Honest Comparison
PikSend vs Pic-Time: Which Photo Delivery Platform is Right for You?
Pic-Time is a comprehensive platform with print fulfillment and video storage. PikSend focuses exclusively on photo delivery with guaranteed original quality. Neither approach is wrong - it depends on what you need.
Pic-Time and PikSend both help photographers deliver photos to clients, but they take different approaches. Pic-Time is a comprehensive all-in-one platform with print fulfillment (30+ labs), video storage, marketing automation, and vendor network. PikSend focuses exclusively on photo delivery with guaranteed original quality preservation.
We built PikSend because we kept hearing from photographers: The previews look compressed. My clients think the quality is lower than it actually is. Pic-Time solves the delivery problem differently by offering integrated print sales and video support. Neither approach is wrong - it depends on what matters most to your workflow.
This comparison uses real data from both platforms. We'll cover pricing, features, quality approaches, and help you decide which fits your business better. Both platforms serve photographers well, just for different priorities.
Quick Comparison
Understanding the core differences between both platforms
Core Difference
Pic-Time
All-in-one platform: galleries + print fulfillment + video + marketing automation
PikSend
Focused tool: photo delivery with guaranteed original quality display
Quality Approach
Pic-Time
Optimized previews for fast loading. Original files preserved for download.
PikSend
Original quality at every step. What you upload is what clients see and download.
Best For
Pic-Time
Photographers who sell prints regularly, deliver video, and need marketing automation
PikSend
Photographers who prioritize original quality display and want gallery monetization (paywall)
What Pic-Time Does Better
Areas where Pic-Time excels and offers clear advantages
Print Fulfillment
Pic-Time's automatic print fulfillment with 30+ lab integrations is their biggest strength. Clients order prints directly from galleries, labs handle production and shipping, you get paid automatically. Commission-free on paid plans. This saves hours per project if you sell prints regularly. PikSend doesn't offer this at all.
Video Storage & Delivery
Pic-Time supports video on all plans (1 GB on Free, 5 GB on Beginner, 30 GB on Professional, up to 4K quality). If you deliver video alongside photos, keeping everything in one gallery simplifies client communication. PikSend is photo-only, so you'd need separate links for video.
Lightroom Integration on All Plans
Pic-Time includes Lightroom integration on all plans, even Free. PikSend only includes it on Pro ($29/mo). If Lightroom workflow is essential and budget is tight, Pic-Time offers better value at the entry level.
Marketing Automation
Pic-Time includes automated marketing campaigns, coupons, gift cards, and vendor network features. If you want to automate client follow-ups and upsells, Pic-Time's marketing tools are comprehensive. PikSend doesn't have marketing automation.
Free Plan Generosity
Pic-Time Free includes 10 GB storage, unlimited galleries, portfolio website, and Lightroom integration. PikSend Free is limited to 2 GB and 5 galleries with no portfolio. If you're just starting out and need to test with real client work, Pic-Time Free is more practical.
What PikSend Does Better
Areas where PikSend excels and offers clear advantages
Original Quality Display
PikSend displays original quality at every step. What you upload is exactly what clients see in the gallery and download. No preview optimization, no compression. If you're a commercial photographer delivering proofs for print decisions, or if your clients view on large monitors, this matters. Pic-Time's optimized previews can create confusion about actual file quality.
Storage Value
PikSend Premium ($15/mo) offers 100 GB at $0.15/GB. Pic-Time Beginner ($8/mo) offers 20 GB at $0.40/GB. PikSend Pro ($29/mo) offers 1 TB vs Pic-Time Professional ($25/mo) 100 GB. If you need significant storage and don't need print fulfillment or video, PikSend offers better storage value.
Simplicity & Focus
PikSend does one thing: photo delivery. The interface is simpler because there are fewer features to learn. If you don't need print sales, video, or marketing automation, PikSend's focused approach means less complexity.
Gallery Monetization Model
PikSend's paywall model (sell gallery access) works well for photographers who want to charge for delivery rather than individual prints. 5% commission on Pro plan. If your business model is charging for gallery access, PikSend's approach is more direct.
RAW File Support
PikSend Pro supports RAW files up to 500 MB. If you deliver large RAW files to clients (commercial work, stock photography, retouchers), PikSend handles larger files than most platforms.
Complete Feature Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of all plans and features
| Fonctionnalité | PikSend Free | PikSend Premium | PikSend Pro | Pic-Time Free | Pic-Time Beginner | Pic-Time Professional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Price | $0/mo | $15/mo | $29/mo | $0/mo | $8/mo | $25/mo |
Storage | 2 GB | 100 GB | 1 TB | 10 GB | 20 GB | 100 GB |
Max Galleries | 5 | 100 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Original Quality Display | ||||||
Portfolio Website | ||||||
ZIP Download | ||||||
Custom Branding | ||||||
Lightroom Plugin | ||||||
Print Fulfillment | Commission-based | Commission-free | Commission-free | |||
Video Storage | 1 GB | 5 GB | 30 GB | |||
RAW Upload | ||||||
Gallery Monetization | 5% fee | Commission-based | Commission-free | Commission-free |
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know to choose the right platform
Which is cheaper: PikSend or Pic-Time?
PikSend Premium ($15/mo) is $7 cheaper than Pic-Time Professional ($25/mo) with the same 100 GB storage. PikSend Pro ($29/mo) offers 1 TB storage vs Pic-Time Professional 100 GB. Both offer free plans, but Pic-Time Free includes unlimited galleries and 10 GB storage while PikSend Free is limited to 5 galleries and 2 GB.
Does PikSend have print fulfillment like Pic-Time?
No. PikSend focuses exclusively on photo delivery and gallery monetization (selling gallery access). Pic-Time offers automatic print fulfillment with 30+ labs, which is their main strength. If print sales are central to your business, Pic-Time is the better choice.
Can I use Lightroom with both platforms?
Yes. Pic-Time includes Lightroom integration on all plans including Free. PikSend includes the Lightroom plugin only on the Pro plan ($29/mo). If Lightroom workflow is essential and budget is tight, Pic-Time offers better value at the entry level.
Which platform has better video support?
Pic-Time wins decisively. Pic-Time Free includes 1 GB video, Beginner includes 5 GB, and Professional includes 30 GB (up to 4K quality). PikSend doesn't support video storage at all. If you deliver video alongside photos, Pic-Time is the only viable option.
Does PikSend display original quality like Pic-Time?
Yes, but differently. PikSend displays original quality at every step - what you upload is exactly what clients see in the gallery. Pic-Time optimizes previews for fast loading, which means clients see compressed versions when browsing. Original files are preserved for download on both platforms.
Which platform is better for wedding photographers?
It depends on your workflow. If you sell prints regularly, Pic-Time wins with automatic fulfillment and commission-free sales on paid plans. If you prioritize original quality display and want gallery monetization (paywall), PikSend wins. Both offer password protection, custom branding, and Lightroom integration.
Can I use my own domain with both platforms?
Yes. Both platforms offer custom domains on their top-tier plans. PikSend Pro ($29/mo) and Pic-Time Professional ($25/mo) both include portfolio websites with custom domain support. Lower-tier plans use subdomains.
Is PikSend easier to use than Pic-Time?
PikSend is simpler because it does less. It focuses exclusively on photo delivery, which means fewer features to learn. Pic-Time is more complex because it's an all-in-one platform (galleries + prints + video + marketing). If you want simplicity, PikSend. If you want everything in one place, Pic-Time.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Both Pic-Time and PikSend serve photographers well, but for different priorities.
Pic-Time is a comprehensive platform for photographers who want everything in one place. If you sell prints regularly, deliver video, need marketing automation, and want commission-free sales on paid plans, Pic-Time makes sense. You're paying for an ecosystem that handles multiple aspects of your business.
PikSend is a focused tool for photographers who need guaranteed original quality and gallery monetization. If you want clients to see the actual file quality (not compressed previews), need significant storage, and want to sell gallery access with paywalls, PikSend makes sense. You're paying for quality infrastructure and simplicity.
We built PikSend because we kept hearing from photographers: The previews look compressed. My clients think the quality is lower than it actually is. That's a real problem for commercial photographers and anyone where quality perception matters. Pic-Time solves the delivery problem differently by offering integrated print sales and video support.
Choose Pic-Time if:
- You sell prints regularly and want automatic fulfillment
- You deliver video alongside photos
- You need marketing automation and vendor network
- You want an all-in-one business system
Choose PikSend if:
- Original quality preservation is non-negotiable
- You want simple, fast photo delivery without complexity
- You need significant storage (100 GB+) at good value
- You prefer focused tools over all-in-one suites
Not because Pic-Time is bad. But because they were built for different jobs.
If you deliver photos professionally and quality matters, try PikSend free. No credit card required.