Best 7 artwork management solutions for packaging teams in 2025

If you're part of a team that creates packaging—whether it’s for yoghurt tubs, medicine boxes, or shampoo bottles—you know how tricky it can be to manage all the files, approvals, and last-minute changes. That’s where artwork management software comes in.

This guide will help you compare the top 7 artwork management solutions used in 2025. You’ll see how each one works, what it’s best for, and how Cway stands out as the most packaging-focused tool on the market.

What Is Artwork Management Software?

Think of artwork management software as your digital assistant for packaging graphics. It keeps all your files, tasks, and feedback in one place. Instead of emailing PDFs, using spreadsheets to track approvals, or losing time looking for the “final final” version of a design—this kind of software simplifies the entire process.

Who Needs It?

• Brand and packaging managers who need to make sure every product looks on-brand.

• Marketing teams that need fast approvals for campaigns.

• Regulatory people who make sure legal texts and ingredients are correct.

• Agencies working with big clients on multiple packaging lines.

• Production teams who need to know if the file is print-ready.

Example: Imagine you’re launching a new oat milk across 5 countries. The legal info differs slightly, the artwork needs to be translated, and you’re using 3 different printers. Without the right tool, this becomes a nightmare. With artwork management software, everything is tracked and approved in one place.

How to Choose the Right Artwork Management Solution

Not every tool is built the same. Here are some things to look for before you pick one:

• Version Control
  Can you see what changed between versions? If someone updates the barcode or color, you want to know exactly what’s different.

• Approval Workflows
  Can you set up steps where legal, marketing, and packaging must all sign off?

• Compliance Features
  Especially important if you’re in food, pharma, or cosmetics. You need proof of who approved what and when.

• Cloud Access
  Can your global team log in and work from anywhere?

• Ease of Use
  The tool should be simple enough for non-designers too.

• Integration
  Can it connect to your design software or your company’s database?

Tip: Choose a tool based on your team’s size, your industry, and the types of products you work with.

The Best Artwork Management Solutions in 2025

Let’s look at the most trusted tools on the market—and what makes each one unique.

1. Cway®

Why It Stands Out

Cway® is a purpose-built software solution that simplifies and accelerates the management of artwork and packaging projects. Designed for teams that deal with high volumes of product-related assets—especially in regulated or fast-paced industries—Cway transforms complex workflows into streamlined, auditable, and transparent processes.

By bringing structure to creative collaboration, Cway® reduces errors, shortens approval cycles, and helps teams launch faster with full control and visibility.

Top Features:

• Project Apps: Every artwork has a built-in task list, so nothing gets missed.

• Compare Tool: Highlights even tiny visual differences between artwork versions.

• Packaging-Specific Flows: Automated task routing, role-based approvals, and deadline tracking are built into Cway’s engine. Workflows can be tailored to match any internal process, helping teams maintain consistency and scale operations effortlessly.

• Version History: Every comment and change is saved and easy to trace.

• Contextual Review and Feedback: Cway’s in-platform annotation and comment tools enable stakeholders to leave precise, actionable feedback directly on artwork files. No more bouncing between PDFs, emails, or shared drives—everything is centralized and version-controlled.

• Centralized Asset Management: Cway serves as a single, reliable hub for all artwork files—whether they’re in development, under review, or approved. It eliminates scattered documents and outdated versions, ensuring that every stakeholder works with the latest asset at all times.

• Real-Time Reporting and Insights: Project owners and managers gain access to performance dashboards that spotlight bottlenecks, approval times, and workload distribution—driving continuous improvement and accountability.

Best For:
Packaging teams, agencies, or FMCG brands who want fast results and clear control.

Pros:

• Made for packaging—not just creative files

• Very user-friendly

• All-in-one: comments, approvals, storage, and viewing

Cons:

• Not built for general marketing materials like social media posts, but can be adopted

2. ManageArtworks

Why It Stands Out
This platform focuses on compliance and traceability. ManageArtworks is offered by Karomi Technology, a company specializing in cloud-based packaging and artwork lifecycle management systems for the pharmaceutical and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries.

Top Features:

• Automated approval paths: By automating workflows and enforcing role-based tasks, the platform helps standardize approval processes and reduce dependency on manual follow-ups.

• Regulatory tracking: The platform is designed with industries like pharmaceuticals and consumer packaged goods in mind, making it well-suited for environments where regulatory compliance and traceability are non-negotiable.

• Vendor access control: ManageArtworks is capable of managing large-scale operations with geographically dispersed teams. This is valuable for global brands managing localized packaging across markets.

Best For:
Small and medium-sized packaging and marketing teams

Pros:

• Great for global teams

• ManageArtworks provides plugins for Adobe tools, allowing designers to work within their familiar environment while syncing directly with the system

Cons:

• There are reports of limited flexibility in customizing workflows and templates, which can be restrictive for organizations with unique processes.

• Some users find the interface less intuitive, which can lead to a steeper learning curve and require additional training time.

3. Filestage

Why It Stands Out
Filestage is a simple and clean tool for reviewing content. It works well if you deal with multiple file types like videos, brochures, and packaging.

Top Features:

• Comment directly on files

• Track who approved what

• Clear feedback threads

Best For:
Agencies and marketing teams with lots of projects on the go

Pros:

• Quick to start

• Easy for clients to use

Cons:

• Not built for packaging-specific needs like barcodes or dielines

4. Esko WebCenter

Why It Stands Out
Esko is a heavyweight in packaging tools, used by major international brands.

Top Features:

• Full packaging workflow from idea to print

• Regulatory tracking

• Integration with Esko’s prepress and print tools

• Integration with print production tools

Best For:
Big teams with complex workflows and global production partners

Pros:

• Integrates with advanced prepress tools

• Supports complex, multi-language packaging pipelines

Cons:

• Weaker version control features: Compared to newer platforms, it lacks intuitive visual tools for comparing artwork changes.
• Heavy on task management: It includes many project planning features, which can overwhelm teams who are primarily focused on reviewing and approving artwork.
• Expensive and time-intensive to set up
• Requires user training to fully benefit from the platform

5. Kallik

Why It Stands Out
Built specifically for life sciences, Kallik ensures your labels and packaging follow industry regulations.

Top Features:

• Compliance tracking

• Digital audit trail

• Global language management

Best For:
Pharma and medical device companies

Pros:

• Proven in high-risk industries

• Tracks legal info across versions

Cons:

• Not flexible for creative or fast-moving consumer brands

6. Artwork Flow

Why It Stands Out
Artwork Flow is made for mid-sized teams looking to move away from spreadsheets and emails.

Top Features:

• Approval checklists

• Easy commenting

• File status tracking

Best For:
Consumer brands and startups with growing teams

Pros:

• Affordable and user-friendly

• Fast setup

Cons:

• Fewer features for advanced print or regulatory needs

7. Aproove

Why It Stands Out
This platform mixes project management with creative proofing, so it works well for content-heavy teams.

Top Features:

• Task assignments

• Visual file reviews

• Dashboard overviews

Best For:
Creative agencies and internal design departments

Pros:

• Combines projects and proofing

• Flexible workflows

Cons:

• May feel too general for packaging use

• Some tools are complex

Final Thoughts: Why Cway® Deserves a Closer Look

Choosing the right artwork management solution can feel overwhelming. There are many platforms out there, but not all of them are built with packaging in mind. Some are great for creative reviews. Others for general task management. But if your team works with packaging graphics, print deadlines, and product launches—you need a tool that understands those challenges from the start.

Cway® isn’t just another approval tool. It’s built by Collabra, a team that’s been managing packaging artwork for some of the biggest brands in Scandinavia, like Arla and Essity. They know the real-world struggles—missed barcodes, lost approvals, file chaos—and they’ve created a platform to fix all of that.

With Cway®, you get:

• Packaging-specific workflows that are ready out of the box

• Visual compare tools to catch small but critical changes

• Smooth collaboration, with feedback saved in one place

• A powerful Media Center that organizes all your artwork files without duplication

It’s intuitive, fast to learn, and flexible enough to grow with your needs.

What Should You Do Next?

We recommend starting with a hands-on comparison. Use real artwork from your team and test how these tools handle the workflow.

✅ Download our free guide: How to choose the right online proofing software
This resource breaks down what to look for—from collaboration features to file support and onboarding time.

✅ Book a demo with Cway®:
Experience how Cway handles your actual packaging workflow. No fluff—just smart tools that make your job easier.