A few months ago, Markup.io updated their pricing. It wasn’t the end of the world, but it forced a conversation we’d been putting off: is our review workflow as simple and sustainable as it should be?
Short answer: not really.
We were juggling point tools, managing seats, and trying to keep collaborators in the loop without adding friction. The pricing shift was the nudge to rethink the whole thing from first principles.
So we built Huddlekit.
What changed with Markup.io pricing
In January 2025, Markup.io increased the Pro plan from $29 to $79 per month (about a 172% jump) and retired the free plan. For freelancers and small teams, that changed the math overnight.
What changed for us
We realized the tools weren’t the only issue — the workflow was. Costs added up as teams grew, access felt complicated for casual reviewers, and feedback still got scattered.
What we needed instead:
- Anyone can leave feedback without creating an account
- Comments are pinned directly to elements on the page
- Inspect CSS in context when you need it
- Compare responsive breakpoints side by side
- One link to share, no juggling tools
If that sounds familiar, you might like our post on improving review speed beyond price alone. It’s about picking tools that remove friction, not add it. See: visual feedback tools beyond price.
Why we built Huddlekit
Huddlekit is a focused alternative that removes unnecessary choices and pricing surprises. We combined the essentials in one place: visual annotations, CSS inspection, responsive views, and easy sharing.
If you’re curious how this helps in practice, here’s a quick read on using CSS inspection to speed up QA: how to inspect CSS for faster website QA. We also wrote about a repeatable approach to reviews that actually ships work: a website review process that actually works.
How it works in one link
- Paste any URL and start a review instantly
- Click anywhere to leave a precise, contextual comment
- Resize or compare breakpoints without leaving the tab
- Open the built‑in CSS inspector when details matter
- Share a public link so clients and teammates can respond in one place
When feedback lives where the work lives, decisions get faster and revisions get cleaner.
Pricing, simply
We wanted pricing that made sense for teams who review together — predictable, fair, and friendly to collaborators. No hoops for casual reviewers. No surprise add‑ons for the basics. If you’re navigating tool choices, this piece might help frame the decision: visual feedback tools beyond price.
If you’re switching
You don’t need a big migration project. Pick one live project, run the next review round in Huddlekit, and see if the team moves faster. Keep it simple.
If it sticks, bring the rest over.
Try Huddlekit
If Markup.io’s pricing changes pushed you to re‑evaluate, you’re not alone. That moment is what led us to build Huddlekit — for ourselves first, and now for you.
