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Xform vs Cloudinary

Compare image transformation services. See why image-focused projects choose Xform for simplicity and value.
Start FreeView Pricing
$9
Xform/month
vs
$89
Cloudinary/month
Save 90% with Xform
Why Switch

Why developers choose Xform over Cloudinary

If you need image transformations without the complexity (and cost) of a full media platform, Xform is your answer.
10x More Affordable
Start at $9/month instead of $89/month. Perfect for image-focused projects that don't need video features.
Unique Color Features
Extract color palettes from any image - a feature Cloudinary doesn't offer at any tier.
No Credit Math
Cloudinary's credit system is notoriously confusing. Xform's per-source pricing means you always know your costs.
No SDK Required
Just use URL parameters. No need to learn Cloudinary's SDK or integrate client libraries.
Pricing Clarity

Cloudinary's credit system vs Xform's simplicity

Understanding Cloudinary pricing requires a calculator. Xform's pricing fits in a sentence.
Cloudinary's Credit System

1 Credit equals any ONE of:

1,000 transformations1 credit
1 GB storage1 credit
1 GB bandwidth1 credit
500 SD video seconds1 credit
250 HD video seconds1 credit

Plus: different video qualities consume credits at different rates, storage and bandwidth are separate from transformations...

Xform's Simple Pricing
$9/month
per source
250,000 transformations included
All features included
No credit calculations needed
Comparison

Feature-by-feature comparison

See exactly how Xform stacks up against Cloudinary across pricing, features, and capabilities.
Featurexformmedia Cloudinary
Starting Price $9/month$89/month
Free Tier 14-day trial25k transforms OR 25GB bandwidth (forever)
Pricing Model Per source (simple)Credit system (complex)
Resize & Crop ✓✓
Smart Cropping ✓✓
AVIF Support ✓Limited (<30MP)
WebP Support ✓✓
OG Image Generation ✓✓
Color Palette Extraction ✓✗
Metadata Access ✓✓
SDK Required ✗Recommended
Direct Uploads ✗✓
S3-Compatible Sources ✓✓
Public URL Sources ✓✓
URL-Based Transformations ✓✓
Video Support ✗✓
AI Background Removal ✗✓
Adaptive Streaming ✗✓
Signed URLs
(Token authentication)
✗✓

When Cloudinary might be better

Cloudinary is a full media management platform with video transcoding, adaptive streaming, and AI features. If you need video processing, HLS/DASH streaming, or a comprehensive DAM solution, Cloudinary's premium price may be justified.

However, if your focus is image transformation, and most projects are, Xform provides everything you need at 10x less cost with simpler integration.

Ready to simplify your image workflow?

Get started with Xform today. No credit card required for the trial.
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