Pic-Time alternative
A free Pic-Time alternative — galleries that don't expire
If you searched for a free Pic-Time alternative, the sticking point is usually the free plan: limited storage, and galleries that can be removed once they age out. That happens because the platform hosts your photos and has to reclaim the space. Filolio works differently — it leaves your photos in the Google Drive or Dropbox folder you already use and wraps it in a polished, client-ready gallery. No re-uploading, no storage meter, and nothing to delete later.
Why it happens
Why storage-based free plans tighten over time
A single wedding gallery can run 500–800 photos. Platforms that store your images pay for every gigabyte, so free tiers shrink, and inactive galleries get removed to free up room. For a tool whose whole job is a link you send a client, a gallery quietly disappearing months later is the one thing you can't have. Filolio stores zero photo bytes — images load straight from your cloud provider's servers — so your galleries stay live and “unlimited photos, free” is just how it works.
Side by side
Filolio vs. a storage-based gallery platform
| Feature | Storage-based platform | Filolio |
|---|---|---|
| Photos on the free plan | Capped (storage-limited) | Unlimited |
| Old / inactive galleries | May be auto-removed | Stay live |
| Where photos live | On their servers (re-upload) | Your Google Drive or Dropbox (no upload) |
| Password protection | Often a paid feature | Free, included |
| Client account required | Sometimes | Never |
| Built for | Print sales, slideshows, automation | Making your delivery link presentable |
Competitor plans and limits change over time — check their current pricing before deciding. The durable difference is structural: they price by storage, Filolio stores nothing.
Honest comparison
When Pic-Time is still the better choice
If you sell prints, run automated sales campaigns, or want polished client slideshows built in, a full platform like Pic-Time does far more than Filolio. Filolio is deliberately narrow: it makes the Google Drive or Dropbox link you already send look like the professional work you delivered. If that's the job, you don't need to pay for storage you don't use.
FAQ
Common questions
- Is there a free alternative to Pic-Time?
- Yes. Filolio is free for up to 20 active galleries with unlimited photos and password protection included. It builds the gallery from a Google Drive or Dropbox folder you already have, so there's nothing to upload and no storage meter.
- Will my galleries get deleted on the free plan?
- No. Storage-based platforms reclaim space by capping free storage and removing old or inactive galleries. Filolio stores zero photo bytes — your images stay in your own Google Drive or Dropbox folder — so there's no storage to reclaim and your delivered galleries stay live.
- What's the difference between Filolio and Pic-Time?
- Pic-Time is a full platform — it hosts your photos, layers on slideshows, automated print sales, and takes a commission on sales through their store. Filolio does one thing: it makes the Google Drive or Dropbox folder you already send clients look professional, with a gallery layout, lightbox, and password. Filolio takes no commission because it never gets between you and your clients. If you want an automated print store, Pic-Time fits; if you just want the delivery link to stop looking like a file browser, Filolio is lighter and free.
- Do my clients need an account to view the gallery?
- No. Clients open a link, enter a password if you set one, and view or download at full resolution. No signup, no app.
Get started
Try it on your own folder
Paste a Google Drive or Dropbox folder link and see the gallery before creating an account. Free for up to 20 galleries, no credit card.
Create your gallery