Platform comparison
Client gallery platforms without the noise
Most client gallery platforms want to run your entire photography business, from websites to print labs and studio contracts. If you only need a clean way to deliver finished work to clients, here is how the main options compare.
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What a client gallery platform is for
A client gallery platform gives your client a clean, visual link to view and download their finished photos. Instead of sending a raw ZIP file or an unstyled cloud folder, you send an organized presentation where clients can browse thumbnails, view high-resolution previews, pick favorites, and download files.
What separates these platforms is what sits around the gallery. Some focus purely on photo delivery and proofing. Others build an entire business suite with print sales, booking calendars, automated marketing campaigns, and portfolio websites. How these platforms charge also varies: by gigabytes of storage, by total photo count, or by tiered feature bundles.
The platforms side by side
Here is how the main client gallery platforms compare across delivery, storage, proofing, and pricing.
| Platform | Recipient account | Originals | Proofing | Print sales | Pricing shape | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| shoots.page | Never needed | Byte-for-byte originals | Built in, with priced extras | Not offered | Free 2 GB; a 250 GB plan exists, billing not live | Photographers who only need clean delivery |
| Pixieset | Not needed for gallery viewing | Full-resolution downloads on paid plans | Favorites within galleries | Built-in store; commission-free when paid | Free 3 GB; plans from $8/mo billed annually | Galleries, website and store in one place |
| Pic-Time | Not needed for gallery viewing | Uploader reduces JPEG file size (their wording) | Client selections on higher plans | Built in; commission on markup only | Free 10 GB that later drops to 3 GB; plans from $7/mo billed annually | Galleries wired to a print store and marketing |
| ShootProof | Not needed for gallery viewing | High-quality storage (their wording) | Gallery proofing with favorites | Commission-free through partner labs | Free 100 photos; photo-count plans from $8.33/mo billed annually | Contracts and invoices in the same place as galleries |
| SmugMug | Not needed for gallery viewing | Unlimited full-resolution storage, RAW included | Client favoriting on Pro | On Portfolio and Pro, with fulfillment | No free plan; from $20/mo billed annually | Portfolio, archive and sales in one platform |
How to read this table
Every service in this list lets recipients open a gallery without creating an account. Having no recipient account is the baseline for modern delivery. The key differences lie in file handling, business tooling, and pricing structures.
If you sell prints and wall art, platforms like Pic-Time, ShootProof, Pixieset, or SmugMug connect directly to labs to fulfill orders. shoots.page deliberately does not offer print sales, websites, or business contracts. It handles browser uploads, byte-for-byte original storage, photo proofing with priced extras, and clean client downloads. If you want an all-in-one studio management platform, the established suites fit better. If you only want fast photo delivery without forcing your clients into a store, a focused tool keeps things clear.
Questions to ask before you pick
- Do you sell physical prints through partner labs, or do you deliver digital downloads directly to clients?
- Do you need contracts, invoices, and booking calendars inside your gallery tool, or do you already use other software for studio management?
- How does the free tier behave over time, and will storage drop or photo limits cap your archive?
- What happens to your uploaded files: does the uploader recompress images, or are original files stored byte-for-byte?
- Do you want an integrated portfolio website on the same subscription, or do you only need delivery links?
- What is the client experience on a mobile browser when viewing and selecting favorites?
Go deeper on each platform
- Pixieset — gallery hosting, store commissions, and all-in-one suite pricing.
- Pic-Time — print automations, uploader size optimization, and plan tiers.
- ShootProof — photo-count plans, integrated invoicing, and partner lab sales.
- SmugMug — portfolio websites, unlimited storage tiers, and lab fulfillment.
- SendPhoto — delivery-focused galleries with watermarking and custom domains.
- WeTransfer for photographers — one-off file transfers against visual client galleries.
- Google Drive for photos — the trade-offs of using shared cloud drives for photo delivery.
- Dropbox for photos — how Dropbox storage links compare to structured photo galleries.
When a gallery platform is overkill
You do not always need a full client gallery platform. If you are sending raw production assets to an editor, a standard transfer tool like WeTransfer works well. If you are sharing working assets with an agency team, shared folders in Google Drive or Dropbox are practical choices. Read our guide on gallery vs file transfer to see which model matches your shoot.
Common questions
Which client gallery platforms are free?
Which platforms handle print sales?
Do clients need accounts to view galleries?
What happens to my original files?
Where should I start if I only deliver digital files?
Deliver your next shoot
Drop your photos into the browser to create a gallery link with zero account friction for your client.