The Best DAM Canto Alternatives

Are you exploring options for a digital asset management system? Deciding on the right DAM solution can be overwhelming with the growing market offering numerous options.

DAM systems equipped with auto tagging, machine learning, and video and audio intelligence can enable organizations to gain real competitive advantage.

But which one is right for your business? Let’s explore some of the best DAM solutions on the market, and compare Canto alternatives.

We’ll cover:

• MediaValet vs Canto
• Canto’s Pros and Cons
• The Top Canto Alternatives
• How to Choose the Right DAM

MediaValet vs. Canto

G2, the largest and most trusted third-party software and professional services review site, ranks MediaValet as a “Market Leader” in the DAM space, driven by high customer satisfaction ratings and a significant market presence. “Market Leader” represents the top level in G2’s ranking system, indicating products that are highly rated by users and have substantial market presence.

Who is MediaValet?

Voted as a leader in the Enterprise Digital Asset Management 2025 space by G2 Crowd, MediaValet makes assets instantly more searchable, discoverable and sharable.

With a roster of customers across numerous industries like higher education, nonprofit, manufacturing and countless other industries, MediaValet stands at the forefront of the enterprise, cloud-native, software-as-a-service digital asset management and creative operations industries.

Built exclusively on Microsoft Azure and available across 61 Microsoft data center regions in 140 countries around the world, MediaValet delivers unparalleled enterprise-class security, reliability, redundancy, compliance, and scalability; while offering the largest global footprint of any cloud DAM solution.

MediaValet is the #1 DAM on the market for security. SecurityScorecard rates MediaValet 98/100.

Based on the 2025 DAM Trends Report, MediaValet customers report incredible achievements with their DAM:

• 82% achieve ROI in just 1 year
• save an average of 13.5 hours per week on asset-related tasks
• 89% are highly satisfied with their DAM

The MediaValet Difference: Lightening Fast ROI

Based on G2 data, MediaValet customers achieve ROI 5 months faster than Canto users.

These time savings contribute to significant business benefits, including enhanced brand consistency, increased productivity, and improved team collaboration, with 76% of our customers reporting cost savings in asset creation.

Check out MediaValet in action with our free, self-guided DAM tour!

How does MediaValet compare to Canto?

MediaValet vs. Canto: Support

MediaValet provides dedicated onboarding and customer success managers for each client, ensuring a seamless transition and ongoing support. Our 24/7 support system is a major benefit for global teams that need constant access.

According the to 2025 DAM Trends Report, MediaValet customers are highly satisfied with the DAM. In fact, we score a 4.3 out of 5 stars!

“As an administrator I enjoy the fact that customer support is excellent!” MidMarket Director of Marketing and Sales, G2

MediaValet vs. Canto: Brand Guidelines

A DAM system is critical in maintaining brand guidelines across an organization, aligning all marketing and communication efforts with the brand’s core values. G2 recognizes MediaValet as the leading DAM for managing enterprise-level brand guidelines.

MediaValet helps you to both connect and protect your brand with Branded Portals, CDN Linking, and Lightboxes as well as clear and comprehensive asset rights labels. It enables organizations to ensure brand consistency and compliancy.

“We have found great value in the branded portal functionality!” Mid Market user, G2

MediaValet vs. Canto: Product Direction

At MediaValet, the primary goal is to ensure each new feature or update addresses customer challenges. Our proactive approach to product development, which incorporates customer feedback into our roadmap, is reflected in our latest innovation, MediaValet Templating powered by Marq.

Customers are invited to frequent product update webinars and have access to the product roadmap for full transparency on what’s coming.

“It’s great to have a DAM that is constantly evolving into a better platform and to know the software is not intended to be a one size fits all for every company.” User in higher education, G2

MediaValet vs. Canto: Video

Did you know that 93% of marketers are embracing video content to accomplish higher engagement and ROI. Video content needs a secure, functional repository. And based on the DAM Trends Report, more than half of MediaValet customers are storing video files in their DAM system.

MediaValet is a pioneer in Audio/ Visual intelligence (AVI), enabling automatic generation of transcripts and translations in over 60 languages. Our AI-enhanced auto-tagging and time-stamped metadata make locating specific frames or videos effortless.

“MediaValet has [made] internal communication regarding videos much simpler.” SMB Director of Sports Broadcasting, G2

MediaValet vs. Canto: Analytics

MediaValet’s analytics tools offer detailed insights into asset performance and user engagement, aiding businesses in optimizing their content strategies. Our real-time dashboards provide valuable metrics on user, asset, and portal engagement.

The reporting functionality within MediaValet helps teams to monitor actions within the DAM to identify power users, schedule training sessions, and maximize its ROI.

Canto Pros and Cons

Canto, with over 30 years in the industry, is a well-known DAM solution, especially for smaller organizations seeking a cost-effective option.

Here’s a more detailed look at the advantages and challenges of opting for Canto as a DAM provider:

Pro – Ease of Use

Canto has a straightforward interface and user-centric design, making it accessible for those with minimal technical expertise. This ease of use can be beneficial for smaller teams that may not have dedicated IT support and need a DAM system they can operate independently.

Con – Scalability and Features

While Canto provides essential DAM functionalities effectively, it may encounter limitations when scaling to meet the demands of larger enterprises or more complex use cases.

When compared to more robust systems like MediaValet, Canto might lack some of the advanced features needed for extensive enterprise use. For instance, more sophisticated analytics tools, integration capabilities, or customization options that go beyond the basic offerings of Canto.

“What do you dislike about Canto?

Feature Scalability. . . it also lacks some extra features that make the other offers so enticing.” SMB E-Learning User, G2

Explore More Canto Alternatives

Brandfolder

When considering Canto alternatives, Brandfolder will always show up as a solid DAM competitor. Boasting an incredible strong market presence, and massive client logos, Brandfolder is usually better suited to larger organizations.

Where do they win against Canto? According to Gartner, Brandfolder wins when it comes to scalability and pricing flexibility.

Interested in more information on Brandfolder alternatives? Check out this post.

Acquia DAM (Widen)

Another strong Canto alternative is Acquia DAM (widen) which has been available for more than 2 decades on the market.

When compared by Gartner reviews, Acquia comes out on top with better service and support, scalability, and pricing.

Bynder

When considering Canto alternatives, Bynder will always show up as a competitor. One of the most recognizable DAMs in the industry, Bynder client list includes some huge brands and organizations.

Where do they win against Canto? According to Gartner, Bynder is a better choice for organizations that need to scale, need significant product training, and more comprehensive integration options.

Interested in more information on Bynder alternatives? Check out this post.

What Should you Look for in a Digital Asset Management System?

When choosing a digital asset management solution, it’s crucial to consider your organization’s unique needs.

• How much content will the DAM need to store?
• Are there systems that will become redundant when we implement a DAM?
• We have multiple internal and external users – how will we support and manage them all?

Your buying team needs to define your requirements and identify non-negotiable features. But as a rule of thumb, there are several key factors that will ensure a DAM can meet your more general organizational needs effectively:

Security Features: Protecting your digital assets from unauthorized access and data breaches is paramount. Look for a system that offers strong security measures such as encrypted data transfer, secure access controls, and regular backups. These features help safeguard your assets and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

Ease of Use: The DAM system should have an intuitive interface that allows users of all technical levels to access and manage assets efficiently. This includes easy navigation, quick access to files, and simple tools for uploading, tagging, and organizing content. A user-friendly interface reduces the learning curve and helps in achieving higher adoption rates across the organization.

Advanced Search Capabilities: With the vast amount of digital assets that organizations accumulate, the ability to quickly find an exact file is crucial. Look for a DAM system that offers robust search functions including metadata tagging, keyword searches, and advanced filtering options. This ensures that users can retrieve assets efficiently without having to sift through irrelevant files.

Integration Capabilities: The DAM system should seamlessly integrate with other tools and systems used by your organization, such as content management systems (CMS), marketing automation tools, and creative software. Integration facilitates a more streamlined workflow and ensures that assets are easily accessible across different platforms and departments.

Scalability: As your organization grows, so will your digital asset needs. A good DAM system should be scalable, accommodating increased storage needs and additional users without performance issues. This includes having flexible cloud storage options and the ability to handle various file types and sizes.

Support and Maintenance: Reliable technical support and regular updates are vital to maintaining a DAM system’s efficiency and security. Choose a provider that offers excellent customer support, training resources, and proactive maintenance to ensure that the system continues to meet your needs over time.