Filestack vs Cloudinary: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Filestack and Cloudinary comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Filestack
File upload and processing API
Best for you if:
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • Filestack is a file handling API for uploads, transformations, and delivery
- • It provides drag-and-drop uploads, image processing, and CDN delivery in one SDK
Cloudinary
Image and video management
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.8/10 vs 8.2/10)
- • You need image editing features specifically
- • Media management and delivery platform
- • Image and video optimization on the fly
| At a Glance |  Filestack |  Cloudinary |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
Best For | API Tools | Image Editing |
Rating | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| Feature | Filestack | Cloudinary |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 82 | 88 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | API ToolsWorkflow Automation | Image EditingCDN |
How Filestack and Cloudinary Compare
Filestack
File upload and processing API
Free tier available · 82/100 score
Cloudinary
Image and video management
Free tier available · 88/100 score
Filestack is a api tools tool. Cloudinary is in image editing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Filestack
Want the highest-rated option?
Filestack: 82/100. Cloudinary: 88/100.
Go with: Cloudinary
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Cloudinary
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Filestack is a api tools tool. Cloudinary is in image editing. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Cloudinary scores higher: 88/100 vs 82/100.
Key Takeaways
Cloudinary
- Higher score: 88/100 vs 82
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Filestack
- Better fit for api tools
The Bottom Line
Cloudinary (88/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Filestack or Cloudinary better?
Cloudinary scores 88/100 in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Filestack and Cloudinary used for?
Filestack: File upload and processing API. Cloudinary: Image and video management.
What does Filestack cost vs Cloudinary?
Filestack is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Cloudinary is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.