PASTEL ALTERNATIVE

The Best Pastel Alternative for Private & Unpublished WordPress Pages

Pastel is a solid visual feedback tool — but it wasn’t built for WordPress, and it definitely wasn’t built for pages that aren’t live yet. If you’re collecting client feedback on draft, private, or password-protected pages, EditWhere is the smarter choice.

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✓ Works on private pages ✓ Native WordPress plugin ✓ No live URL required

Why WordPress Teams Are Looking for a Pastel Alternative

Pastel is a well-designed visual annotation tool. You share a URL, your client clicks on elements, and leaves pin-based comments. For static websites or publicly accessible pages, it works perfectly fine.

But here’s the problem: most WordPress projects aren’t publicly accessible when feedback is needed most. Your client’s new homepage is sitting in draft. The redesigned service page is password-protected. The staging environment is behind a login wall. Pastel requires a live, public URL — and that’s a dealbreaker for a huge slice of real-world WordPress work.

That’s the gap EditWhere was built to fill. It’s a native WordPress plugin that works directly inside the WordPress environment — no live URL, no external screenshot service, no workarounds.

Works on Private Pages

EditWhere is installed directly in WordPress. It can load any page — draft, private, password-protected, or staging — and let clients leave pinpoint feedback without ever needing a public URL.

Zero External Dependency

Pastel relies on its own servers to screenshot and annotate your page. EditWhere runs entirely within your WordPress install — no third-party screenshot engines, no data leaving your site, no extra accounts to manage.

Clients Need No Account

Send your client a simple link. They open the page inside WordPress's built-in preview, click to leave a comment, and you see it instantly in your dashboard. No Pastel account, no onboarding, no friction.

EditWhere vs Pastel: Side-by-Side

The features that matter most for WordPress client review workflows.

Feature

Works on private pages
Works on draft pages
Native WordPress plugin
No client account needed
Pin-based comments
Inline comment threads
Works without live URL

EditWhere ✓

Pastel

No
No
No (web app)
Account required
Yes
Yes
No (needs public URL)

The Real Problem with Pastel for WordPress Projects

Pastel’s workflow assumes a simple reality: you have a live page, you share the URL, your client annotates it. That works well for marketing teams reviewing a published blog post, or designers checking a live landing page.

But WordPress development doesn’t work that way. The feedback loop typically happens before launch — when pages are in draft, set to private, or sitting behind a password. Pastel can’t access those pages. Full stop.

Some teams try workarounds — temporarily publishing the page, setting up a separate staging domain, or using browser extension hacks. All of these add friction, create security risks, or break the client experience.

EditWhere eliminates all of that. Because it’s a WordPress plugin — not an external web app — it has direct access to every page on your site, regardless of its publication status. Your client reviews the real page, on your real site, with zero exposure to the public.

How EditWhere Works for Client Review

Three steps. No training required. Works on any WordPress page.

Install the Plugin

Add EditWhere to your WordPress site from the plugin directory. Takes under two minutes. No API keys, no external accounts, no configuration headaches.

Share a Review Link

Generate a secure review link for any page — draft, private, or published. Send it to your client. They open the page in a review-ready interface without needing a WordPress login.

Resolve Comments in WP Admin

All feedback lands directly in your WordPress dashboard. Click a comment to jump to the exact element it references. Mark it resolved, reply inline, and keep the project moving.

Who Should Switch from Pastel to EditWhere?

EditWhere isn’t the right tool for every team — but for WordPress-focused agencies and freelancers, it solves problems that Pastel simply can’t. You’ll get the most value if you recognise yourself in any of these situations:

You regularly collect feedback on pages that aren't published yet
Your clients aren't technical — you need a zero-friction review experience
You use WordPress exclusively and want feedback tools that live inside WP admin
You've had security concerns about temporarily publishing pages just to get feedback
You want feedback tied to specific page elements — not screenshots or external boards
You manage multiple client sites and need a consistent, repeatable review workflow

If you’re working outside WordPress — reviewing static HTML sites, Webflow projects, or live marketing pages — Pastel remains a capable tool. But for WordPress-native workflows, EditWhere is purpose-built for the job.

📖 Part of a Bigger Comparison

This page is part of our in-depth guide comparing the leading visual feedback tools for WordPress teams. If you’re also evaluating BugHerd, Markup.io, or Atarim alongside Pastel, our pillar guide covers all four — with detailed breakdowns of pricing, WordPress compatibility, and client experience.

Read the Full Alternatives Guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Because EditWhere is a WordPress plugin installed directly on your site, it operates within the WordPress environment and has access to all pages — regardless of their publication status. Draft, private, password-protected, and even pages in trash can be loaded for review. This is the fundamental advantage over external tools like Pastel that rely on publicly accessible URLs.

No. Clients receive a secure, time-limited review link. They open it in any browser and can start leaving comments immediately — no WordPress login, no EditWhere account, no app to install. This makes it significantly easier to get feedback from non-technical clients compared to tools that require account creation.

Yes — EditWhere is built exclusively for WordPress. That’s a deliberate choice. By being WordPress-native, it can do things external tools can’t: access unpublished pages, integrate with the WP admin dashboard, and tie comments directly to page elements within the block editor. If you’re building on WordPress, that focus is a feature, not a limitation.

Both tools allow clients to leave comments tied to specific locations on a page. The key difference is context: Pastel works on a screenshot of your page, while EditWhere works on the live WordPress page itself. This means comments in EditWhere are always accurate — no outdated screenshots, no misaligned pins when the page changes.

EditWhere offers a free plan that covers core review functionality for individual sites. Paid plans are available for agencies managing multiple client sites. Pastel’s pricing is structured around the number of projects and seats. For WordPress-focused teams, EditWhere typically delivers more relevant features at a comparable or lower price point — visit the EditWhere pricing page for current details.

Stop Publishing Pages Just to Get Feedback

EditWhere lets you collect precise, actionable client feedback on any WordPress page — before it ever goes live. Install it free in under two minutes.

Get EditWhere Free →

Free plan available · No credit card required · Works on any WordPress site