HrvatskiProblem 1
We cannot find files
An asset library fixes this. Air, Lingo or a well-named shared drive.
Brand OS Portal
Brandfolder and Bynder alternatives for startups.
Brandfolder and Bynder are made for big libraries. Here is what a startup can use instead, and when to grow into them.
Brandfolder and Bynder are digital asset management tools for large teams, and both ask you to get a quote. Most startups need less: Air has a free plan, Lingo and Brandkit have trials, and Canva Brand Kit works if you design in Canva.
If your real problem is that nobody makes on-brand posts and decks, not that files are lost, a brand portal with makers may help more than any file library.
By Vedran Obradović · Updated 4 November 2026
Who Brandfolder and Bynder are made for.
Brandfolder says it helps marketers and creatives manage and share all their assets and see how they perform. Its site shows "Brandfolder by Smartsheet", a guidelines product called Brandguide, and AI tagging.
Bynder calls its core an AI-powered DAM, with modules you add on, like workflow, Studio and analytics. Its pricing page shows no prices. You get a custom quote.
Both are serious tools. If you have thousands of files, many regions and a team that runs approvals, they make sense. A seed-stage team with one logo and twenty photos usually does not need that yet.
Startup-sized alternatives, side by side.
| Option | What it says it does | How to try it | Fits a startup when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air | "Air gives your library a visual, searchable home" | Free plan, no time limit | You have lots of photos and video |
| Lingo | Store, organise and share digital assets | 30-day trial | You want a simple, tidy library |
| Brandkit | Assets and guidelines behind one link | Free trial | Partners and press need your files |
| Canva Brand Kit | Logos, colours, fonts and assets in Canva | Canva Free has 1 Brand Kit with 3 colours only | Your team already makes posts in Canva |
| Corebook | Online brand guidelines with an asset library | Trial, no credit card | Rules matter as much as files |
| A shared drive | Folders you already pay for | You have it | You are under five people |
| Brand OS Portal | Brand designed by hand, plus a portal with makers | A 15-minute call | People need to make things, not just find them |
Checked on 4 November 2026 on each company's own site. Plans change often, so check again before you buy. No prices here, on purpose. Brandfolder and Bynder: checked on brandfolder.com and bynder.com.
Free tool
Ship your logo with one rule next to it.
Add your logo, pick a rule and download the guide. Your file stays on your device. Put the guide next to your logo files, wherever they live.
Name your real problem first.
Three problems look the same from far away. Each needs a different tool.
Problem 2
People use the brand wrong
Rules fix this. Short guidelines next to the files. See logo usage guidelines.
Problem 3
Nobody can make anything
Makers fix this. Templates people edit without a designer, in Canva or in a brand portal.
Brand OS Portal
Get 3 templates in your brand. Free.
Leave your email. I design them by hand and send them to you within 48 hours. It costs you nothing.
Got it. I start on yours today. Your 3 free templates reach you within 48 hours.
I write to you from [email protected]. If you do not see it, check spam.
The free start: a shared drive done right.
Before you buy anything, try this for a month.
Brand folder structure you can copy
Brand (one owner: [name])
01 Logo
acme-logo-primary-colour.svg / .png / .pdf
acme-logo-primary-white.svg / .png
acme-symbol-colour-512.png
acme-logo-clear-space-guide.png
02 Colours and fonts
colours.txt (HEX, RGB, CMYK)
fonts.txt (names and where to get them)
03 Templates
post-1080x1350, slide-16x9, one-pager-a4, email-signature
04 Photos (approved only)
05 Guidelines
brand-guidelines-latest.pdf
READ ME FIRST.txt (what is where, who to ask)More on the files in which logo files you need and how to share logo files.
Signs you are ready for Brandfolder or Bynder.
0 of 6 done
Four ticks or more? Book demos with the big tools. Fewer? Stay small, and spend the time on clear rules. Read the brand portal checklist for what good looks like.
When files are not the real problem.
Many startups say "we need a DAM" when they mean "nobody here can make a good post". A library will not fix that.
That is the job I do with Brand OS Portal. I design the brand by hand, then set up tools your team uses every day: Logo Studio, Social Studio, LinkedIn Banners and more. It is made by one person, me, so it is not a self-serve library for thousands of files.
Logo Studio
Try one Brand OS Portal tool
The right logo file, without a library.
This is a real tool from a real Brand OS Portal, on the MTG brand. Pick where the logo goes. The portal hands you the right file and size.
Straight answers.
Is there a free alternative to Brandfolder?
Air lists a free plan with no time limit. A well-named shared drive is also free and works for small teams.
Is Bynder good for small businesses?
Bynder says it serves companies of any size, and it sells by custom quote. Small teams should check if they need the modules it offers.
What is the difference between DAM and a brand portal?
A DAM stores and organises many files. A brand portal holds the brand files, the rules and makers for daily work. See what a brand portal is.
When should a startup buy a DAM?
When files, teams and approvals grow past what one person can keep tidy. The checklist on this page helps you decide.
Can I move to Brandfolder or Bynder later?
Yes. If your files are well named from day one, moving later is easy.
Does AI get your brand right? Check it free.
See what ChatGPT says about your company, and how to fix it.
Rather write to me?
Got it.
You hear from me within 2 to 8 hours.