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Air.inc vs Canto: Which Digital Asset Management is Better in 2025?

Which Digital Asset Management is right for you — Air.inc or Canto? In this Air.inc vs Canto comparison we’ll go through their pricing, features and alternatives so you can make the right decision.

Product Visual of Air.inc (air.inc)

Air.inc

Air is a modern DAM platform that serves as a visual workspace for creative teams. It combines digital asset management with collaboration features to help teams collect, organize, review, and share visual content effortlessly. Designed to “automate Creative Ops,” Air is geared toward fast-moving creative and marketing teams – it offers an intuitive interface (think of a Pinterest-like board meets folder system) with powerful search and version control, enabling teams to eliminate the chaos of cloud drive folders and streamline their creative workflow.

Best Air.inc Alternative
Product Visual of Canto (canto.com)

Canto

Canto is a long-standing leader in digital asset management, offering an AI-powered platform for brands to centralize, organize, and share their digital assets seamlessly. It’s particularly popular among mid-sized companies for its balance of powerful features and an intuitive interface. Canto empowers marketing teams to find files instantly, streamline collaboration, and automate content distribution, ensuring brand consistency and faster campaign execution.

Best Canto Alternative

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Features

Essentials

Email Notifications
Watermarking
Feature Requests

Sharing & Security

Private Galleries
Custom Domain
Watermarking
Track Activity
Password Protection
Website Embed
Collaborators
Team Members

Proofing & Workflow

Track Activity
Version Control
Favorites
Comments
Annotations
Approval Status
Approval Limits
Color Labels
Custom Labels
Review Filter

Pricing Comparison

Air.inc Pricing

Pricing details and plans of Air.inc (air.inc)

Air offers a more transparent pricing model than many DAMs, with self-serve plans and a free tier. Air has a Free plan which includes 5 GB storage, up to 50 boards, and 2 team members. Plus and Pro plans are offered on a per-user, per-month basis (for example, previously priced at around $10/user for Plus and $25/user for Pro, although pricing was restructured in 2024). These paid plans increase storage, board limits, and add advanced features (like unlimited version history, advanced permissions, SSO, etc.). You can find the plans and prices on their website and even purchase online for teams up to a certain size. They also offer an Enterprise plan for larger organizations, which involves custom pricing (with higher storage, dedicated support, and security features). Notably, Air has promoted no hidden fees – unlike some traditional DAMs, which typically charge extra for onboarding or support with standard plans. One caveat: Air has adjusted pricing as it’s grown, so existing customers have seen increases (community chatter mentions a jump in early 2024). Still, compared to big enterprise DAMs, Air’s entry cost is lower, and you can start free and upgrade as needed, which is part of its appeal to growing teams.

Canto Pricing

Pricing details and plans of Canto (canto.com)

Canto offers a few package tiers but does not list prices publicly – it typically provides a tailored quote based on user needs and storage requirements. Historically, Canto’s pricing has been mid-range in the DAM market, often appealing to mid-sized businesses as a more accessible option than some competitors that cater exclusively to enterprises. They typically offer packages such as Professional and Enterprise, which differ in terms of the number of user seats, advanced features, and support levels.

Generally, you can expect Canto pricing to start around several thousand dollars per year for a smaller implementation. Some third-party data suggests starting prices in the low five figures annually. Canto does not offer a free plan, but they do provide trials upon request. They also offer a monthly subscription option in some cases, but most businesses opt for annual licenses for better rates.

One highlight is that Canto’s pricing is typically all-inclusive in terms of features, rather than numerous add-ons. However, for very advanced needs, such as additional PIM functionality, you need to pay extra. When it comes to users, Canto often allows unlimited “consumer” users and charges for “power” users (those uploading and managing), which can make it cost-effective for wide distribution.

Digital Asset Management Alternatives

Did you consider other alternatives to Air.inc and Canto? Check out these Top 3 Digital Asset Management alternatives.

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