Meet the New Advanced Filter Panel: Search Smarter and Faster

Olha Yeremenko -

We’re rolling out something new that’s going to make life a lot easier for our Pics.io users—an updated, more powerful filter panel for DAM. Whether you’re just starting out on a free trial, using a Solo or Micro plan, or working with a Small, Medium, or Enterprise subscription, this new panel has something for everyone.

I’ve had a chance to test it out myself, and I can honestly say it’s super helpful and easy to use. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves—let’s start from the beginning!

Why Did We Build the Advanced Filter Panel? A Peek Behind the Scenes

As part of the marketing team, I have this habit—some might call it annoying—of bombarding my teammates with questions. And not the fancy, high-level kind. I mean the simple, almost naive ones: “Why did we do that?” or “Why did we do it this way?”

For me, it’s not enough to know what’s new in our software. I want to understand how it helps our customers and why it makes the product better. So, when we first demoed the new Advanced Filter Panel, my immediate question was: “Why this panel? Why now? Why not something else?”

I know, I know—search is the heart of digital asset management. If you can’t find what you need, what’s the point? But still, I wanted to hear the reasoning from the team.

And the answer came quickly: “Because users asked for it.”

What Pushed Us to Build the Advanced Filter Panel

Turns out, the old search worked… well, okay. It did the job for simple queries. But as our users’ needs grew, the cracks started to show:

  • Teams wanted more advanced search filters, more options, and fewer clunky workarounds.
  • Too many requests were coming in about custom searches that the old panel just couldn’t handle.
  • Support often had to share long, complicated search syntaxes—and honestly, that’s no fun for anyone.

Search is a core feature of any DAM. Whether you’re managing 500 files or 500,000, search should just work. Effortlessly. Like magic. And we realized the old system wasn’t cutting it anymore.

Here’s the thing: building something as flexible and powerful as the Advanced Filter Panel wasn’t easy. And it wasn’t cheap. This tool took a lot of brainstorming, testing, and engineering hours. But we believed in it—and we still do.

By creating a customizable, intuitive search panel, we’re not just solving a technical problem. We’re giving users what they’ve been asking for—a search tool that works with them, not against them.

At the end of the day, we wanted search to feel effortless—to finally deliver on that “search magic” promise. And with the Advanced Filter Panel, I think we nailed it.

So, after a lot of listening, tinkering, and testing, we’re thrilled to roll out the Advanced Filter Panel. It’s not just a nice-to-have—it’s a game-changer for how you search, find, and manage your assets.

What’s So Great About the New Advanced Filter Panel?

First, let’s break it down: the advanced filter panel is like your search on steroids. It gives you more options, more flexibility, and way more control. Whether you’re looking for a single file or juggling thousands of assets, it’s got your back.

All Fields Are Now Filters

Imagine being able to search by literally any field in the system—default or custom. Filename, upload date, tags, location… you name it, you can turn it into a filter.

Customize It Your Way

No two teams work the same way, so why should search be one-size-fits-all? With the new panel, you can:

  • Pick which filters you actually use (and ditch the rest).
  • Rearrange them so your go-to filters are always front and center.
  • Add filters for custom fields that you’ve set up, so you’re searching for exactly what matters to you.

Smarter Search Operators

Different fields, different rules—right? Now you can fine-tune your search with operators like:

  • Contains: Find assets with specific words (handy for filenames or tags).
  • From Any Of: Need assets with either Person A or Person B? Done.
  • From None Of: Exclude assets that meet certain criteria—goodbye, clutter.

Save Your Complex Searches

Let’s say you’re constantly running a search with five filters—filename, keyword, upload date, comments, and color. Setting it up from scratch every time? No thanks. Just save it as a search template, and with one click, you’re good to go.

In short, the advanced filter panel takes search from “just okay” to “super smart and tailored to you.”

What Does It Mean for Customers?

The answer depends on how you’re using Pics.io:

  • If you’re on the Micro Plan

Good news: the search panel you’re using right now isn’t going anywhere. It’s still free, and it still handles basic needs.

But if you’re working with more assets, need more control, or just want to save yourself the headache of clunky searches, the advanced filter panel is available as an add-on for $100/month. More on that in a sec.

  • If you’re on the Small Plan or Above

Congrats, you’re getting the advanced filter panel for free. It’s included in your plan because we think it’s a feature you’ll use and love.

If you’re managing thousands of assets or working with a large team, this new search experience is going to be a lifesaver. You’ll be able to find exactly what you need in no time, run complex searches without having to ask for help, and save custom searches to reuse or share with your team. No more scrolling through endless files or settling for incomplete results—everything you need is just a few clicks away.

How Does Pricing Work?

I know pricing changes can raise eyebrows, so let’s clear this up:

  • Trial Users: You’ll see the advanced filter panel in action, but it’ll be marked as an add-on.
  • Small, Medium, and Enterprise Plans: The advanced filter panel is included. No extra cost. It’s all yours.
  • Micro Plan Users: The basic search stays free. But if you want the advanced panel, you can grab it as an add-on for $100/month.

“Why $100?” I asked, feeling a bit like I was speaking for the Micro plan users at that moment. After all, one of Pics.io’s core benefits is transparent pricing—no hidden costs, no surprises.

The answer was simple: this is a powerhouse feature that took a lot of development hours to build. For small teams that rely on Pics.io every day, we believe it’s a fair trade for the level of search control and flexibility you’re getting.

We’re also hoping this helps bridge the gap between the Micro plan ($150) and the Small plan ($600). Right now, that price jump can feel huge. By offering add-ons like this, you get the flexibility to upgrade only when you need to.

Ready to Try an Advanced Filter Panel in DAM?

Let’s break it down. The advanced filter panel gives you the power to turn any field in the system into a filter. Need to search by filenames, upload dates, or even the custom fields you’ve set up? Easy. Looking for assets with specific tags, comments, or photos of particular people? Done. And if you want to combine filters for an ultra-specific search—you can do that, too.

The best part? You can customize the panel to suit the way you work. Drag and drop your most-used filters, get rid of the ones you don’t need, and save your go-to searches as templates. No more starting from scratch every time you need to find something.

It’s simple: less time searching, more time doing what matters.

We’d love to hear what you think. After all, this feature is here because of you—your ideas and feedback made it happen. So go ahead, give it a spin, and let us know how it works for you. Happy searching!

Did you enjoy this article? Give Pics.io a try — or book a demo with us, and we'll be happy to answer any of your questions.