Compare Cloudinary and ImageKit free tiers side by side. Both are media optimization CDNs, but they're sized differently.

Cloudinary vs ImageKit: Free Tier Comparison

Side-by-side comparison of free tiers, pricing changes, and stability. Catalogue dates here run to 2026-09-22.

Quick Verdict: Both are media optimization CDNs, but they're sized differently. ImageKit offers 20 GB bandwidth + 20 GB storage free. Cloudinary uses a credit system (25 credits = 25 GB bandwidth OR 25 GB storage). ImageKit is simpler to understand; Cloudinary has richer transformation features.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Cloudinary stable stable

CategoryStorage

TierFree

Verified2026-09-21

Last read2026-09-21

Stabilitystable

Changes0 recorded

Media management — 25 credits/month (1 credit = 1 GB storage OR 1 GB bandwidth OR 1K transformations), up to 3 users

ImageKit caution discovered 2026-09-05 reduced watch

CategoryStorage

TierFree

Verified2026-09-22

Last read2026-09-22

Stabilitywatch

Changes1 recorded

Real-time image and video optimization with CDN — Forever free $0 / mo. Includes: 20 GB bandwidth Monthly limit, 3 GB DAM storage Fixed limit, 500 video units Monthly limit, 650 extension units Monthly limit, 2 users Fixed limit, 500 purge requests Monthly limit.

Key Differences

Free tier clarity: ImageKit gives clear limits: 20 GB bandwidth, 20 GB storage, unlimited transformations. Cloudinary uses 25 credits/month where 1 credit = 1 GB storage OR 1 GB bandwidth OR 1K transformations — confusing at first.
Transformations: Cloudinary has a deeper transformation API (AI-based cropping, background removal, video effects). ImageKit covers the core transformations well but with less AI.
Video support: Both handle video, but Cloudinary's video transformation capabilities are more mature.
CDN performance: ImageKit uses a multi-CDN approach (AWS CloudFront + others). Cloudinary uses its own CDN infrastructure.

Pricing Change History

Cloudinary

No recorded pricing changes for Cloudinary.

ImageKit

reduced discovered 2026-09-05 · effective date unknown high impact

The free tier now offers 3 GB of DAM storage and 500 video units instead of 20 GB storage and 1,000 video processing units. Bandwidth is 20 GB. Source ↗

Our Recommendation

Choose Cloudinary if you need advanced AI-powered transformations, rich video processing, or have complex media workflows.

Choose ImageKit if you want straightforward pricing, generous bandwidth, and unlimited image transformations without worrying about credit math.

📚 Browse all Storage services with free tiers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cloudinary or ImageKit better for free tier?

Both are media optimization CDNs, but they're sized differently. ImageKit offers 20 GB bandwidth + 20 GB storage free. Cloudinary uses a credit system (25 credits = 25 GB bandwidth OR 25 GB storage). ImageKit is simpler to understand; Cloudinary has richer transformation features.

What is Cloudinary's free tier?

Cloudinary offers a Free plan: Media management — 25 credits/month (1 credit = 1 GB storage OR 1 GB bandwidth OR 1K transformations), up to 3 users

What is ImageKit's free tier?

ImageKit offers a Free plan: Real-time image and video optimization with CDN — Forever free $0 / mo. Includes: 20 GB bandwidth Monthly limit, 3 GB DAM storage Fixed limit, 500 video units Monthly limit, 650 extension units Monthl...

Should I choose Cloudinary or ImageKit?

Choose Cloudinary if you need advanced AI-powered transformations, rich video processing, or have complex media workflows. Choose ImageKit if you want straightforward pricing, generous bandwidth, and unlimited image transformations without worrying about credit math.

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