Beyond the basics: DAM Alternatives in Australia (and why customers switch)

Looking for a DAM alternative (Digital Asset Management) in Australia? Are you currently using a DAM and it’s not meeting your expectations, or the vendor doesn't provide local support or is leaving Australian market? If you’re researching your DAM options - you’re in the right place.

Today content drives the modern marketing environment, managing and distributing digital assets (images, videos, documents, etc.) quickly, securely, and effectively is crucial. That’s why choosing the right DAM platform is so important.

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at why users might be reconsidering their DAM vendor, key factors to keep in mind, and how Canto compares to leading alternatives like Lookatme, IntelligenceBank, Collaboro, HIVO, Brandfolder, Fotoware, Third Light, and more.

For broader tips on choosing the right DAM, check out our How To Pick Your DAM Winner in 2025 eBook.

Table of Contents

1. Who This Guide Is For?

2. Common Reasons Customers Look For a New DAM Provider

3. Top DAM Competitors in Australia Customers Switch From

Third Light

Brandfolder (Smartsheets)

IntelligenceBank

Collaboro

Fotoware

Lookatme

HIVO

AEM (Adobe Experience Manager)

4. Australia DAM Vendor Comparison Table

5. Key Evaluation Criteria When Assessing DAM Alternatives in Australia

6. Canto: The Comprehensive DAM Solution

Why Canto is An Attractive DAM Solution in Australia?

Canto Feature Highlights

What Customers Who Have Switched To Canto say

1. Who This Guide Is For?

If you’re already using a DAM, this guide will help you decide whether to renew or migrate to a more feature-rich DAM.

If you’re in the late stages of your research, this guide will show you how Canto stacks up against other DAM solutions, so you can make an informed decision.

2. Common Reasons Customers Look For a New DAM Provider

Feature Limitations

• • Advanced metadata and tagging
  • AI-powered search
  • Robust integrations with marketing tools (e.g., HubSpot, Adobe CC)

Mergers & Acquisitions

• When a DAM is acquired by or merged into a larger product suite, the standalone DAM might receive less investment.
• This creates uncertainty about future product direction and support quality. (e.g., Brandfolder and Widen examples)

Ceasing Operations or Exiting a Region

• Vendors that shut down their local office, discontinue support in certain regions, or close entirely can leave customers scrambling for a replacement. (e.g., Third Light)
• Lack of local presence or minimal investment in certain markets can undermine trust in continued support and updates.

Scalability Issues

• • Storage or concurrency limitations
  • Slower rendering of previews
  • Less efficient folder organisation and user management

Complex User Experience

• • Clunky interfaces
  • Steep learning curves for new users
  • Minimal customisation options

Outdated Support / High Costs

• Limited customer support channels or high support costs
• Increased licensing fees or hidden costs, especially when adding new users or features

For a quick overview of current DAM players in Australia, here’s our breakdown of Australia’s DAM Vendors.

3. Top DAM Competitors in Australia Customers Switch From

Third Light 

What Third Light does well

1. • Centralised, Organised Asset Library
     Third Light provides a robust platform for storing and organising digital assets—images, videos, documents—in a central repository. The folder structure and metadata tagging help teams quickly locate, manage, and reuse assets.

   • Metadata and Search Capabilities
     The DAM’s metadata framework enables users to apply customisable tags, making it easier to find assets through advanced filtering and search.

   • Collaboration and Sharing Features
     Built-in collaboration tools support version control, commenting, and approval workflows, which help marketing and creative teams streamline their processes.

   • User-Friendly Interface
     While DAM interfaces can be complex, Third Light’s UI is relatively intuitive, with drag-and-drop functionality and clear navigation.

   • Flexible Deployment Options
     Third Light offers both cloud-based and on-premises hosting, appealing to organisations with strict data security or compliance requirements.

Why users switch

Third Light was headquartered in the UK, and while it did provide global support, they were recently acquired by PhotoShelter who have announced dissolution of Third Light operations in Australia and no clear migration path.

If you're looking specifically to migrate from Third Light, we’ve written a dedicated post on the best Third Light alternative in Australia, which can help guide your decision.

See Canto vs Third Light

Brandfolder 

What Brandfolder does well:

• Intuitive User Experience: Brandfolder is known for a clean, modern interface that makes asset uploading, tagging, and retrieval straightforward.
• Brand Management Tools: Offers robust brand guidelines and customisable portals, making it easy for distributed teams to maintain brand consistency.
• Analytics and Insights: Provides built-in analytics to track asset usage and performance, helping marketing teams understand which content resonates.
• Wide Range of Integrations: Integrates with popular tools like Slack, Adobe Creative Cloud, and project management suites, supporting streamlined creative workflows.

Why users switch

Reasons why people switch from Brandfolder:

1. Pricing and Scalability: As teams grow, some find that Brandfolder’s subscription costs become less competitive, especially for larger asset libraries.
2. Local Data Hosting Concerns: Brandfolder primarily hosts data in North American data centres. Australian organisations with strict data residency or latency requirements may seek a locally hosted DAM.
3. Advanced Custom Workflows: Some large enterprises or government entities need more complex approval processes and governance features than Brandfolder offers out of the box.
4. Preference for Local Support: Brandfolder has global support channels but no physical Australian office. Some users prefer direct, in-country support and faster local response times.

See Canto vs Brandfolder 

IntelligenceBank 

What IntelligenceBank does well

• Comprehensive Marketing Operations Platform: Beyond DAM functionality, IntelligenceBank also offers modules for marketing project management, compliance approvals, and creative approvals.
• Australian Roots: Founded in Melbourne, it offers local data hosting and is experienced with Australian privacy and compliance standards.
• Brand Governance Features: Features such as brand guidelines, creative approvals, and compliance checklists help regulated industries stay on-brand and compliant.
• Enterprise-Grade Security: IntelligenceBank prioritises data security, with options for single sign-on (SSO) and rigorous permission controls.

Reasons why people switch from IntelligenceBank

1. 1. Complexity for Smaller Teams: IntelligenceBank’s broad feature set can be overkill for organisations simply looking for a straightforward DAM.
   2. Cost and Licensing Structure: The platform’s pricing can become prohibitive for some mid-market or non-profit organisations.
   3. Limited Focus on Pure DAM: Because it’s positioned as an all-in-one marketing operations platform, some users desire a more dedicated or specialised DAM solution.
   4. Integration Gaps: While IntelligenceBank does integrate with various tools, some businesses require deeper or more bespoke integrations than IntelligenceBank currently supports.

See Canto vs IntelligenceBank

Collaboro 

What Collaboro does well

• Specialisation in Video and Large Files: Collaboro focuses on simplifying the management of high-resolution video and other large creative files.
• Australian-Based Provider: With offices in Sydney, Collaboro offers local data hosting and direct support channels, appealing to Australian enterprises and agencies.
• Creative Workflow Support: The platform caters to agencies and creative teams, providing workflows for reviews, approvals, and version control.
• Custom Integration Options: Collaboro works closely with clients to create bespoke integrations into existing marketing technology stacks.

Reasons why people switch from Collaboro

1. Breadth of Features: While strong for video-centric teams, some organisations need more robust brand management, analytics, or multi-channel distribution features.
2. Cost vs. Budget: Collaboro’s pricing model may not align with every organisation’s budget, especially if they also require advanced DAM features beyond video management.
3. Niche Focus: As a platform tailored largely to creative asset workflows, businesses needing a more general-purpose DAM may outgrow Collaboro’s offerings.
4. Scalability Limitations: Some enterprise clients may prefer a more widely adopted global DAM vendor for consistent workflows across international offices.

See Canto vs Collaboro

Fotoware 

What FotoWare does well

• Advanced Metadata and Taxonomy: FotoWare is particularly strong in metadata handling, making it popular among organisations with large, complex asset libraries.
• Flexible Deployment: Offers both cloud and on-premises hosting, catering to companies with strict data governance policies.
• Powerful Search Functionality: Robust metadata structuring and custom fields enable highly granular search capabilities.
• Longstanding Industry Experience: With a history dating back to the 1990s, FotoWare has evolved a mature feature set and stable platform.

Reasons why people switch from FotoWare

1. Local Support Considerations: FotoWare is headquartered in Norway, so Australian customers may experience time zone challenges and less local customer success outreach.
2. Complex Interface: The platform can be quite technical and require more admin training or IT involvement compared to more user-friendly DAMs.
3. Higher Total Cost of Ownership: Certain advanced features or customisations can drive up costs, motivating some businesses to explore more cost-effective alternatives.
4. Desire for Marketing-Centric Tools: FotoWare’s heritage is in photo archives. Some Australian organisations need stronger branding, collaboration, and marketing automation features than FotoWare typically delivers.

See Canto vs Fotoware

Lookatme DAM 

What Lookatme does well

• Australian-Based: Headquartered in Australia, Lookatme offers local hosting and support, often meeting data sovereignty requirements for government and enterprise clients.
• Strong Metadata and Organisation Tools: Provides extensive metadata fields, taxonomy structures, and controlled vocabularies to keep large libraries well organised.
• Brand Compliance Focus: Includes features that help marketing teams align on brand guidelines, ensuring every asset meets brand standards.
• Local Customer Support and Training: Their onshore customer service team is well-regarded for responsiveness and personalised training.

Reasons why people switch from Lookatme

1. Cost vs. Features: While Lookatme covers DAM basics well, some organisations find more feature-rich platforms at similar or lower price points.
2. Global Expansion Requirements: If an Australian company expands internationally, they may want a DAM with a stronger global footprint and support structure.
3. Lack of Advanced Integrations: Lookatme may not integrate as extensively with certain marketing automation platforms or creative tools, prompting some users to look for a DAM with deeper or more numerous connectors.
4. UI or UX Preferences: Some users may prefer a more modern interface or specific usability features not currently in Lookatme’s roadmap.

See Canto vs Lookatme DAM

HIVO

What HIVO does well

• Local Hosting and Service: As an Australian-developed DAM, HIVO caters to local compliance, data sovereignty, and offers onshore support.
• Collaboration and Approval Workflows: Includes built-in sharing, feedback, and approval mechanisms, enabling cross-team collaboration.
• Customisable Brand Portals: Allows organisations to create brand portals with controlled access, supporting brand consistency across regions.
• Focus on User Experience: HIVO emphasises a clean and modern interface, with user-friendly dashboards and asset pages.

Reasons why people switch from HIVO

1. Advanced Feature Requirements: Organisations with complex metadata needs or advanced automation demands may look for a DAM with more extensive configurability.
2. Integration Ecosystem: Some Australian businesses require seamless integration with marketing automation platforms, CMSs, or creative tools that HIVO might not fully support.
3. Pricing Tiers: If usage spikes (e.g. large file storage or high user counts), HIVO’s cost structure can become less appealing.
4. Global Expansion: Similar to other locally-focused DAMs, if a company expands internationally, they may prefer a vendor with a larger global footprint and around-the-clock support.

See Canto vs HIVO

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)

What Adobe AEM does well

• Enterprise-Grade Solution: AEM Assets is part of the Adobe Experience Cloud, offering a broad range of enterprise-level features and integrations.
• Seamless Adobe Ecosystem Integration: Naturally fits into Adobe Creative Cloud workflows, making it appealing for design-focused organisations with dedicated creative teams.
• Scalable for Complex Use Cases: Large corporations often leverage AEM’s robust capabilities for global brand management, multi-site publishing, and personalised experiences.
• Advanced Automation and AI: Adobe Sensei provides auto-tagging, smart cropping, and other AI-driven features for asset management.

Reasons why people switch from Adobe AEM

1. High Cost and Complexity: AEM can be expensive to licence, implement, and maintain, which can be a barrier for mid-sized Australian businesses or those with limited budgets.
2. Steep Learning Curve: The platform’s extensive feature set often requires specialist skills or dedicated training, which can be challenging for smaller teams.
3. Overkill for Simpler Needs: Organisations requiring straightforward DAM functionality may find AEM Assets unnecessarily complex.
4. Implementation and Support Delays: Enterprise-level deployments can be lengthy and require third-party implementation partners, leading some to seek a more streamlined DAM solution.

See Canto vs Adobe DAM (AEM)

4. Australia DAM Vendor Comparison Table

5. Key Evaluation Criteria When Assessing DAM Alternatives

User Interface & Adoption
Look for solutions with an intuitive interface, easy onboarding process, and minimal training requirements.
Search & Discovery
Opt for solutions providing advanced search features, intelligent tagging, and robust metadata management. Vendor Stability
Vendor stability, underpinned by a strong brand reputation, will ensure ongoing support, reliable updates, and a robust product roadmap that safeguards your long-term DAM investment.
Integrations & API
Evaluate how easily the DAM integrates with existing tools like CMS, marketing automation (e.g., HubSpot), creative suites (e.g., Adobe), and collaboration platforms.
Security & Governance
Security is paramount—look for solutions with role-based access, granular permissions, and compliance certifications.
Pricing & Flexibility
Seek transparent pricing models that allow you to scale without hidden fees.

6. Canto: The Comprehensive DAM Solution

The Australian DAM market features a mix of local vendors (Lookatme, IntelligenceBank, Collaboro, HIVO) and international platforms (Canto, Brandfolder, FotoWare, Adobe AEM). Each excels in different areas—be it user experience, metadata management, large-file workflows, or integrated marketing operations. However, many organisations reevaluate their DAM provider when they face issues around cost, scalability, local data hosting, or a lack of specific features/integrations.

Why Canto is an Attractive DAM Alternative in Australia

• Ease of Use: Canto prioritises a clean, intuitive interface and simple user onboarding.
• Solid Core DAM Features: Offers robust metadata, search, permissions, and asset organisation out of the box.
• Local Hosting Options & Compliance: Can meet Australian data sovereignty requirements with AWS Sydney data centres, ensuring compliance for government and enterprise users.
• Broad Integration Ecosystem: Connects seamlessly with Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office 365, CMS platforms, and project management tools.
• Competitive Pricing & Scalability: Canto’s flexible tiers often provide a cost-effective balance between features and budget, making it a strong contender for growing Australian businesses.
• Dedicated Customer Support: Partnership with local DAM expert and services provider - databasics delivers same-day support for Canto customers.

Canto Feature Highlights

Sleek, Modern UI: Minimises training time, encouraging high adoption.

AI-Driven Visual Search: Uses natural language and object/ scene detection, no metadata required.

Broad Integrations: Seamless plugin for Adobe Creative Cloud, plus integrations with HubSpot, Slack, Canva, etc.

Enterprise-Grade Security: Role-based permissions, Australian data residency, SSO, and globally recognised certifications,  such as ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC 2, CCPA.

Flexible Pricing & Scalability: Transparent tiers and flexible user licensing.

What Canto Customers Say

In Summary

When choosing a DAM, Australian organisations should consider budget, data residency, vendor reputation and longevity, available support, and the depth of integrations. Canto’s combination of user-friendly design, feature set, and local support, compliance options positions it as a compelling alternative in the Australian market.