Cloudinary vs Air: Digital Asset Management Software Compared (2026)
Cloudinary and Air are two widely compared DAM platforms. Cloudinary provides APIs for image and video upload, transformation, optimisation and delivery (Programmable Media), plus Cloudinary Assets, a DAM for marketing teams. Air is a visual DAM and creative operations platform with AI auto-tagging, natural-language search, unlimited seats and automation integrations, priced in credits.
- Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 2 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Cloudinary vs Air: the short answer
Cloudinary provides APIs for image and video upload, transformation, optimisation and delivery (Programmable Media), plus Cloudinary Assets, a DAM for marketing teams. Air is a visual DAM and creative operations platform with AI auto-tagging, natural-language search, unlimited seats and automation integrations, priced in credits. Both are DAM platforms, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus.
On pricing, Cloudinary is described as: credits (API) or quote (DAM); Air as: credit-based plans. Both have a free option. Cloudinary lists a free option: 3 users, 25 credits. Air lists a free option: 120 credits. Cloudinary is positioned for developer and marketing teams delivering optimised media, and Air for creative teams wanting unlimited seats and AI search.
Everything below is drawn from the two sourced profiles and the 2 dated sources listed at the end. Where a source does not document something it is marked Unknown, and third-party estimates are labelled. No winner is declared: the better fit depends on your size, budget and requirements.
Cloudinary and Air at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Cloudinary
Cloudinary · Digital Asset Management Software
Cloudinary provides APIs for image and video upload, transformation, optimisation and delivery (Programmable Media), plus Cloudinary Assets, a DAM for marketing teams.
- Pricing
- Programmable Media: Free; Plus $99 ($89 annual); Advanced $249 ($224 annual); Enterprise custom. Assets DAM: quote; 30-day trial.
- Best for
- Developer and marketing teams delivering optimised media
Air
Air · Digital Asset Management Software
Air is a visual DAM and creative operations platform with AI auto-tagging, natural-language search, unlimited seats and automation integrations, priced in credits.
- Pricing
- Free (120 credits/mo, ~20 GB); Business $900/mo billed annually (30,000 credits); Enterprise custom (60,000 credits); unlimited seats.
- Best for
- Creative teams wanting unlimited seats and AI search
Cloudinary vs Air: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Cloudinary |  Air |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Product typeDiffers | YesMedia API and DAM | YesCreative operations DAM |
| VendorDiffers | YesCloudinary | YesAir |
| Best forDiffers | YesDeveloper and marketing teams delivering optimised media | PartialCreative teams wanting unlimited seats and AI search |
| Pricing | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | PartialCredits (API) or quote (DAM). | YesCredit-based plans. |
| Pricing summaryDiffers | PartialProgrammable Media: Free; Plus $99 ($89 annual); Advanced $249 ($224 annual); Enterprise custom. Assets DAM: quote; 30-day trial. | PartialFree (120 credits/mo, ~20 GB); Business $900/mo billed annually (30,000 credits); Enterprise custom (60,000 credits); unlimited seats. |
| Free planDiffers | YesYes (3 users, 25 credits) | YesYes (120 credits) |
| Free trialDiffers | YesYes (Assets, 30 days) | NoNot documented |
| Digital Asset Management Software criteria | ||
| Pricing modelDiffers | PartialCredits / quote | YesCredits |
| Starting priceDiffers | YesFree; $89/mo (annual) | YesFree; $900/mo (annual) |
| FocusDiffers | YesMedia API + DAM | YesCreative DAM |
| Best forDiffers | YesMedia delivery | PartialUnlimited seats |
| Fit and platform | ||
| Team size | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises | YesSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises |
| Platforms | YesWeb | YesWeb |
| IntegrationsDiffers | YesShopify, Adobe Commerce, Contentful, WordPress | YesSlack, Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Zapier |
| API | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. | UnknownNot reviewed for this profile. |
Cloudinary vs Air pricing.
Plan names, prices and billing terms as reported in each profile's sources. Taxes, add-ons and discounts are excluded unless stated.
Cloudinary pricing
Credits (API) or quote (DAM).
- Free$0 · Free
- Plus$89 per month · Annual ($99 monthly)
- Advanced$224 per month · Annual ($249 monthly)
- Assets DAMQuote · Annual
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Rework (25 August 2026); Dupple (October 2026). Estimates are labelled. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Cloudinary plans and sources
Air pricing
Credit-based plans.
- Free$0 · Free
- Business$900 per month · Annual
- EnterpriseCustom · Annual
Prices from independent sources; treat as reported. Rework (25 August 2026); Dupple (October 2026). Estimates are labelled. Currency: USD. Checked 10 Nov 2026.
All Air plans and sourcesCloudinary vs Air: pricing model, ecosystem and fit.
Pricing model and cost drivers
Cloudinary: credits (API) or quote (DAM). Rework (25 August 2026); Dupple (October 2026). Estimates are labelled. Air: credit-based plans. Rework (25 August 2026); Dupple (October 2026). Estimates are labelled. Model costs at your real seat count, usage and contract term before comparing headline prices.
What sets each apart
The Cloudinary profile highlights: published API pricing; credits; separate DAM. The Air profile highlights: unlimited seats; credit model; free plan.
Integrations and ecosystem
Cloudinary integrations named in its sources: Shopify, Adobe Commerce, Contentful and WordPress. Air: Slack, Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud and Zapier. Check that the connectors you rely on exist on the plan you would buy.
Deployment and team fit
Cloudinary runs on Web and is documented for small teams, mid-size teams and large enterprises. Air runs on Web and is documented for small teams, mid-size teams and large enterprises. We did not test setup or migration.
Cloudinary and Air: each option, in balance.
Each point is linked to a dated source on the product's profile.
Cloudinary
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Published API pricing.
- Strong transformation and delivery.
- Free tier.
- DAM price not published.
- Developer-focused UI.
- Credit costs climb.
Air
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Unlimited seats on every plan.
- AI search and tagging.
- Free plan without card.
- $900 entry is highest listed.
- Credits do not roll over.
- Video burns credits.
Cloudinary or Air: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Cloudinary if you are…
- Developer and marketing teams delivering optimised media
- Ecommerce sites
- Media-heavy apps
Less suited to: non-technical teams wanting simple DAM only; fixed budgets.
See the Cloudinary profile
Choose Air if you are…
- Creative teams wanting unlimited seats and AI search
- Social and content studios
- Fast-growing brands
Less suited to: budget teams needing mid-tier pricing; heavy video archives.
See the Air profileSwitching between Cloudinary and Air.
Moving off Cloudinary or Air means exporting assets with metadata, versions and usage rights, mapping your taxonomy to the new system, re-creating permissions and brand portals, updating embedded links and CDN URLs, and reconnecting creative and CMS integrations. Migrate in batches and verify metadata. Upload a few hundred of your real assets to each shortlisted DAM, then test AI tagging, search, sharing and integrations with the people who will use it daily.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Compare total cost at your real volume, including add-ons and services.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Cloudinary vs Air: questions and answers
What is the difference between Cloudinary and Air?
Cloudinary provides APIs for image and video upload, transformation, optimisation and delivery (Programmable Media), plus Cloudinary Assets, a DAM for marketing teams. Air is a visual DAM and creative operations platform with AI auto-tagging, natural-language search, unlimited seats and automation integrations, priced in credits. Both are DAM platforms, but they differ in pricing model, target team size and focus. Cloudinary is positioned for developer and marketing teams delivering optimised media; Air for creative teams wanting unlimited seats and AI search.
Is Cloudinary cheaper than Air?
It depends on your volume and plan. Cloudinary: Programmable Media: Free; Plus $99 ($89 annual); Advanced $249 ($224 annual); Enterprise custom. Assets DAM: quote; 30-day trial. Air: Free (120 credits/mo, ~20 GB); Business $900/mo billed annually (30,000 credits); Enterprise custom (60,000 credits); unlimited seats. Compare both at your real seat count, usage and contract term.
Do Cloudinary or Air have a free plan?
Both have a free option. Cloudinary lists a free option: 3 users, 25 credits. Air lists a free option: 120 credits. Cloudinary free trial: Yes (Assets, 30 days). Air free trial: Not documented.
Cloudinary or Air: which is better for small teams?
Cloudinary and Air are both documented for small teams. Cloudinary suits developer and marketing teams delivering optimised media; Air suits creative teams wanting unlimited seats and AI search. Neither is best for everyone.
What are the main limitations of Cloudinary and Air?
Cloudinary: DAM price not published. Air: $900 entry is highest listed.
How much does Cloudinary cost?
Plus is $89 a month annual ($99 monthly) and Advanced $224 ($249); a free tier includes 25 credits.
How much does Air cost?
Free for 120 credits a month; Business is $900 a month billed annually for 30,000 credits.
What are the alternatives to Cloudinary and Air?
Stack18 has alternatives guides for both: Cloudinary alternatives and Air alternatives, each comparing at least four other DAM platforms on pricing, free plan, features and fit. The Digital Asset Management Software category lists every profile.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Best Digital Asset Management Software in 2026 (25 August 2026) Rework Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
- Best Digital Asset Management Software (2026) (prices as of October 2026) Dupple Third-party Accessed 11 Nov 2026
This comparison summarises the Cloudinary and Air profiles and their sources. Third-party figures are labelled; confirm current pricing and terms with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested these products.
Ready to test Cloudinary and Air?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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