Pixieset vs Sprout Studio (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Pixieset grades higher than Sprout Studio: 2.6 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Pixieset grades higher on value for money, features and platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Pixieset
Client galleries, booking and studio CRM for photographers
Sprout Studio
Client management, galleries and invoicing for photographers
Which one is for you
Pick Pixieset if
- Fits if you are a photographer who wants contracts, booking and invoices in one app
- Works for studios that also deliver galleries through Pixieset
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay free: 3 contracts and 1 session type
- Pricey if you need galleries and a store too, as each product is billed separately
- Watch out: free accounts pay 15% commission on store sales
- Skip it if you need integrations, as none are listed
Pick Sprout Studio if
- Fits if you are a photographer who wants CRM and galleries in one web app
- Works for studios that want a month to test before paying
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you pick Lite: 10 active shoots, 50GB and 3 users
- Pricey if you want unlimited shoots, which needs Pro at $51
- Watch out: unlimited storage, users and brands need Unlimited at $69
- Watch out: the page does not say whether its prices are monthly or yearly billing
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAPixiesetGood | 2.0GPASprout StudioFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BStudio Manager Plus is $12 a month billed annually, inside the category's cheaper quarter that starts at $15. Pro is $18, and gallery storage and other products are priced separately. | C$19 a month for Lite, between the category's cheaper quarter at $15 and its middle at $29. The page does not say if that is monthly or annual billing, and the useful limits are on $36 to $69 plans. |
| Free plan and trial | CA free plan with unlimited invoices, 3 contracts, 3 quotes or questionnaires and 1 session type. A working studio will hit those caps. | C30-day free trial of any plan, no card required. There is no free plan after it. |
| Features | BContacts, a project board, contracts, quotes, questionnaires, a booking site, invoices and a mobile app. Nothing in the listing is missing from a photographer's studio work. | CContacts, contracts, invoices and payments, galleries, album proofs, email automation and scheduling. Lite and Basic cap active shoots at 10 and 20. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. A web app where you build session types, contracts and booking forms. | CNo store rating on record. A web app where you build your workflows, forms and galleries. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iPhone and Android. No integrations are listed. | CWeb only, with Freedom Print Lab as the one integration listed. No phone app is listed. |
| Best for | client booking and studio management for photographers | client management and galleries for photographers |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Pixieset and Sprout Studio. How we grade
Price against what you get
Pixieset starts at $12 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Sprout Studio starts at $19 a month and scores 2.0.
Pixieset scores higher and starts $7 a month lower. Of the other CRM tools on the chart, 3 score higher than Pixieset for less, and 26 score higher than Sprout Studio for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Pixieset also covers calendar, quotes and estimates and online store.
- Sprout Studio also covers workflow automation, file sharing and email campaigns.
At a glance
| Pixieset | Sprout Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $12 per month for Studio Manager Plus, billed annually ($15 billed monthly) | $19 per month (Lite; billing period not stated) |
| Free plan | Studio Manager Free: unlimited invoices, 3 contracts, 3 quotes or questionnaires, 1 session type, a booking site and online payments. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 30-day free trial of any plan, no credit card required |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Pixieset | Sprout Studio Inc. |
| Price read from | pixieset.com | getsproutstudio.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Pixieset
- Each product is priced separately; Client Gallery starts at $8 a month billed annually and runs to $40 for unlimited storage.
- The free Studio Manager plan caps contracts and quotes at 3 and session types at 1.
- Free accounts pay a 15% commission on store sales; upgraded plans pay none.
- Add-ons cost extra, such as Photo Editor at $12 a month and extra email campaigns at $10 a month per 5,000.
Sprout Studio
- Active shoots and galleries are capped at 10 on Lite and 20 on Basic, and storage ranges from 50GB to unlimited by plan.
- Lite, Basic and Pro include 3 users and 2 brands; unlimited users and brands need the Unlimited plan.
- The page lists USD and CAD prices side by side and does not say whether the monthly figure is for monthly or annual billing.
- Built for photographers rather than as a general-purpose CRM.
Key features
Pixieset
- Contacts and project board
- Tracks clients, leads and other connections, with a visual project board organized by stage and a built-in calendar.
- Contracts, quotes and questionnaires
- Branded documents with e-signatures, with templates for documents and emails and reminders for unsigned items.
- Booking site
- A booking page where clients see availability, book sessions and pay a full amount or retainer; includes a mini-sessions creator.
- Invoices and payments
- Online payments by card and digital wallet, payment schedules and reminders, tips, and Tap to Pay in the mobile app.
- Client Gallery and Store
- Separate Client Gallery plans for delivering photos, with a gallery storefront; free accounts pay 15% commission on store sales.
- Mobile app
- A Studio Manager app for iPhone and Android for tracking bookings and payments.
Sprout Studio
- Photography CRM
- Keeps client records, bookings and shoots together, with hundreds of customizable templates for emails, contracts and questionnaires.
- Contracts, invoices and payments
- Sends contracts and invoices and collects payment, with the vendor stating it takes no commission.
- Online galleries
- Proofs, sells and delivers photos to clients from client galleries; photo storage depends on the plan.
- Album design proofs
- Clients can give feedback on album designs in a proofing tool.
- Email marketing and automation
- Designs email campaigns and automates follow-up with built-in workflows.
- Scheduling and questionnaires
- Clients book time without back-and-forth, and questionnaires collect information before a shoot.
Plans
Pixieset
Studio Manager Free$0
Unlimited invoices, 3 contracts, 3 quotes or questionnaires, 1 active session type and basic booking.
Studio Manager Plus$12
per month, billed annually ($15 billed monthly)
Unlimited contracts and quotes, 3 session types, custom branding, booking intake forms and reminders.
Studio Manager Pro$18
per month, billed annually ($24 billed monthly)
Unlimited session types, booking reminders, retainers and tips at booking, manual booking approval.
Pixieset Suite$28
per month and up
Client Gallery, Studio Manager, Website, Store and Mobile Gallery App in one package, up to 37% off.
Sprout Studio
Lite$19
per month, billing basis not shown
10 active shoots and galleries, 50GB photo storage, 3 users and 2 brands.
Basic$36
per month, billing basis not shown
20 active shoots and galleries, 100GB photo storage, 3 users and 2 brands.
Pro$51
per month, billing basis not shown
Unlimited active shoots and galleries, 200GB photo storage, 3 users and 2 brands.
Unlimited$69
per month, billing basis not shown
Unlimited active shoots and galleries, unlimited photo storage, unlimited users and brands.
Ways to pay less
Pixieset
- Annual discount
Discount for yearly billing
Annual billing lowers Studio Manager Plus to $12 and Pro to $18 a month, against $15 and $24 billed monthly.
- Other savings
Suite bundle saves up to 37%
The Pixieset Suite bundles the essential apps from $28 a month with up to 37% off buying them separately.
Sprout Studio
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Pixieset or Sprout Studio?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Pixieset is cheaper to start with: $12 a month, against $19 a month for Sprout Studio. Pixieset starts at $12 per month for Studio Manager Plus, billed annually ($15 billed monthly), and Sprout Studio starts at $19 per month (Lite; billing period not stated).
Which has a free plan, Pixieset or Sprout Studio?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Pixieset has a free plan. Sprout Studio does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Pixieset and Sprout Studio run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Pixieset lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.