People and access

Reviewer, approver, and commenter: what is the difference?

Understand the difference between workspace access and responsibility within a stage.

Reviewed on July 15, 2026

Before you start

  • None. Read this before inviting someone.

Step by step

  1. 1The workspace role controls what someone can view and create.
  2. 2Reviewer is the most restricted workspace access and only sees shared work.
  3. 3Within a stage, a commenter joins the discussion but does not submit a decision.
  4. 4Approvers can comment and submit a decision.
  5. 5Client approver and internal approver have the same decision authority; the label describes context.
  6. 6Always use the lowest access level needed.

What should happen

You choose workspace access and stage role without granting unnecessary admin permissions.

Common problems

  • Being an approver in a stage does not make someone a workspace member.
  • Being in a future stage does not unlock an internal version.
  • A pending invitation is not active workspace access.