When it comes to an efficient post-production workflow, a software program with real-time editing and reviewing capabilities can be a lifesaver. In the industry of tight turnaround times and daunting deadlines, being able to work together as a team in real time is like a gift from God. 

There are a few programs out there that offer services that get close to that ability,  namely Frame.io, Wipster, and Filestage. In this post we’ll compare the similarities and differences between each one. 

We’ll also show you another tool that your creative team probably hasn’t heard of when it comes to media review and collaboration, and why it should be on your radar. It’s a program that goes a step beyond.

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What do Frame.io, Wipster, and Filestage Do?

Frame.io, Wipster, and Filestage all work by uploading files and then people from your team can review, mark-up, or make comments asynchronously. Individual members of your team can interact with the file and leave comments, but only the primary editor with the original file can actually make adjustments. 

While these services certainly help with collaboration and speed up the back-and-forth process that comes with post-production editing, they still limit the amount of team members who have access. They don’t allow for real-time collaboration and create lag time between uploads of newly edited files,  lag time that equates to valuable hours lost; this, inturn, often creates even more stress for your team as they try to hit deadlines. 

That said, these services do offer some great options for editing and post-production workflow. So let’s break them down and compare...

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A Quick Overview of Each Tool

 Frame.io

This cloud-based collaboration platform enables teams to stay connected from anywhere on the planet through videos, images, and more. 

It boasts technology that sends footage directly from camera to cloud so that editors and creative teams can instantly get footage from anywhere in the world. Anyone involved in the post-production process, from producers to editors to directors and even script supervisors, can leave valuable feedback on individual frames or across an entire sequence. 

This easy-to-use and intuitive program allows users to leave markers with comments, images, or even illustrations on frames for ultra-clear communication. 

Wipster

Wipster is very similar to Frame.io in that it allows team members to give and receive feedback from anywhere in the world,any time. Team members are able to share and review assets with collaborators by uploading and sharing what the program calls “WIPs” (their in-house name for video projects). 

Using a cloud-based platform, creatives and project managers can work through multiple versions of a project. All assets associated with individual projects are tracked through the various stages of the video review process. 

This easy-to-use archiving system makes it easy for creative teams to see what changes have been made along the way and to move back-and-forth between ideas and edits. Approved work is delivered in high resolution.  

Wipster offers users the ability to track content through feedback cycles, approvals, and final video delivery.‍

‍Filestage

Filestage is very similar to Frame.io and Wipster in that it works as a review and approval tool that enables marketing and creative teams to collaborate on projects remotely. 

Like the other two platforms, Filestage collects and manages comments and assets into one central file and allows users access via a cloud-based platform. Team members and reviewers can create comments and make changes directly on each file. 

One of the biggest differences with Filestage, however, is that this platform offers collaboration on other media beyond just video. From graphics to audio files to marketing pieces and more, Filestage gives teams access to the review process across the board. 

Essentially, it’s an  all-in-one online proofing software that many teams find useful since  it allows each member of the process to collaborate – marketing, creative development, sales, etc. The structure of the Filestage platform is also very organized and makes it super simple for users to track the progress of any project. 

Many times various pieces of a large project (for example, marketing components  of a film, ,internal communications, and the actual film) can be spread out over different tools and channels. 

But with Filestage, teams can consolidate all of those things into one project file in an organized and concise way. It’s almost like a project management software similar to Trello or Basecamp but tailored for the creative process.  

Filestage offers an organizational platform that caters to all aspects of an overall project – from videos to documents to graphics and more.

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The Differences Between These Tools

Now that you have an understanding of the features of each tool, let’s review some of their key differences.

Pricing

Frame.io

Frame.io offers custom pricing for teams that want to build tailored packages, but their main price point is $25 per user, per month. It includes unlimited access to projects, active storage up to 500 GB, and archival storage of up to 1 TB (that’s a lot of files), and the new Camera To Cloud option. 

All of these features make Frame.io a popular choice among editors in the industry, but the service does require new files to be uploaded after each revision. Unfortunately, now you cannot share revisions with your team members in real-time.

Wipster

Like Frame.io, Wipster offers a custom package for teams that prefer to have a tailor-made service. Their standard pricing begins at $19.95 per team member, with storage of 250 GB, which is half of what Frame.io offers. Additional archival storage is also available, but again it is less than what Frame.io offers. 

Users of Wipster have long lauded the ultra-clean design of the platform and intuitive interface, which make it slightly easier to use than Frame.io or Filestage. Wipster also gets high marks for its ability to upload updates to a video quickly so that anyone on the team, including clients,  can see one video with incremental versions at once. 

Wipster users have unlimited access to “WIPs” (video files), while Frame.io puts more of an emphasis on the amount of storage space it offers.

Filestage

Of the three services, Filestage comes in as the most expensive with a starter package of $49 per month that includes 10 active projects and 250 GB of storage. The Pro pack is  $249 per month for the same 250 GB of storage, but you can only have up to 25 active projects. Filestage also offers a custom option. 

The organizational aspect of this platform can’t be understated. No user should ever get lost or misplace anything in a project as it is easily the most clear-cut offering of the three services.

Supported Devices

When it comes to accessibility for each of these tools, diversity is key. 

Frame.io

For Frame.io, users access the platform via mobile or desktop on both Mac and PC. There are few browser restrictions, as well, though Frame.io does say its closest color accuracy would be on Safari due to the fact that Safari uses the same color scheme as the system. That said, Google Chrome and Firefox, among others, are fine. 

The only hang-up is that some mobile browsers may not be fully supported if your operating system isn’t fully up to day. There are also lesser-known browsers, like Microsoft Edge and Opera, that are only partially supported; internet Explorer is not supported at all. 

Wipster

Wipster works essentially the same in this regard, as it supports all of the newest versions of all the major browsers and can be accessed from any device – mobile, tablet or computer. 

If you haven’t updated your browser, it’s likely you’ll notice some issues when using Wipster  like major lag, file upload/download interruptions, and even the inability to log in. Unlike Frame.io, Wipster does support Internet Explorer. 

Filestage

Filestage also allows access on mobile, tablet, and computer. Like Wipster, it is supported on  all browsers, including Internet Explorer (version 11 and above). Unlike the other two, however, it supports browsers of the last three versions, meaning you don’t have to update your operating system as much as the other two. 

Integrations

Perhaps one of the biggest concerns when using these tools is what other software they integrate with. In most cases, they all will work with the programs you’re probably already using, but there are some variances. 

Frame.io

The major software is included in Frame.io’s list of integrations. They include: Watch Folders, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, ColorFront, Final Cut Pro, After Effects, and Media Composer. Frame.io can also integrate with more than 1,000 different apps. They have a complete list of apps on their website for easy access.

Wipster

With project management as one of its selling points, Wipster not only includes the same list of software integrations as Frame.io, but also adds some project management platforms such as Dropbox, Slack, Brightcove, and more. They, too, support thousands of apps. To view the full list, check out Wipster’s website. 

Filestage

You can use Filestage’s built-in integrations, AP, and smart work hacks to get more from the feedback and review process of this platform. It’s a platform that also prioritizes organization and project management, therefore, it also includes many integrated project management platforms such as Trello and Basecamp. Like the others, it integrates with thousands of apps. To view the full list, check out Filestage’s website. 

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Where These Tools Fall Short for Creative Teams

The benefits of Frame.io, Wipster, and Filestage have been widely documented for years. They are services that have been helping creative teams in powerful ways. However,  one of the pain points that makes them limiting is that none of them allow for real-time collaboration. 

While each of them streamline communication and offer team members access to a project from anywhere in the world, there’s still a lot of lag time between uploads of newly revised files. In the fast-paced world of content on demand, who has time to sit and upload revised files all day?

That’s where Evercast comes in.

Evercast is a next-generation remote collaboration platform for the world’s top creatives. Evercast has integrated, ultra-low-latency video conferencing and streaming so people can review, make comments, and edit in real-time. Think Zoom or Skype, but for creatives who need to collaborate over screen share with as little lag as possible (which Zoom and Skype weren’t made to handle). 

Evercast is the secure way to stream any creative workflow in real time. It’s a platform that gives users the ability to stream live cameras on set or from Avid, Premiere, Maya, Pro Tools, or any other software directly to the platform in real-time, all while video conferencing with your team! It offers full spectrum audio and 5.1 surround sound and eliminates file sharing/downloads, making it faster and easier for teams to collaborate. 

There’s no proprietary hardware for most use cases, and the features are made specifically for creative collaboration like drawing or recording. 

“Evercast saved 2020 (and likely beyond),” said Monica Levinson, producer of the Golden Globe Winning film Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. “Being able to review, edit and make changes remotely, but as a team in real time, made our tight schedules manageable.”

“Thank God there was this tool that helped me work without flying through eight time zones,” said Craig Mazin, producer and writer for the Emmy winning HBO drama Chernobyl. “I think it would have gotten done, but at a much higher cost of misery to me and my family had I not been able to rely on Evercast!”

Evercast brings creators together with simple, secure collaboration that mirrors the ease and value of a team working together shoulder-to-shoulder. It’s a platform that offers a better work/life balance, encouraging you to work from anywhere that inspires you. When you’re not waiting for files or feedback, you’re free to create and collaborate faster than ever before.