SendPhoto vs Pixieset
Compare SendPhoto and Pixieset for client galleries, proofing, store workflows, and pricing. Quick verdict for delivery-first photographers.
Quick Comparison
Why delivery-first photographers still choose SendPhoto
Pixieset is broader. SendPhoto stays stronger when the decision is mainly about fast delivery, lower setup overhead, and pricing that matches a delivery-first workflow.
- Lower starting price
- Lower workflow complexity
- Delivery-first controls
Primary Purpose
- SendPhoto
- Simple client gallery delivery
- Pixieset
- Gallery, proofing, and selling platform
Client Galleries
- SendPhoto
- Pixieset
Client Favorites / Likes
- SendPhoto
- Pixieset
Proofing / Selections
- SendPhoto
- Basic favorites
- Pixieset
- Deeper proofing workflow
Store / Print Sales
- SendPhoto
- Pixieset
Brand Customization
- SendPhoto
- Styling, watermarks, custom domains
- Pixieset
- Deeper branding controls
Delivery Controls
- SendPhoto
- Cleaner fitPasswords, expiration, download quality
- Pixieset
- Passwords, downloads, proofing controls
Business Complexity
- SendPhoto
- Simpler setupLow
- Pixieset
- Medium
Entry Pricing
- SendPhoto
- Best valueFree / from $3 mo
- Pixieset
- Free / Client Gallery from $8/mo
Best For
- SendPhoto
- RecommendedFast delivery
- Pixieset
- Proofing + sales + gallery stack
| Feature |  | Pixieset |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Simple client gallery delivery | Gallery, proofing, and selling platform |
| Client Galleries | ||
| Client Favorites / Likes | ||
| Proofing / Selections | Basic favorites | Deeper proofing workflow |
| Store / Print Sales | ||
| Brand Customization | Styling, watermarks, custom domains | Deeper branding controls |
| Delivery Controls | Cleaner fitPasswords, expiration, download quality | Passwords, downloads, proofing controls |
| Business Complexity | Simpler setupLow | Medium |
| Entry Pricing | Best valueFree / from $3 mo | Free / Client Gallery from $8/mo |
| Best For | RecommendedFast delivery | Proofing + sales + gallery stack |
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 Pixieset stack up across key features
Delivery Simplicity
SendPhoto is stronger when the main requirement is simple, polished gallery delivery without a lot of setup decisions. That matters when you deliver finished work often and want low operational friction.
Pixieset can absolutely deliver galleries, but its product is broader. That extra depth is valuable when you need it and unnecessary when you do not.
Proofing and Favorites
SendPhoto does support client likes and favorites, but it is not the stronger fit when your workflow depends on deeper proofing, structured selections, and broader review steps.
Pixieset is better here. Its official help docs center proofing around Favorites, downloads, and client selection flows inside the gallery.
Selling and Commerce
SendPhoto is not a commerce platform for prints and digital-download sales.
Pixieset is stronger when galleries are tied to a store. Official pricing and help docs show built-in selling with a free plan, commission on free, and 0% commission on paid plans.
Brand and Gallery Control
SendPhoto keeps the gallery presentation intentionally narrow. That is helpful for speed, but it is not the better choice if you want broader gallery customization and deeper proofing flows.
Pixieset gives photographers more room to shape the gallery and broader client-facing experience, especially when combined with its other products.
Focused Client Delivery
If your business mostly needs elegant delivery, SendPhoto keeps the workflow tied to that exact job: gallery viewing, collections, privacy, watermarks, expiration controls, and simpler downloads.
Pixieset can handle delivery well, but it is often better justified when the proofing and store layers are active parts of the workflow.
Protection and Gallery Controls
SendPhoto covers meaningful delivery controls like passwords, download quality, watermark control, and share expiration, but it is not the broader proofing-and-selling environment.
Pixieset documents password-protected client galleries, built-in watermarks, proofing, and controlled downloads as part of Client Gallery.
Real-World Scenarios
See which platform works best for different photography workflows
Wedding or Event Delivery
You want a clean gallery handoff with minimal setup overhead
SendPhoto is the better fit when you mainly need private galleries, simpler downloads, and a delivery workflow that stays light.
Pixieset can do this too, but its broader platform is not always an advantage if proofing and selling are not part of the job.
Client Proofing and Image Selection
Clients need to favorite, share, and download selected images
SendPhoto is not built around a client-selection workflow.
Pixieset is stronger because Favorites and proofing are first-class features inside Client Gallery.
Selling Prints and Downloads
Galleries need to turn into direct client purchases
SendPhoto is not the right choice if the gallery itself is meant to be a store.
Pixieset is the better fit because Store is integrated into Client Gallery and paid plans remove the free-tier commission fee.
Delivery-Only Team
Your website, CRM, and sales stack already live elsewhere
SendPhoto is stronger when you want the narrowest tool that still delivers galleries professionally.
Pixieset is still viable, but the extra platform depth can be redundant if those workflows are already solved outside the gallery product.
SendPhoto and Pixieset are close enough to compare directly, but they are not optimized for the same kind of photographer. Pixieset is broader. SendPhoto is narrower and more delivery-focused.
That means the right answer depends less on who has more features and more on whether your workflow actually needs proofing, store, and broader gallery management on top of delivery.
If your main need is simple client gallery delivery, SendPhoto is often the better operational fit. If your galleries are also part of proofing and selling, Pixieset makes the stronger case.
The Core Difference: Delivery Tool vs Broader Gallery Stack
SendPhoto is built around client gallery delivery. The focus is on private viewing, cleaner downloads, and a lower-friction handoff for finished work.
Pixieset's Client Gallery product is broader. Its official pricing and help docs show galleries that can be proofed, shared, downloaded, and sold from, plus a wider subscription system across its platform products.
Short Answer
- Choose SendPhoto if you want simpler, delivery-first galleries with less setup overhead.
- Choose Pixieset if you need proofing, Favorites workflows, and store-driven galleries.
- If delivery is your main use case, compare pricing, password protection, download controls, and watermarks before assuming the larger platform is the better fit.
Where SendPhoto Wins
SendPhoto wins when the job is straightforward delivery. If you repeatedly send finished galleries and want the least friction possible for both you and the client, a narrower product is often the more pragmatic choice.
That is especially true for photographers who already handle websites, contracts, and sales elsewhere and do not want the gallery tool to become a larger operational system than necessary. SendPhoto still covers meaningful delivery details like collections, client favorites, watermarks, download quality control, and share expiration.
Where Pixieset Wins
Pixieset wins when galleries are part of a proofing and commerce workflow rather than just a handoff. Its documentation makes that clear: Favorites, proofing, downloads, and store behavior are all central to how the product is meant to be used.
If you want clients to select images, share favorite lists, and buy products from the same gallery experience, Pixieset is the stronger product fit.
Pricing and Feature Reality Check
As of April 3, 2026, Pixieset's official pricing pages show free entry points and paid Client Gallery plans starting at $8 per month annually, with higher pricing for the broader Suite. Pixieset's help docs also note a 15% commission fee on free-plan orders and 0% commission on upgraded plans.
That pricing is sensible when galleries are doing more than delivery. If you are mostly paying for proofing and store depth that you do not use, SendPhoto's narrower model can be a better operational choice.
SendPhoto vs Pixieset: Short Verdict
Choose SendPhoto if you want the cleaner delivery-first workflow. Choose Pixieset if your galleries also need to power proofing and store activity.
The real tradeoff is not simplicity versus quality. It is simplicity versus platform breadth.
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
Free / Client Gallery from $8/mo with pricing interpreted on a annual billing 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 Pixieset 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 ShootProof
Compare another broader photographer business platform
SendPhoto vs Zenfolio
See how a delivery-first workflow compares with another all-in-one stack
Best Client Photo Delivery Platforms
Broader shortlist of photo delivery tools for photographers