IMG.LY vs. Polotno

Looking for full customization, scalability, and enterprise-grade features? With IMG.LY, you get it all. See why CreativeEditor SDK is the best alternative to Polotno.

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500M+

video and photo creations are powered by IMG.LY every month
HP
Shopify
Reuters
Hootsuite
Semrush
Shutterfly
Sprout Social
One.com
Constant Contact
Your partner in crime

What makes IMG.LY the best Polotno alternative?

Turn-key Solutions

Pre-built editors for specific use cases such as print, photo editing, social media design and more.

Extensibility & Plugin System

Supports custom plugins and extensibility, allowing businesses to tailor the editor to specific use cases.

Advanced Video Composition

Mix videos, images, overlays, animations, and voice-overs with full creative control.

Creative Automation & Headless Mode

Offers headless mode for programmatic design generation, batch processing, and automation.

What Our Clients Say About Us

IMG.LY’s solution engineers did a deep dive on our business case and helped us implement a custom print kiosk UI.

André Albrecht
Digital Solution Manager
 @ 
Brother

Our customers create over a million personalized postcards each year choosing from over hundreds of templates with IMG.LY’s SDK. It’s the only solution that allows us to build our own specialized, on-brand UI that integrates seamlessly with our platform.

Jeanine Zaalberg
Product Manager
 @ 
Swiss Post

Our app has photo-editing at the very core of its experience and the editor has been invaluable in making that vision happen. There are no other tools on the market up to the quality of PE.SDK.

Toby Green
Lead Developer
 @ 
Elbi

IMG.LY vs. Polotno at a Glance

Features

IMG.LY

Polotno

Turnkey Solutions for Different Use Cases

Pre-built editors for video, social, and marketing content.

Does not offer pre-configured, out-of-the-box solutions for specific industry.

Framework & Platform Support

Cross-platform support including Web, iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, macOS, Electron, and Node.js.

Web-based with integration capabilities for React, Vue.js, and Angular frameworks.

Plugin System

Robust plugin system allowing developers to extend functionality and add custom features.

Limited extension capabilities; lacks a dedicated plugin system.

Advanced Templating Workflows

Full API access to modify templates programmatically with placeholders and constraints, allowing dynamic text, image replacement, resizing.

Basic templating system with JSON-based formats, but lacks advanced automation capabilities.

Creative Automation

Supports dynamic content insertion, batch processing, and generative AI for automation.

Allows programmatic design generation but with limited automation features.

Advanced Video Editing Features

Advanced video editing with automation for dynamic content creation and multi-track editing for video, images, audio, and overlays.

Beta support for video editing, doesn’t support multi-track video editing.

Openness & File Compatibility

Can import Photoshop (PSD), InDesign (INDD), and Illustrator (AI) files, and export scene files for saving work-in-progress.

Uses a proprietary JSON format, limiting compatibility with standard design software.

Asset Libraries

Easily integrates third-party libraries like Unsplash and Getty Images for streamlined asset management.

No built-in support for third-party asset libraries; requires custom implementation.

Scalable Solutions & Engineering

A mature company with a larger engineering and support team, providing dedicated solution engineers and faster feature delivery.

A smaller, independent project with limited resources, potentially slower feature development.

IMG.LY

Polotno

Turnkey Solutions for Different Use Cases

Pre-built editors for video, social, and marketing content.

Does not offer pre-configured, out-of-the-box solutions for specific industry.

Framework & Platform Support

Cross-platform support including Web, iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, macOS, Electron, and Node.js.

Web-based with integration capabilities for React, Vue.js, and Angular frameworks.

Plugin System

Robust plugin system allowing developers to extend functionality and add custom features.

Limited extension capabilities; lacks a dedicated plugin system.

Advanced Templating Workflows

Full API access to modify templates programmatically with placeholders and constraints, allowing dynamic text, image replacement, resizing.

Basic templating system with JSON-based formats, but lacks advanced automation capabilities.

Creative Automation

Supports dynamic content insertion, batch processing, and generative AI for automation.

Allows programmatic design generation but with limited automation features.

Advanced Video Editing Features

Advanced video editing with automation for dynamic content creation and multi-track editing for video, images, audio, and overlays.

Beta support for video editing, doesn’t support multi-track video editing.

Openness & File Compatibility

Can import Photoshop (PSD), InDesign (INDD), and Illustrator (AI) files, and export scene files for saving work-in-progress.

Uses a proprietary JSON format, limiting compatibility with standard design software.

Asset Libraries

Easily integrates third-party libraries like Unsplash and Getty Images for streamlined asset management.

No built-in support for third-party asset libraries; requires custom implementation.

Scalable Solutions & Engineering

A mature company with a larger engineering and support team, providing dedicated solution engineers and faster feature delivery.

A smaller, independent project with limited resources, potentially slower feature development.

Everything you need

Key Capabilities

Learn more about some of the functionalities of IMG.LY’s SDK

Editing

Transform

A globe
Web
Mobile

Crop, flip, and rotate with ease. Preset crop ratios to common formats.

Filters

A globe
Web
Mobile

Over 60 state-of-the-art filters allow users to control the style and mood of their creations.

Adjustments

A globe
Web
Mobile

Fine-tune designs with an exhaustive set of adjustment operations such as brightness and contrast.

Effect & Blur

A globe
Web
Mobile

Add a unique mood to designs with effects & blur.

Element Snapping

A globe
Web
Mobile

Snap stickers and text to control points for more precise placements.

Blend Modes & Grouping

A globe
Web
Mobile

Define the blending behavior and grouping.

Undo & Redo

A globe
Web
Mobile

Allow users to undo and redo all editing operations.

Printing

Cutout Lines

A globe
Web
Mobile

Create and customize cutout shapes for web-to-print.

CMYK/ Spot color support

A globe
Web
Mobile

Integrate CMYK and Pantone color spaces, customized color libraries, including your brand's colors.

Templating

Design Templates

A globe
Web
Mobile

Create role based design templates to jumpstart users’ creativity.

Text Variables

A globe
Web
Mobile

Enable mass personalization and creative automation by embedding variables.

Placeholders & Lockable Designs

A globe
Web
Mobile

Constrain templates to guide your users’ design and ensure brand consistency.

Configurable Presets

A globe
Web
Mobile

Enforce a consistent aesthetic across all creations by using preset filters, adjustments, fonts, and crop ratios.

Customizability

Build Custom UIs

A globe
Web
Mobile

Use the headless API powering all creative operations to implement an entirely custom UI.

Theming

A globe
Web
Mobile

Change the editor theme to fit seamlessly with your app.

Media Libraries

A globe
Web
Mobile

Set up custom libraries that are easily sortable.

Toolbar Customization

A globe
Web
Mobile

Reposition toolbar elements, change icons, or rename tools to fit your use case.

Internationalization

A globe
Web
Mobile

Add support for additional languages, and customize any button label.

Export Options

A globe
Web
Mobile

Export designs in JPG, PNG, or PDF with custom quality, page ranges, and dimensions.

And there’s more

Check Out Other Use Cases

Learn more about related social media solutions.
Web2Print Designer

Web2Print Designer

Elevate your Web2Print application with best-in-class Design Editor.
Learn MoreOpen Showcase
Creative Automation

Creative Automation

Automate & scale content creation with ease.
Learn MoreOpen Showcase
Variable Data Printing

Variable Data Printing

Enable mass-personalization in your design & print workflows.
Learn MoreOpen Showcase
Photo Prints

Photo Prints

Provide seamless design experience and inspire users with easily personalized templates.
Learn MoreOpen Showcase
Print Personalization

Print Personalization

Streamline personalization for your print products.
Learn MoreOpen Showcase
Apparel Designer

Apparel Designer

Whether t-shirts, hoodies or caps, build for any use case, deploy on any platform.
Learn MoreOpen Showcase

More from IMG.LY

IMG.LY for Brands & Agencies

Automate design processes and generate on-brand marketing materials with ease.
Learn More

IMG.LY for Marketing Tech

Scale and automate any creative workflow.
Learn More

Camera SDK

Make in-app recording easy with our Camera SDK.
Learn More

Photo Editor SDK

Bring beautiful photo editing to your applications.
Learn More

Creative Editor SDK

Empower your users with an easy-to-use design editor.
Learn More

IMG.LY for Social Media

Unleash your users' creativity & leverage user generated content.
Learn More

IMG.LY for DAM

Empower users to create, collaborate , and automate design tasks in your app.
Learn More

Video Editor SDK

Powerful video editor for your iOS, Android, and web applications.
Learn More

More to discover

Explore Our Demos

See how IMG.LY looks and feels.
Check out our
demos

Ready to Connect?

Reach out to our sales team or start a free trial.

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FAQs

What is the best Polotno alternative?

IMG.LY is a strong alternative to Polotno, providing a full-featured design and media editor with extensive customization capabilities. It allows developers to embed a flexible design experience into their applications, supporting images, text, and layered compositions while offering an intuitive user interface.

What are the main differences between Polotno and IMG.LY?

Polotno is an open-source JavaScript framework for building design editors, while IMG.LY is a feature-rich, enterprise-ready SDK for creative editing.

Does IMG.LY offer more features than Polotno?

Yes, IMG.LY provides more advanced features like video editing, AI-powered design tools, and multi-user collaboration.

How do the templating workflows of IMG.LY and Polotno compare?

IMG.LY provides full API access to modify templates programmatically with placeholders and constraints, allowing dynamic text and image replacement and resizing. Polotno offers a basic templating system with JSON-based formats but lacks advanced automation capabilities.

What creative automation features are available in IMG.LY?

IMG.LY supports dynamic content insertion, batch processing, and generative AI for automation, enhancing efficiency in content creation. Polotno allows programmatic design generation but with limited automation features.

How does IMG.LY's asset library integration compare to Polotno's?

IMG.LY easily integrates third-party asset libraries like Unsplash and Getty Images for streamlined asset management, enhancing the content creation process. Polotno does not offer built-in support for third-party asset libraries, requiring custom implementation to achieve similar functionality.

What are the key differences between IMG.LY and Polotno in terms of platform support?

IMG.LY offers cross-platform support, including Web, iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter, macOS, Electron, and Node.js, ensuring consistent rendering and interoperability across various platforms. Polotno is primarily web-based with integration capabilities for React, Vue.js, and Angular frameworks.

How does the extensibility and plugin system of IMG.LY compare to Polotno?

IMG.LY supports a robust plugin system, allowing businesses to tailor the editor to specific use cases by adding custom features and functionalities. In contrast, Polotno has limited extension capabilities and lacks a dedicated plugin system.

What advanced video composition features does IMG.LY offer?

IMG.LY enables mixing videos, images, overlays, animations, and voice-overs with full creative control, providing advanced video composition capabilities. Polotno offers beta support for video editing but does not support multi-track video editing.

Can IMG.LY and Polotno import and export design files from standard design software?

IMG.LY can import design files from Photoshop (PSD), InDesign (INDD), and Illustrator (AI), and export scene files for saving work-in-progress, ensuring seamless integration with existing design workflows. Polotno uses a proprietary JSON format, limiting compatibility with standard design software.

Which tool is more scalable for enterprise applications?

IMG.LY is designed for enterprise use, while Polotno is more suited for lightweight projects.

What are the key technical limitations of Polotno compared to IMG.LY?

Polotno lacks built-in UI customization, video editing, and AI-driven design automation, which IMG.LY provides.