If you only rank tools by "pretty grid," you will pick wrong.
Rank them by what happens in year three: does the client still open the album, and did you stop paying for a ghost subscription?
Criteria that matter
- Client still has access if you leave
- Pricing is understandable in 30 seconds
- Guests can find themselves
- Prints without a second SaaS
- No surprise commission traps
The field (honest)
Pixieset — strong brand, polished galleries, add-on stack, free plan commission history. Great if you want the known name and will pay the ladder.
Pic-Time — solid store, 0% commission story, monthly tiers, galleries tied to sub.
ShootProof — gallery + contracts/invoicing, $15–40/mo class, heavier platform.
Google Drive — cheap storage, not a client product.
Pixbox — client box Free · Solo $19 · Studio $49. Tools $5/mo each (site, store, studio, card, editor). No Suite SKU. Face Sort on delivery. Pricing.
Who should pick what
- High-volume studio on full CRM: ShootProof / Sprout-class tools may still win.
- Delivery-first shooter who hates feature tax: Pixbox box + only the tools you need.
- Just dumping files: Drive. Until a client emails you in 2028.
FAQ
Is Pixbox a Pixieset alternative? Yes for delivery, galleries, AI guest match, and print store as a tool. Different pricing model: box + $5 tools, not suite stacks.
What does Solo $19 include? 500 GB delivery storage and unlimited albums within that storage. Tools remain $5 each if enabled.
Compare: pixbox.io/vs/pixieset.