4 reasons why ImageKit is a better Acquia alternative

Take a look at how ImageKit DAM works

ImageKit vs Acquia DAM: Comparison overview

ImageKit provides a DAM with powerful enterprise features, an intuitive interface, and competitive pricing.

Check out this quick comparison table highlighting the key features of ImageKit versus Acquia DAM.

How does ImageKit DAM compare to Acquia DAM?

Media collections

ImageKit’s media collections simplify asset management by letting you group files and folders as you see fit, without being limited to a fixed folder structure. When you update a master file, the latest version is automatically synced across all virtual collections without duplication, ensuring your team always has the most up-to-date files effortlessly. Acquia DAM also offers collections, but their documentation doesn’t clearly state whether file versions update automatically.

Custom metadata

ImageKit supports custom metadata, making it easier for teams of any size to organize their assets. Even small teams with as few as five members can benefit from structured metadata fields, ensuring assets are searchable and relevant. While Acquia DAM also offers custom metadata, its entry plan is designed for 50 users, making ImageKit a better fit for SMBs that need these features but don't require a large-scale plan.

Tagging

Both ImageKit and Acquia DAM offer manual and AI-powered tagging to enhance asset organization and searchability. ImageKit’s AI tagging feature leverages machine learning algorithms and integrates with tools like Google Cloud Vision and Amazon Rekognition to automatically generate relevant tags based on your image content. With customizable thresholds for tag quantity and confidence levels, you can ensure only accurate tags are applied, allowing for efficient categorization and easier asset discovery.

Search and AI-driven search

Both Acquia DAM and ImageKit provide robust search functionality to help you quickly locate the assets you need. They offer flexible search options, including searching by name, tags, keywords, and visual similarity, ensuring efficient access to your assets. Additionally, both platforms include search autocomplete and an advanced search mode that allows you to combine multiple file parameters for more precise results.

Both Acquia DAM and ImageKit also feature AI-driven search capabilities. These allow you to find assets using natural language text or image input, making it easier to locate visually similar assets and enhancing the overall search experience.

Access controls

ImageKit simplifies collaboration by allowing you to effortlessly share assets and media collections with teams, fostering broader collaboration beyond individual users. It provides nuanced access controls beyond just view, comment, and edit. Acquia DAM also offers access controls and permissions.

Sharing capabilities

ImageKit allows secure sharing of assets via public links for assets, folders, or collections with internal or external stakeholders (both individuals and teams). Acquia DAM also supports asset sharing, but it’s better suited to larger enterprises than SMBs.

Activity logs

Both platforms offer detailed activity logs to track asset history and user actions, ensuring oversight and accountability.

ImageKit provides:

• DAM Audit Logs: Monitor asset uploads, deletions, movements, and updates from a central dashboard.
• Event Filtering: Filter logs by action type, user, file path, and more to track changes and deleted assets.
• Asset-Level History: View detailed changes to individual assets, including naming, organization, and access controls from the asset detail page.

Integration with other tools:

Acquia DAM offers strong integration capabilities, including managed and partner integrations with popular tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, Salesforce, and various CMS platforms, making it easier to streamline workflows. ImageKit excels with its native integrations, fitting seamlessly into your workflow. With our DAM desktop app and embeddable media library, you can use ImageKit directly with your internal CMS or tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, Shopify, and more—no need to switch between applications or browser tabs.

Commenting and versioning

ImageKit offers real-time feedback and collaboration with threaded, time-stamped comments directly on assets, enhancing communication and accelerating feedback loops. While both ImageKit and Acquia DAM provide version control to track asset changes, Acquia DAM’s commenting feature is part of a separate module and may incur additional costs. It is unclear if Acquia DAM supports time-stamped comments for videos.

Usability and Learning Curve

Acquia DAM, built on the Drupal platform, is packed with features, but it can be a bit overwhelming for newcomers. Its versatile interface is designed to cater to a wide range of user needs, which can sometimes make it less intuitive if you're not already familiar with the system. In contrast, ImageKit is designed with ease of use in mind. Its straightforward interface makes it simple to upload, manage, and optimize images without extensive training. This user-friendly design and clear workflows make ImageKit a practical choice for teams who want a quick setup and minimal onboarding.

ImageKit vs Acquia DAM: Pricing comparison

When comparing the pricing of Acquia DAM and ImageKit.io, there are a few key differences to consider.

Acquia DAM offers a Workgroup plan for up to 50 users, with higher-tier plans providing unlimited users and flexible permissions. Pricing details are not publicly available and require you to request a demo for a quote. Additionally, there is an entry-level setup fee, and you can choose between guided or full-service implementation options.

ImageKit offers a forever free plan that includes all the essential features, 3 user seats, and a generous 25GB of storage. For businesses needing more, paid plans start at $89 per month with no setup fee. The free plan and lower starting cost may be particularly attractive to small and mid-size businesses, while larger enterprises might find Acquia DAM’s higher-tier options a better fit.

ImageKit vs Acquia DAM: Media processing capabilities

Acquia DAM does not prominently feature media transformations in the same way that ImageKit does. While Acquia DAM allows for the conversion of images, videos, and audio files to different formats, this capability is primarily focused on facilitating the reuse of content rather than real-time transformations or optimizations typically associated with media processing platforms like ImageKit.

With ImageKit’s built-in media optimization, you can deliver assets directly to your website and app in the best formats and smallest sizes, all while preserving visual quality. Plus, with over 50 real-time URL-based media transformations, adapting your media assets to different use cases and scaling them is straightforward and efficient.

ImageKit vs Acquia DAM: Image editing

Acquia DAM offers basic image editing with just cropping. ImageKit, however, provides a robust set of tools, including a browser-based editor for quick adjustments and an AI-powered background removal feature. These capabilities help streamline your workflow and create polished visuals without needing external editing support for last-minute changes.

ImageKit vs Acquia DAM: AI and GenAI capabilities

Acquia DAM's AI and GenAI features focus on automating content creation and management tasks. It offers automated content optimization by generating alt text for images and creating product descriptions based on existing data.

In comparison, ImageKit’s AI and GenAI tools streamline image creation and enhancement. You can generate new images or variations without needing costly reshoots or extensive stock photo searches. Features like Genfill adapt images to different aspect ratios, and tools such as Remove BG, Retouch, and Upscale ensure high-quality product visuals. ImageKit’s transformations occur via a simple URL-based API or directly within the DAM UI (coming soon), enabling real-time scaling and versatility.

ImageKit vs Acquia DAM: Storage locations

ImageKit provides six global storage locations, including options across the US, EU, Asia, and Australia. This broad range of storage locations helps minimize latency and ensures compliance with local data regulations. In contrast, Acquia DAM emphasizes redundancy and security through AWS infrastructure, offering data storage options specifically in the US and Europe.