Hey everyone,

I recently launched a tool called Reel, a video review and collaboration platform. I built it specifically to escape the hyper-monetized “per-seat” pricing model that tools like Frame.io (now owned by Adobe) force on creators and small agencies.

The Problem with the Industry Standard: If you do any freelance video work, you know the pain. The second you need to invite an external client or a temporary contractor to review a cut, you get hit with a new monthly seat license. It’s essentially a tax on collaborating.

The Alternative (Reel): I wanted a hosted tool that does the core things perfectly without the corporate nickel-and-diming. Reel handles drag-and-drop uploads, fast video playback, and frame-accurate timestamped comments on the timeline.

The biggest differences for the end-user:

Flat-rate pricing: It’s $49/month for unlimited active projects and unlimited users. You never pay for adding a seat.

Zero-login for clients (Privacy first): Guest reviewers don’t have to create an account, hand over their email, or deal with onboarding. You just generate a secure link; they type a display name and leave feedback.

Free tier: There’s a free tier for your first 3 videos to test the workflow, and there is absolutely no credit card required to start.

(Addressing the self-hosted route: I know there are some open-source video review repos out there like Lawn. But most video editors don’t want to spin up servers, manage databases, and pay for AWS S3 buckets just to get a client’s sign-off. Reel is fully managed, but priced fairly.)

Here is a quick 30-second demo of the UI in action: https://youtu.be/53Yf4b6Qj8o And the live app: https://reelhq.replit.app/

I’d love to hear what this community thinks of the UI, the frictionless client-sharing, and the pricing model.