The Pixieset Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Pixieset in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Pixieset
The Insider’s Guide
Client galleries, booking and studio CRM for photographers
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among CRM tools, read from Pixieset’s own pages.
Made by Pixieset · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Pixieset’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Pixieset’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 99 of the 116 other CRM tools we grade
Pixieset is a suite for photographers that includes Client Gallery, a portfolio Website, a Store, a Mobile Gallery App, a Photo Editor, and Studio Manager. Studio Manager is the CRM and booking part: contacts, contracts, invoices, questionnaires and a booking site. Each product has its own free plan and paid tiers.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Pixieset, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Client Gallery, the website and the store are priced as separate products.
- 1
Best for client booking and studio management for photographers
Pixieset's Studio Manager handles contacts, contracts, quotes, bookings and invoices for photographers.
- 2
Paid plans start at $12 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $12 per month for Studio Manager Plus, billed annually ($15 billed monthly).
- 3
There is a free plan
Studio Manager Free: unlimited invoices, 3 contracts, 3 quotes or questionnaires, 1 session type, a booking site and online payments.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Contacts and project board
Tracks clients, leads and other connections, with a visual project board organized by stage and a built-in calendar.
- 6
Contracts, quotes and questionnaires
Branded documents with e-signatures, with templates for documents and emails and reminders for unsigned items.
- 7
Booking site
A booking page where clients see availability, book sessions and pay a full amount or retainer; includes a mini-sessions creator.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 99 of 116
That is against the other CRM tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Pixieset you would be making checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Pixieset at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $12 per month for Studio Manager Plus, billed annually ($15 billed monthly)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Pixieset, since 2013
- Category
- CRM Software
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.9 on the App Store, 2,460 ratings
The report card
Best for client booking and studio management for photographers
Pixieset's Studio Manager handles contacts, contracts, quotes, bookings and invoices for photographers. It is free with caps of 3 contracts and 1 session type, and Plus is $12 a month. Client Gallery, the website and the store are priced as separate products.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Studio 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. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A free plan with unlimited invoices, 3 contracts, 3 quotes or questionnaires and 1 session type. A working studio will hit those caps. |
| Features | B | Contacts, 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. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. A web app where you build session types, contracts and booking forms. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web, iPhone and Android. No integrations are listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Pixieset is for
- Fits if you are a photographer who wants contracts, booking and invoices in one app
- Works for studios that also deliver galleries through Pixieset
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Photographers who want galleries, booking and client paperwork in one account
- Solo studios starting on free plans and upgrading product by product
- Photographers who take bookings and retainers online
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$12
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Pixieset has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12 per month for Studio Manager Plus, billed annually ($15 billed monthly).
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.
The free plan
Studio Manager Free: unlimited invoices, 3 contracts, 3 quotes or questionnaires, 1 session type, a booking site and online payments.
Read from pixieset.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on pixieset.comOther 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.
Stated on pixieset.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
Client galleries, booking and studio CRM for photographers. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: calendar, forms, invoicing, quotes and estimates, appointment booking, online store.
Contacts, a project board, contracts, quotes, questionnaires, a booking site, invoices and a mobile app.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Pixieset is made by Pixieset, and has been around since 2013.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
99/116
Other CRM tools it is graded above
Pixieset's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 99 of the 116 other CRM tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 101 of 116) and worst on ease of use (C, above 5).
Its paid plans start at $12 a month, against a middle price of $29 for the category: 13 of the 93 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 3 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 117 CRM tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Pixieset’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 101 of 116
- CFree plan and trialAbove 44 of 116
- BFeaturesAbove 70 of 116
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 116
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 24 of 116
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 95 CRM tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Pixieset is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Pixieset you would be making checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 99 of the 116 other CRM tools we grade. It costs $144 a year.
What you could make
- Invoicing, appointment booking, forms, quotes and estimates and calendar: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Pixieset’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
HoneyBook, 17hats, Studio Ninja, Dubsado and ShootProof
The 5 tools Pixieset is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
HoneyBook
Free trial · from $29/mo
Client management, contracts and payments for independents.
- Pixieset has a free plan. HoneyBook does not, though it has a free trial.
- Pixieset also covers calendar, quotes and estimates, appointment booking and online store.
- HoneyBook also covers templates, booking links, sales pipeline and workflow automation.
- 2.4GPA
17hats
Free trial · from $60/mo
CRM and small business manager with invoicing, booking and texting.
- Pixieset has a free plan. 17hats does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Pixieset lists iOS and Android apps.
- Pixieset also covers calendar and online store.
- 2.2GPA
Studio Ninja
Free trial · from $16/mo
Studio management and CRM for photographers and videographers.
- Pixieset has a free plan. Studio Ninja does not, though it has a free trial.
- Pixieset also covers calendar and online store.
- Studio Ninja also covers tasks, sales pipeline and workflow automation.
- 2.4GPA
Dubsado
Free trial · from $335/yr
Client management, contracts and invoicing for service businesses.
- Pixieset has a free plan. Dubsado does not, though it has a free trial.
- Pixieset also covers calendar, quotes and estimates, appointment booking and online store.
- Dubsado also covers templates, booking links, workflow automation, time tracking and reports.
- 2.0GPA
ShootProof
Free plan
Client galleries, print sales and studio tools for photographers.
- Only Pixieset lists iOS and Android apps.
- Pixieset also covers calendar, forms, quotes and estimates and appointment booking.
- ShootProof also covers booking links, file sharing, email campaigns and digital downloads.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Pixieset free?
Pixieset has a free plan. Studio Manager Free: unlimited invoices, 3 contracts, 3 quotes or questionnaires, 1 session type, a booking site and online payments.
How much does Pixieset cost?
Pixieset lists 4 plans. Studio Manager Free: $0.
What platforms does Pixieset work on?
Pixieset is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does Pixieset offer any discounts?
Pixieset publicly lists the following: Discount for yearly billing; Suite bundle saves up to 37%.
How is Pixieset rated?
Pixieset's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 2,460 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Pixieset have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Pixieset is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Pixieset have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Pixieset is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Pixieset open source?
Pixieset is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes Pixieset?
Pixieset is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2013.
What are the alternatives to Pixieset?
The closest alternatives to Pixieset in our directory are HoneyBook, 17hats, Studio Ninja, Dubsado and ShootProof.
How does Pixieset compare with other CRM tools?
Pixieset's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 99 of the 116 other CRM tools we grade, and level with 6.
Is Pixieset good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Pixieset B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $12 a month, against a middle price of $29 for the category: 13 of the 93 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Pixieset?
To replace Pixieset you would be making checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Pixieset’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Pixieset's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Pixieset. Prices change, so check pixieset.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Pixieset, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/pixieset
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Pixieset: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/pixieset
Know someone choosing between CRM tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/pixieset/guide
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See our other guides
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- Frappe CRM Insider's GuideOpen-source CRM with unlimited users, billed by hosting3.0 GPA
- Givebutter Insider's GuideFree fundraising platform with a built-in nonprofit CRM3.0 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Pixieset’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Pixieset is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Pixieset. Prices and plans change: check pixieset.com before you buy.