Pixieset Website vs SmugMug

Pixieset Website9.1Visit SmugMug8.8Visit

Higher score Pixieset Website #2 in Photography Website Builders 9.1/10 Free plan · paid from $12/mo (annual) Free plan✓ 1 of 6 features Visit Pixieset

vs

SmugMug #4 in Photography Website Builders 8.8/10 From $20/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Free trial✓ 0 of 6 features Visit SmugMug

• Pixieset Website fits best

  Photographers wanting a free website starter plan

• SmugMug fits best

  Photographers needing storage plus a website

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Side by side

Feature	Pixieset Website 9.1/10 Visit ↗	SmugMug 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.8
Ranking	#2 in Photography Website Builders	#4 in Photography Website Builders
Best for	Photographers wanting a free website starter plan	Photographers needing storage plus a website
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Paid
Starting price	$12/mo (best)	$20/mo
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	14 days
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Support	Email, Docs	Email, Docs · 24/7
Integrations	2 integrations	3 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Pixieset Website 1/6 · SmugMug 0/6
Client galleries	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Print sales	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Proofing tools	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Digital downloads	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Booking forms	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Custom domain	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free plan includes 15 pages, 100 photos, and 5 blog posts Photographer-focused templates with drag-and-drop editing SEO, SSL, responsive hosting, and upgraded-plan integrations	Unlimited full-resolution JPEG storage with automatic desktop and mobile uploads Professional templates, custom domains, galleries, and privacy controls Print, digital download, video, and Lightroom support
Cons	Custom domains require a paid plan Native website checkout is not provided directly Video hosting is not included; videos are embedded from YouTube or Vimeo	No permanent free plan Starting price is $20 per month when billed annually Advanced sales tools are reserved for higher plans
Our verdict	Pixieset Website is a hosted website builder for photographers creating portfolio sites, blogs, and professional online presences. Its photographer-focused templates, drag-and-drop Flex Editor, reusable content blocks, mobile-responsive… Read the review →	SmugMug combines online photo storage, organization, sharing, delivery, and website publishing for photographers, families, hobbyists, and photography businesses. Its core offering includes unlimited full-resolution JPEG storage, folders… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Pixieset Website — where it wins

  • Free plan includes 15 pages, 100 photos, and 5 blog posts
  • Photographer-focused templates with drag-and-drop editing
  • SEO, SSL, responsive hosting, and upgraded-plan integrations

  Where it doesn't

  • Custom domains require a paid plan
  • Native website checkout is not provided directly
  • Video hosting is not included; videos are embedded from YouTube or Vimeo

• SmugMug — where it wins

  • Unlimited full-resolution JPEG storage with automatic desktop and mobile uploads
  • Professional templates, custom domains, galleries, and privacy controls
  • Print, digital download, video, and Lightroom support

  Where it doesn't

  • No permanent free plan
  • Starting price is $20 per month when billed annually
  • Advanced sales tools are reserved for higher plans

• Pixieset Website9.1/10 · Free plan · paid from $12/mo (annual)

  A focused photographer website builder with a useful free starting plan.

  Visit PixiesetFull verdict →
• SmugMug8.8/10 · From $20/mo (annual) · 14-day trial

  A storage-first photography site builder with galleries, sales tools, and broad platform support.

  Visit SmugMugFull verdict →