Quick answer
ImageKit.io - ImageKit.io wins for most builders who need a free tier, because it has an actual forever-free plan with ongoing limits, while Imgix only offers a 30-day trial.
How the free tiers compare
The core difference is simple: ImageKit gives you something you can keep using at no cost, while Imgix gives you a short runway to evaluate the product before billing starts. ImageKit’s free tier is broader for teams that need storage, DAM features, and a small number of users, but it is tightly capped on bandwidth, uploads, AI operations, and purge requests. Imgix is narrower on free access but cleaner if your main need is image delivery and transformations, since its trial mirrors the paid product closely and has no card requirement. After the free phase, both move into usage-based pricing, but ImageKit starts lower at $9/mo and adds team and DAM features, while Imgix starts at $25/mo and scales in credit blocks tied to media and bandwidth.
ImageKit.io vs Imgix free tier, side by side
| ImageKit.ioFTV 42 | ImgixFTV 48 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free access typeImageKit is ongoing; Imgix is time-limited. | Forever free plan | 30-day free trial |
| BandwidthImageKit stops delivery at the free limit. | 20 GB/month | Not stated for trial |
| DAM storage / media storageImgix pricing includes media caps on paid plans, but the trial storage limit is not provided. | 3 GB DAM storage | Not stated for trial |
| UsersImageKit’s free tier includes the main administrator. | Up to 2 users | Not stated |
| Video processingImageKit includes video processing limits; Imgix details video features but no trial quota here. | 500 video units/month | Not stated |
| AI / extension featuresImageKit’s free tier includes limited AI-powered operations. | 650 extension units/month | Not stated |
| Purge requestsImageKit includes cache invalidation limits on the free tier. | 500/month | Not stated |
| No credit card requiredOnly state this because the field is explicitly present for Imgix and ImageKit. | False | True |
After you outgrow the free tier
ImageKit’s first paid step is Lite at $9/mo plus pay-as-you-go, then Pro at $89/mo plus pay-as-you-go, so its pricing is a mix of base fee and usage-based overage. Imgix starts at $25/mo for 100 credits, then $75, $150, $300, and $500 as credit bundles grow, also usage-based. For small teams, ImageKit is cheaper to enter and offers a real free tier; Imgix becomes more predictable if you want to size usage in credit blocks. No exact overage rates were provided, so usage-based scenarios can only be shown at the included-plan level.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | ImageKit.io | Imgix |
|---|---|---|
| 100 credits/mo or equivalent starter usageImgix Starter includes 100 credits/mo; ImageKit does not provide a direct credit-based equivalent in the input. | No exact credit mapping provided | $25/mo |
| 3 users, 10 GB DAM storage, 40 GB bandwidthImageKit Lite explicitly includes these quotas. Imgix pricing here is not DAM-based. | $9/mo + pay-as-you-go | Not comparable |
| ~375 credits/moImgix Basic includes 375 credits/mo. No ImageKit credit equivalence was provided. | No exact credit mapping provided | $75/mo |
| ~830 credits/moImgix Midrange includes 830 credits/mo. | No exact credit mapping provided | $150/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick ImageKit.io when…
- You want a forever-free option for a small media library or DAM workflow.
- You need up to 3 GB DAM storage and can live with 20 GB monthly bandwidth.
- You want basic media optimization and transformations without paying up front.
- You have up to 2 users and do not need paid support right away.
- You want to keep a small internal asset library available indefinitely.
Pick Imgix when…
- You want to test a media pipeline for 30 days without entering a credit card.
- You mainly care about delivery, transformations, and optimization rather than DAM features.
- You want a trial that matches the paid product closely before committing.
- You are evaluating bandwidth and credit consumption before choosing a plan.
- You expect to graduate quickly to a paid image-delivery stack and do not need a forever-free tier.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, ImageKit.io is the better free-tier pick because it gives you a usable forever-free plan instead of a short trial. That matters if you are building a small app, internal asset library, or early-stage media workflow and want to stay on free until usage proves itself. Imgix is the better choice when you only need a no-card evaluation period and plan to pay soon after, especially if you want a simple credit-based path from trial to production.
Read the full listings: ImageKit.io and Imgix. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.