The HoneyBook alternative made for photographers
HoneyBook is a client management platform for many kinds of small business, with proposals, contracts, invoices and scheduling, but no client galleries. Caloreel is built for photographers: a CRM for couples and families plus galleries and a print store. As of October 2026, HoneyBook Essentials is £49 a month billed annually; Caloreel Studio is £20 including VAT.
Facts checked 13 October 2026 · sources below
Caloreel
Studio
£20a month, VAT included
- Storage
- 1 TB
- Client galleries
- Yes
- CRM
- Yes, built around households
- Store fee
- 3% of print and download sales
- Branding
- None, on every plan
HoneyBook
Essentials (UK)
£49a month, billed annually
- Storage
- No galleries
- Client galleries
- No
- CRM
- Yes
- Store fee
- Card processing fees apply
- Branding
- Removed
What actually
differs.
The points that change the decision, including the ones where we lose.
Client galleries and a print store
HoneyBook has no client galleries, so photographers pair it with a separate gallery tool. Caloreel includes galleries with proofing, favourites and downloads, plus a print store, on both plans.
Price, plan for plan
As of October 2026, HoneyBook's UK plans are Starter at £29, Essentials at £49 and Premium at £109 a month, billed annually, and Essentials is the first to remove HoneyBook branding. Caloreel Studio is £20 a month including VAT with no platform branding. Check whether VAT is added at HoneyBook's checkout before comparing.
Built around households
In Caloreel a client is a household of one or more contacts, so both partners share one record. A contract can require every signer before it counts as signed, and invoices and reminders reach every billing contact.
Payment fees
HoneyBook lists UK card processing from 1.4% + 20p. Caloreel connects to your own Stripe account, so clients pay you directly and Stripe's normal card fees apply. Caloreel adds no fee on invoices or session payments, and takes 3% of print and download sales.
Where HoneyBook is ahead
HoneyBook serves a wider range of small businesses, which helps if you sell more than photography. It also offers a 30-day trial, against Caloreel's 14 days.
Who should choose which.
Choose HoneyBook if
- You sell services beyond photography and want one CRM for all of them.
- You already deliver galleries with a tool you're happy with.
- You want a 30-day trial before you commit.
Choose Caloreel if
- You want galleries, a print store and a CRM in one subscription.
- You book couples and families and want every contact on the contract and invoices.
- You run your diary in Google Calendar and want bookings to add Meet links.
- You want no platform branding on the £20 plan.
Every plan,
side by side.
Prices as published by each company. We don't convert currencies, and like-for-like features differ, so read the notes too.
| Feature | Per month | Billed yearly, per month | Storage | Store fee | Platform branding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caloreel | |||||
| Caloreel Studio | £20 incl. VAT | £16.67 (£200/yr) | 1 TB | 3% of sale | None |
| Caloreel Unlimited | £45 incl. VAT | £37.50 (£450/yr) | Unlimited (fair use) | 3% of sale | None |
| HoneyBook, as of October 2026 | |||||
| HoneyBook Starter (UK) | £29 (billed annually) | Not published | n/a | Card processing from 1.4% + 20p (UK) | HoneyBook branding |
| HoneyBook Essentials (UK) | £49 (billed annually) | Not published | n/a | Card processing fees apply | Removed |
| HoneyBook Premium (UK) | £109 (billed annually) | Not published | n/a | Card processing fees apply | Removed |
- HoneyBook: A client management platform for small businesses: proposals, contracts, invoices and scheduling. No client galleries.
- HoneyBook: US prices: Starter $29, Essentials $49–59, Premium $109–129 per month.
Competitor prices and terms checked on 13 October 2026 from each company's public pages. They change often: check the source before you decide. Prices in USD unless shown in pounds; Caloreel prices include UK VAT.
Moving
across.
Most studios switch between seasons, a few galleries at a time. Here's the order that works.
A bigger move? Email support@caloreel.com and we'll help you plan it.
- 01
Export your HoneyBook clients
Export your client list from HoneyBook as a CSV and import it into Caloreel.
- 02
Rebuild contracts and invoices
Paste your contract wording into a Caloreel template and add merge fields for names, dates and venue. Set up your packages and payment schedules to match.
- 03
Finish live projects in HoneyBook
Contracts out for signature and payment plans already running are best finished in HoneyBook. Start new enquiries in Caloreel, and keep PDF copies of your signed contracts.
- 04
Add your galleries
Upload gallery folders from your computer; galleries shot more than a year ago go straight to cheaper cold storage. Email us if you'd like help planning a larger move.
Further reading
Questions,
answered.
Does HoneyBook have client galleries?
No, as of October 2026. HoneyBook covers proposals, contracts, invoices and scheduling, so photographers pair it with a separate gallery tool. Caloreel includes galleries and a print store on both plans.
How much is HoneyBook in the UK?
As of October 2026, HoneyBook's UK pricing page lists Starter at £29, Essentials at £49 and Premium at £109 a month, billed annually. UK card payments are charged from 1.4% plus 20p. Caloreel's prices, £20 and £45 a month, include VAT, so check whether VAT is added at HoneyBook's checkout.
Can both partners sign the same contract in Caloreel?
Yes. A contract can have several required signers and counts as signed only when all of them have signed. If you're comparing tools, send a test contract to two email addresses during each trial.
Does Caloreel work with Outlook?
Not yet. Gmail sync works with Gmail and Google Workspace mailboxes and is in early access. Bookings need a Google Calendar, but you can subscribe to your Caloreel calendar feed from Apple Calendar or Outlook.
Can US photographers use Caloreel?
Yes. You connect your own Stripe account and take payments in your own currency, and US studios can fulfil print orders through WHCC. Our plans are priced in pounds only for now.
Try it beside what you use now.
Run Caloreel alongside HoneyBook for fourteen days, with every feature switched on and no card.