Should you’re on the lookout for free digital asset administration (DAM) software program, now we have some unhealthy information: The entire free choices are both a) tremendous fundamental b) actually technical and tough to arrange or c) function as a “freemium” software program and cost for the actually-useful options.

So for those who’ve reached some extent the place you’ve outgrown your cloud storage drive and also you’re keen on DAM software program, we suggest on the lookout for a DAM supplier who gives free demos or free consultations so you possibly can:

• Sit down pre-purchase and decide whether or not or not you’re actually a superb match for DAM software program
• See precisely how a DAM system can profit your groups (and talk about choices to customise the DAM to help your whole groups’ workflows)
• Study pricing choices that work together with your finances

That means, you possibly can resolve if investing in a DAM is smart to your group.

In our expertise, we’ve seen that the majority groups who’re prepared for DAM software program expertise issues looking for belongings and profiting from their digital collateral. In addition they have points guaranteeing belongings are accessible to all people who wants them, monitoring exterior asset sharing, conserving all people who’s utilizing firm belongings on-brand, and extra. These issues can eat up time — hindering group productiveness — and make it tough to regulate asset utilization and preserve model consistency.

So regardless that transitioning to high-quality DAM software program prices cash, the funding pays off in the long term with saved time, improved group effectivity, and smoother operations. All in all, it’s considerably more cost effective for groups to spend money on DAM software program than proceed with fundamental storage methods.

On this submit, we’ll discuss the most effective digital asset administration options with free demos or consultations — beginning with our very DAM platform, Brandfolder — so you possibly can evaluate the entire high-quality DAM choices obtainable (and keep away from losing your time on the janky “free” choices).

The very first thing you need to know when procuring digital asset administration instruments: DAMs are usually not “one-size-fits-all” software program options. If you’d like a DAM to actually help you and your groups, it’s good to personalize your DAM — by mapping out the way you need to arrange belongings, selecting the options you need, and organising the correct integrations — so it does precisely what you want it to do. In any other case, you’re in all probability not going to get a lot use out of your DAM.

However you don’t get that sort of customization with free DAMs. As we talked about above, free DAMs are fairly fundamental — they’re sometimes no extra superior than cloud storage drives like Google Drive or Dropbox. You get some free storage and some sharing choices, however that’s about it.

The businesses who do provide free, “entry-level” variations of their DAM options (and even free trials), like Nuxeo, ResourceSpace, or Bynder, additionally provide extra strong, paid variations for customers who must improve. Should you’ve discovered that cloud storage instruments don’t work to your groups, you’re going to finish up upgrading to a paid plan with these suppliers. So that you’re probably not getting a “free” DAM, in spite of everything, and also you waste time with the free variations as a substitute of simply getting your self arrange in an applicable answer from the beginning. Plus, lots of the manufacturers who provide free trials simply use that as a strategy to get you onboarded and upsell you on options.

All in all, free trials for DAM software program are pointless. They’re sometimes solely a month-long, or shorter, and don’t provide you with ample time to get a really feel for the software program. In reality, many groups spend their total trial interval simply getting arrange, in order that they waste your complete trial transferring belongings over and including customers and don’t get an opportunity to really see the DAM in motion. This places them able to both decide to the DAM since they’re now arrange in it or abandon the DAM and settle for the misplaced time and power. A “free trial” isn’t actually a profit, and we propose avoiding free trials and opting free of charge demos or consultations as a substitute.

On the flip facet of all of this: Some free DAMs — open supply digital asset administration software program — are constructed to be modified and personalised, like Pimcore or Islandora. They’ve a number of fundamental options, however the set-up and transition course of contains manually constructing out the software program to fit your group’s particular wants.

Consequently, getting began in these DAMs is de facto time-consuming and difficult, and it additionally requires a substantive IT background. To not point out, for those who ever need to tweak your DAM after set-up, it’s in your group to make the modifications. Until you’ve got the time and assets to spend managing these instruments, you need to select different (extra refined, paid) choices since they’re extra sensible to your groups.

Brandfolder: A Customizable DAM Resolution for Groups of All Sizes

Brandfolder is without doubt one of the hottest DAM softwares obtainable, based on evaluation websites like G2 and Capterra, due to how simple to make use of and customizable it’s. We’ve got a 98% buyer retention charge as a result of we construction our digital asset administration platform, its options, and our group’s onboarding processes in order that we will actually tailor each shopper’s Brandfolder account to suit their particular wants.

Earlier than switching to Brandfolder, our group will meet with you to debate what you’re on the lookout for in a DAM and sport plan precisely how we’ll personalize our platform (by way of add-ons, integrations, API connections, asset group, and so forth.) so Brandfolder can finest help your groups.

Then, as soon as it comes time to get moved over to Brandfolder, the method is easy and simple. Our group is out there to help with questions or changes thereafter so that you’re not left by yourself to keep up your DAM system.

Brandfolder’s versatility permits us to swimsuit a wide range of groups and customers, and our hands-on help helps our clients succeed within the platform. Plus, all of Brandfolder’s options are designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, so coaching takes little to no time (and groups truly take pleasure in utilizing our DAM).

Let’s evaluation a few of the methods Brandfolder and its options enhance digital asset administration. Or you may get began with a free session and demo of Brandfolder right here.

#1. It Accepts All File Sorts & Organizes Model Belongings in One Single Spot

For starters, Brandfolder can retailer your whole model belongings as a result of it accepts all file sorts and file codecs, together with photos, spreadsheets, PDFs, movies, audio information, GIFs, fonts, templates, paperwork, Adobe information, and so forth. This prevents the necessity for a number of storage options and retains your whole model collateral in a single centralized location.

Then, throughout the Brandfolder platform, we allow you to map your asset library in a means that is smart to your group — and we help with laying that out pre-uploading. You possibly can arrange belongings by model (in Brandfolders), group associated subsets of brand name belongings collectively (in Collections), or create portals of belongings for particular finish customers (in Model Portals).

For instance, say you’re employed for an eCommerce firm that sells its merchandise underneath a number of completely different model names. You possibly can arrange Brandfolders for every on-line model you handle. Then, you possibly can create Collections to neatly arrange product photos and documentation, model imagery, gross sales decks, and advertising and marketing content material like social media belongings inside your Brandfolders.

It’s also possible to put collectively Model Portals for every of the retailers or exterior companions you’re employed with, or for various departments inside your group (i.e., inventive groups, digital entrepreneurs). However we’ve additionally seen corporations, particularly giant international manufacturers, create Model Portals for every of their regional groups so all people of their group is accessing probably the most related belongings to their roles and places.

#2. It Retains Your Asset Library Up-to-Date & Clear (Even As Your Library Grows)

Brandfolder goes past common cloud storage drives by conserving your library present, so:

• You don’t have duplicate belongings or outdated information cluttering your library and inflicting confusion
• Everyone who’s accessing your belongings is all the time discovering and utilizing the correct variations, and also you don’t expertise hiccups with model management
• Your library stays organized irrespective of how usually belongings are added, up to date, expired, and so forth.

It does this with the assistance of duplicate asset detection, asset expirations, asset evaluations and approvals, and real-time asset updates.

Duplicate Asset Detection

Brandfolder analyzes belongings upon add, evaluating the content material of the asset to the collateral that already lives in Brandfolder, to detect duplicate information. When dupes are detected, Brandfolder prompts the person to delete the file or merge it with the present asset in Brandfolder.

As a bonus, this expertise additionally routinely provides metadata and tags to belongings whereas analyzing content material throughout add. This accelerates ingestion, aids in metadata administration, and improves the search/discovery of belongings.

Expirations

You possibly can set expiration dates for belongings in Brandfolder so groups know when to cease utilizing sure collateral. While you give an asset an expiration date, it’ll routinely expire in Brandfolder on the designated day, stopping customers from downloading or utilizing the asset. The asset will nonetheless dwell in Brandfolder, nevertheless it’ll have a banner throughout it to inform different customers of its standing.

Asset Critiques & Approvals

Management which belongings are added to your library and monitor when belongings are up to date by placing evaluation and approval processes in place for brand new and up to date belongings. This ensures that each one belongings in your library have been regarded over and given the inexperienced gentle to be used.

Brandfolder additionally information an in depth model historical past for each asset so you possibly can observe how belongings are up to date (additionally who up to date them and when) as time passes.

Observe: It’s also possible to flip off evaluations and approvals for those who don’t need to evaluation each single asset that’s added to your library. You possibly can modify these settings based mostly in your preferences and workflows.

Actual-Time Asset Updates

Brandfolder routinely refreshes itself if you modify your asset library, so that you’re all the time viewing probably the most present variations of your digital media belongings. And if you use Brandfolder to publish belongings on-line — extra on that under — the entire updates carried out on the Brandfolder stage are routinely mirrored throughout the online, making model administration duties a bit extra… manageable.

Sustaining an up to date and arranged asset library additionally:

• Improves model consistency by conserving all people on the identical web page
• Allows groups to work extra independently and productively as a result of they’re not caught ready round for asset requests or losing time weeding by means of outdated belongings

We’ll speak extra about these advantages within the subsequent sections…

#3. It Helps You Share Belongings With Everyone Who Must Use Them

However first, let’s discuss how you should utilize Brandfolder to make your belongings accessible to your whole groups, companions, collaborators, stakeholders, and so forth., who want them.

You possibly can share belongings with different group members, and management how they have interaction together with your belongings and asset library, with person permissions. You possibly can add customers to entire Brandfolders, Collections, Portals; then, they’ll view the belongings inside and any new belongings which can be added. It’s also possible to get extra granular with sharing by including customers to single belongings or teams of chosen belongings. You possibly can be taught extra about person permissions and the way they work right here.

To share digital belongings with folks outdoors your quick group (or different non-Brandfolder customers), you possibly can ship them a customized share hyperlink. With customized share hyperlinks, you possibly can:

• Identify your share hyperlink
• Set share hyperlinks to run out
• Require finish customers to supply an e mail tackle to view/obtain belongings
• Add or take away belongings
• Watermark belongings
• Limit asset downloading

While you share belongings by way of a customized share hyperlink, you possibly can monitor all exterior asset sharing from Brandfolder; particularly, which belongings are being shared and with whom. It’s also possible to arrange Brandfolder to inform you when customers view or obtain your shared belongings.

We offer free limitless visitor seats, too, so you are able to do as a lot asset sharing as you want with out worrying about additional charges. That is glorious for those who’re on the lookout for enterprise digital asset administration software program and need a system that helps a number of visitor customers.

#4. It Provides You Higher Management Over How Others Use Your Belongings

You possibly can management how others have interaction together with your asset library and make the most of your belongings when sharing digital content material, sure, however you may as well present extra particular directions for asset utilization with our Brandguide function.

Brandguide allows you to create detailed model pointers (therefore the title) in Brandfolder, and share them with all people you share your belongings with; this manner, your group’s guidelines for asset utilization are all the time accessible and there’s by no means any confusion round the way to publish, print, distribute, (or in any other case use) belongings. If all people who makes use of your model collateral follows your model pointers appropriately, you possibly can create a cohesive model expertise and preserve consistency amongst buyer touchpoints.

Brandfolder additionally gives knowledge and analytics for every asset so you possibly can observe:

• The place it’s printed on-line
• How different customers are partaking with it
• What number of occasions it’s considered, shared, or downloaded
• And extra

These stories allow you to rapidly check-in and ensure your whole branded content material is printed appropriately, and efficiency metrics allow you to gauge which belongings resonate together with your audience (and which of them don’t) so you possibly can refine your advertising and marketing methods and replace your media information. Not solely do DAMs make it simpler to make use of your belongings, however additionally they provide the instruments to make use of your belongings extra strategically.

#5 It Lets Groups Work Independently & Productively

That stated, one of many greatest advantages of high-quality digital asset administration software program is healthier effectivity. Brandfolder has a robust search performance to avoid wasting you time looking for belongings, allows you to discover the information you want and instantly get to work utilizing them, and integrates with the opposite instruments you want in your workflow so you possibly can push belongings forwards and backwards for no matter tasks you want.

Since your customers are capable of entry model belongings on their very own and don’t have to attend round for inventive groups to ship or approve belongings, they’re capable of get their work carried out sooner, and with out roping in others.

Among the instruments Brandfolder integrates with embrace:

• Content material administration methods like WordPress
• Inventive purposes like Adobe Photoshop and InDesign
• Venture administration software program like SmartSheet and Trello
• Advertising and marketing communications software program like Hootsuite and Hubspot
• Workspace collaboration instruments like GSuite, Slack, and Microsoft 365

Brandfolder can also be constructed with a templating function to encourage content material creation, so non-designers could make recent collateral for their very own tasks, and artistic groups aren’t tasked with supporting content material creation for each single individual and challenge in your organization. (And as a substitute, can deal with precise design duties.)

With our templating function, designers can push branded templates from InDesign and management precisely how finish customers can customise them in Brandfolder. Then, different group members can discover your model’s pre-approved templates, personalize them on the fly, and obtain them for no matter they want — with out having to submit the template for evaluation.

*Brandfolder can also be constructed with an open-source API so you possibly can join it with any of the instruments you employ every day to help your whole groups. Our group will show you how to arrange APIs, too, so customization is easy. *

#6. It Additionally Has Collaborative Instruments to Streamline Crew Initiatives

Though Brandfolder has various options to assist customers be extra impartial, there are many situations when groups must work collectively on digital tasks. So we additionally designed Brandfolder with a handful of collaborative instruments to make teamwork less complicated.

Groups can collaborate on asset updates by clicking into the asset’s Workflow tab. In there, customers can remark forwards and backwards with one another straight on the asset, push the asset out to its native enhancing app for adjustments, after which ship it again to Brandfolder when it’s prepared for evaluation.

Brandfolder shops all feedback within the remark historical past and retains a report of asset updates within the model historical past tab. This makes it so all adjustments are carried out and saved in Brandfolder, and your asset library is all the time present and correct.

Past asset updates, groups can leverage our Workspace device to collaborate on different tasks (i.e., finishing web site updates, constructing touchdown pages, creating product brochures). Workspace is rather a lot like challenge administration software program in the truth that it allows you to talk with different group members on tasks, assign duties, and check-in for standing updates.

With Workspaces, you possibly can keep away from bottlenecks and hold all people transferring effectively.

#7. It Helps You Develop & Handle Your Digital Presence to Join With Your Goal Viewers

It’s not unusual for groups to have so many belongings that some slip underneath the radar and by no means see the sunshine of day, however Brandfolder has various options that can assist you truly use your model belongings.

Brandfolder helps you take advantage of your digital content material, and your designer’s time, by supplying you with higher visibility into the kind of collateral you’ve got obtainable to you. Plus, asset analytics, as we talked about above, show you how to perceive how others are utilizing and interesting together with your content material so you possibly can: 1) Get extra strategic together with your advertising and marketing efforts, 2) Solidify your model presence, and three) Develop your buyer base.

In Brandfolder, you may as well:

• Push belongings out to different instruments, like WordPress or Hootsuite, to make use of them in weblog articles or social media posts
• Publish belongings in your web site, e mail advertising and marketing campaigns, or different locations throughout the online by way of CDN hyperlink
• Ship belongings on to a printer with built-in web-to-print performance

Brandfolder’s options allow you to management your complete content material lifecycle, from creation — and publishing, enhancing, and updating — to expiration.

#8 It Additionally Has Some Free Options for Non-Brandfolder Customers

Though Brandfolder just isn’t a free DAM, and we don’t provide a free model or free trial, now we have made a few of Brandfolder’s options obtainable free of charge by way of our Workbench Suite.

In Workbench, you’ve got entry to Brandfolder’s:

• File converter device
• Textual content extractor device
• Picture resizing device
• Coloration palette generator
• Extract picture metadata device
• AI auto-tagging device

Non-Brandfolder customers can use Workbench as much as 5 occasions per day free of charge, so it really works nicely for those who collaborate with exterior stakeholders they usually need to make a slight tweak from time to time (with out relying in your group for each edit).

Brandfolder is only one highly-rated digital asset administration software program obtainable; when researching the finest DAM software program, you’ll additionally see names like Nuxeo, Bynder, Canto, and Widen in lots of the purchaser guides.

On this part, we’ll evaluation these different digital asset administration software program, evaluating their options and who they’re designed for, so you possibly can be taught extra in regards to the common DAM options in the marketplace.

Nuxeo

The primary possibility on our listing, Nuxeo, is an enterprise digital asset administration software program for giant groups who want a “complicated” answer (based on their web site). Nuxeo is technically an open-source content material administration system, however their platform additionally gives doc administration, digital asset administration, and claims administration methods, so it’s fairly strong — and lots of reviewers like Nuxeo for its number of options.

We solely suggest Nuxeo for IT groups, or manufacturers which have sturdy IT help, as a result of the set up and configuration processes are fairly technical and difficult: One reviewer even stated their builders had hassle navigating the set-up. In case you have the assets to handle this hurdle, then it shouldn’t trigger any issues, however Nuxeo undoubtedly isn’t a superb answer for non-tech customers.

We must always point out, though Nuxeo will get pretty good buyer evaluations, many customers say the platform will be tough to be taught and perceive, and it’s laborious to get help from Nuxeo’s group. So once more, for those who’re not overly technical, or for those who assume you’ll want hands-on help out of your DAM supplier, Nuxeo in all probability isn’t your finest match. However for those who’re a big firm with the know-how and in-house developer assets to undertake and handle Nuxeo, it might be a positive possibility.

Nuxeo gives a 30-day free trial on their web site for customers to get began.

Widen Collective

Widen Collective is one other strong enterprise digital asset administration platform. It’s completely different from different DAMs in the marketplace as a result of it’s designed to function as a DAM+PIM — digital asset administration plus product info administration — hybrid answer. It’s a superb possibility for eCommerce manufacturers, retailers, and different distributors who’ve each product photos and product documentation to retailer, arrange, and distribute. For instance, a few of Widen’s clients embrace Crayola, Dyson, and Harmon.

Whereas Widen works nicely for giant corporations that carry a whole bunch of merchandise, it may be somewhat bit an excessive amount of (and too costly) for small and mid-size corporations that don’t want a whole product info administration system constructed into their DAM. Plus, many DAMs let groups create and observe customized fields with belongings, so groups who simply need to retailer fundamental product info with their product imagery can get away with utilizing common digital asset administration software program (and get monetary savings by foregoing the superior product info administration options).

Widen will get combined suggestions from clients. Numerous reviewers like Widen as a result of it has dozens of options, provides customers a number of superior asset administration capabilities, and gives useful buyer help. Nonetheless, many reviewers say that the platform is complicated, that educating others to make use of the software program will be tough, and that Widen’s coaching movies aren’t overly useful with getting groups totally transitioned.

Widen is often a match for giant groups who’re out there for each digital asset administration and product info administration software program and have the finances to afford Widen’s refined software program answer.

Widen gives free demos on their web site. Or you possibly can be taught extra about Widen by studying our information on the finest Widen options.

Bynder

The following possibility on our listing, Bynder, works nicely for each enterprise and mid-size companies as a result of it has versatile packages and pricing choices to swimsuit groups of various sizes. Customers can select their space for storing, choose the precise options and add-ons they need, and leverage Bynder’s integrations and open-source API for additional customization. Bynder is a flexible answer with dozens (upon dozens) of options, so it will probably work for all sorts of groups.

Total, when taking a look at buyer suggestions, Bynder will get good evaluations. Customers like Bynder’s fashionable, clear interface and say that the platform is user-friendly. Bynder customers additionally recognize that Bynder gives cell apps for each iOS and Android. Nonetheless, not each reviewer thought Bynder was simple to make use of, and we seen a number of reviewers point out that Bynder’s customer support is missing, saying that their brokers are gradual to reply when you’ve got a query or need assistance.

Bynder can work for a wide range of groups as a result of it’s extremely customizable, nonetheless, it’s a bit on the costly facet, and Bynder fees additional for visitor customers, so it might be extra expensive for small companies or groups who’re engaged on a restricted finances. Bynder is marketed in the direction of groups which have a much bigger finances for DAM software program and don’t want many visitor seats.

Bynder gives a 30-day free trial for customers.

Canto

The final possibility on our listing, Canto software program, is an efficient digital asset administration system for nonprofits and small companies as a result of it’s not tremendous superior or costly — it’s sometimes called a superb “entry-level” DAM. Canto can also be common amongst groups who want an on-premise DAM answer as a result of they’re one of many solely DAM manufacturers that provide cloud-based, self-hosted, and hybrid variations of their software program.

Like all high-quality DAM, Canto makes it simple to arrange belongings and has a sophisticated search function to search out the information you want. However their platform doesn’t go too far past asset group, search, and sharing. As a “starter DAM,” Canto is fairly easy and straightforward to make use of. The draw back of that’s many groups outgrow it and need to transition to a extra superior DAM answer.

Canto has made adjustments to its platform to enchantment to bigger groups and enterprise companies; nonetheless, many reviewers dislike the truth that Canto fees for each visitor person, so regardless of its current updates, it nonetheless isn’t the best choice for large companies or companies that do a number of asset sharing.

Canto gives a free trial for brand new customers proper on their web site (however do not forget that a free trial often isn’t sufficient time so as to add your belongings and take a look at the software program earlier than the trial expires).

Able to Put money into Digital Asset Administration Software program?

Though you might really feel tempted to attempt to reduce corners and get monetary savings with free digital asset administration software program, it’s typically not well worth the time or power: You possibly can reap the identical advantages of free DAMs through the use of cloud storage instruments like Dropbox or Field, however with half the effort.

When you’re able to make the transfer to digital asset administration software program, we suggest selecting a high-quality DAM model and making the funding in a DAM that’s particularly constructed to your groups. This allows you to get probably the most out of your DAM (and funding) and units you up for fulfillment on the platform.

Brandfolder is an ideal answer for groups switching from cloud storage drives or investing in DAM software program for the primary time as a result of our total onboarding course of is totally personalised to you. We meet with you earlier than you join our DAM that can assist you resolve if we’re a superb match to your wants. If we expect Brandfolder is the correct answer to your use case, we stroll you thru the transition and assist your groups get converted to the brand new system.