Updated on May 19, 2025
When launching your photography business, a stunning online client gallery is a must. While SmugMug is a popular choice, its premium plan can be really costly for startups. You may wonder, are there any sites like smugmug offering similar services? If you’re seeking similar features at a more affordable or even free price, you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll explore three SmugMug alternatives for professional photographers in 2025.
SmugMug focuses on providing photographers with the tools needed to store, showcase, and sell their photos online. SmugMug is a 100% subscription-based platform. Although it was founded back in 2002, its user interface feels outdated and less intuitive compared to more modern alternatives like Zno Gallery and ShootProof.
No one enjoys frequently switching back and forth between platforms they rely on. Yet over the past few months, we’ve seen plenty of frustration from SmugMug users across various social mediums.
Based on user feedback, here are some of the most commonly mentioned drawbacks:
SmugMug’s interface can be challenging to learn. The extensive customization options, while beneficial, can also be overwhelming for new users or those not technologically savvy. Many photographers get frustrated with the gallery customization feature as it proves to be more complicated to use than expected.
As a professional photographer, you definitely want your clients to have the best experience with your photography services. When you share the stunning photos you’ve taken with your customers, many people like to deliberate carefully before deciding what images to order. They like to show them to family or friends and get their opinions. If the image can be marked as a favorite, they will be able to do this more easily. Unfortunately, except for the highest-priced plan, your clients can’t like their photos in SmugMug’s online photo galleries.
This basic yet essential feature is especially important for photographers who are just starting out. And this is something even the free versions of Zno Gallery and Pixieset can handle. Anything that annoys your clients will prevent you from getting them back in front of your camera in the future.
Many users in our survey complained about the high cost of SmugMug’s plans.
Photographers’ comments on smugmug pricing on reddit
SmugMug is relatively expensive compared to other photo-sharing platforms, with only a 14-day free trial available. In addition, a 15% transaction fee is added to the high monthly plan fees on every single transaction. This could be a barrier for part-time photographers or those who just get started. Also, it does eat into the photographer’s profits. All products sold through SmugMug’s platform are charged this fee. Especially for beginners, this will take a big bite out of your profits.
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Impress Clients with a Stunning Photo Gallery.
If you’re searching for free smugmug alternatives, this comparison outlines key features of popular SmugMug alternatives—Zno Gallery™ vs. SmugMug vs. ShootProof vs. Pixieset—based on their free plans. These SmugMug competitors may offer a better fit depending on your needs, whether you’re looking for lower costs, different e-commerce options, or a more user-friendly experience.
The table below provides a clear and straightforward one-glance comparison between several products.
| Zno Gallery™ | SmugMug Power Plan Free Trial | ShootProof Free Plan | Pixieset Free Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience Time | Unlimited Time | 14 Day | 14 Day | Unlimited Time |
| Integrate with Lightroom | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Use a custom subdomain | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Watermark | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Photo proof | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Client favoriting | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Full control over client downloads | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sell prints & albums | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Payment integration for credit cards and PayPal | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Commission | 0% | 15% | 0% | 15% |
| Print lab discounts | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Video | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
From the table above, we can learn specific details of the services provided by Zno Gallery™ and SmugMug. Not surprisingly, Zno Gallery™’s free trial includes a lot of features that SmugMug doesn’t have. Furthermore, SmugMug doesn’t have a permanent free plan – it’s clear why a wallet-friendly alternative is in high demand. Let’s discuss why you should consider choosing Zno Gallery™ as one of the great SmugMug alternatives.
Zno Gallery™ offers competitive pricing plans that are often more affordable than SmugMug. First of all, its unlimited free trial already covers most of the gallery’s features. You can use a custom subdomain, photo proofs, client favoriting feature, and sell your photos to boost your photography business. Apart from this, you can explore more features with our affordable paid plans. This client gallery is especially suited to photographers who need advanced features such as unlimited storage and high-resolution photo downloads.
Simplicity in uploading and organizing your work is key. A straightforward, smooth browsing experience can be the difference between securing a new client or missing out. Zno Gallery™’s site navigation is very user-friendly, and its interface is super easy to use! You’ll have full control over your online photo gallery. For example, you can explore features such as online proofing, client favorites, full control over client downloads, and more with a few simple clicks.
While SmugMug provides some customization options for your photography portfolios, Zno Gallery™ takes customization to the next level. You can customize your gallery with different layouts, grid settings, and other design elements. It allows photographers to create unique and personalized galleries that reflect their brand identity. If you are looking for a platform that allows you to be creative and inject your website with your personality and unique style, then try our client photo gallery now!
Zno Estore™ is a cloud-based online store for professional photographers. It is integrated within Zno Gallery™, which helps you sell your digital downloads and print products with ease. This integration streamlines the ordering process for photographers and clients, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow from image capture to final product delivery.
Most significantly, even the Free Plan is 0% commission! Zno Gallery don’t take a penny out of your sales. And they don’t charge hidden fees at any plan level, even on the free plan.
Zno Cloud’s client photo gallery has several gallery protection features. You can protect your copyright with customized watermarks, email registration, and collection password. Thinking it will cost too much? Don’t worry, even the free plan supports the use of email registration and collection in the password settings.
Zno Gallery’s AI Face Recognition revolutionizes client galleries by enabling instant photo searches by face—perfect for weddings, events, and portraits. Clients click to find all images of themselves or loved ones, while integrated e-commerce boosts print sales through personalized discovery.
Zno Cloud is an all-in-one platform for professional photographers. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools specifically tailored to the needs of photographers. In addition to online photo galleries, it also includes free plans on a photography website builder, album design software, photo editor, and live photo streams. It will be the perfect platform for you to streamline your workflow and make more money.
Zno Gallery™
Impress Clients with a Stunning Photo Gallery.
As one of the SmugMug alternatives, ShootProof is the first choice for many photographers.
Image from Shootproof Blogs
Photographers can upload high-resolution images to ShootProof Gallery and organize them based on events, sessions, or projects. Apart from this, you can also choose a unique layout and customize your galleries to match your branding, including logos, colors, and themes, providing a consistent look and feel that represents your photography business.
ShootProof offers a variety of tools to help you sell your excellent work, including the ability to sell prints and digital downloads, and create discount codes. You can set up your price lists, choose ShootProof’s partnered professional print labs, and manage orders all in one place.
ShootProof allows your clients to turn their photo galleries into their very own mobile apps. Clients can purchase prints, digital downloads, and other products directly through the app. Through this mobile app, you can send gallery invitations and share links with your clients.
With many loyal users, Pixieset is also one of the great SmugMug alternatives for photographers in 2025.
Image from Pixieset
Pixieset is known for its clean and modern interface, which enhances the presentation of the photos and improves client experience.
Clients love to share pictures. Pixieset’s Client Gallery makes it easy for them to share their stunning photos on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
You can make more money by selling prints right from your galleries. However, users on Pixieset’s free plan are charged a 15% commission fee. Only upgraded accounts can enjoy 0% commission.
In a word, no matter what style of photography you do, you can grow your photo business better with these SmugMug alternatives.
If you’re looking for a SmugMug alternative, several platforms offer powerful features for online photo galleries, client proofing, and e-commerce. Zno Gallery™ is a great option as it provides a free plan with 0% commission fees on sales, making it a cost-effective choice for photographers.
Other alternatives include Pixieset and ShootProof, both of which offer user-friendly interfaces and mobile-friendly client galleries. However, keep in mind that these platforms charge commission fees on sales unless you upgrade to their higher-tier plans.
No, SmugMug does not offer a completely free plan. While it does provide a 14-day free trial, you’ll need to upgrade to one of their paid plans to access its full features, such as e-commerce capabilities, unlimited storage, and advanced customization options. Pricing starts at $8/month, and higher-tier plans are required for additional features like selling photos and prints with no transaction fees.
Zno Gallery™ is a great option for beginners due to its easy-to-use interface, free plan, and 0% commission fees on sales. It provides all the essential features without overwhelming users with complexity.
ShootProof and Pixieset are also beginner-friendly, offering simple setup processes and mobile-friendly features. However, both platforms charge commission fees on sales with their free plans.
SmugMug: Yes, SmugMug has an e-commerce feature that lets you sell prints, albums, and digital downloads directly through your gallery. However, you need to upgrade to a Portfolio or Pro plan to access this feature, and SmugMug charges a 15% transaction fee on sales.
Zno Gallery™: Yes, Zno Gallery™ also allows you to sell photos directly, even on its free plan. Importantly, Zno Gallery™ takes 0% commission on sales, making it a more cost-effective solution for selling your work.
Zno Gallery™ is the best client gallery for photographers. You can choose Zno Gallery™ over SmugMug for its user-friendly workspace, comprehensive features, customization options, and affordability. It is an ideal SmugMug alternative for showcasing and selling your excellent work online. Sign up for a free account and explore the best way to share photos today!
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