, then consider browser capture and export options for how you bring content in and take notes out. Collaborative review, guest access and team seats can help you assess how an option fits group work; free plans and starting prices add cost context. Pastel, Hypothesis and Annot8 lead the ranking, followed by WebPinch and Perusall. Use the listed features to compare tools for your review workflow.
31 web annotation tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
#1 Pastel Top pick · 7.9 Free plan · $29/mo
#2 AnnotationBase Runner-up · 7.1 Free plan · £8.25/mo
#3 Hypothesis Also great · 7.1 Free plan · Free- Free planFree trial AndroidapiiOSWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$29/mofirst paid tier About PastelVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms£8.25/mofirst paid tier About AnnotationBaseVisit site - Free plan apiextensionWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan extensionWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$10/mofirst paid tier About SiteDotsVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$15/mofirst paid tier About dottsVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$15/mofirst paid tier About MarkifyVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 8 /user/mo
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$8/mofirst paid tier About Annot8Visit site - Free trial apiextensionWeb
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$79/mofirst paid tier About MarkUpVisit site - Free plan extensionWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 12 /user/mo
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$1,512/mofirst paid tier About WebPinchVisit site - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 18 /user/mo
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$18/mofirst paid tier About RuttlVisit site - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- Yes
- Collaborative review
- No
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WebiOS
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms -
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$50/mofirst paid tier About BugHerdVisit site - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Paid from
- 19 /user/mo
- Annotation modes
- comments
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$39/mofirst paid tier About Marker.ioVisit site - Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Document support
- both
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Web
- Free plan
- No
- Annotation modes
- both
- Collaborative review
- Yes
- Guest access
- Yes
- Document support
- webpages
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which web annotation tool is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Pastel is ranked #1 of 31 with a score of 7.9. AnnotationBase is second and Hypothesis third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Annot8 has the lowest first paid tier we found: $8/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.