On this page
What it replaces
Without it, a round of notes looks like this: the client watches a private link, writes an email with "around the 2 minute mark, the part with the dog", and forwards it to two colleagues who reply separately. The editor has three threads and no timecode. A week later someone asks which version the CEO saw.
With it, each person presses on the frame and types. The notes sit on the timeline, in order, with a name. The editor works down the list and ticks them off. The next version stacks on top of the last, and an approval sits on the version it was given for.
What to look for
| Feature | Why it matters | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| No account for clients | Clients will not sign up to give you notes | Everyone |
| Frame-accurate notes | Saves editors real time | Everyone |
| Drawing on the frame | "This logo" beats a paragraph | Everyone |
| Version stacks and compare | Shows what changed | Everyone |
| Timecode from the file's start | Notes match the timeline | Editors |
| Drop-frame at 29.97 and 59.94 | Timecode stays true on long cuts | Broadcast and long-form |
| Export to the edit | No re-typing notes | Editors |
| Internal sign-off | Rough cuts stay in the building | Teams of 2 or more |
| Watermarks and a password | Unfinished work stays private | Commercial work |
| An approval record | Settles "who signed off on this?" | Agencies, brands |
| Rounds against the contract | Keeps round four from being free | Any studio |
| Approval that raises an invoice | Gets you paid | Any studio |
The three kinds of tool
| Kind | Examples | Starts at | Built around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-production review | Frame.io, Wipster | Frame.io: free, then $15 a member a month | The edit |
| Content proofing | Filestage | Free for 1 active project, then $199 a month | Many approvers, many file types |
| Review inside the job | Cutvey | Solo $49 a month, or $29 billed yearly | The contract and the invoice |
Prices checked November 2026 on each seller's own pricing page. A price we could not read there is left out, so check their site. For the full list with prices, see Frame.io alternatives.
How review works in Cutvey
Upload a cut to the project and share the link. No account is needed, and a link can carry a 4-digit password, a last day, and downloads or notes switched off.
- Notes on the frame. Timecoded notes, drawing on the frame, a waveform and internal notes the client never sees.
- Playback up to 4K in Cutvey's own player. A PQ or HLG source also gets an HDR copy, 1080p by default, on screens that can show it.
- Timecode you can trust. It starts from the file's own start, with drop-frame at 29.97 and 59.94.
- Compare two versions. Side by side, wipe between the two, or show what changed, and choose whose sound you hear.
- Open notes carry forward as a checklist for your team.
- More than video. Images, PDFs and audio use the same room.
- Transcripts on a press. Search them, make captions, and download SRT or WebVTT. They stay private until you share them.
Your team can sign off before a cut reaches the client. Several reviewers can get one package, with a due date and signatures.
What happens at approval
This is where most tools stop. In Cutvey, the client approves by typing a name on the link, or by signing on a personal sign-off link, and that record stays with the version it was given for.
Approval raises the final invoice. Revision rounds are counted against what the client signed, and an extra round drafts an invoice for you to send, or sends it if you choose. Once the cut is approved and the balance is paid, the delivery page opens. The approved file goes out with no second upload, and you can check it against the delivery spec first.
Getting notes back into the edit
Export notes as a PDF print sheet, a CSV, a Resolve or Avid EDL, Final Cut Pro XML, Premiere Pro markers or Avid marker text, and bring them into your timeline. There is no live panel inside an editor today.
Where Cutvey falls short
No Camera to Cloud and no panel in your editor. No per-member storage: plans have a set allowance, with no overage, so uploads stop at the cap until you add a block. If your need is review for a post team, Frame.io is the deeper tool. See Cutvey and Frame.io.
Frequently asked
How do I get clients to use it?
Send one link with one deadline, and tell them what you want notes on. Read how to get clients to approve faster.
How many rounds should I include?
Two for most jobs. How many revision rounds has the contract wording.
What about security?
Every link can be limited, and review copies can carry a watermark. Cutvey makes no promise of any security certification. Security says what it does.