The client portal software that replaces your 5-tool agency Franken-stack.
Stop juggling ClickUp for tasks, MarkUp.io for visual proofing, Slack for client chat, Typeform for intake, and Harvest for retainers. Stackon unites your entire agency workflow under your custom domain for a flat $49/month for 5 seats with unlimited free clients.
"3 screens ready for your visual feedback. Click to drop pins."
How Stackon Powers the 5 Stages of Client Delivery
From the moment a prospective client submits an initial project brief to final deliverable approval and retainer rollover accounting, every step is tied together in one continuous pipeline.
Structured Request Intake & Scoping Briefs
Every project starts with a structured brief intake form tailored to your service line. Define required fields (brand colors, vector logos, copy guidelines, target audience, deadline). When a client submits a brief, Stackon automatically generates a new project card on your agency Kanban board, assigns the appropriate team members, and decrements hours from the client’s retainer ledger.
- Custom form builders with mandatory file upload constraints
- Automatic Kanban project card creation with scope tags
- Real-time retainer capacity check before task confirmation
1-Click Passwordless Client Access & White-Label Domain
Clients abandon portals when they are forced to remember complex alphanumeric passwords. Stackon uses 1-click secure Magic Links: whenever an invoice is issued, a milestone reaches review, or a deliverable requires sign-off, the client receives an email with a secure token. One tap opens their portal authenticated on desktop or mobile at your custom domain (portal.youragency.com).
- Custom CNAME mapping with automated 256-bit SSL provisioning
- Zero-password magic links for instant client login
- Complete removal of platform badges across all tiers
Native Point-and-Click Visual Canvas Proofing
Stop paying $15/seat for MarkUp.io or Frame.io. Stackon embeds a high-resolution canvas engine directly inside deliverable review rooms. Clients click anywhere on a graphic or multi-page PDF to drop numbered pin #1, comment in threaded discussions, and view revisions side-by-side with an interactive comparison slider. A single click signs off with an immutable audit trail.
- Point-and-click coordinate pins on PNG, JPG, and multi-page PDFs
- Side-by-side version comparison slider (v1 vs v2 diffing)
- Legal sign-off audit trail with timestamp, IP, and signer ID
Automated Retainer Ledger & Rollover Hours Engine
Track recurring client agreements with precision. Stackon calculates monthly allocated hours, hours logged against active tasks, remaining capacity, and automated rollover balances. If a client submits a request that exceeds their credit balance on the 26th of the month, Stackon automatically flags an out-of-scope overage approval before your designers touch the canvas.
- Real-time retainer capacity meter and monthly burn rates
- Configurable rollover rules with credit expiration caps
- Automated client pre-approval gates for out-of-scope overages
Integrated Milestone Invoicing & Stripe Checkout
Unify your cash flow with project execution. Publish self-serve service catalogs where prospective clients purchase upfront packages, set up automated recurring monthly retainers, or bill milestone deposit invoices tied to deliverable sign-offs. Payments process directly through your Stripe account with 0% platform cut.
- Direct Stripe Connect integration with 0% platform transaction fees
- Milestone-gated deposits: funds released upon formal client approval
- Productized service catalog menu with instant onboarding triggers
Calculate What You Save by Consolidating into Stackon
Most agencies duct-tape 4 to 5 single-purpose SaaS tools together. Enter your agency team headcount and check off your current subscriptions to see your net cash savings.
Beyond software savings, eliminating context-switching between 5 tools saves ~4.5 unbilled team hours per teammate every week.
Stackon vs The 3 Common Client Management Alternatives
Compare Stackon directly against generic internal project management tools, expensive legacy portals, and fragile DIY Notion workspaces.
| Operational Feature | Stackon (Unified) | Generic PM (ClickUp/Asana) | Legacy Portals (Copilot) | Notion DIY Stacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost (5-Seat Agency Team) | $49 / mo flat (Studio Plan) | $60 / mo (ClickUp) + $75 / mo (MarkUp.io) = $135/mo | $195 to $445 / mo (Copilot / ManyRequests) | $50 / mo + $40 / mo Super/Softr + $35 Typeform = $125/mo |
| Client Accounts & Client Guests | Unlimited (100% Free on all plans) | Limited guests (Paid guest tiers after 5-10) | Unlimited clients | Paid seat penalties on guest editors |
| Visual Canvas Proofing (Pins on PDFs & Images) | Native built-in point-and-click pins | None (Requires separate MarkUp.io subscription) | None (Third-party iframe embeds only) | None (Download file only) |
| Retainer Ledger with Rollover Hours | Automated ledger, burn alerts & rollover caps | Manual time entries (No rollover accounting) | Basic Stripe recurring charge (No hour ledger) | Complex, fragile Notion database formulas |
| Client Access & Authentication | 1-Click Zero-Password Magic Links | Mandatory password registration | Magic link or password | Third-party membership login (Softr/Memberstack) |
| White-Label Custom Domain (portal.agency.com) | Included on all plans ($19/mo+) with SSL | Locked behind Enterprise contracts | Locked behind $89-$99/mo tiers | Requires custom domain wrapper ($30-$50/mo) |
| Two-Sided Visibility Isolation | Strict separation: internal cards & notes hidden | High risk of accidental data/rate leaks to clients | Moderate isolation | Very high risk: one wrong permission reveals all pages |
Built to Solve What Generic SaaS Tools Ignore
Real agencies deal with scope creep, lost assets, and forgotten passwords daily. Here is how Stackon systematically closes those operational leaks.
The "Where is That File?" Email 6 Months Later
Six months after an engagement wraps, the client’s marketing coordinator emails asking: "Where was our final high-res vector logo again?" Instead of digging through Google Drive folders or archived Slack channels, the client visits their permanent Deliverables Vault with complete version history and signed approvals.
The Friday Evening Retainer Scope Creep
A client submits an urgent request on Friday afternoon when only 1 hour remains on their monthly retainer. Rather than letting your team burn 4 unbilled hours, Stackon’s Retainer Gate automatically alerts the client and requires an approved overage deposit before task assignment.
Accidental Internal Rate Leaks in Generic PM
In ClickUp or Monday, one mistaken permission toggle on a folder can expose contractor hourly rates, internal margin calculations, or unpolished working drafts to your client. Stackon enforces architectural isolation: internal cards and notes cannot render on client endpoints.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stackon
Everything you need to know about setting up and running your agency client portal.
What makes Stackon different from generic project management tools like ClickUp or Asana?
Generic project management tools were built for internal software engineering or corporate task management. When you invite clients into ClickUp or Asana, they get overwhelmed by nested menus, complex ticket states, and confusing permission models that risk leaking internal team rates and private comments. Stackon provides a strict two-sided architecture: your team operates a full Kanban project cockpit with private task notes, while clients enter a polished, branded review room where they can only see approved project milestones, submit structured briefs, review deliverables with point-and-click pin annotations, and pay invoices.
Do my clients have to pay or create separate accounts to use the portal?
No. Unlimited client accounts and client guest reviewers are 100% free on all Stackon plans. Your agency only pays for internal teammates who manage projects. Clients log in securely through 1-click passwordless magic links sent directly to their email, eliminating forgotten password tickets and driving 100% portal adoption.
Can I connect my own custom domain like portal.myagency.com?
Yes. Every plan - starting at the $19/month Solo tier - includes custom CNAME domain mapping (such as portal.youragency.com) with automatic 256-bit SSL certificate provisioning. You can customize brand logos, favicons, primary brand accent colors, and remove all platform branding for a complete white-label experience.
How does Stackon handle creative feedback and visual deliverable proofing?
Stackon includes a native point-and-click visual canvas proofing engine for PNG, JPG, and multi-page PDF documents. Clients click anywhere on the deliverable canvas to drop numbered pins with coordinate tags and contextual feedback. Designers can view comments directly on the asset, reply to threads, and upload revised versions (v2, v3). Clients can compare versions using a side-by-side diff slider and click a formal "Approve Deliverable" button that records a legal audit trail with timestamp, user identity, and IP address.
How does Stackon track agency retainers and prevent unbilled scope creep?
Stackon features an automated Retainer Ledger Engine. You can define monthly retainer plans (for example, 20 hours/month at $125/hour) with custom rollover rules (such as allowing up to 5 unused hours to roll over for 30 days). When clients submit work requests through the portal, Stackon calculates the required effort against their remaining monthly balance. If a request exceeds their balance, Stackon automatically flags the overage and prompts the client to approve an additional deposit invoice before work starts.
Does Stackon take a percentage cut of our client payments?
No. Stackon charges 0% transaction fees. We connect directly to your Stripe or Dodo Payments merchant account via Stripe Connect. Client subscription fees, milestone deposits, and overage invoices deposit 100% directly into your agency bank account, minus standard credit card network processing fees.
Give your agency the client portal it deserves.
Replace your disconnected software stack with one unified, design-first workspace. Setup takes less than 2 minutes without entering a credit card.