Pixieset alternative
A free Pixieset alternative — with no photo limits
If you searched for a free Pixieset alternative, you probably hit the same wall most photographers do: free plans cap how many photos you can store. That cap exists because those platforms host your photos, and storage is what they pay for. Filolio takes a different path — it leaves your photos in the Google Drive or Dropbox folder you already use and just wraps it in a polished, client-ready gallery. No re-uploading, no storage meter, no photo cap.
Why it costs them
Why most “free” gallery plans cap your photos
A single wedding gallery can be 500–800 photos; a portrait session 80–150. Platforms that store your images have to charge for that space, so their free tiers are deliberately small and often delete inactive galleries. Filolio stores zero photo bytes — images load directly from your cloud provider's servers when a client opens the gallery — so “unlimited photos, free” isn't a promotion, it's just how the architecture 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 |
| Where photos live | On their servers (re-upload) | Your Google Drive or Dropbox (no upload) |
| Password protection | Often a paid feature | Free, included |
| Inactive gallery deletion | Common on free tiers | Galleries stay live |
| Client account required | Sometimes | Never |
| Built for | Storefront, prints, proofing | 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 Pixieset is still the better choice
If you sell prints, run proofing-and-ordering workflows, or want an all-in-one website and CRM, a full platform like Pixieset 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 Pixieset?
- Yes. Filolio is free for up to 20 active galleries with unlimited photos and password protection included. It works from a Google Drive or Dropbox folder you already have, so there's nothing to upload.
- Does Filolio limit photos like Pixieset's free plan?
- No. Storage-based gallery tools cap free plans because every photo costs them storage. Filolio serves photos straight from your own Google Drive or Dropbox folder, so there is no per-gallery photo limit on any plan, including free.
- What's the difference between Filolio and Pixieset?
- Pixieset is a full storage-and-store platform — it hosts your photos, adds proofing, 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 a storefront, Pixieset 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