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Picsta vs Pixieset
Pixieset is a client gallery with a store attached. Picsta is built for the day the gallery goes out to 300 guests, when every one of them wants only the photos they are in, and every one of them should see your name.
Pick Picsta if
You deliver to whole guest lists, you want guests to find themselves with a selfie without installing anything, your brand and Enquire button should sit on every guest page, and you would rather pay a yearly photo allowance than a monthly gigabyte meter.
The trade-off with Pixieset
Guests scroll a gallery to find themselves, you pay every month by the gigabyte, and on the free plan it is Pixieset's logo on your galleries, not yours.
Why people compare them
Photographers who already pay for Pixieset notice the same thing after every wedding: the couple is happy, and the other 300 guests are messaging to ask where their photos are. Picsta exists for that second group. It sits comfortably next to a studio tool, and for many photographers it replaces the gallery part of one.
Side by side
| What you get | Picsta | Pixieset |
|---|---|---|
| Guests find their photos with a selfie | Yes | No |
| Guest access | A link in any browser. No app or account needed for guests | Scroll the gallery, or install its gallery app |
| Your branding on guest pages | Your studio name, logo, social links and Enquire button on every guest page (professional accounts) | Pixieset's logo until you pay |
| Everyone can add photos to one gallery | Yes, group events | No |
| Multi-day structure | Sub-events for multi-day celebrations (Advanced plan and up) | Sets inside a collection |
| Short video clips next to photos | Yes (Premium and Elite) | On higher plans |
| Flip-through photo book | Built in, with auto-curate and PDF | Printed albums via the store |
| Host app | Free Picsta app for hosts and photographers; guests never need one | Studio app |
| Print store, website builder, contracts | No | Yes |
| Pricing model | Free up to 1,500 photos; yearly plans by photo count | Monthly, by storage (GB) |
Pixieset details are taken from pixieset.com as of October 2026. Plans and features change, so check their pricing page before you decide. Picsta details reflect what is live today.
Why Picsta
- Find Me: one selfie shows a guest every photo and clip they are in, so the "where are my photos?" messages stop.
- Your studio name, logo, social links and Enquire button on every guest page (professional accounts). Every guest who finds themselves sees who to book.
- A link in any browser. No app or account needed for guests, which matters for parents, grandparents and guests on slow phones.
- Group events: everyone adds photos, each person chooses who sees theirs. Guests and second shooters add to the same gallery.
- Sub-events for multi-day celebrations (Advanced plan and up): mehendi, sangeet, ceremony and reception stay tidy in one link.
- A yearly photo allowance billed in rupees, pounds or dollars, with no per-gigabyte meter.
What Pixieset includes that Picsta leaves out
- A print and product store with lab fulfilment.
- A website builder, contracts, invoices and booking forms.
Picsta deliberately stays out of paperwork and print sales. If you need them, keep that tool for the couple and use Picsta for everyone else at the wedding.
What they cost
Pixieset starts at 3 GB free with its own branding on your galleries, then runs from about $8 a month billed yearly for 10 GB to about $40 a month for unlimited storage; its free plan takes a 15% commission on store sales. Picsta: Free for up to 1,500 photos. Yearly plans from Basic to Elite cover 10,000 to 500,000 photos, billed in rupees, pounds or dollars. No per-photo charges and no sales commission. Group events have their own one-time plans.
Step by step
- 1
Create a free Picsta event
Sign up, create one event and upload the photos from a recent job or celebration. The free plan covers 1,500 photos, enough to test a real gallery.
- 2
Send the link to a few guests
Share the gallery link by WhatsApp or email alongside your usual Pixieset link, and ask guests to tap Find Me with a selfie.
- 3
Compare the reactions
Count how many guests found their own photos, how many asked you for help, and how many downloads happened. Then decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Picsta a good Pixieset alternative for wedding photographers?
Yes for delivery. Picsta gives every guest their own photos from a selfie in any browser, carries your branding and Enquire button on every guest page, handles multi-day weddings with sub-events, and bills a yearly photo allowance instead of monthly storage. Picsta does not include a print store or contracts.
Does Pixieset have face recognition or selfie search?
Pixieset galleries are browsed by scrolling and favourites. Picsta's Find Me lets each guest upload one selfie and see only the photos and clips they appear in.
Can I use Picsta and Pixieset together?
Yes. Upload the same edited JPEGs to both: Pixieset for the couple's proofing and prints, Picsta for the whole guest list. Many photographers then move the gallery side to Picsta entirely.
Do my guests need to install an app for Picsta?
No. Guests open the link in any browser, tap Find Me and upload a selfie. Picsta has its own app for hosts and photographers; guests never need it.
How does Picsta pricing compare to Pixieset?
Pixieset bills monthly by storage. Picsta bills yearly by photo count, from Basic (10,000 photos) to Elite (500,000 photos), with a free plan for 1,500 photos, no per-photo fees and no commission.
Related guides
Start your gallery in minutes
Create a private event gallery, share it with a link, and let everyone find their own photos with a selfie. Free to start.