snapsails vs Pixieset: Which platform is right for your photography business? 


Photographers juggle a lot of moving parts — client communication, contracts, payments, galleries, and even video delivery. Choosing a platform that actually makes your workflow easier is key to running a successful photography or videography business.

The right choice comes down to whether you want polished simplicity or a deep all in-one platform to support your workflow.

Pixieset is known for its clean client galleries and website templates. snapsails, on the other hand, is a project-centric CRM built for photographers and videographers. It brings together invoices, contracts, galleries, videos, and even client guides into one place.

Quick Verdict:

Choose Pixieset if your top priority is beautiful, easy-to-use galleries and a quick starter website. It’s a great fit for beginner photographers who don’t need advanced business tools yet.

Choose snapsails if you want a strong CRM that supports unlimited contracts, invoices, encrypted photo and video storage, and built-in associate workflows and payouts.

Feature by feature breakdown:

Core positioning:
Snapsails is a project-centric CRM that helps photographers and videographers send contracts and invoices, share galleries and videos, and manage associate payouts in one hub.

Pixieset is a gallery and website platform with optional add-ons like Store and Studio Manager.

Client galleries:
Pixieset offers polished, mobile friendly galleries with a modern look. It’s free plan includes 3GB storage while paid plans unlock limited galleries, watermarking, and commission free sales.
snapsails offers galleries directly to each project, with encrypted delivery for both images and videos, with built in watermarking and simple tools for client selection and downloads.

Business tools:
Pixieset’s Studio Manger adds contracts, invoicing and questionnaires but it is separate from the main gallery platform.
snapsails includes unlimited contracts, invoices, payments and messages for both clients and associate photographers inside each projects.

Storage and Media:
Pixieset storage expands by plan, with unlimited storage at the top tier. They focus primarily on photog delivery, with some third party video support. 

snapsails offers encrypted storage for both photos and full resolution video. Storage grows with your needs and only pay for what you use. 

Pricing:
Pixieset offers a Free plan and Paid plans run between $10 and $50/month plan depending on which modules you add.
snapsails is free to start and offers simple, transparent pricing based on storage.

Customization and Branding:
Pixieset has sleek templates that are easy to launch but are limited beyond preset designs.
snapsails allows for your branding to each client project portal with flexible galleries and video support. 

Pro’s and Con’s

Pixieset pros

• Clean and professional galleries that are easy to set up 

• Free starter plan for new photographers 

• Integrated print store and fulfillment options

• Great choice for beginners or those needing a quick website

Pixieset cons 

• Add on model can get expensive combining Studio Manger, Website and Gallery 

• Limited reporting, CRM features, and no associate management

• Less optimized for video heavy workflows 

snapsails pros

• All in one project hub for contracts, invoices, galleries, payments, and associate collaboration. 

• Encrypted photo and video storage and delivery 

• Transparent, storage based pricing that is scalable with your business

• Built in associate collaboration and payouts - a rare feature in competitors. 

snapsails cons 

Newer platform, so features like websites and print labs are still being developed. 

Bottom line 

If you want fast, simple, and beautiful galleries with optional add-ons, Pixieset is a safe bet. 

If you want one platform to manage your entire business from inquiry to contracts, payments, to secure deliver and associate collaboration, snapsails is built for that. Try snapsails for free today and scale as you grow.