In this guide, we’ll compare six leading web-to-print editor SDKs: IMG.LY CreativeEditor SDK, Adobe InDesign Server, CHILI GraFx, Customer’s Canvas, PrintUI, and Design Huddle Web-to-Print, focusing on their:

  • Features & capabilities
  • Implementation & use case
  • Future-proofing, support & pricing.

At the end, we’ll also show why IMG.LY CreativeEditor SDK (CE.SDK) stands out as the most complete, modern alternative to legacy print workflows.

1. IMG.LY CreativeEditor SDK (CE.SDK)

The first one on our list is IMG.LY CreativeEditor SDK (CE.SDK). It's a modern design SDK with support for both print and digital outputs. CE.SDK is built to give companies a single, scalable solution for user-facing editing and backend automation.

  • Features & capabilities: CE.SDK delivers a complete editor experience designed for both print and digital. Key features include multi-layer editing, customizable templates, brand controls, background removal, AI enhancements, and advanced print support like CMYK/Pantone, cutout lines, and variable data printing. With customizable export options and an extensible plugin architecture, teams can build workflows that go far beyond basic editing.

  • Platforms & customization: CE.SDK runs across Web, iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, Node.js, and Electron. It’s fully white-label and allows deep customization through a plugin system, so the editor looks and feels native to your brand.

  • Implementation & use cases: The SDK is designed for quick embedding with enterprise-ready defaults. You can start with out-of-the-box UIs and scale into custom workflows as needed. Common use cases include e-commerce product personalization, marketing platforms, packaging, and DAMs.

  • Future-proofing, support & pricing: IMG.LY ships frequent releases, maintains a strong AI roadmap, and ensures feature parity across platforms. Enterprise customers benefit from SLAs, onboarding engineers, and solution support. Pricing is based on enterprise licensing.

  • Who it’s for: IMG.LY is best for companies looking for a modern alternative to InDesign Server or CHILI GraFx, and teams that want interactive editing combined with backend automation in one SDK.

Key differentiator

Unlike traditional tools that split editing and automation, CE.SDK combines interactive editor UX with automation and print-ready output in a single SDK. This means you can scale both user-facing personalization and backend production workflows without bolting together multiple tools.

Check out a few useful showcases of IMG.LY in action.

  1. Apparel UI: Custom, mobile apparel UI for creating print-ready designs.
  2. Postcard UI: Built to facilitate optimal post- & greeting-card design
  3. Photobook UI: Custom UI for building photo books, focusing on theming, page layouts, and managing photo assets.

2. Adobe InDesign Server

Adobe InDesign Server is the enterprise-grade server edition of InDesign built to automate publishing and print workflows at scale. It is widely used by large publishers that require professional typesetting and automation. While powerful, it demands significant infrastructure and is best suited for organizations already invested in Adobe’s ecosystem.

  • Features & capabilities: As we mentioned, Adobe InDesign Server is a mature and trusted solution in the print industry. It brings professional typesetting, advanced layout control, variable data printing, and print-ready PDF export.

  • Platforms & customization: Runs on Windows and macOS servers. Customization is handled via scripting in JavaScript, VBScript, or AppleScript, which allows teams to automate tasks and extend functionality. However, the scripting model requires specialized expertise and can slow down implementation.

  • Implementation & use cases: The platform is built for high-volume publishing, such as catalogs, magazines, and enterprise-scale print production. While powerful, it requires dedicated infrastructure and maintenance. It’s less suited for cloud-native or mobile-first workflows, which limits flexibility for modern SaaS or e-commerce integrations.

  • Future-proofing, support & pricing: It comes with enterprise Adobe support, but its innovation pace is slower compared to newer cloud-native tools. Pricing is among the highest in the category, tied to server seat licenses.

  • Who it’s for: Adobe InDesign Server is suitable for large publishers and enterprises with legacy Adobe workflows that need precise control over layout and large-scale automation.

Comparison to IMG.LY

While Adobe is powerful for large-scale publishing, it is infrastructure-heavy and harder to scale across modern platforms. IMG.LY offers a cloud-ready, cross-platform SDK that delivers the same automation benefits but with faster implementation, ready-to-use UI, and broader use cases.

Find out more about how IMG.LY is a great alternative to InDesign here.

3. CHILI GraFx

CHILI GraFx is a cloud-based creative automation platform for print and omnichannel personalization. It is designed for enterprises that need to manage large volumes of marketing and packaging assets across distributed teams. By focusing on smart template logic and centralized control, it helps organizations ensure brand consistency while scaling creative output.

  • Features & capabilities: CHILI GraFx is a cloud-first creative automation platform that provides smart templates, dynamic layouts, print-ready output, and variable data handling.

  • Platforms & customization: It runs entirely as a cloud SaaS platform, where template logic and API integrations drive automation. While powerful for structured workflows, it offers less freedom for creative, freeform editing.

  • Implementation & use cases: CHILI is popular among retailers, large-scale marketing platforms, and packaging companies. It excels at managing distributed campaigns where consistency and automated adaptation of templates matter.

  • Future-proofing, support & pricing: Their roadmap emphasizes AI-driven automation and large-scale scalability. Pricing is on the high end, reflecting its enterprise orientation. Support includes enterprise-level onboarding and training programs.

  • Who it's for: CHILI GraFx is best suited for companies needing scalable print and creative automation.

Comparison to IMG.LY

CHILI excels in template-driven automation, but its SaaS-first approach limits customization for interactive editing. IMG.LY balances both worlds, offering automation and a highly flexible editor UI that adapts to any platform.

Find out in detail how CHILI GraFx compares to IMG.LY here.

4. Customer’s Canvas

Customer’s Canvas is a web-to-print SDK and editor built for online product personalization. It helps print shops, packaging businesses, and e-commerce platforms deliver custom products at scale.

  • Features & capabilities: It supports packaging workflows and online customization with a browser-based WYSIWYG editor. The platform also delivers print-ready templates and variable data printing, making it a strong option for businesses that need reliable print output tied to personalized designs.

  • Platforms & customization: Runs as a web SDK with iframe-based embedding, making it accessible to most online platforms. It offers a white-label editor so companies can align the interface with their brand. While this provides a polished experience, customization options are narrower compared to plugin-based systems like IMG.LY.

  • Implementation & use cases: Implementation requires more development effort because it is not a SaaS-first product. Businesses often need to integrate it directly into their sites and workflows. But once in place, it is valuable for print shops, packaging businesses, and e-commerce platforms that want to give users control over product personalization with print-ready accuracy.

  • Future-proofing, support & pricing: The platform is actively developed with a focus on the print commerce industry. Vendors provide onboarding, training, and technical support to ease adoption. Pricing follows a licensing model that is generally more affordable than enterprise-focused options like Adobe or CHILI, making it appealing for mid-market businesses.

  • Who it’s for: Best suited for SMBs and enterprises that rely heavily on product personalization and packaging as part of their business model.

Comparison to IMG.LY

Customer’s Canvas is strong for print commerce but limited in multi-platform editing. IMG.LY extends beyond print, supporting web, mobile, and automation with AI-powered tools, making it a better choice for enterprises aiming to scale across digital and print workflows.

To get more information, read our detailed guide on IMG.LY vs Customer’s Canvas.

5. PrintUI

PrintUI is a web-to-print solution designed to help businesses create and manage personalized print products online. It focuses on making template editing and brand control accessible without heavy development, so companies can quickly offer customizable marketing and packaging materials.

  • Features & capabilities: PrintUI offers brand-controlled templates, variable data printing, and a browser-based WYSIWYG editor that is easy for end users to navigate. These features make it suitable for generating marketing collateral, promotional products, and packaging with consistent branding.

  • Platforms & customization: As a cloud SaaS tool, PrintUI is hosted online and integrates with other systems through APIs. It offers white-label capabilities so companies can present the editor under their own brand. Templates can be configured to meet different requirements, though deep customization is limited compared to a plugin-based system.

  • Implementation & use cases: Implementation is of medium complexity and typically done through API or iframe embedding. It requires some developer involvement but is still manageable for most teams. Once integrated, it is commonly used in marketing platforms, online shops, and packaging companies where users need quick, reliable access to personalization features.

  • Future-proofing, support & pricing: The platform has a SaaS roadmap focused primarily on print automation and does not expand into broader digital or cross-platform workflows. Vendor support is available for onboarding and setup, and pricing is offered on a subscription or license basis, depending on scale and usage.

  • Who it’s for: PrintUI is best for businesses seeking a dependable, easy-to-integrate print editor where simplicity and speed matter more than extensive customization or multi-platform flexibility.

Comparison to IMG.LY

PrintUI offers simplicity for print shops, but its scope is limited to print-first workflows. IMG.LY, on the other hand, expands these capabilities by adding cross-platform support, deeper customization, and AI-assisted editing for broader use cases.

Check out more information on how IMG.LY is a leading competitor of PrintUI.

6. Design Huddle Web-to-Print

Design Huddle offers a cloud-based web-to-print editor that gives enterprises a template-driven editing environment. Focusing on template management and automation, it helps marketing teams and print providers streamline how they deliver personalized designs at scale.

  • Features & capabilities: Design Huddle provides a web-based, template-driven editor with automation features. It supports template management, WYSIWYG editing, and dynamic content insertion, making it useful for scalable campaigns.

  • Platforms & customization: Design Huddle runs as a SaaS product and can be embedded via API or iframe, making deployment straightforward for most enterprise environments. It offers white-labeling and branding options so companies can present the editor as their own.

  • Implementation & use cases: Embedding is quick, with a two-way API and iframe communication that allows smooth integration with existing systems. It works well for marketing teams that need to roll out campaigns at scale and print shops offering client-facing personalization.

  • Future-proofing, support & pricing: Design Huddle follows an enterprise-focused roadmap that emphasizes template automation and scalability. The vendor provides onboarding and integration support to help teams adopt the platform quickly. It offers pricing as enterprise licensing or subscription, reflecting its focus on larger organizations.

  • Who it’s for: It is best suited for companies that want a modern, template-driven web-to-print platform.

Comparison to IMG.LY

Design Huddle delivers solid template automation but is limited in customization depth and platform coverage. IMG.LY builds on this by offering interactive design features, native mobile SDKs, and an automation stack combined in one solution.

Overview Table

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the tools we’ve discussed. Use this overview to see which tool fits you best.

Use Case / Solution IMG.LY CE.SDK Adobe InDesign Server CHILI GraFx Customer’s Canvas PrintUI Design Huddle Web-to-Print
Print-ready designs ✅ Print-ready exports from multi-layer templates and AI-assisted designs ✅ Industry standard for professional layouts and high-quality print output ✅ Generates print-ready PDFs with variable data support ✅ Template-driven print-ready designs ✅ Print-ready outputs from templates ✅ WYSIWYG editor for high-quality print outputs
Export options ✅ Multi-format export: PDF/X, PNG, JPG, SVG ✅ PDF/X, EPS, INDD ✅ PDF/X, PNG, JPG ✅ PDF/X, JPG, PNG ✅ PDF, PNG, JPG ✅ PDF/X and standard image formats
Variable data printing ✅ Variable data generation for print and digital workflows ✅ Supported via scripting ✅ Built-in template automation ✅ Built-in variable data support ✅ Template-based variable fields ✅ Supports dynamic text/images in templates
Templating ✅ Multi-layer templates with branding, AI assistance, and plugin support ✅ Multi-page layouts, catalogs, and brochure templates ✅ Dynamic templates with rules and data binding ✅ Template-driven product personalization ✅ Template-based editor for marketing materials ✅ Templates with branding and dynamic content
Mockups ✅ Real-time previews for both print and digital outputs ⚠️ Not built-in; requires external tooling ⚠️ Limited; mostly via templates ⚠️ Basic mockup previews ✅ Template previews included ✅ WYSIWYG preview for print products
Ease of integration ✅ Lightweight SDK with fast integration and enterprise support ❌ Heavy server setup; scripting required ⚠️ SaaS API setup needed; moderate complexity ⚠️ Moderate integration via iframe/SDK ✅ API/iframe-based embedding ✅ Embed iframe/API with minimal coding
Cross-platform ✅ Web, iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, Node.js, Electron ❌ Desktop/server only ❌ SaaS web-only ⚠️ Web-first ⚠️ Web-first ⚠️ Web-first
White labeling ✅ Full control over UI/UX, theming, and plugin extensibility ⚠️ Limited; mostly branding via scripting ⚠️ Moderate template customization ✅ White-label UI and branding ✅ Strong white-label options ✅ Full white-label capabilities
Automation / AI ✅ AI-assisted design, workflow automation, print + digital outputs ⚠️ Scripting-based automation only ✅ Template automation and print workflow ⚠️ Limited ⚠️ Basic automation ✅ Template-driven automation
Scalability ✅ Enterprise-grade, multi-platform, supports high-volume deployments ✅ High-volume publishing; enterprise-ready ✅ Cloud SaaS scales for enterprise ✅ Scales for SMBs and enterprises ✅ SaaS-based, scales for online shops ✅ Enterprise SaaS with cloud scalability
Pricing Custom enterprise licensing High-cost enterprise licensing Enterprise subscription Licensing / subscription Subscription or SaaS Enterprise subscription / licensing

Choosing the right option: Where IMG.LY delivers more value

Choosing a web-to-print editor SDK depends on your company’s size, workflows, and long-term goals. Here’s a quick summary to help you choose the tool.

  • Adobe InDesign Server: Still a powerhouse for professional publishing and high-volume print workflows, but lacks an UI, requires significant infrastructure and specialized expertise.

  • CHILI GraFx: Enterprise-focused, it excels at template automation and variable data printing for marketing and retail. It’s a strong fit for enterprises that want cloud-first, template-driven automation at scale, though its web-to-print UX remains SaaS-bound.

  • Customer’s Canvas: A flexible web-to-print SDK with strong product personalization capabilities. It is ideal for print shops and SMBs, making it well-suited for mid-market companies focused on packaging and personalization workflows.

  • PrintUI: PrintUI focuses on web-to-print workflows and integrates easily into platforms that need personalized products, marketing materials, and packaging.

  • Design Huddle: Modern web-to-print solution with template-driven automation. Ideal for marketing campaigns, product personalization, and print-ready output.

So if your focus is print automation and variable data printing, solutions like CHILI GraFx, Customer’s Canvas, PrintUI, and Design Huddle Web-to-Print are strong contenders. However, if you want cross-platform editing, interactive design, and AI-enhanced workflows among other features, IMG.LY is the best choice. Read on to know more.

Why IMG.LY is the best web-to-print editor SDK

Among all the options, IMG.LY CE.SDK offers the most complete package. It goes beyond being just a web-to-print tool by supporting digital design, packaging, and personalization on every major platform.

CE.SDK combines interactive editing with automation, variable data printing, and AI-driven enhancements, giving your team the flexibility to serve end users and streamline backend workflows in one stack. With frequent updates, enterprise-grade support, and a scalable architecture, our SDK gives companies a foundation that grows with your business instead of holding you back.

We are already helping startups, SMBs, and large enterprises alike with 500M+ video and photo creations each month! Check out our case studies to see some of these success stories in action.

Or, get in touch with our team, get AI plugins for CE.SDK and start using it today!