Bynder vs Ethos - Which Brand Asset Management (BAM) Platform is Best for You?

November 25, 2024
10 min Read
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Ethos Doesn’t Support Third-Party Integrations; Bynder Does

Bynder has a primary focus on DAM. As such, it's only fitting that the platform offers third-party integrations for usability. On the other hand, Ethos is a niche platform with a focus area restricted to branding assets. The BAM tool focuses on providing the essential features needed for effective brand management without the complexities of integration.

You Can Create Multiple Brands With Ethos; With Bynder, You Cannot.

If you're just starting in the market, your primary focus will likely be on a single leading brand for your business. However, as your organization grows, you may need to manage multiple brands and sub-brands under one umbrella. With Ethos, you can have it done. But with Bynder, you’ll have to do extra chores to make it possible.

So is Ethos Right for Me?

We can’t answer that question yet, and neither can you; that is unless you try. At Ethos, we’ll support you with everything you need to set up a distinct online presence and make it global. With our 24/7 support, you’ll always have assistance when you need it. And you even have the liability to learn from best-in-class brands and elevate your brand value by making it fully cohesive.

However, even with these benefits, the best way to know if Ethos is suitable for you is to give it a try. That’s why we offer a 30-day free trial, with no credit card required! Jump on board now and experience firsthand how Ethos can elevate your brand management efforts.

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Nowadays, businesses are relying more and more on tools to establish a unique and robust digital presence. Brand Asset Management (BAM) platforms offer an effective, streamlined, and productive approach to achieving this.

These platforms empower organizations and entrepreneurs to build brand recognition, loyalty, trust, credibility, and authenticity. Although these software have been in use for quite some time now, the pandemic skyrocketed their adoption. Studies highlight that the Digital Asset Management (DAM) market is projected to reach USD 8,159 million, with an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18% from 2022 to 2030.

However, the market is flooded with such a wide option of BAM platforms that choosing the right one is quite cumbersome. In this guide, we’ll have a look at two prevalent BAM platforms, Ethos and Bynder. By the end of this guide, you’ll know the pros and cons of each platform and will be able to decide which one best suits your needs.

Bynder - What the Platform Has to Offer

Bynder was established around a decade ago as one of the pioneering Digital Asset Management (DAM) vendors in the market. Since this solution has such a long history in the market, it gives very high capabilities in Brand Asset Management and accommodates enterprise as well as mid-sized business requirements.

The added advantage is that it has thousands of big industry players, such as Spotify, Puma, Canon, and KLM. However, Bynder’s powerful features come with a learning curve, and small businesses might face challenges using the platform to its full potential.

Key Features of Bynder:

Centralized Content Repository

With Bynder, you get access to a centralized, secure hub for storing and managing digital assets. There is no need for third-party cloud storage such as Google Drive or OneDrive.

Brand Guidelines Management

You can create branding guidelines with Bynder that help maintain consistency across your branding.

Customizable Templates

Say goodbye to complex niche tools and have a single platform where you can create all of your assets.

Advanced Workflow & Collaboration

The platform also supports advanced workflows with approval processes, version control, and task assignments.

Integrations with Popular Tools

Bynder integrates with a wide range of third-party applications such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Slack, Salesforce, and more.

Bynder Pricing

One of Bynder’s least attractive features is its pricing structure, which can make it less accessible for startups and small businesses. Although you can’t directly see the price tags of Bynder on their platform, research by The SMB Guide states that the pricing modules start from 450$.

Bynder’s pricing is structured into three tiers:

Digital Asset Management (DAM)

This is the basic plan and provides core features like asset storage, management, and basic collaboration tools.

DAM + Scaling Your Content Operations

This tier includes all the features from the basic DAM plan, plus additional tools for scaling content operations, such as brand guidelines, content workflows, and enhanced collaboration features.

DAM + Integrated Digital Ecosystem

The highest tier includes everything from the previous two plans, along with advanced features designed to create a more connected brand environment. This includes pre-built integrations with other popular tools and additional customization options.

Bynder also categorizes its users into three types:

  • Light Users: Can only preview assets.
  • Regular Users: Have permission to edit, upload, and download assets.
  • Heavy Users: Have admin rights, giving them full control over the platform and its settings.

So is Bynder Good for Me?

If you can afford it without compromising on your business operations, then yes—Bynder can be one of the best DAM platforms available for effective brand asset management. You can use this tool to enhance your online visibility, create emotional connections with your audience, and deliver an unparalleled user experience. However, for most users, the high price tag on Bynder would be a deterrent.

Ethos - What the Platform Has to Offer

Unlike Bynder, Ethos is a relatively fresh and innovative entry into the Brand Asset Management (BAM) industry. It was launched just recently, this year, and although it doesn’t boast a customer base of industry giants, it doesn’t certainly fall short of features.

You can see positive reviews of CEO and startups on the platforms. The best thing about Ethos is that it offers everything you’ll need for efficient branding at a lower rate. Unlike Bynder, Ethos envisions creating a setup where every business, regardless of its size, can acquire brand management tools at a fair rate. The platform’s main focuses are solopreneurs, influencers, freelancers, agencies, startup teams, and even enterprises.

Key features of Ethos:

Interactive Brand Showrooms

Ethos offers a centralized brand assets storage place where you can showcase and maintain branding best practices, including logos, colors, fonts, rules, and brand copy.

AI-Powered Brand Design

If you ever face writer’s block, Ethos’ integrated AI can assist you in crafting effective taglines, slogans, and brand copy that not only convey your brand’s personality effectively but also act as a subtle call to action and increase leads.

Live Team Brand Collaboration

Ethos enables you to invite team members and stakeholders into your brand room for real-time feedback and collaboration. You have complete control over permissions for each showroom, and you can manage access, creation, and sharing of assets effortlessly.

Simple Brand Asset Management

With Ethos, uploading your brand assets and guidelines takes just a few clicks. Maintain a cohesive brand personality across diverse platforms and easily drive new sales!

Fast Brand Audits and Education

Ethos offers valuable insights into your brand’s performance across different platforms. You can even learn from best-in-class brands and elevate your brand value by making it fully cohesive.

Ethos Pricing

Unlike Bynder, pricing is the most attractive feature of Ethos. You can set up your brand room for as low as $4 per month, and the pricing model is divided into four categories:

Influencer Plans

Starter Version: For just $4 per month, this plan includes one brand showroom.

Standard Version: This plan is designed for up to five users and provides five brand showrooms, along with access to Ethos' standard templates. And this plan costs only $14.

Premium Plan

The premium model caters to freelancers and starts at a competitive rate of only $20. It includes 50 brand showrooms, supports up to 10 users, and has a 10 MB file limit for brand assets. Premium users also gain access to custom templates, logo white-labeling, and collaborator invites, with the “Powered by Ethos” badge removed.

Growth Plan

Starting at $28, this model is ideal for aspiring agencies. It offers 100 brand showrooms, accommodates up to 250 users, and allows a 15 MB brand asset limit. Users also receive all premium features, plus custom domain whitelisting.

Enterprise Plan

Starting at $44, this plan provides the best features Ethos has to offer. You’ll enjoy unlimited brand showrooms, unlimited users, a 20 MB file limit for brand assets, and all the features from the Growth Plan.

So, is Ethos Good for Me?

Yes, absolutely. If all you’re looking for are brand management tools, then at this price, there can’t be a better platform. Ethos provides an all-in-one platform for your branding needs. You can partner with the platform, even if you’re just promoting your brand, and you can scale it endlessly to a large industry enterprise.

Ethos vs. Bynder - Basic Differences

Bynder is General; Ethos is Specific

With Ethos, you don’t get complete digital asset management (DAM) capabilities. The platform is focused on brand asset management, focuses on that area only, and excels in it. Bynder, on the other hand, primarily focuses on digital asset management. The platform is built with that purpose and is seemingly complex and harder to navigate for startups.

Ethos Provides Brand Portals; Bynder Doesn’t

With Ethos, you can have access to unlimited brand showrooms where you can display and store your branding assets, such as logos, taglines, and color schemes, along with branding guidelines. With Bynder, that necessity is not an option. But you can still pay a developer to build customizable brand portals for you.

Logo Usage Guidelines: How to Maintain Brand Integrity

A 2020 study revealed that 42% of consumers view a brand's logo as a reflection of the company's personality. A similar study conducted by Renderforest in 2021 concluded that logos are the most recognizable brand identifiers, followed closely by visual style, brand colors, and unique voice.

What is Brand Messaging?

Your brand has a face in its logo. It has a body: the business. And it also has a voice. As a business owner, you raise your brand from the ground up just like a child and watch it turn into a tremendous success. Of course, you face setbacks along the way, but you can’t afford to mess it up that bad.

5 Key Brand Message Examples for Effective Branding

Nike's "Just Do It" is a prime example of an impactful brand message. The slogan fits perfectly with the brand’s target audience: athletes. Most athletes would love to have Nike merchandise simply because the slogan “Just Do It” pushes their limits to go beyond.