Caloreel vs Pixieset
Choose Pixieset if you want a website builder and a mobile app alongside your galleries and studio tools. Choose Caloreel if you want galleries and a couples-first CRM in one subscription: as of October 2026, Caloreel Studio is £20 a month including VAT with 1 TB, while Pixieset Suite Starter is $35 a month with 100 GB.
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
Pixieset
Suite Starter
$35a month
- Storage
- 100 GB
- Client galleries
- Yes
- CRM
- Yes
- Store fee
- No commission (per Pixieset FAQ)
- Branding
- Studio Manager branding removable on Pro and above
What actually
differs.
The points that change the decision, including the ones where we lose.
Storage on the entry bundle
As of October 2026, Pixieset Suite Starter is $35 a month ($28 billed annually) with 100 GB, and Suite Pro at $50 a month is the first Suite plan with more than 1 TB. If you only need galleries, Pixieset's Client Gallery Pro is $30 a month with 1 TB. Caloreel Studio is £20 a month including VAT with 1 TB, galleries and the CRM.
Store commission: Pixieset's paid plans say none
Pixieset's FAQ says upgraded accounts pay no commission, while its free plan charges 15%. Caloreel takes 3% of print and download sales on both plans, so on a paid Pixieset plan its store fee is lower than ours.
Clients as households
In Caloreel a client is a household of one or more contacts, so a couple shares one record. Contracts can have several required signers, and invoices, reminders and emails go to everyone on the booking. Whichever tool you trial, test it with a real couple.
Branding on client-facing pages
Pixieset's gallery branding is removable from its Basic plan upward, but Studio Manager branding only on Suite Pro and above. Caloreel shows no platform branding on any plan, across galleries, emails, invoices, contracts and booking pages.
Where Caloreel falls short
Caloreel has no website builder and no native mobile apps, and Pixieset's Suite includes both. Caloreel's Gmail sync is in early access, Outlook isn't supported yet, and our prices are in pounds only.
Who should choose which.
Choose Pixieset if
- You want a website builder from the same company as your galleries.
- You want galleries, Studio Manager and a mobile app in one Suite subscription.
- You want to start on a free plan and upgrade later.
- You want paid gallery plans with no store commission.
Choose Caloreel if
- You want galleries and a CRM in one subscription, priced in pounds.
- You book couples and families and want both partners on every contract and invoice.
- You want 1 TB and two team seats on the entry plan.
- You already have a website and want galleries and booking pages on your own domain.
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 |
| Pixieset, as of October 2026 | |||||
| Pixieset Client Gallery Free | $0 | Not published | 3 GB | 15% store commission | Pixieset branding shown |
| Pixieset Client Gallery Pro | $30 | $24 | 1 TB | No commission (per Pixieset FAQ) | Removable |
| Pixieset Suite Starter | $35 | $28 | 100 GB | No commission (per Pixieset FAQ) | Studio Manager branding removable on Pro and above |
| Pixieset Suite Pro | $50 | $38 | 2,000 GB | No commission (per Pixieset FAQ) | Removable |
| Pixieset Suite Ultimate | $65 | $55 | Unlimited | No commission (per Pixieset FAQ) | Removable |
- Pixieset: Galleries, websites, a store and a separate CRM (Studio Manager), sold individually or as the Suite bundle.
- Pixieset: Prices shown in USD; no GBP pricing published.
- Pixieset: Studio Manager (CRM) alone: Plus $15/mo, Pro $24/mo ($18 annually).
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
Import your Pixieset clients
Export your client list from Pixieset as a CSV and import it into Caloreel, where each client can hold one or more contacts.
- 02
Upload your gallery folders
Upload galleries as folders from your computer. Galleries shot more than a year ago go straight to cheaper cold storage and still open normally for clients.
- 03
Rebuild your templates
Paste your contract wording into a Caloreel template and add merge fields for names, dates and venue. Set up your invoice templates and payment schedules the same way.
- 04
Finish live bookings where they started
Contracts awaiting signature and payment plans already running are best finished in Pixieset, with new bookings starting in Caloreel. For a larger move, email us and we'll help you plan it.
Further reading
Questions,
answered.
How does Caloreel's price compare with Pixieset's?
It depends on the plan, and the two are priced in different currencies, so we don't convert them. As of October 2026, Pixieset Suite Starter is $35 a month with 100 GB and Suite Pro is $50 a month with 2,000 GB. Caloreel Studio is £20 a month including VAT with 1 TB, and Unlimited is £45.
Does Pixieset charge commission on print sales?
As of October 2026, Pixieset's FAQ says upgraded accounts pay no commission, and its free plan charges 15%. Caloreel charges 3% on print and download sales on both plans, with no Caloreel fee on invoices or session payments. On a paid Pixieset plan, Pixieset's store fee is lower.
Does Caloreel have a website builder or a mobile app?
No. Caloreel has no website builder and no native mobile apps. You can put galleries and booking pages on your own domain, alongside the website you already have. If you need a website from the same provider, Pixieset's Suite includes one.
Can I move my Pixieset clients and galleries to Caloreel?
Yes. Import your client list from a Pixieset CSV export and upload your gallery folders. Galleries shot more than a year ago go straight to cheaper cold storage, and we'll help you plan a larger move by email.
What happens to my work if I leave Caloreel?
Cancel any time from your billing settings. You keep access until the end of the period you've paid for, then have 30 days to export your galleries and client records.
Try it beside what you use now.
Run Caloreel alongside Pixieset for fourteen days, with every feature switched on and no card.