SmugMug and Pixieset both host galleries, sell prints and give you a website, but they start from different places. SmugMug is photo hosting first — unlimited photo storage, portfolio sites and storefronts. Pixieset is client delivery first — clean galleries, plus a website builder and Studio Manager for the business. Here's how they compare, checked against both platforms' own pages in November 2026.
Choose SmugMug if you want unlimited photo storage, a portfolio website and galleries in one place — and live galleries during a shoot, because CloudTether delivers into SmugMug. Choose Pixieset if you mainly deliver client galleries and want a usable free plan, polished proofing and Studio Manager for bookings, invoices and contracts. SmugMug has no free plan listed; Pixieset's store charges commission only on the free plan.
| SmugMug | Pixieset | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Unlimited hosting plus a portfolio website | Client galleries plus an all-in-one studio suite |
| Free plan | None listed | Yes — 3 GB, unlimited galleries |
| Storage | Unlimited photos on every plan, full-res JPEG included | 10 GB, 100 GB, 1 TB or unlimited by plan |
| RAW files | Stored with an add-on | RAW upload on Pro and Ultimate plans |
| Selling | Portfolio and Pro plans: prints and digital files with fulfilment | Store on every plan: 15% commission on free, none on paid |
| Website | Templates and storefront on Portfolio and Pro | Website builder available |
| Studio tools | Lighter: client favourites and download limits on Pro | Studio Manager: bookings, invoices, payments, contracts |
| Lightroom | Lightroom integration on every plan | Lightroom Classic plug-in |
| Live upload from your camera | Yes, with CloudTether (JPEGs) | No — no upload connection for other apps |
SmugMug includes unlimited photo storage, with unlimited full-resolution JPEGs, on its Direct, Portfolio and Pro plans; RAW files are stored with a separate add-on. Pixieset counts storage by plan — 3 GB free, then 10 GB, 100 GB, 1 TB or unlimited — with RAW upload on its Pro and Ultimate plans. If you want every finished image online for years, SmugMug's model is simpler; if you mostly deliver galleries that expire, Pixieset's tiers may be enough.
SmugMug's Portfolio and Pro plans include website templates, a portfolio and storefront, custom domains, and watermark and theft-protection tools. Pixieset has its own website builder alongside Client Gallery. Photographers who want the portfolio site and the photo archive to be the same thing often prefer SmugMug; those who treat the site as marketing and galleries as delivery are well served by either.
On SmugMug, selling prints and digital files needs the Portfolio or Pro plan; Portfolio lets you set profit margins, and Pro adds custom price lists, packages, coupons and client favouriting with download limits. Pixieset's store works on every plan, with 15% commission on the free plan and none on paid plans, and its galleries are known for clean proofing with favourites, download PINs and watermarks.
Pixieset's Studio Manager — bookings, invoices, payments, contracts and client messages, with a free iPhone and Android app — is a real advantage for solo photographers who don't want a separate CRM. SmugMug is lighter on business admin and pairs with whatever CRM you use.
SmugMug includes Lightroom integration and automatic upload from any SmugMug app on every plan, so a Lightroom catalogue or a phone's photos can feed your galleries. Pixieset's Lightroom Classic plug-in uploads photos (up to 50 MB each), syncs your collection structure and shows client favourites inside Lightroom, and its phone app, Studio Manager, handles the business side rather than galleries. Both let clients view galleries comfortably on a phone; Pixieset can also turn a gallery into a client-installable app.
SmugMug accepts live uploads: CloudTether tethers your camera to your phone and delivers each frame into the SmugMug gallery you pick, keeping that gallery's privacy, sharing and selling settings, so clients or guests watch photos appear during the event. Pixieset doesn't offer an upload connection for other apps, so it can't take live frames. A common split is a live SmugMug gallery or Dropbox folder on the day, and a Pixieset collection for the edited delivery.
Pick SmugMug for unlimited photo storage, a portfolio site and live galleries from your camera with CloudTether. Pick Pixieset for client-first galleries, a free plan to start and Studio Manager for the business side. If you want both strengths, use SmugMug live on the day and Pixieset for final delivery.
How live delivery works, camera by camera: camera to cloud.
SmugMug is better for unlimited photo hosting, a portfolio website and live galleries from your camera. Pixieset is better for client delivery with a free plan, clean proofing and built-in studio management.
Yes — unlimited photo storage, including full-resolution JPEGs, on its Direct, Portfolio and Pro plans. RAW files need a separate storage add-on.
Pixieset does: 3 GB with unlimited galleries. SmugMug doesn't list a free plan.
Yes. SmugMug's Portfolio and Pro plans sell prints and digital files with fulfilment. Pixieset's store works on every plan, commission-free on paid plans.
Yes. CloudTether tethers your camera to your iPhone, iPad or Android phone and sends each frame into the SmugMug gallery you choose as you shoot. Pixieset doesn't accept live uploads from other apps.
Pixieset is very popular for wedding client galleries and studio admin. SmugMug suits wedding photographers who want a portfolio site, permanent hosting and a live gallery during the day.
With an add-on. SmugMug's plans include unlimited photo storage with full-resolution JPEGs; RAW storage is sold separately in terabyte steps. CloudTether sends JPEGs to SmugMug, so a common set-up is JPEGs to the SmugMug gallery and RAW files to Dropbox or Google Drive from the same shoot.
Yes. Pixieset's Lightroom Classic plug-in uploads photos to collections, syncs the collection structure and lets you see client favourites in Lightroom.
Facts about SmugMug and Pixieset were checked against these pages in November 2026. Plans, storage and fees change often — check each platform for current details and pricing. Product names are trademarks of their owners.