Pixieset vs Studio Ninja (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Pixieset grades higher than Studio Ninja: 2.6 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Pixieset grades higher on value for money and features. They get the same grade on the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
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
Studio Ninja
Studio management and CRM for photographers and videographers
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 Studio Ninja if
- Fits if you run a photography or video studio on your own
- Makes sense if you want contracts, invoices and booking in one app
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you start on Starter, with 1 user, 1 brand and 5 active jobs
- Skip it if you want online booking forms, which start on Pro at $27
- Not for you if you run a business other than photography, as templates and integrations like ShootProof and Pic-Time are photography-specific
- Watch out: the page shows pounds and Australian dollars too, so check the currency
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAPixiesetGood | 2.2GPAStudio NinjaFair | |
|---|---|---|
| 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$16 a month on Starter, but booking forms and automation start on Pro at $27, just above the category's $25 middle. |
| 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. | CA 7-day trial with all features and no card needed. No free plan. |
| 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. | CLeads, quotes, contracts, booking, automation, payments and reports. It does the photography job fully, which is a smaller job than a general CRM. |
| 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. Templates, forms and workflows to build. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iPhone and Android. No integrations are listed. | BWeb plus iOS and Android apps, with Gmail, Google Calendar, Xero, QuickBooks and Stripe. No desktop app. |
| Best for | client booking and studio management for photographers | running a photography studio's leads, contracts and bookings |
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 Studio Ninja. 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. Studio Ninja starts at $16 a month and scores 2.3.
Pixieset scores higher and starts $4 a month lower. Of the other CRM tools on the chart, 3 score higher than Pixieset for less, and 16 score higher than Studio Ninja 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 and online store.
- Studio Ninja also covers tasks, sales pipeline and workflow automation.
At a glance
| Pixieset | Studio Ninja | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $12 per month for Studio Manager Plus, billed annually ($15 billed monthly) | $16 per month, billed monthly ($160 billed yearly) |
| 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 | 7-day free trial with all features, no credit card needed. |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Pixieset | Studio Ninja PTY LTD |
| Price read from | pixieset.com | studioninja.co |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 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.
Studio Ninja
- Starter caps active jobs at 5 and leaves out online booking forms and workflow automation.
- Plans are limited by users and brands: 1 user on Starter, 3 on Pro.
- The pricing page also lists prices in pounds and Australian dollars; the dollar figures here are the USD column.
- Built for photography businesses, so some templates and integrations (ShootProof, Fundy, ProSelect, Pic-Time) are photography-specific.
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.
Studio Ninja
- Leads and jobs
- Track enquiries from lead sources through to booked jobs, with tasks, deadlines and invoice status in one place.
- Quotes, contracts and questionnaires
- Clients review quotes, sign contracts and pay through a branded client portal, with automatic payment reminders.
- Online booking
- Booking forms let clients choose a session and pay at the time of booking. They are not included on Starter.
- Workflow automation
- Pre-built or custom workflows send emails, contracts and questionnaires. Automation is not included on Starter.
- Payments and income reports
- Stripe integration for online payments, payment schedules and income reporting.
- Mobile app
- The vendor says every feature is available in its iOS and Android apps.
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.
Studio Ninja
Starter$16
per month, billed monthly ($160 billed yearly)
1 brand, 1 user, 1 contact form and 5 active jobs. No online booking forms or workflow automation.
Pro$27
per month, billed monthly ($270 billed yearly)
1 brand, 3 users, 3 contact forms, 3 online booking forms, unlimited jobs and workflow automation.
Master$40
per month, billed monthly ($400 billed yearly)
3 brands, unlimited users, contact forms, online booking forms and jobs, plus workflow automation.
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.
Studio Ninja
- Annual discount
Save 17% with yearly billing
The pricing page labels yearly billing as saving 17% against monthly, and its FAQ describes it as a two-month discount.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Pixieset or Studio Ninja?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Pixieset is cheaper to start with: $12 a month, against $16 a month for Studio Ninja. Pixieset starts at $12 per month for Studio Manager Plus, billed annually ($15 billed monthly), and Studio Ninja starts at $16 per month, billed monthly ($160 billed yearly).
Which has a free plan, Pixieset or Studio Ninja?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Pixieset has a free plan. Studio Ninja does not, though it has a free trial.
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.