Five factors matter most when choosing gallery software: pricing model, client experience, AI tools, storage, and whether clients keep access forever or lose it when you cancel your subscription.
We cover five platforms below — including Pixbox (us), so take our perspective on competitors with appropriate skepticism. The comparison table at the bottom pulls everything into one view.
Pixieset
$10–40/mo★★★★☆Pixieset is the most widely known name in photography gallery software. The polish is real: clean templates, smooth client experience, mobile-optimized galleries. It has the largest community, the most integrations, and years of refinement. For a new photographer who wants to get started quickly and values a well-known brand, Pixieset is a reasonable choice.
Strengths
- Industry-leading gallery polish and templates
- Large community and plugin ecosystem
- Smooth mobile client experience
- Built-in print store
Weaknesses
- $10–40/mo whether you shoot or not
- 15% commission on digital sales on free plan
- No AI face matching
- Client gallery disappears if you cancel
Pricing: $10–40/mo ($120–480/yr) · Best for: Photographers starting out who want simplicity and a well-known brand
Pic-Time
$8–30/mo★★★★☆Pic-Time runs at 0% commission, which immediately sets it apart from Pixieset's free tier. The gallery experience is clean and mobile-first. The built-in print store has decent margins. AI tools are present but limited — no selfie-based face matching. Monthly subscription means the same cost regardless of how busy your season is.
Strengths
- 0% commission on all plans
- Strong print store with good lab options
- Clean mobile-first gallery
- Decent workflow automation features
Weaknesses
- $8–30/mo, with a free trial only — no free plan
- Custom domain and top features gated to higher tiers
- AI tools limited — no selfie face-matching
- Gallery expires when subscription ends
Pricing: $8–30/mo ($96–360/yr) · Best for: Photographers with consistent print revenue who shoot 6+ events/month
ShootProof
$15–40/mo★★★☆☆ShootProof bundles contracts, invoicing, and gallery delivery in one tool. If your workflow currently spans multiple apps for booking, contracts, and delivery, consolidating into ShootProof makes sense. Gallery quality is solid. The main drawbacks are the monthly fee regardless of shoot volume and the complete absence of AI features.
Strengths
- Contracts + invoicing bundled with gallery
- 0% commission
- Good client communication tools
- Decent mobile app
Weaknesses
- $15–40/mo regardless of shoot volume
- No AI face matching
- Storage limits on lower tiers
- Client gallery tied to photographer subscription
Pricing: $15–40/mo ($180–480/yr) · Best for: Portrait photographers who want contracts + gallery in one monthly subscription
Pixbox
Best value — flat plans, storage sized separatelyFree Starter, then Pro $10/mo or Max $20/mo★★★★★Pixbox is built around a different pricing philosophy: two flat business plans, with storage as a separate dial you size yourself. A free Starter to begin (1 event, 5 GB), then Pro at $10/mo — AI guest-selfie delivery and People, unlimited events and guests, watermarking, bulk download, contracts and proofing, reseller tools, 0% commission, and 3 team seats. Max at $20/mo adds unlimited AI, white-label, custom domain, storefront, unlimited seats, analytics, and API. Storage is its own box: 5 GB free up to Unlimited ($100/mo), resize any time. After delivery, the album transfers to the client's account — they keep it whether you renew Pixbox or not.
Strengths
- Two flat plans — no per-feature add-ons or surprise tier jumps
- 0% commission on every plan
- AI guest-selfie delivery on every paid plan (unlimited on Max)
- Client album persists after you deliver — host-owned forever
- Free Starter to begin, no credit card
Weaknesses
- Newer platform — smaller community than Pixieset
- Very large archives pay more as the storage box scales up
- Print-lab network is smaller than Pic-Time's
Pricing: Free Starter → Pro $10/mo or Max $20/mo (storage box sized separately) · Best for: Photographers who want two flat plans with 0% commission and storage they size themselves
Google Drive
Free optionFree–$9.99/mo★★☆☆☆Google Drive is what photographers use before they invest in real gallery software. It is free, clients know how to use it, and the files never expire as long as you maintain the folder. What it cannot do: create a gallery experience, sort photos by face, manage download permissions, push photos to a guest list, generate share codes, or give clients a branded delivery that feels professional.
Strengths
- Effectively free for most use cases
- Universal familiarity — clients know how to use it
- Files don't expire on their own
Weaknesses
- No gallery experience — clients see a raw folder
- No face matching or AI tools
- No per-guest access controls
- No client management or delivery tracking
- Photographer controls the folder — client loses access if you delete it
Pricing: Free–$9.99/mo · Best for: Casual photographers who only need basic file storage, not a client experience
Full comparison table
Ready to try flat, no-surprises pricing?
Pixbox is free to start — no credit card. Upgrade to Pro at $10/mo for AI delivery, unlimited events, and 0% commission, or Max at $20/mo for white-label, custom domain, and unlimited AI. Size your storage box separately, from 5 GB free.