Pixieset alternative

A Pixieset alternative for photographers who have outgrown the basics

Pixieset is a popular all-in-one for galleries, a store, a website, and a studio manager. Many photographers start there and look for an alternative once storage limits, the client experience, or the lack of built-in face search start to hold the studio back. This page breaks down exactly where Shuttertide fits, feature by feature and tier by tier.

Face search on every plan (incl. free)100 GB from the $8 Starter tierFull-quality, uncompressed downloadsTransparent, published pricing

Workflow consideration 1

Why photographers search for a Pixieset alternative

The reasons are usually practical rather than dramatic. Pixieset covers a lot, but studios tend to move when a specific part of the workflow stops keeping pace.

Storage on the entry Basic plan is 10 GB, which fills quickly once you deliver full-resolution weddings and events.

Pixieset does not list selfie or face search for galleries, so guests still scroll to find themselves in large sets.

You want the client-facing gallery to feel fast and fully branded without stepping up several tiers.

Workflow consideration 2

What Shuttertide does differently

Shuttertide is built around the delivery moment, so the gallery carries more of the client experience and includes the pieces photographers reach for most.

Face search is included on every plan, including the free plan. Guests take a quick selfie, it is matched on the fly, and it is never stored.

Clients download the exact full-resolution files you uploaded, never recompressed to save space.

Custom branding and a custom domain are available from the $8 Starter plan, not reserved for higher tiers.

Quotes and approvals can sit next to the gallery instead of living in a separate tool.

Workflow consideration 3

Where Pixieset is still strong

A fair comparison names what the other tool does well. Pixieset has real strengths that matter for some studios.

Its print store, automatic fulfillment, and coupons are mature if print sales drive your revenue.

The wider Pixieset Suite bundles a website, store, and studio manager under one brand.

The ecosystem is well known, so clients and second shooters may already recognize it.

Workflow consideration 4

How to decide if switching is worth it

Switching platforms is only worth it when the new workflow clearly reduces friction for you and your clients.

Deliver one real gallery end to end on Shuttertide, from upload to client download.

Check whether face search and branded delivery change how guests actually engage.

Confirm the tier that fits your storage volume before you migrate existing galleries.

Comparison view

Compare the workflow criteria that usually drive the decision

Decision area

Shuttertide

What to compare

Face / selfie search

Included on every plan, selfie never stored

Not listed as a gallery feature on Pixieset

Entry-tier storage

100 GB on the $8 Starter plan

10 GB on the Basic plan

Download quality

Original, uncompressed files as uploaded

Confirm resolution and compression on downloads

Custom branding & domain

From the $8 Starter plan

Branding removal and custom domain from Basic

Print store & fulfillment

Delivery-first; quotes and approvals built in

Mature print store, auto fulfillment, coupons

Quotes & approvals

Built in, close to the gallery

Handled through separate Studio Manager tools

Pricing comparison

Pixieset vs Shuttertide pricing, tier by tier

Both platforms offer a free plan and scale up to unlimited storage. The clearest differences are how much storage you get at each price and the fact that face search is included on every Shuttertide plan.

Tier

Shuttertide

Pixieset

Free

$0 — 5 GB, 10 galleries, face search included

$0 — ~3 GB, no selfie/face search listed

Entry

Starter $8/mo ($80/yr) — 100 GB

Basic $10/mo ($8/mo annual) — 10 GB

Mid

Essential $16/mo ($160/yr) — 500 GB

Plus $20/mo ($16/mo annual) — 100 GB

High

Pro $24/mo ($240/yr) — 1 TB

Pro $30/mo ($24/mo annual) — 1 TB

Top

Extreme $49/mo ($490/yr) — unlimited photos

Ultimate $50/mo ($40/mo annual) — unlimited

At a similar entry price, Shuttertide Starter includes 100 GB versus 10 GB on Pixieset Basic.

Face search is included on every Shuttertide plan; Pixieset does not list selfie or face search for galleries.

Pixieset's higher tiers add print-store depth and fulfillment, so weigh that if print sales drive your revenue.

Pricing shown is public list pricing in USD as of July 2026 and may have changed since. Always check each provider's current pricing page before deciding. Where a lower annual-billed rate exists it is noted in parentheses; annual billing lowers the effective monthly cost on both platforms.

FAQs

Questions photographers usually ask before choosing this workflow

Yes. Shuttertide is built for large galleries, so wedding photographers can deliver thousands of images with face search, favorites, albums, and full-quality downloads while keeping the handoff on their own brand.

The free plans are comparable, but Shuttertide gives more storage at the entry tier (100 GB on the $8 Starter plan versus 10 GB on Pixieset Basic) and includes face search on every plan. Pixieset's higher tiers add a more mature print store if sales are your focus.

No. Clients receive the exact, full-quality, uncompressed files you uploaded. Your work is never degraded to save storage.

Yes. Custom branding and full custom domain support are available from the Starter plan, so clients see your studio URL instead of a platform subdomain.

Continue the research with the next pages that matter

Comparison

Shuttertide vs Pixieset

Compare Shuttertide vs Pixieset for photographer gallery delivery, proofing, branding, approvals, and privacy-conscious client workflows.

Face Search for Photo Galleries

Face search lets clients and guests find every photo they appear in with a single selfie. Private, instant, and included on every Shuttertide plan.

Keep the evaluation grounded in the workflow your studio actually runs.

Deliver a real gallery on Shuttertide, then compare it against your current Pixieset workflow and tier before you migrate anything.

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