Cloudinary vs Uploadcare

A simpler Cloudinary alternative for fast-moving developers

Uploadcare helps developers implement end-to-end file handling without unnecessary complexities.

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Cloudinary
  • Modern-looking file uploader
  • Clear, up-to-date documentation
  • Implementation in minutes, not days

Developer teams choose Uploadcare for its simplicity

Our clients

  • Zapier
  • UserTesting
  • Sequoia
  • Shogun
  • PandaDoc
  • Soundcloud

Complex tools mean slower deployment and missed deadlines

Cloudinary offers a rich set of features for file handling — but its steep learning curve and complex APIs cost teams precious development time.

  • Implementation takes longer than with alternatives that have similar advanced features right out of the box.

  • It’s hard to navigate and find what you need in their documentation.

  • New integration costs appear as you scale.

Solve uploading, storage, processing, and delivery with Uploadcare

Write less code, ship more features
Most teams implement a branded upload widget in under a day.

Crystal-clear documentation
Find what you need and start coding immediately.

Pay for only what you need
Get image processing, image optimization, and CDN without enterprise bloat.

Solve uploading, storage, processing, and delivery with Uploadcare

  • Launch faster with ready-made libraries

    Integrate in minutes with any front-end libraries, back-end SDKs, mobile widgets, WYSIWYG editors, and CMS products.

  • Get a file uploader with built-in image and video editing

    Enable users to upload their files from various sources and transform images and videos during upload.

  • Build your perfect uploader with flexible widget blocks

    Customize our pre-built widget or use individual components to create your own upload experience. Full source code is included.

  • Secure uploads included in all plans

    Cloudinary charges up to $525/mo for malware detection. Uploadcare includes malware detection in all plans.

  • Accessibility first — WCAG 2.1 compliant out of the box

    Enjoy ongoing support for screen readers, keyboard navigation, and color contrast requirements without extra development.

  • Free, built-in adaptive image component

    Have all your optimized images formatted and resized automatically, with a single line of code. Always display the best image for users, based on their device.

  • Documentation that developers love

    Quickly find what you need with clear, practical documentation. No digging through complex technical specs or outdated guides.

  • Enterprise-grade compliance without enterprise pricing

    Uploadcare is SOC2, GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA compliant.

Cloudinary vs Uploadcare

Head-to-head comparison

Cloudinary
Uploadcare
File uploads and digital assets
Uploader UI
Outdated look and feel
Modern, user friendly interface
Social sources

Limited
No support for Google Photos, Facebook, or
Microsoft OneDrive

Supports 10+ sources, including Google Photos,
Facebook, and Microsoft OneDrive

Built-in image editor

Separate widget required;
mobile experience not supported

Integrated with the uploader
and mobile-friendly

Upload widget customization

Limited
CSS might break the widget; customization is
available only via coding; only Google
fonts supported

Extensive and user-friendly
Deep CSS customization of fonts and colors,
supports OKLCH; customize via GUI (no
coding required)

Web accessibility

Limited
WCAG Level A compliant (minimal level);
keyboard navigation only

Top tier
WCAG 2.1 compliant, with color contrast,
screen reader support and more

Image processing
On-the-fly transformations
Responsive images
Smart cropping
Face detection
Background removal
Requires paid add-on
Included
Image compression
Standard

Enhanced performance
Better than Cloudinary in 9 out of 10 cases

Content Delivery Network & CDN delivery
Global CDN
Custom CDN domain

Requires Advanced plan
Starts at $224/mo

Available with Business plan
Starts at $199/mo

Adaptive bitrate streaming
Developer experience
Documentation
Difficult to navigate
Clear, well-organized
API design
Complex to implement
Simple and intuitive
Python library
Basic
Built by core developers
Security & compliance
Malware detection

Requires paid add-on

Included with all plans

HIPAA compliance

Not available

Available

GDPR, SOC2, and CCPA compliance

Developer Experience

Ship better products faster with Uploadcare

Uploadcare dramatically simplifies file uploading widget implementation with React-iconReact wrapper. This packaged component allows reuse and sharing of code logic across your app, making the codebase more manageable and less prone to errors. This leads to a better developer experience and, ultimately, a more competitive product.

Time to implement1 h
import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';

export const App = () => {
  const uploadWidgetRef = useRef(null);
  const uploadButtonRef = useRef(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    const initializeUploadWidget = () => {
      if (window.cloudinary && uploadButtonRef.current) {
        // Create upload widget
        uploadWidgetRef.current =
        window.cloudinary.createUploadWidget({
            cloudName: 'demo'
          },
          (error, result) => {
            if (!error && result && result.event === 'success') {
              console.log('Upload successful:', result.info);
            }
          }
        );

        // Add click event to open widget
        const handleUploadClick = () => {
          if (uploadWidgetRef.current) {
            uploadWidgetRef.current.open();
          }
        };

        const buttonElement = uploadButtonRef.current;
        buttonElement.addEventListener('click', handleUploadClick);

        // Cleanup
        return () => {
          buttonElement.removeEventListener('click', handleUploadClick);
        };
      }
    };

    initializeUploadWidget();
  }, []);

  return (
    <button
      ref={uploadButtonRef}
      id="upload_widget"
      className="cloudinary-button"
    >
      Upload
    </button>
  );
};
Time to implement15 min
import { FileUploaderRegular } from "@uploadcare/react-uploader";
import "@uploadcare/react-uploader/core.css";

export const App = () => (
  <FileUploaderRegular
    pubkey="demopublickey"
    onCommonUploadSuccess={(result) => {
      console.log("Upload successful:", result);
    }}
  />
);

Switch from Cloudinary for free

The Uploadcare team handles the entire process of moving your data from Cloudinary. You get:

  • Free data migration

  • No service interruption

  • Support available during the process

  • Help converting your configurations

  • 1. Export your data
    Export your files and configurations from Cloudinary. We’ll guide you through this step.
  • 2. We move everything
    Our team handles the migration while your service continues running. No interruptions.
  • 3. Test and verify
    Review the migration in a staging environment before going live. We’ll help you verify everything works.

Try Uploadcare free for 14 days

Free migration support
Cancel anytime

Deploy in minutes.

Cloudinary vs Uploadcare

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does digital asset migration typically take?

Most migrations from Cloudinary to Uploadcare are completed within a week. The exact time depends on your data volume and configuration complexity. Our team works with you to ensure a smooth transition with zero downtime.

Will my existing URLs break after migration?

No. We'll help you set up proper redirects so all your existing image URLs continue working while you transition to Uploadcare.

What happens to my existing image transformations?

We'll help convert your Cloudinary transformation parameters to Uploadcare's format. Uploadcare offers direct equivalents for the most common image transformations.

Do I need to change my code for image and video optimization?

Some code changes will be needed to switch to Uploadcare's SDK. However, our documentation provides clear guidance and our support team is available to help with the transition to our Cloudinary alternative.

What about my existing credit?

You can continue using Cloudinary while testing Uploadcare. Once you're ready to switch, we'll help you time the transition to minimize any lost credits.