Canto is an established digital asset management platform. Launched in 1990, it was among the first companies to help businesses digitize their asset archives. Today, it helps companies manage, organize, and deliver digital content across various channels, using many features including:
- Digital asset management
- AI-powered search functionality
- User controls and access permissions
- Integrations with creative and collaboration software
- Enterprise-level security.
Canto is a popular choice for small and mid-size companies that need a better way to organize their brand content and digital files. It’s a great choice for companies with limited budgets that just need an easy way to organize and present assets for a wide range of users — but don't need lots of more sophisticated features.
But Canto isn’t the only platform available for managing digital files. Let’s take a closer look at Canto, and some of the other top-rated DAM products you should consider as an alternative.
How Canto falls short as a DAM solution
Many companies are happy with Canto as their DAM, as you’ll see from their largely positive G2 rating and reviews. However, there are several common themes that users mention as disadvantages or product shortcomings in their reviews:
- Missing features: Some users feel that Canto is missing important features they’d expect from their DAM solution. One user shared, “There are some features that are missing and would be extremely helpful (such as Bulk Album or Folder creation).” Another reviewer said, “Canto does not yet have a robust brand management solution - creating a robust Brand Manual/Virtual Book that can be used to communicate to all users brand rules.”
- Poor or inconsistent search functionality: Some users feel it’s difficult to find the assets they need when searching in their Canto DAM, especially for large asset libraries. One reviewer said, “The search feature is slowing down my work on a daily basis,” while another shared that “The thing I really, really dislike about Canto is the search feature.”
- Outdated user interface: Some users feel the user interface is outdated compared to other DAM solutions. One reviewer said, “The UI feels dated or unrefined when compared to competitors.” Another user shared that “the more we used it the less intuitive it felt.”
- Steep learning curve for new users: Some users feel that it’s hard to learn and start using the Canto platform. One reviewer said “The user interface requires some learning, as the functionality is not exactly intuitive.” Another user shared that “a lot of folks in my organization prefer to ask me to upload or organize assets instead of trying to learn it.”
- Additional costs for cutting-edge features: Some users report having to pay extra for new features like AI-powered search. One user shared, “The additional costs for features like SSO and AI search are a downside,” while another said “the extra AI features they offer come at a hefty cost.”
Best Canto alternatives for AI-powered DAM solutions
Whether you’re unhappy with Canto as your DAM solution, or you’re comparing digital asset management software for the first time, here are seven alternative products to consider.
1. Frontify
Frontify is an all-in-one brand platform that gives enterprise and mid-market companies a holistic brand-building environment. It combines a user-friendly DAM, centralized brand guidelines, creative templates, AI-powered Brand Assistant, and customizable brand portals. It’s used by thousands of leading global brands, including Uber, Vodafone, and Lufthansa.
Top features
Frontify’s features help companies manage and organize their digital media files and brand assets. Its top features include:
- Unified brand management hub
- Centralized digital asset management
- Live and interactive cloud-based brand guidelines
- Editable, scalable print and digital templates with locked formatting
- AI-driven insights for efficient asset retrieval and usage analytics
- AI-powered search functionality and asset management
- Customizable access controls
- Multiple brand portals
- Enterprise-grade security
- Seamless integrations with dozens of other apps and tools, including Adobe Creative Suite and CMS solutions
Pros & cons
Like Canto, Frontify has lots of positive reviews on G2. Customers mention several features that they love:
- Modern, user-friendly interface (rated #1 for ease of use by Enterprise customers on G2)
- AI-powered search and asset management
- High quality customer service including support and training
- Centralized storage and organization for brand materials.
“I’ve used many asset management systems over the years, and Frontify’s platform is far and away the best tool I’ve worked with.” - Creative Director, Caribou Coffee
However, there are also a few elements that customers feel could be improved:
- Potentially steep learning curve, but the tool feels very intuitive once users are familiar with it
- The platform sometimes requires initial customization for unique use cases
- Some users don’t need the full brand platform functionality and would be better suited to a more basic digital asset management system.
Benefits for enterprise & global brands
Enterprise and global businesses may find Frontify is a much better fit for their more complex brand and asset management needs than Canto, which is typically better-suited to smaller, simpler organizations.
Frontify’s comprehensive platform combines digital asset organization, creative collaboration, and brand management in one product, making it easier for enterprise or global teams to align on everything brand-related.
Frontify’s main benefits for enterprise companies include:
- Centralized asset access: All media assets and brand elements are stored in one dynamic platform, eliminating scattered files and multiple tools.
- Multi-brand or multi-department setup: Frontify supports multi-brand architecture out-the-box. Enterprise companies managing multiple, global brands can manage them all within the same Frontify portal, but control access to ensure brand consistency.
- Digital brand guidelines: Unlike static PDFs, Frontify offers live, digital brand guidelines that are easy for enterprise companies to update, share, and enforce across teams. Any changes made update in real-time, improving consistency across regions or markets.
- Scalable templates: Create customizable templates for both print and digital media to accelerate content production. Lockable elements ensure adherence to brand guidelines.
- AI-driven tools: Advanced AI-powered search functions enable quicker access to specific assets. AI-powered auto-tagging and metadata creation makes it quick and easy to upload assets, helping teams work more efficiently.
- Robust and granular access controls: Tailor access levels and user permissions for internal users and external partners. Manage access to your DAM system so you can easily share assets internally and externally.
- Platform is flexible, customizable, and extendible: Users can customize the look and structure of their brand portal so it uniquely matches their brand. The Brand SDK enables users to have extended visual and functional control over their brand guidelines.
- Compliance and security: Frontify helps global enterprises manage complex compliance needs in one central platform. Frontify offers enterprise-grade security features like single sign-on and compliance with leading data security standards like GDPR and HIPAA.
“Frontify is a proven ROI solution. Every end user can find key assets quickly and self-serve more autonomously.” - Head of Corporate Identity & Design, Nestlé
Learn more about Frontify's transformative impact on enterprise businesses. Download the report.
2. Bynder
Bynder is a leading DAM provider used by global and mid-market businesses. Like Canto, it’s an established DAM vendor and is a popular choice for companies looking to manage their digital assets more effectively.
Top features
Bynder offers a number of features including:
- Digital asset management
- Pre-built templates for digital and print assets
- Workflows to improve creative collaboration
- AI capabilities to increase search accuracy and streamline content discoverability
- Analytics around asset usage and guideline access
- Integrations with creative, collaborative, and other brand-building tools
Pros & cons
Bynder is a popular DAM solution with lots of positive reviews on G2. There are several things users like about the platform:
- Its ease of use
- The quality of customer service, including the onboarding process
- How easy and intuitive it is when organizing files
- The ease of sharing files with internal and external users
However, there are some elements that users feel are downsides of the tool:
- Some users feel Bynder is missing key features compared to other DAM tools
- Some users find the platform has a steep learning curve, which affects the adoption rate across the business
- Some users experience issues when uploading new assets
- Some users frequently experience performance and speed issues in the platform.
Benefits for enterprise & global brands
Bynder is a popular choice for global and enterprise companies, and it’s also popular with mid-size businesses. Its benefits include:
- State of the art security: Bynder complies with global security standards including GDPR, HIPAA and CCPA.
- AI-powered asset management: Bynder’s AI functionality helps companies improve efficiency and consistency by increasing search accuracy and speeding up campaign execution
- In-house support: Bynder offers “industry-leading” support for new and existing customers
- Integrations: Bynder integrates with adjacent tech ranging from CMS and ecommerce systems to design and creative tools.
3. Adobe AEM
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a combined content management system and DAM solution. It helps companies manage and deliver digital files and experiences across various channels, and is a popular choice for companies that already use a number of other tools in the Adobe ecosystem.
Top features
Adobe AEM offers a number of features to help companies manage their digital files and content experiences, including:
- Digital asset management
- Website content management
- Form builder
- Learning management system
- Integrations with Adobe Creative Cloud
- Some analytics data.
Pros & cons
Adobe AEM is a popular DAM and CMS solution with lots of positive reviews on G2. There are several things users like about the platform that frequently get mentioned in their reviews:
- Its ease of use
- The ability to customize the platform
- Its native integration with other tools in the Adobe ecosystem.
However, there are some elements that users frequently mention as downsides of the tool:
- Some users find the platform has a steep learning curve, while others feel it’s an overly-complex tool
- Some users find the integrations don’t work as well as they’d like, or are unnecessarily complicated to set up and use
- Many reviewers feel that Adobe AEM is expensive compared to other options on the market.
Benefits for enterprise & global brands
Adobe AEM is a popular choice for global and enterprise brands. It offers several benefits, including:
- Asset and content management: Adobe AEM combines a CMS and a DAM, so companies can manage and organize their digital files, then optimize and deliver digital experiences across channels
- Advanced governance and compliance: Adobe AEM provides customizable user permissions for different roles, making it easy to govern asset access and use. It connects with digital rights management tools to maintain legal compliance
- Integrations: Adobe AEM offers seamless integration with other tools in the Adobe ecosystem, which are a popular choice for many global brands.
4. Acquia DAM
Acquia DAM is an enterprise DAM solution that is part of the Acquia Digital Experience Platform (DXP). It’s also available as a standalone product. It helps enterprise businesses manage their brand assets more effectively, and streamlines file distribution across the company.
Top features
The top features of Acquia DAM include:
- Digital asset management
- AI-powered workflows
- Search functionality
- File sharing
- Integrations with communication, creative, and project management tools
- Enterprise-grade security
Pros & cons
Acquia DAM has lots of positive reviews on G2. Users frequently mention several things they like about the tool:
- Ability to easily organize brand assets
- Ability to manage user groups and permission levels
- Ease of sharing files internally and externally
- Quality of customer support
However, there are also some areas where reviewers feel the platform doesn’t live up to their expectations:
- Some users feel the integrations with other tools are limited or don’t work as well as expected
- Some reviewers think the interface is dated compared to other products
- Some customers feel the product quality has been declining in recent years
Benefits for enterprise & global brands
Acquia DAM is a popular choice for large global brands as it provides several benefits, including:
- Connectivity: The DAM seamlessly connects with other products in the Acquia DXP, such as the Drupal CMS. This makes it a popular choice for companies that already use other products in the Acquia ecosystem
- Security: Acquia DAM offers enterprise-grade security, and is built on Amazon infrastructure
- AI functionality: Acquia’s AI functionality automates some of the time-consuming or repetitive tasks associated with adding assets to a DAM.
5. Brandfolder
Brandfolder is a DAM provider that was acquired by enterprise work management platform, Smartsheet, in 2020. It’s a popular tool used by companies of all sizes, from startups to global brands.
Top features
Brandfolder’s top features include:
- Digital asset management
- Online brand guidelines
- Creative templates to accelerate and automate asset production
- Native integration with Smartsheet
- Integrations with other collaboration and creative tools
- Analytics data to help users understand asset usage
Pros & cons
Brandfolder has a good reputation on G2, and there are several things users frequently mention in their reviews as positives about the tool:
- Ability to quickly share brand assets with team members
- Ability to easily search and find brand assets
- Flexibility and customization options when organizing assets
However, reviewers also frequently mention several downsides to the platform:
- Some users think it has a steep learning curve, which can slow down company adoption
- Some reviewers feel Brandfolder is missing core features they need from a DAM platform
- Some users think it is expensive, especially as Brandfolder sometimes charges extra for new features or dedicated support
- Some users find the integrations don’t work as expected, or that it doesn’t integrate with essential tools in their tech stack.
Benefits for enterprise & global brands
Brandfolder is a popular choice for companies of all sizes, including enterprise. Some reasons it’s so popular include:
- Enterprise-level security: Brandfolder offers enterprise-grade, cloud-based security and provides multiple levels of protection for customers’ files
- Automation: Brandfolder’s AI functionality helps automate some of the time-consuming and repetitive tasks associated with content creation
- Connectivity and integration: It integrates with many other tools companies use every day.
6. Aprimo
Aprimo is a combined DAM and content operations platform. It’s used by companies of all sizes to organize and manage their brand assets and streamline content discoverability and use across the business.
Top features
Aprimo’s top features include:
- Digital asset management
- AI-powered automation
- Marketing calendars and project overviews
- Marketplace of integrations and partner apps
- AI-powered workflows and search functionality
Pros & cons
Aprimo has lots of reviews on G2, and there are some parts of the platform that isers often mention that they really like about it:
- The platform is easy to use and makes it easy to find brand assets
- How easy it is to share brand assets both internally and externally
- Its integrations with other tools
However, there are also several areas that reviewers often mention as downsides of the platform:
- Some reviewers feel the platform has a steep learning curve which can slow down setup and adoption
- Some users feel the product is missing core features they had in other DAM tools
- Some users feel the platform isn’t very intuitive and the user interface could be improved
- Some users find the AI-assisted functionality is inconsistent and often needs manual overview.
Benefits for enterprise & global brands
Aprimo has several benefits for enterprise businesses, including:
- Accelerate content velocity: Workflows help companies automate manual processes and speed up content production
- Composable architecture: Aprimo integrates with other apps, tools, and partners
- Security and governance: Aprimo provides enterprise-grade data encryption to secure brands’ files, and supports content governance with granular user permissions and controls.
7. Scaleflex
The Scaleflex Visual Experience Platform includes a DAM, brand portals, AI-powered automation, and media optimization. It helps enterprise and SMBs organize, manage, and deploy their digital content.
Top features
Some of the top features of Scaleflex DAM include:
- Compatibility with all applications and operating systems
- AI functionality to automate repetitive or time-consuming media processing tasks
- Headless API allows for custom connections and integrations
Pros & cons
Scaleflex DAM only has a small number of reviews on G2, but they are largely positive. Some things reviewers like about the platform include:
- Its ease of use
- Its integrations with other tools and workflows
- The quality of support from the Scaleflex team
However, reviewers also mention several downsides to the platform:
- Some users feel the platform has a steep learning curve and they would benefit from additional training or more thorough documentation
- Some users feel the user permissions can be restrictive
- Some customers find the platform can be buggy.
Benefits for enterprise & global brands
Scaleflex offers several benefits for enterprise businesses, including:
- Security and compliance: Complies with leading global data regulations including GDPR and CCPA, and offers top-grade security
- Custom support: Tailored support to meet the needs of large enterprise businesses
Integration and connectivity: Scaleflex connects with a wide range of tools such as CMS, ERP, or PIM using its integrations, APIs, plugins, and widgets.
Choose the best DAM for your business
Canto is a popular choice for mid-size businesses that need a DAM product, and little else. But for larger businesses with more complex or comprehensive brand and asset management needs, it may not be the best choice for your organization.
The Frontify DAM is part of our complete brand-building platform. It connects to brand guidelines, creative templates, AI-powered Brand Assistant, and your other creative and collaborative tools. Our comprehensive solution helps you build a strong, cohesive brand ecosystem.