Compare/Pixieset
PIvsOb
The Pixieset alternative

Obsydian vs Pixieset

Pixieset delivers galleries. Obsydian protects the files inside them — watermarked, metadata-scrubbed, and tagged to whoever they went to.

★★★★★ Loved by privacy-first creators
Overview

What is Pixieset?

Pixieset is one of the most popular client-gallery platforms for photographers: polished gallery delivery, a print storefront, a website builder and studio-management tools in one suite. It's built for the client-photography business — weddings, portraits, events — where the job is presenting and selling finished galleries.

CategoryGallery & Storage
BackgroundLaunched 2013 · Vancouver, Canada
TaglineClient galleries for photographers

We're biased — but honest.

Pixieset and Obsydian solve different halves of the same worry. Pixieset watermarks *previews* so clients buy the clean file — protection as a sales tool, removed at download. Obsydian watermarks the *delivered file itself* — visibly, with an optional invisible tag and a per-recipient subscriber ID — so a copy that escapes still points back to its source, and strips the GPS/EXIF your camera left inside. If your problem is selling galleries, Pixieset is excellent. If your problem is what happens to files after they leave your hands, that's Obsydian.

Side by side

Obsydian vs Pixieset, feature by feature

FeatureObsydianPixieset
Visible watermarkingText, tile, edge-frame & motionPreviews only — removed on download
Invisible (steganographic) watermarkYes — LSB stego
Automatic EXIF / GPS removalAlways on
Link-in-bio page includedYes — full profileWebsite builder (separate product)
Creator-friendly content policiesYes — won't deplatform your nicheClient photographers
PricingFree · £9 · £19Free · from ~$10/mo

Comparison reflects each provider's publicly listed plans and features as of June 2026. Details change — check each provider for the latest.

Pricing

Pixieset pricing vs Obsydian

Pixieset
  • Free$03GB storage, store sales carry a commission
  • Basicfrom ~$10/mo10GB, branding removal
  • Plusfrom ~$20/mo100GB
  • Pro / Ultimatefrom ~$50/mo1TB–unlimited
Obsydian
  • Free£0Unlimited links · 10 protected files/mo · always-on scrubbing
  • Studio£9/moUnlimited watermarking · invisible watermark · analytics
  • Black£19/mo5 profiles · custom domain · priority support · vault (closed beta)
Full pricing

Comparison reflects each provider's publicly listed plans and features as of June 2026. Details change — check each provider for the latest.

The honest take

Pixieset: pros & cons

What Pixieset does well

  • Polished, professional client-gallery delivery
  • Integrated print store and storefront
  • Full suite: website builder + studio manager
  • Generous unlimited-gallery free tier to start

Where it falls short

  • Preview watermarks are removed on download — the delivered file is unprotected
  • No invisible watermarking or per-recipient tagging
  • Metadata/EXIF privacy isn't the product's concern
  • Free-plan store sales carry a commission

Choose Obsydian if…

  • You deliver files directly to subscribers or clients and want every copy tagged to its recipient
  • You want the *delivered* file protected — visible mark plus an invisible tag — not just the preview
  • You shoot on a phone or camera and want GPS/EXIF stripped automatically before anything leaves you
Start free

Stick with Pixieset if…

  • You run a client-photography business and need gallery sales, prints and proofing
  • You want a full studio suite (website, invoicing, storefront) more than file-level protection
Questions

Obsydian vs Pixieset, answered

Is Pixieset free?
Pixieset has a free plan with 3GB of storage and unlimited galleries; store sales on it carry a commission, and paid client-gallery plans start around $10/month. Obsydian's free plan includes the link page, 10 protected files a month and always-on metadata scrubbing.
Does Pixieset watermark photos?
Yes — on gallery previews, and the watermark is removed when the client downloads or buys the file. That's protection as a sales tool. Obsydian watermarks the delivered file itself, visibly and (on paid plans) invisibly, with an optional per-recipient subscriber ID so a leaked copy names who it went to.
Is Obsydian a Pixieset alternative?
For gallery sales and print stores, no — Pixieset is the specialist there. For protecting the files you hand over — watermarking, EXIF/GPS scrubbing, per-recipient tagging, plus a link-in-bio page — Obsydian covers what Pixieset doesn't. Some photographers use both.
Keep comparing
See all comparisons →

All product names, logos and brands are property of their respective owners and are used here for identification and comparison purposes only. Their use does not imply endorsement.