SendPhoto vs Format
Compare SendPhoto vs Format for client galleries, website building, workflow tools, pricing, and delivery fit. See when a delivery-first tool beats a portfolio platform.
Quick Comparison
Why delivery-first photographers still choose SendPhoto
Format is broader when your website is part of the decision. SendPhoto stays stronger when the real job is private gallery delivery at a lower starting cost.
- Lower starting price
- No website-builder overhead
- Delivery-first controls
Primary Focus
- SendPhoto
- Client gallery delivery
- Format
- Portfolio site + workflow tools
Website Builder
- SendPhoto
- Use your existing site
- Format
- Built-in portfolio website
Client Galleries
- SendPhoto
- Format
Delivery Controls
- SendPhoto
- Cleaner fitPasswords, expiration, download quality
- Format
- Passwords, favoriting, downloads
Workflow Extras
- SendPhoto
- Keep admin tools separate
- Format
- Portfolio, workflow, and selling tools
Entry Pricing
- SendPhoto
- Better valueFree / from $3 mo
- Format
- From $100/year
Best For
- SendPhoto
- RecommendedDelivery-first photographers
- Format
- Photographers who want site + galleries together
| Feature |  | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Client gallery delivery | Portfolio site + workflow tools |
| Website Builder | Use your existing site | Built-in portfolio website |
| Client Galleries | ||
| Delivery Controls | Cleaner fitPasswords, expiration, download quality | Passwords, favoriting, downloads |
| Workflow Extras | Keep admin tools separate | Portfolio, workflow, and selling tools |
| Entry Pricing | Better valueFree / from $3 mo | From $100/year |
| Best For | RecommendedDelivery-first photographers | Photographers who want site + galleries together |
Compare the workflow, not just the price
The real decision is whether you need simple gallery delivery, deeper proofing, or a full business stack. Use pricing and feature pages to validate the fit before choosing a plan.
What SendPhoto Actually Includes
SendPhoto includes more than basic gallery sharing. The delivery workflow also covers organization, access control, download rules, watermarking, and mixed media support for working photographers.
Collections and Gallery Structure
Organize one delivery into collections so clients can browse ceremony, portraits, reception, or any other grouped set without juggling multiple links.
Passwords, Expiration, and Cleanup
Protect galleries with passwords, set share expiration, and schedule auto-delete reminders when delivery should not stay open forever.
Download Quality and ZIP Control
Enable or disable downloads, choose delivery quality, and let clients pull full-gallery or collection-based ZIP downloads with background preparation.
Watermarks with Collection-Level Control
Apply gallery-wide watermarks, preview them before publishing, and disable or re-enable watermarking per collection when different parts of a gallery need different treatment.
Mixed Photo and Video Delivery
Deliver videos alongside photos inside the same client gallery with in-gallery playback and a dedicated processing pipeline.
RAW-Friendly Delivery Workflow
SendPhoto supports many major RAW camera formats plus pro image formats like HEIC, TIFF, PSD, and more, which matters when photographers do not want to flatten everything into JPG before delivery.
Highlights include client favorites, preview links before publishing, gallery styling controls, and support for many major RAW camera formats.
Feature Breakdown
See how SendPhoto and Format stack up across key features
Delivery Focus
SendPhoto is stronger when the gallery is the final service layer. The product stays centered on privacy, organization, favorites, and easier downloads instead of adding website-builder choices to every delivery decision.
Format can absolutely handle client galleries, but the platform assumes many photographers also want their public site, workflow tools, and client experience in one place.
Portfolio and Website Presence
SendPhoto is not a portfolio builder. It is strongest when you already have a site or do not want your delivery tool to double as your website platform.
Format is the better fit if you want your portfolio, public site, and client-facing gallery system bundled into one platform.
Client Gallery Controls
SendPhoto adds delivery-specific controls like share expiration, auto-delete reminders, collection structure, and download-quality rules that work especially well once the gallery is ready to hand off.
Format supports password-protected client galleries, favoriting, and downloads, so the basic private-gallery story is real. The difference is how much broader the surrounding platform is.
Workflow Breadth
SendPhoto is intentionally narrower. That is a benefit for delivery-first photographers, but it is not trying to replace a website builder or a workflow suite.
Format is stronger when you actively want the public site, client gallery, workflow, and digital-selling pieces connected inside one product.
Price-to-Scope Fit
If your main need is private delivery, SendPhoto is easier to justify because you are not paying for portfolio-building or broader workflow extras you may barely use.
Format pricing makes sense when the website layer matters. If you mainly need polished delivery, the platform can be broader than the job requires.
Real-World Scenarios
See which platform works best for different photography workflows
Wedding Gallery Delivery
Final gallery handoff with privacy and simple download behavior
SendPhoto is the stronger fit when the client mainly needs a polished gallery with easier access, favorites, and downloads after the work is complete.
Format can still handle the gallery, but its broader website and workflow surface is not always necessary for a finished delivery job.
Portfolio Site Plus Client Galleries
One platform should cover public site presence and private gallery sharing
SendPhoto is better as a delivery layer than as an all-in-one web presence.
Format is the better fit if you want a single system for your public portfolio and your private client galleries.
Commercial or Corporate Delivery
A business client needs the files cleanly and quickly after approval
This is where delivery focus wins. SendPhoto stays close to the actual handoff instead of bundling a wider site-building workflow into the process.
Format can do this, but the broader platform value matters less when the client just needs the finished gallery.
Solo Photographer Rebuilding Their Whole Online Presence
A public site, galleries, and related workflow tools need one home
SendPhoto does not aim to replace a public portfolio website.
Format is the stronger fit when the website itself is part of the decision and not just the delivery layer.
SendPhoto and Format both help photographers share work with clients, but they solve different versions of the same business problem. SendPhoto focuses on final delivery. Format combines a portfolio website, client galleries, and broader workflow tools in one platform.
That means the better choice depends less on which platform has more features and more on whether your public website belongs inside this decision at all.
The Core Difference: Delivery Layer vs Website-Centered Platform
SendPhoto is built around gallery delivery. The goal is to get finished work in front of clients cleanly, keep privacy under control, and make downloads easy.
Format is broader. Its public product pages position it as a photography website builder with client galleries and workflow features. That is valuable when your website and delivery tool should be the same product. It is less valuable when you only need the delivery layer.
Short Answer
- Choose SendPhoto if you want lower-cost, delivery-first galleries without bundling in a portfolio builder.
- Choose Format if your website, client galleries, and workflow tools should live in one system.
- Check the tradeoff against SendPhoto pricing, gallery privacy controls, and Format's current portfolio and client-gallery pages before deciding.
Where SendPhoto Is the Better Fit
When Delivery Is the Main Job
If you already have a public site or do not care about bundling one into the same platform, SendPhoto is usually the cleaner choice. You pay for the client-delivery layer rather than the larger website stack.
When You Want Delivery Controls That Stay Close to the Gallery
SendPhoto is a better fit when you care about things like share expiration, collection-level organization, download-quality rules, and a simpler gallery handoff. Those are delivery-first controls, not site-builder features.
Where Format Is the Better Fit
When Your Website Is Part of the Buying Decision
Format is stronger if you want your public portfolio, your client galleries, and related workflow tools connected from the start. That can be a real advantage for photographers rebuilding their whole online presence.
When You Want a Broader Platform
Format's public pages also emphasize workflow tools beyond the gallery itself. If those extras are part of your day-to-day business, the broader platform can justify itself.
Pricing and Feature Reality Check
As of March 21, 2026, Format's public pricing page starts at $100 per year, while its client-gallery pages highlight password-protected galleries, favoriting, downloads, and design controls. That makes it a credible option if you want a website-first platform with client gallery features baked in.
But if your real need is to deliver finished galleries elegantly and keep the workflow simpler, SendPhoto is usually the better fit because it keeps the whole decision closer to the delivery job itself.
Final Verdict
Choose SendPhoto if you mainly want a focused client-delivery platform. Choose Format if the website, client galleries, and broader workflow stack all need to be part of the same platform decision.
Methodology and Disclosure
This page is written from SendPhoto's perspective and is meant to help photographers choose the right workflow. Competitor plans, features, and limits can change, so verify important purchase details on the vendor's current pricing and documentation pages.
What we compare
Delivery workflow, client experience, privacy controls, proofing fit, and pricing posture.
Best use of this page
Use it to narrow the shortlist, then confirm the final choice against your actual workflow and budget.
Competitor pricing reviewed
From $100/year with pricing interpreted on a public portfolio pricing basis.
Official Sources Reviewed
Helpful Links for This Decision
Gallery Delivery
Review the core delivery workflow and client gallery experience.
Password Protection
See how gallery access, privacy, and expiring shares work.
Watermarks
Check watermark controls, proof protection, and collection-level options.
Download Controls
Compare download quality, ZIP delivery, and full-gallery access options.
Best Client Photo Delivery Platforms
Compare the broader shortlist of delivery platforms for photographers.
Choose SendPhoto if:
- You want simple, professional photo delivery
- You value ease of use and quick setup
- You prefer affordable, straightforward pricing
- You need password protection and custom watermarks
Choose Format if:
- You need built-in e-commerce functionality
- You want extensive customization options
- You require a full business management platform
- You sell prints or digital downloads
More Comparisons
SendPhoto vs SmugMug
Another website-plus-gallery decision with a broader platform on the other side
SendPhoto vs Zenfolio
Compare delivery-first galleries with another portfolio-oriented platform
Best Client Photo Delivery Platforms
See the wider shortlist if you are still comparing website and delivery stacks