Pixieset vs SmugMug

Pixieset vs SmugMug: deliver or display?

Pixieset and SmugMug are both photographer platforms, but they lead with different jobs. Pixieset is built around client delivery: galleries with proofing, client favourites, and an integrated print store, plus a 3 GB free tier to start on — its centre of gravity is the workflow from shoot to client to sale (free-tier store sales carry a commission). SmugMug leads with display and permanence: deeply customizable portfolio sites, unlimited photo storage on its subscriptions, and print sales, aimed at being a long-term home and archive rather than a client-proofing pipeline. It is subscription-only, with no meaningful free tier. So the choice tracks how you actually work. If your day revolves around delivering galleries to clients, collecting favourites and selling prints from them, Pixieset is shaped for exactly that and lets you start free. If you want a customizable public portfolio and somewhere to store and show a large catalogue indefinitely, SmugMug’s unlimited storage and site tooling fit better. Many photographers value one over the other precisely because client-sales workflow and portfolio-archive are different priorities — pick the platform whose lead job matches yours.

Last reviewed: 12 June 2026

Side by side

The differences, at a glance.

	Pixieset	SmugMug
Leads with	Client delivery, proofing and sales	Portfolio site and long-term archive
Free tier	3 GB free to start	Subscription-only; no meaningful free tier
Storage	Tiered by plan	Unlimited photo storage on its plans
Client proofing	First-class — favourites and proofing built in	Not its centre of gravity
Print sales	Integrated store (free-tier sales carry commission)	Integrated print sales
Portfolio website	Site tooling around the delivery workflow	Deeply customizable portfolio sites

Verified against each tool's public pages — visit Pixieset and SmugMug for the latest.

Which one?

An honest fork in the road.

Choose Pixieset when…

Client proofing, favourites and delivery are the daily job
You want to sell prints directly to clients from galleries
You want a free tier to start before committing

Choose SmugMug when…

You want a customizable portfolio plus a large archive in one place
Unlimited photo storage matters to you
You see it as a long-term home rather than a client pipeline

A third option

When you just deliver shoots, without the suite

If every job is “here is your gallery, enjoy the photos”, a full proofing-and-store suite can be weight you do not use. Nippy turns a folder of images into a clean gallery with a lightbox and original-quality downloads at your own address, and the same account hosts your portfolio site and documents too. It is free to start, with passwords and custom domains on paid plans — no proofing, favourites or print store, because it is delivery, not a sales pipeline.

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FAQ

Questions, answered.

Is Pixieset or SmugMug better for delivering to clients?

Pixieset — proofing, client favourites and an integrated store make it built for the shoot-to-client-to-sale workflow. SmugMug leans toward portfolio and archive rather than client proofing.

Which has a free tier?

Pixieset has a 3 GB free tier to start on. SmugMug is subscription-only with no meaningful free tier, so trying it means paying from the outset.

Which gives more storage?

SmugMug offers unlimited photo storage on its subscriptions, while Pixieset’s storage is tiered by plan. For a large long-term archive, SmugMug’s model fits better.

I only need to hand galleries over, not sell — simpler options?

If you do not need proofing or a store, a plain gallery host like Nippy delivers shoots as a clean link with original-quality downloads, free to start, without a full photography suite.

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See how each stacks up against Nippy: Nippy vs Pixieset · Nippy vs SmugMug

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