Pic-Time vs Pixieset: Pricing, Storage and Features Compared
An honest Pic-Time vs Pixieset comparison: plan prices at every storage level, commission on print sales, which features need an upgrade, and who each one is best for.
By the Terracotta team · Updated · 8 min read
Pic-Time and Pixieset are the two names every photographer hears first, and for good reason. Both deliver beautiful galleries, both sell prints, and both have free plans. They are built around different ideas, though, and picking the wrong one can cost you hundreds of dollars a year.
Here is how they compare on price, storage, sales and features, using published pricing as of October 2026, plus a third option if you are tired of choosing between tiers.
Pricing and storage
This is where the two differ most. Pic-Time's tiers jump from 20 GB to 100 GB to unlimited. Pixieset goes from 10 GB to 100 GB to 1 TB to unlimited. Where you land depends almost entirely on how much you keep online.
| Plan level | Pic-Time | Pixieset |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 10 GB photos + 1 GB video, reduced to 3 GB after a few months | 3 GB |
| Entry | Beginner: $8/mo ($7 annual), 20 GB | Basic: $10/mo ($8 annual), 10 GB |
| Mid | Professional: $25/mo ($21 annual), 100 GB | Plus: $20/mo ($16 annual), 100 GB |
| Large | Advanced: $50/mo ($42 annual), unlimited | Pro: $30/mo ($24 annual), 1 TB |
| Top | — | Ultimate: $50/mo ($40 annual), unlimited |
Under 20 GB, Pic-Time is cheaper, and its free plan starts at 10 GB (it drops to 3 GB, the same as Pixieset's, after a few months). From 20 to 100 GB, Pixieset Plus is $5 a month less than Pic-Time Professional. From 100 GB to 1 TB, Pixieset Pro at $30 is much cheaper than Pic-Time Advanced at $50. For most wedding photographers carrying 150 to 350 GB, that is a $240 a year difference in Pixieset's favor.
Selling prints and albums
Pic-Time is built around sales. Its print store, lab fulfillment and automated sales campaigns are on every plan, and its album and wall art upsells are some of the most effective in the industry. The cost is commission: 15% on Free and Beginner (even if you collect payment yourself), and 6 to 8% of your profit on Professional and Advanced when Pic-Time processes the payment.
Pixieset's store is available on the free plan with a 15% commission, and its paid plans are advertised as commission-free. Its store is simpler and less automated than Pic-Time's, which suits photographers who sell occasionally rather than run sales campaigns.
Features that need an upgrade
| Feature | Pic-Time | Pixieset |
|---|---|---|
| Print store | Every plan | Every plan |
| Custom domain | Professional and up | Basic and up |
| Remove platform branding | Professional and up | Basic and up |
| Your logo and watermark | Beginner and up | Basic and up (logo) |
| Mobile gallery apps | Every plan | Up to 3 on Free, unlimited on paid |
| Video | 5 GB to 60 GB by plan | Basic and up |
| Website builder | No | Separate Pixieset product |
Gallery design and client experience
Both are excellent here. Pic-Time's galleries lean editorial and cinematic, with strong cover layouts and smooth slideshows. Pixieset's are lighter and more minimal. Clients rarely complain about either. The best test is to send yourself a real session from each free plan and open it on your phone.
The bottom line
Pic-Time wins on sales. Pixieset wins on storage value above 100 GB and on having a broader ecosystem. Both use storage tiers, which means you pay for the top of the tier even in months you are using half of it.
A third option: pay only for what you use
We built Terracotta for photographers who are tired of picking a tier. Every feature, including the print store, custom domain and branding, is on every account. The first 3 GB are free, and after that you pay for the storage you actually keep, prorated to the day. At 100 GB that is about $15.60 a month, and at 250 GB about $23.85.
Not sure what you would pay? Try the pricing calculator, or see how all eight major platforms stack up in our ranking of the best client gallery platforms.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pic-Time or Pixieset cheaper?
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Pic-Time is cheaper under 20 GB and its free plan starts bigger (10 GB vs 3 GB, though Pic-Time cuts it to 3 GB after a few months). Between 20 and 100 GB, Pixieset Plus is $5 a month less. Above 100 GB, Pixieset Pro ($30 for 1 TB) is much cheaper than Pic-Time Advanced ($50).
Is Pic-Time better than Pixieset for selling prints?
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Generally yes. Pic-Time's print store and automated sales campaigns are more powerful, though it charges a 15% commission on its Free and Beginner plans and 6 to 8% on higher plans when it collects payment.
Can I move my galleries from Pixieset or Pic-Time to another platform?
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Yes. You can download your delivered images from either platform and upload them elsewhere. Clients will need the new gallery links, so plan the switch between busy seasons.
