Gathering and understanding feedback from your team or client can be a massive headache for a professional editor. Ensuring you have a timecode, concise list of edit notes is the first step in a smooth post-production process. Fortunately, there is plenty of video review and collaboration tools out there, and we’re here to help you figure out which is the best for you.
Summary
Part 1: What are Video Review and Collaboration Tools?
Video review and collaboration tools are websites that allow you to upload, share, and comment on your video edits. Platforms such as these simplify the editing process, especially when working remotely. Once uploaded, a video can be shared with your team or client, and they can annotate the video with comments and images.
Pricing | Upload Limits | Simplicity | Team Members | Reviewers | Mobile | Other Services | |
Motion Array | $29.99/month or $249.99/year | Very simple to use | 1 | Unlimited | Marketplace + Portfolio | ||
Wipster | $22.50/seat /month | 250GBmax at anytime | Very simple to use | Pay per team member | Unlimited | Yes | – |
Frame.io (PRO) | $19/month | 250GBmax at anytime | Very simple to use | 1 team member and 25 Collaborators | Unlimited | Yes | Presentation mode |
Ftrack | $10/user/month | 250GBmax at anytime | Easy | Pay per team member | Unlimited | No | Studio (extra cost) |
Aframe | Bespoke package | Yes | – | ||||
Cinesync | $99/month | Unlimited | Complex | 2 | Unlimited | No | – |
GoProof | Bespoke package | Easy | No | Mobile App | |||
Quick Reviewer | $59/year | 1GB | Tricky | 1 | Unlimited | No | – |
Remark | $30/user/month | Unlimited | Easy | 1 with unlimited collaborators | Unlimited | No | Client Portal |
ARRI Webgate | €69/month | 100GB | Tricky | 1 | Unlimited | Yes | – |
Screenlight | $9/user/month | 50GB | Easy | Pay per team member | Unlimited | Yes | – |
Go Slope | Bespoke package | Yes | |||||
Notism | Bespoke package | Yes | |||||
Kollaborate.tv | $25/month | 60GB | Tricky | 5 | Unlimited | No | Workflow management |
Part 2: 15 Most-Popular Video Review & Collaboration Tools
It’s difficult to find the right review and collaboration platform for you and your team, so you should consider all the options carefully. Don’t just look at the cost of the subscription; make sure you consider the number of team members, storage space, and upload limits.
1. Motion Array’s Review
Built for single users and solo editors, Motion Array has an impressive range of tools. The editing review system is slick and intuitive, with a great file management system behind it. You can also have your own custom branded logo and domain so your customers see your business upfront and center.
The real power in a Motion Array subscription is the whole range of tools they have to offer. Along with the editing review platform, Motion Array provides stock footage and music, plugins and motion graphics templates, and a portfolio-style website. Freelancers can use Motion Array tools at every stage of production, which is a fantastic value for money.
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2. Wipster
Wipster was one of the first and most well-known review systems on the market. The platform is super simple to use and has a loyal user base. However, it is one of the more expensive options.
At $22.50 per seat per month, Wipster is out of a lot of freelancers’ budgets, but for small teams and marketing agencies, the simplicity and modern design of the platform might fit flawlessly.
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3. Frame.io
Frame.io is an incredibly easy to use and organized review system that makes working on multiple projects for multiple clients a breeze. At $19 per month for one team member, you might think it a little costly.
However, the Pro package also includes 25 Collaborators; team members that you can invite to collaborate on one or more projects, without giving them admin control. This makes Frame.io perfect for small production companies and agencies that work with several freelancers on various projects.
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4. Ftrack
Ftrack is a robust review and collaboration platform that is built for speed. The quick upload times, fast file management, and speedy feedback workflow make Ftrack perfect for marketing agencies and content creators.
The Edit Review Package is affordable for freelancers and small teams at $10 per user per month. However, for $20 per user per month, you can also access the comprehensive pre-production and production tools, keeping your entire project in one place.
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5. Aframe
Aframe is a great platform for businesses with their internal marketing team. The review platform is reasonably quick and easy to use, but it is the video tagging that makes Aframe a winner.
You can tag individual videos, and even sections of videos with keywords, which are then searchable across all projects on the space. The tagging allows you to create a comprehensive archive of projects and rushes to be used again and again.
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6. Cinesync
Cinesync is an incredibly comprehensive platform, aimed at high-end professional editors. With some impressive clients such as HBO, Marvel, and Industrial Light and Magic, you can see why this is one of the more costly platforms on this list.
The platform is beautifully designed, and the package costs are more suited to use on individual large scale production, perfect for movie makers, overly sophisticated for marketing agencies.
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7. GoProof
GoProof is great for large scale marketing, as it can bring creative teams together across a range of disciplines. Goproof integrates with Adobe Cloud to give you project review and collaboration tools for Premiere, Indesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
The bespoke packages can be off-putting, and you need to get in touch with them to find out the actual cost; however, the powerful platform has a lot to offer.
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8. Quick Reviewer
Quick Reviewer is unique in its pricing structure, as you choose based on the amount of storage space you require rather than the number of team members. This can seem a little attractive initially, but at $59 a year for 1GB max upload, the platform works out at less than $5 per month.
The platform is a little awkward compared to some on this list, but the design and workflow feel familiar, and the interface is clean and modern.
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9. LookAt
LookAt offers review capabilities on over 100 file types, including PSD, AI, PPT, and HTML. This powerful platform is a little complicated to use compared to the likes of Wipster and Frame, so if a simple review process is what you are looking for, this might not be the one for you.
LookAt has an excellent mobile app, which can be beneficial to project managers and editors on the go.
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10. Remark
Remark is a simple video review platform that is easy to use as both an editor and a client. The design of the platform mimics it’s larger competitors Frame.io and Wipster, and it is a generally stable piece of software.
Where Remark is different, is you can’t upload videos directly to the platform. Instead Remark works with existing storage solutions such as Youtube, Vimeo and Dropbox.
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11. ARRI Webgate
ARRI Webgate is a powerful tool, albeit a little old in its design. The file management system is similar to a PC file browser, making the platform feel familiar and straightforward.
ARRI Webgate also has a powerful app version, which gives you all your files, reviews, and feedback on the go.
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12. Screenlight
Screenlight is a great all-round platform; it’s fast and efficient; it’s got a clean design and is an affordable price. At $9 per user per month, with a 50GB storage per user, this platform is perfect for production companies and marketing agencies that are looking to grow.
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13. Go Slope
Go Slope provides a review and collaboration solution to the creative team, not just film-makers. The sleek software is excellent for marketing agencies who want to centralize their campaign management.
Easily keep track of client projects from video, graphics, copy, and audio, and allow your team to have a clearer insight into the client’s brand.
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14. Notism
Notism is a pretty good video review and collaboration tool, with one additional feature that makes this pretty cool piece of kit. Notism allows you to present your projects to your team and clients in real-time. This feature makes Notism not just a slick review platform, but a persuasive pitching and presentation tool.
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15. Kollaborate
Kollaborate is an impressive review tool from Digital Rebellion, and as you might expect, it integrates seamlessly with their other tools. If you are already a Digital Rebellion fan, Kollaborate might be an excellent choice for you.
Kollaborate may seem attractive at $25 per month for five team members. However, the 60GB upload limit may be restrictive.
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Part 3: Main Benefits of Video Review & Collaboration Tools
As with all platforms intended to increase productivity, video review and collaboration tools can take a little time to work into your system. Talk to your team about what they want to achieve, and how they work before you make your decision. Consider these benefits to working within a platform, and how they could be used to make you more efficient.
Keep Track of Versions
Tools for editing review have had a great deal of thought put into the version sequence of your edits. For most of these platforms, each edit you do will be stackable, allowing you to look back at old edits and comments, and even compare versions.
Realtime Updates
Notifications can be sent to you, your team, and your clients whenever a comment is made or new media uploaded. Reminders can also be sent to people if they have not yet reviewed the project, allowing you to have a clear overview of a project’s status.
Boost Efficiency in Communication
Rather than complicated email threads involving multiple people, review platforms give you a straightforward chat-based thread for each comment. You can even see who has viewed and commented and when allowing you to oversee your team’s performance throughout the process.
Improve Client Review and Feedback
Clients often don’t have an understanding of the post-production process, and this can cause some issues when it comes to giving concise and transparent feedback. Video review and collaboration tools simplify the process for your clients, as well as looking slick and professional.
As you can see from this list, all of the review systems work similarly. The key differences might seem to be the cost and storage space available, but it is also down to the user experience. If possible, check out a free trial or demo of your review and collaboration tool shortlist, and see what works for you.