Storing files has never been the hard part of digital asset management. The hard part is finding the right version of that hero image three months after launch, understanding whether it’s actually approved, and turning it into the next deliverable without starting over.

That gap between storing a file and managing it as a brand asset is where cloud storage tools can start to buckle—but the best cloud storage for digital asset management depends on what you actually need. 

A general-purpose drive works fine for sharing a handful of files per week. Once you need governance, structured metadata, and review workflows attached to your assets, you're going to need to look at a different tool.

This guide compares six leading cloud-based platforms—Air, Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive + SharePoint, Box, and Egnyte. Here's a quick-reference overview of each platform:

Air isn't a traditional cloud drive. It's a modern DAM platform that helps creative teams organize work, approve it cleanly, and then build on what’s already approved. Assets move from in-progress concepts to approved deliverables inside one visual workspace with versions, decisions, and context preserved along the way.

Assets move from in-progress concepts to approved deliverables inside one visual workspace—no toggling between a drive, a review tool, and a spreadsheet tracker.

Standout features

• AI-powered search + Smart Tags: Search by what's in the asset—colors, objects, or even spoken dialogue in videos—instead of relying on whoever named the file.

• Version stacking: Keep every iteration bundled together in a single entry. No more "Hero_Banner_Final_v7_REAL.psd" floating alongside six near-identical siblings.

• Visual annotation + timestamped video comments: Pin feedback directly onto an image coordinate or a specific video frame. Context stays attached to the right version.

• Libraries with granular access control: Segment assets by brand, region, or campaign and control who sees what. An agency partner might access only the "Q3 Launch Toolkit" while your internal team sees everything.

• Scrubbable previews + proxy video generation: Review video, design files, and documents right in the browser—no download-wait-open cycle.

• AI editing + creative templates: Use AI editing with custom prompts and reusable creative templates to turn approved assets into channel-ready variations without bouncing into another tool.

• Access to 50+ AI image models: Generate new visual options and campaign variants from a trusted starting point while keeping the work connected to the rest of your asset history.

Strengths

• Smart Tags drive content-based discovery—search "blue background" and get results even without manual tagging.

• Version stacking eliminates duplication and keeps the approved version obvious to everyone.

• Annotations attach decisions to the right frame and version, not a separate Slack thread.

• Libraries replace duplicated "Agency X" folders with centralized, permission-controlled access.

• Approved assets stay reusable, so teams can adapt existing creative for new channels instead of recreating it from scratch.

Limitations

Teams accustomed to a traditional folder-tree drive may need an adjustment period. Air uses a library-and-board model that's visual-first, so you'll want to adopt that structure rather than mirroring a nested hierarchy.

Best for

Marketing leads running multi-channel campaigns who need fast, self-serve access to approved assets plus brand governance.

G2 Rating: 4.6/5

From a G2 review:

“I have been using Air for almost 6 months and I find it essential for storing and sharing files from my work. I am impressed by how it is organized methodically and intelligently, which is key for my work in a retail company that requires constant use of file storage.”

See Air reviews on G2

Pricing

Air offers flexible pricing plans starting with a free tier. Paid plans scale based on user count, storage needs, features and more. See Air’s Pricing for details.

Image source: Google

Google Drive is the default file storage layer inside Google Workspace, and odds are your team already uses it. For day-to-day document work—briefs, copy decks, timelines—it's hard to beat.

Standout features

• Easy internal sharing inside Workspace domains with domain-level defaults.

• Real-time co-editing for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides—useful for briefs, content calendars, and copy reviews.

• Low-friction link sharing with configurable view/edit permissions and no portal logins required.

Strengths

• Near-universal familiarity means zero ramp-up for new hires and cross-functional collaborators.

• Quick handoffs for non-creative files like briefs and planning spreadsheets.

• Decent search for filenames and document text, though it doesn't extend to what's inside images or video.

Limitations

• Folder sprawl at scale—shared drives become a maze without enforced naming conventions.

• No structured tagging or custom fields for brand-level governance.

• No formal approval workflow or pinpoint annotation for creative review.

Best for

Small teams (under 20) that mostly need document collaboration plus basic file storage with informal approvals.

G2 Rating: 4.6/5

From a G2 review:

“The ability to collaborate live, leave comments, and maintain version history makes teamwork efficient and organized.”

See Google Workspace reviews on G2 (Note: G2 reviews cover Google Workspace broadly, not Drive as a standalone product.)

Pricing

Bundled with Google Workspace: Business Starter at $7/user/month, Standard at $14/user/month, Plus at $22/user/month. Enterprise pricing is customized. See Google Workspace pricing.

Image source: Egnyte

Egnyte sits at the intersection of cloud storage and on-premise file servers, designed for organizations that need to secure and govern content with tools for sensitive content classification.

Standout features

• Hybrid deployment bridging local file servers with cloud storage for consistent sync across on-site and remote teams.

• Governance controls and reporting for regulatory compliance and cybersecurity best practices.

• IT-managed integrations with Google Workspace, Slack, Microsoft Office, and industry-specific tools.

Strengths

• Strong fit for orgs with on-premise NAS drives, multiple offices, and cloud storage running simultaneously.

• Policy-driven permission levels for organizing employee access to folders and documents.

• Admin dashboards showing who's accessing what and whether policies are being followed.

Limitations

• File search covers filenames and text content but lacks AI-driven visual search.

• Workflow tools are designed for document approval chains, not timestamped video feedback or visual annotation.

• Marketing teams sometimes maintain a separate tool for campaign assets, creating the fragmentation Egnyte was meant to prevent.

Best for

Organizations with hybrid cloud/on-prem needs or heavy IT governance requirements—particularly in architecture, engineering, and construction.

G2 Rating: 4.5/5

From a G2 review:

“It’s simple to find the right file fast, share it securely with the right people, and control access so we’re not worried about the wrong version floating around or sensitive documents ending up in the wrong hands.”

See Egnyte reviews on G2

Pricing

Plans start at Business ($22/user/month) and scale through Enterprise Lite, Elite, and a custom Ultimate plan. See Egnyte pricing for details.

Image source: Dropbox

Dropbox built its reputation on making file sync feel effortless. Over time it has expanded beyond simple storage, but its core strength remains moving files between people and devices with minimal friction.

Standout features

• Reliable sync that mirrors folders between local machines and the cloud.

• Shared links for external delivery with minimal friction.

• File requests that let partners upload directly into your Dropbox without needing an account.

Strengths

• Handles large files well—transfer links work smoothly even for video.

• Zero-friction onboarding for freelancers and agencies who don't need accounts to download or upload.

• Desktop folders behave like local folders with automatic cloud backup.

Limitations

• Discoverability breaks down in nested folder trees with hundreds of subfolders.

• Multiple "final" files shared via separate links create version confusion.

• No pinpoint annotation or timestamped feedback for creative review at scale.

Best for

Teams that need quick file transfers and basic collaboration without strict brand governance. Dropbox works well as a handoff tool, not a home base for managing assets across their lifecycle.

G2 Rating: 4.4/5

From a G2 review:

“The best part about Dropbox, I think, is that it has smart sync. You can just select a folder, and it automatically syncs your files and stores them in the cloud.”

See Dropbox reviews on G2

Pricing

Business plans start from approximately $15/user/month (billed annually), scaling up to $24/user/month for the advanced plan. See Dropbox plans for details.

Image source: Microsoft

If your org runs on Microsoft 365, OneDrive and SharePoint are already in the stack. OneDrive handles personal file storage while SharePoint provides team-level sites, document libraries, and more structured collaboration.

Standout features

• Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration—edit Office files from SharePoint inside Teams without switching apps.

• SharePoint site structure with department-based permission sets and document libraries.

• Enterprise IT alignment inheriting admin controls and compliance certifications already in place.

Strengths

• Centralized IT controls managed from the Microsoft 365 admin center.

• Strong fit for internal documentation and standardized templates.

• Azure Active Directory integration handles user provisioning across the entire Microsoft stack.

Limitations

• SharePoint's flexibility becomes a liability without intentional information architecture design.

• No timestamped video commenting or visual annotation for creative review.

• Finding specific campaign assets across SharePoint sites becomes a scavenger hunt without deliberate taxonomy.

Best for

Mid-market organizations (200+ employees) standardized on Microsoft 365 that prioritize IT control over creative review speed and visual-asset discoverability.

G2 Rating: 4.3/5

From a G2 review:

“Real-time collaboration with colleagues is easy, and version control ensures that the latest file is always available.”

See Microsoft OneDrive for Business reviews on G2

Pricing

Bundled into Microsoft 365: Business Basic at $6/user/month, Business Standard at $12.50/user/month. Enterprise plans (E3, E5) add advanced SharePoint features. See Microsoft 365 pricing for details.

Image source: Box

Box positions itself as enterprise cloud content management with a security-first posture, built for organizations where compliance, audit trails, and admin control take priority over creative workflow speed.

Standout features

• Advanced governance: Watermarking, classification labels, audit logs, and data retention controls at higher tiers.

• External collaboration controls: Download restrictions, password protection, and link expiration for shared folders.

• Enterprise integrations: Connects to Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft 365, and more.

Strengths

• Compliance certifications (HIPAA, FedRAMP, SOC 2) and detailed audit trails suit regulated industries.

• More granular external sharing policies than Google Drive or Dropbox.

• Supports hundreds of collaborators with tiered permission levels.

Limitations

• Secure storage doesn't equal creative-ready DAM workflows—no in-context review or approval routing for marketing content.

• Metadata templates exist but require manual setup and enforcement.

• Image and video review lacks the visual-first feedback tools creative teams expect.

Best for

Security-first organizations that need controlled file sharing, audit trails, and compliance alignment over creative review speed.

G2 Rating: 4.2/5

From a G2 review:

“Box is most helpful because it simplifies secure collaboration and content management while offering advanced AI-powered workflows and integrations.”

See Box reviews on G2

Pricing

All Business plans include unlimited storage. The least expensive plan costs $20/user/month ($15 billed annually). Higher tiers add Box Shield and Box KeySafe. See Box pricing.

Every tool in this roundup handles the basics: store files, sync them, share them with a link. That works—until it doesn't.

The gap shows up when you need to answer questions like: Is this the approved version? Who signed off? Can our agency access only Q3 assets? What 9:16 cutdowns do we have for paid social?

At low volume, the distinction barely matters. But operational gaps widen fast as work scales: 

• Findability degrades without structured metadata

• Version trust erodes with multiple "final" files circulating

• Approval context gets lost across email and chat

• Partner access means over-sharing or duplicate folders drifting out of sync

• Downloading a 2GB video just to type feedback elsewhere

• Approved assets still need to be resized, reformatted, or repurposed manually once channels multiply 

These gaps show up as workarounds compared to optimized workflows—ones that a digital asset management software can help resolve. Here’s a quick look at how a full DAM compares to basic cloud storage, addressing those gaps:If you're still deciding on an approach, consider the following situations:

Stick with cloud storage if: Asset volume is low, reuse is rare, and approvals are informal.

Graduate to a DAM-style system if: Campaign velocity picks up, channels multiply, and stakeholders need self-serve access to trusted, approved assets.

How Air Solves the Most Common "Drive Breaks" Moments

The gaps between cloud storage and DAM are the daily friction points that prompt teams to look beyond their shared drive. Here's how Air addresses each one:

• Findability degrading without structured metadata. Air's solution: AI-powered search and Smart Tags let them filter by campaign, aspect ratio, and asset type and pull the right files in seconds.

• Version trust eroding with multiple "final" files circulating. Air's solution: Version stacking bundles all iterations into one entry. The latest version sits on top, the approved version is marked, and anyone can scroll through history without guessing.

• Approval context getting lost across email and chat. Air's solution: Visual annotation and timestamped video comments pin feedback directly to the asset. Drop a comment at 0:47—"The logo reveal feels too fast"—and the editor sees it attached to the exact frame and version.

• Partner access that leads to over-sharing or duplicate folders drifting out of sync. Air's solution: Libraries grant scoped permissions to specific asset collections. Add your agency to a library, and they see what they need without anyone accidentally downloading an unapproved draft.

• Approved assets are hard to scale across channels without starting over. Air’s solution: AI creative templates, AI editing with custom prompts, and access to 50+ AI image models help teams turn one approved asset into new campaign and channel-ready variations while keeping everything connected to the original work.

At Candid, the marketing team previously lost hours every day hunting down assets across Box, Google Drive, and Dropbox. After switching to Air, the team reduced time spent finding assets from roughly ~20% to ~2%—turning an operational bottleneck into self-serve access.

Ready to see what DAM-level governance looks like in practice? Book a demo to see how Air can handle your specific asset volume.

What Is the Best Cloud Storage for Digital Asset Management?

It depends on your team's needs. For basic file storage and sharing, Google Drive or Dropbox work well. For structured governance, AI-powered search, approval workflows, and the ability to adapt approved assets into new deliverables, a purpose-built platform like Air provides DAM-level capabilities that generic drives don't.

When Should a Marketing Team Switch From Cloud Storage to a DAM?

When you're spending more time finding, routing, and confirming asset versions than producing creative work. Once campaign volume increases and stakeholders multiply, a DAM pays for itself in recovered time and reduced rework.

What Features Matter Most for Cloud Storage for Creative Teams?

Metadata and search depth, version control, and in-context review tools. Creative teams need to find assets by what's in them, keep iterations organized without duplication, and give feedback directly on the asset.

How Does Air Help Teams Find Assets Faster Than Shared Drives?

Air lets teams search by content, not just filename. Smart Tags, OCR, video transcription, and facial recognition index assets automatically, making every file searchable from the moment it's uploaded.

Can Air Replace Dropbox or Google Drive for Sharing Assets With Agencies?

Yes. Air's libraries grant agency partners scoped access to specific asset collections without duplicating files. Password-protected links and guest access provide secure external sharing, while annotations and approvals keep feedback centralized.