IMG.LY vs. WeVideo Alternative

IMG.LY vs. WeVideo

See why IMG.LY is a great alternative to WeVideo for platforms building their own editing experience - not just embedding a video tool. IMG.LY provides an embeddable creative engine with deep customization, automation, and native cross-platform performance, giving product teams full control over UI, workflow, data, and deployment.

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. WeVideo at a Glance

Primary Use Case

SDK for embedding design, video, and photo editing capabilities directly into applications for customized creative workflows. Enables product builders to integrate editing as native feature with full programmatic control.

Cloud-based white-label video editing platform for embedding pre-built video creation tools into LMS, training platforms, and educational applications. Focuses on learner-generated content and interactive video experiences.

IMG.LY delivers both Starter Kits & fully customizable creative editing solutions for automated and hands-on workflows. WeVideo provides ready-made video editor.

Target Audience

Software developers, product teams, and enterprises building creative applications (social media platforms, marketing tools, e-commerce customization, DAM systems). Targets organizations requiring deep customization and automation capabilities.

Educational institutions, corporate training programs, LMS providers, and organizations prioritizing ease of use over customization. Designed for schools, universities, and businesses creating learner-generated video content.

IMG.LY targets enterprises needing bespoke solutions. WeVideo serves education-focused platforms seeking turnkey integration.

Technical Approach

Native SDK integration with client-side, server-side, and hybrid deployment options. Developers embed rendering engine and build custom interfaces using headless APIs or pre-built UI components with full source code control.

SaaS platform delivered through iframe embedding with managed cloud infrastructure. Organizations embed WeVideo's hosted editor interface with visual customization rather than architectural control.

IMG.LY provides SDK for native integration. WeVideo delivers managed platform accessed via embedding.

Advanced Video Editing

Timeline-based multi-track editing with frame-accurate control. Supports trimming, splitting, multi-clip merging, transitions, filters, effects, audio mixing, keyframe animations, blur, speed controls, and programmatic composition via APIs.

Timeline-based editing with trimming, transitions, effects, green screen, audio editing, screen recording, and motion titles. Optimized for accessibility with simplified workflows targeting educational and training content creation.

Both offer comprehensive video editing. IMG.LY emphasizes programmatic control and API-driven workflows. WeVideo focuses on user-friendly interface for educators.

Advanced Design Editing

Complete design editing engine with vector graphics, raster manipulation, text styling with custom fonts, shape tools, color grading, blending modes, layer management, CMYK and Pantone support for print production.

Limited to basic image editing within video workflow. Supports text overlays, graphics, title creation, and brand overlays. Not positioned as standalone design tool beyond video enhancement elements.

IMG.LY provides production-grade graphic design capabilities. WeVideo offers supplementary design tools for video projects.

Templating & Dynamic Editing

Advanced templating with variable placeholders, lockable elements, role-based permissions, template inheritance, versioning, and automated content fitting. Templates created programmatically via API or through UI with dynamic population from any data source.

Template library with pre-built video templates accessible through editor interface. Templates designed for educational content patterns. Limited visibility into programmatic template generation or dynamic variable population capabilities.

Both support templates. IMG.LY enables API-driven dynamic template population. WeVideo provides curated template library for manual use.

Creative Automation

Purpose-built for automation through headless APIs and server-side rendering. Generate thousands of design variations programmatically from templates, integrate with marketing automation platforms, enable batch processing and webhook-driven content generation.

Partial - XML template rendering API mentioned for enterprise cloud-based video rendering. Primary focus remains interactive editing rather than automation workflows. Limited public documentation on programmatic generation capabilities.

IMG.LY positions automation as core capability. WeVideo is primarily interactive with limited automation for enterprise clients.

AI Capabilities

Modular plugin architecture with pre-configured integrations for Anthropic, OpenAI, 11labs, and Fal.ai. Supports text-to-image, style transfer, background removal, object manipulation, text-to-speech, image-to-video generation. Model-agnostic with custom integration support.

AI-assisted features including automatic subtitle generation, background noise reduction, and auto-generated interactive questions for learner engagement. AI capabilities focused on accessibility and educational content enhancement.

Both offer AI features. IMG.LY emphasizes creative AI for content generation and manipulation. WeVideo applies AI to accessibility and learning analytics.

Asset Management

Flexible integration with any DAM system or cloud storage solution. Custom asset library implementation with built-in upload capabilities. Pre-built integrations include Getty Images, Unsplash, and Airtable. Supports extensive file formats for diverse workflows.

Built-in asset library with stock media assets including video, images, and audio. Stock media integration and content import/export with metadata preservation designed for educational content organization and sharing.

Both provide asset management. IMG.LY connects to custom external DAM systems. WeVideo provides managed internal asset library.

User Interface

Component-based architecture (Canvas, Dock, Inspector Bar, Navigation Bar, Canvas Menu) that can be repositioned, removed, or customized via APIs. Headless mode enables completely custom UI implementation or UI-less automation workflows.

Standard pre-built editor interface with limited configuration options. Organizations receive WeVideo's existing UI with visual branding customization rather than interface design control. Consistent experience across implementations.

IMG.LY offers granular UI control from theming to complete rebuilds. WeVideo delivers fixed interface with styling adjustments.

White-labeling

Full white-labeling with zero IMG.LY branding. Custom theming, complete internationalization, UI reorganization, and ability to implement fully custom interfaces via headless APIs. Partner branding throughout entire experience.

White-label branding with custom visual styling and SSO authentication. Partner branding replaces WeVideo identity in embedded implementations. Visual customization matches partner aesthetics while maintaining standard interface layout.

Both offer white-labeling. IMG.LY provides architectural-level customization. WeVideo offers visual branding of fixed platform.

Interactive Editing

Real-time interactive editing with immediate visual feedback. Frame-accurate timeline scrubbing, live preview during adjustments, undo/redo operations, and responsive UI components. Supports collaborative editing through custom implementations.

Real-time interactive editing with collaboration features. Interactive video capabilities including embedded questions, analytics tracking, and engagement metrics. Designed for instructor-learner and peer collaboration workflows.

Both support interactive editing. IMG.LY focuses on responsive creative controls. WeVideo emphasizes educational interactivity and learning engagement.

Component Architecture

Modular component-based architecture with independently reusable UI elements and rendering engine. Developers compose custom interfaces from provided components or build entirely custom solutions using headless engine APIs.

Monolithic platform interface delivered as integrated solution. Standard editor provided as complete package rather than composable components. Limited ability to select or rearrange functional modules independently.

IMG.LY uses composable architecture enabling custom implementations. WeVideo delivers integrated platform as unified solution.

Cross-Platform Support

Native SDKs for web (React, Vue, Angular, Svelte, Next.js), iOS (Swift), Android (Kotlin), React Native, Flutter, Desktop (Electron), and Server (Node.js). Consistent API across platforms with platform-optimized implementations.

Web-based editor accessed through browsers on multiple devices including iOS, Android, Chromebook, and Windows. Responsive design adapts to screen sizes. No native mobile SDKs but cross-device browser access.

IMG.LY supports native cross-platform development with platform-specific SDKs. WeVideo provides universal browser-based access.

Customizability

Complete customization from theming existing UI components to building entirely custom interfaces. Full control over editing workflows, exposed features, toolbar arrangements, and user experience patterns. Headless mode for maximum flexibility.

Limited - White-label visual branding with custom styling matching partner aesthetics. SSO integration and branded UI elements. Customization constrained to appearance of existing interface without rebuilding functionality or workflows.

IMG.LY enables comprehensive customization including functional workflows. WeVideo customizes appearance within fixed functional framework.

Extensibility

Plugin architecture for extending functionality with custom tools, filters, and integrations. Open plugin code allows custom model integration. API-first design enables integration with external services, DAM systems, and automation platforms.

Limited public information on extensibility. Platform provides standard feature set through managed service. Enterprise implementations may support custom integrations but extensibility not emphasized as core capability.

IMG.LY emphasizes extensibility through plugins and APIs. WeVideo delivers standardized feature set with limited extension points.

Ease of Integration

Integration in 2 days. Requires development resources for SDK integration and UI implementation. Organizations invest engineering time (days to weeks) for customization benefits and long-term architectural control. Suitable for teams with technical capacity.

Simple - Fast deployment with pre-built interface and managed infrastructure. Integration primarily embedding scripts and configuring branding. Dedicated integration team supports implementation under two weeks with minimal technical requirements.

Both are fast to integrate. IMG.LY offers Starter Kits for quick integration and an option for deep customization. WeVideo offers rapid deployment optimized for speed over customization.

Rendering Approach

Flexible rendering with client-side in-browser processing, server-side rendering via Node.js, or hybrid approaches. Organizations control infrastructure and processing location. Supports offline-capable client-side rendering after initial load.

Cloud-based server-side rendering with all processing on WeVideo's managed infrastructure. Requires internet connectivity for editing and rendering operations. No client-side or on-premise rendering options available.

IMG.LY offers deployment flexibility with multiple rendering strategies. WeVideo operates exclusively as cloud-rendered managed service.

Mobile Performance

Native mobile SDKs for iOS (Swift/Objective-C) and Android (Kotlin/Java) with platform-optimized implementations. Native API bindings and consistent rendering engine provide performance advantages over web-based solutions.

Moderate - Responsive web interface accessible through mobile browsers. Performance dependent on browser capabilities and network connectivity. No native mobile apps but mobile-optimized web experience.

IMG.LY delivers native mobile performance through platform SDKs. WeVideo provides browser-based mobile access with web performance characteristics.

Production Readiness

Enterprise-grade solution powering 500+ million creations per month. Battle-tested across web, mobile, and server deployments. Comprehensive error handling, validation, and production-level monitoring capabilities.

Production-ready platform serving educational institutions and enterprises globally. Proven reliability for LMS integrations and white-label implementations. SLA guarantees for enterprise customers with managed infrastructure reliability.

Both offer production-ready solutions. IMG.LY emphasizes volume scalability. WeVideo highlights managed service reliability.

Scalability

Highly scalable with flexible deployment supporting client-side distribution (load distributed to user devices) or server-side batch processing. Organizations scale infrastructure independently. Suitable for high-volume automated generation scenarios.

Scalable managed cloud infrastructure handling institutional deployments. WeVideo manages scaling of backend resources transparently. Suitable for growing educational organizations without infrastructure management burden.

Both scale effectively. IMG.LY enables distributed client-side scaling. WeVideo handles scaling through managed infrastructure.

Storage & Data Ownership

Complete data ownership with flexible storage integration. Organizations control where files are stored (own servers, cloud storage, or DAM systems). No vendor lock-in for content storage. SDK processes data without requiring IMG.LY-hosted storage.

Limited - Content stored on WeVideo's managed infrastructure. Organizations access content through WeVideo platform. Export capabilities for content portability but primary storage managed by WeVideo with potential vendor dependency.

IMG.LY provides complete storage control and data ownership. WeVideo manages storage as part of platform service.

Offline Capabilities

Client-side SDK functions offline after initial load for web and native mobile apps. Users can edit and compose content without internet connectivity. Export and cloud features require connectivity but core editing functions remain available offline.

Requires internet connectivity for all operations. Cloud-based architecture necessitates active connection for editing, rendering, and accessing content. No offline editing capabilities due to server-side processing model.

IMG.LY supports offline editing after initial SDK load. WeVideo requires continuous internet connectivity.

Clear Pricing Model

Enterprise licensing determined by usage, magnitude, platforms, and capability requirements. Free evaluation accessible for assessment.

Tiered subscription model with clear consumer pricing publicly listed. Custom pricing for white-label enterprise implementations. Educational institutions have minimum seat requirements. Enterprise pricing negotiated based on organization size and implementation scope.

Both use custom enterprise pricing for business deployments. WeVideo publishes consumer tier pricing.

Community & Support

Developer-focused resources including comprehensive documentation, code samples, demo repositories, and API references. Enterprise support packages with dedicated technical account management, SLAs, professional services, and priority feature requests.

Help center with platform usage guides and technical resources. Dedicated integration team for implementation. White-glove service for enterprise clients with bi-annual product training sessions. LMS-specific integration assistance focused on platform adoption.

Both offer enterprise support. IMG.LY emphasizes developer resources and technical customization support. WeVideo focuses on implementation assistance and user training.

Customizability

Fully modular, white-label solution with plugin support for tailored workflows.

Limited customization; primarily integrates Canva's existing features into external platforms.

Notes

IMG.LY allows deep customization; Canva Connect API offers limited UI customization options.

White-labeling

Completely white-label, allowing seamless integration with your branding.

Canva branding is mandatory, limiting white-labeling.

Templating & Dynamic Editing

Versatile API to modify templates programmatically, allowing dynamic text, image replacement, resizing.

No programmatic template modification, templates are static.

Custom Workflows

Fully customizable workflows; integrate with any CMS, DAM, PIM, e-commerce platforms.

Fixed workflows tied to Canva’s ecosystem; no ability to modify the editing process or integrate deeply with external systems.

Creative Automation

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

Limited support via Autofill API which populates templates with form data.

Extensibility

Fully extendable via a plugin system to add unique features.

Limited / no support for custom plugin outside of Canva’s platform.

Platform Support

Cross-platform support for Web, iOS, Android, and server-side; includes offline capabilities.

Web-based, online-only, no offline support.

Privacy

Client side processing and offline support ensures data control and privacy compliance.

Requires hosting data on Canva’s servers, no on-premise option.

Openness & File Compatibility

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

No ability to import external design files (e.g., PSD, AI, INDD). Only exports finished designs as PDFs, PNGs, etc.

Storage & Data Ownership

Full control over design storage, can be hosted on your servers or infrastructure, ensuring data privacy and ownership.

User designs are stored on Canva’s servers; users must have a Canva account to create or edit designs.

Web2Print Designer

Elevate your Web2Print application with best-in-class Design Editor.

Learn More Open Showcase

Creative Automation

Automate & scale content creation with ease.

Learn More Open Showcase

Variable Data Printing

Enable mass-personalization in your design & print workflows.

Learn More Open Showcase

Photo Prints

Provide seamless design experience and inspire users with easily personalized templates.

Learn More Open Showcase

Print Personalization

Streamline personalization for your print products.

Learn More Open Showcase

Apparel Designer

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

Learn More Open Showcase

FAQs

What is the best Canva Connect alternative?

IMG.LY is a great alternative to Canva Connect API, offering a highly customizable design and editing experience that can be embedded into apps. It supports features like flexible template management, and seamless integration with existing workflows, making it a strong choice for businesses looking to offer design tools within their platforms.

How is IMG.LY different from Canva Connect API?

IMG.LY offers a comprehensive SDK that enables businesses to integrate design and video editing capabilities directly into their platforms, providing full customization and control over the user experience. In contrast, Canva is a standalone design tool with a fixed set of features and limited customization options.

Can IMG.LY be used to build a Canva-like experience?

Yes, IMG.LY’s SDK allows developers to create a Canva-like experience within their own application, offering complete UI customization, template support, and multi-user collaboration features.

Does IMG.LY offer a plugin system for extending functionality like Canva?

Yes, IMG.LY is fully extensible via a plugin system, allowing businesses to add unique features tailored to their specific use cases. This level of extensibility is not available in Canva, which offers a fixed set of features.

Can IMG.LY integrate with third-party asset libraries like Canva?

Yes, IMG.LY allows integration with external asset providers like Unsplash and Getty Images.

Does IMG.LY offer pre-made templates like Canva?

Yes, IMG.LY offers pre-made templates but businesses can create and manage their own template libraries.

Which solution is better for enterprises looking for a white-label editor?

IMG.LY is the better choice for enterprises looking for a white-label editor because it allows full branding and UI customization, whereas Canva does not offer a fully white-label solution.

What are the customization options in IMG.LY vs Canva?

IMG.LY offers deep customization, including UI modifications, feature toggles, and branding. Canva has limited customization, mainly around design elements but not its core interface.

Can IMG.LY handle print-ready designs as Canva does?

Yes, IMG.LY supports high-resolution exports, including CMYK color profiles and print-ready PDFs, making it suitable for print applications.

IMG.LY vs. WeVideo

What makes IMG.LY the best WeVideo alternative?

Embedded SDK, Not a Hosted Platform

Full Creative Engine for Design + Video

Templates That Power UI and Automation

Full Control of Storage, Data, and Deployment

What Our Clients Say About Us

IMG.LY vs. WeVideo at a Glance

Features

IMG.LY

WeVideo

Notes

Primary Use Case

Target Audience

Technical Approach

Advanced Video Editing

Advanced Design Editing

Templating & Dynamic Editing

Creative Automation

AI Capabilities

Asset Management

User Interface

White-labeling

Interactive Editing

Component Architecture

Cross-Platform Support

Customizability

Extensibility

Ease of Integration

Rendering Approach

Mobile Performance

Production Readiness

Scalability

Storage & Data Ownership

Offline Capabilities

Clear Pricing Model

Community & Support

IMG.LY

Canva

Customizability

Notes

White-labeling

Templating & Dynamic Editing

Custom Workflows

Creative Automation

Extensibility

Platform Support

Privacy

Openness & File Compatibility

Storage & Data Ownership

Everything you need

Key Capabilities

Editing

Adjustments

Effect & Blur

Element Snapping

Blend Modes & Grouping

Undo & Redo

Printing

PDF/X Export

Cutout Lines

CMYK/ Spot color support

Templating

Design Templates

Text Variables

Placeholders & Lockable Designs

Configurable Presets

Customizability

Build Custom UIs

Theming

Media Libraries

Toolbar Customization

Internationalization

Export Options

Check Out Other Use Cases

Web2Print Designer

Creative Automation

Variable Data Printing

Photo Prints

Print Personalization