Capsule vs iCloud Shared Albums
A side-by-side look at Capsule and iCloud Shared Albums for collecting photos and videos at your event. Prices and features below come from each app's own published pages and link to their sources, so you can compare them directly.
Or compare both with Our Event Album
Give guests one simple QR code, unlimited uploads, and a polished live album without subscriptions or app downloads.
- ✓Unique QR code for your event
- ✓Printable sign templates (PDF)
- ✓Unlimited photo & video uploads
- ✓Custom welcome page
Pricing at a glance
Published plans are shown separately from add-ons. Verified competitor prices use your selected currency, otherwise their listed currency.
Free
Free usage for your event and 30 days after the event; continued storage is a separate annual fee.
- ·Free event use through the event and 30 days after
- ·Website, Instagram and digital-camera uploads
- ·Real-time album viewing and Live TV Slideshow listed on features page
- ·Comments, captions, likes, prints, and digital photo books listed
Optional add-ons
Free
5 GB of free iCloud storage.
- ·5 GB free iCloud storage
- ·Shared albums created on iOS 27 or later count toward the owner's storage
- ·Up to 100 participants per shared album
Our Event Album is $39 USD, one-time
One payment for one event album.
Feature comparison
Marks reflect each company's published pages as we checked them.
| Feature | Capsule | iCloud Shared Albums |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | ||
| QR code upload Guests scan a QR code to upload photos and videos to the event gallery — no app, no account. | Not verifiedUses a join code; QR codes are not mentioned. | Not verifiedAlbums are shared by invitation or link; QR codes are not mentioned. |
| No app required Guests contribute via a web browser; there is nothing to download or install. | ||
| No Sign-Up Required Guests contribute without creating an account or signing in. | ~Guests can contribute from multiple devices, but the current site does not clearly document a no-account guest flow. | Not verified |
| Guest experience | ||
| Live slideshow A real-time slideshow of guest photos you can cast to a screen at the reception. | Not verified | |
| Real-time photo feed / wall A live feed or wall of photos as guests upload them during the event. | Not verified | |
| Comments & likes Guests can like and comment on photos in the gallery. | ||
| Management | ||
| Download all Download all photos and videos from the event at once (e.g. a single ZIP). | Not verifiedBulk download is not mentioned on its site. | Not verifiedSaving individual items is documented; a bulk export is not. |
| Moderation / approval Hosts can review, approve or hide uploads before they appear publicly. | ~The album creator or the uploader can delete a photo; no approval step is described. | ~The owner can delete anyone's photos; from iOS 27 the owner can approve participants (people, not uploads). |
| Photo prints / products Order physical prints or photo products directly from the gallery. | Not verified | |
| Event albums / photo books Create a designed event album or printed photo book. | Not verified | |
| Media | ||
| Video support Guests can upload videos, not just photos. | ||
| Metrics | ||
| Uploads limit Maximum photos/videos guests can upload to the gallery. Blank = unlimited. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Storage / active duration How long the gallery stays live and uploads are kept. Blank = unlimited / forever. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Guest limit Maximum number of guests/contributors. Blank = unlimited. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Max video length Longest single video a guest can upload. Blank = no limit. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Privacy | ||
| Private gallery The gallery is not public: only people given access, for example through the event's QR code or private link, can view or upload. | ~Shared Albums use subscribers/invites, but they are not a password-protected public wedding gallery. | |
✓ supportedx not offered, per the company~ partial? unconfirmedNot verified not verified in the sources we checked
What Our Event Album includes
- ✓Unique QR code for your event
- ✓Printable sign templates (PDF)
- ✓Unlimited photo & video uploads
- ✓Custom welcome page
Pros and cons
- ✓Free through the event and 30 days after
- ✓Its site describes website, Instagram and digital-camera uploads
- ✓Live TV slideshow and real-time album viewing are listed on the features page
- ✓Comments, captions, likes, prints, and digital photo books are listed
- xIts newest gallery post is from 2016 and its FAQ is dated 2012
- xUses a join code; its site does not mention QR codes
- xBulk download is not documented on its site
- xStorage becomes a recurring annual fee after the free post-event window
- xWe could not find a working sign-up page or a current app in the App Store
- ✓People can join and contribute on the web, even without an Apple Account (albums created on iOS 27 or later)
- ✓Built into Apple Photos for iPhone/iPad/Mac users
- ✓Supports comments and likes on shared photos/videos
- ✓New albums store originals at full resolution
- ✓Useful for groups that already use Apple Photos
- xUp to 100 participants per album, including the owner
- xNew albums count toward the owner's iCloud storage
- xAlbums created on iOS 26 or earlier are limited to 5,000 items and downscale shared media
- xInvitations are by link; Apple doesn't mention QR codes or event signs
- xiCloud+ storage is a monthly subscription
What people say
Real reviews, each linked to its source.
“Capsule is an amazing photo-sharing tool to have your guests and friends use at your wedding! You get all of your photos in one place for you and everyone to view.”
Or consider Our Event Album
If you are choosing betweenCapsuleandiCloud Shared Albumsyou can also compare Our Event Album: one QR code, no guest app, unlimited uploads, and one flat price.
- ✓Unique QR code for your event
- ✓Printable sign templates (PDF)
- ✓Unlimited photo & video uploads
- ✓Custom welcome page
- ✓6 months of secure hosting
- ✓Download all photos during your hosting period
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more, Capsule or iCloud Shared Albums?
Capsule has a free tier, plus paid plans. iCloud Shared Albums starts at $0.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well.
How much does Capsule cost?
Capsule has a free tier, plus paid plans.
How much does iCloud Shared Albums cost?
iCloud Shared Albums starts at $0.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well.
Do Capsule or iCloud Shared Albums make guests download an app?
Capsule says guests can upload from a web browser, and iCloud Shared Albums says guests can upload from a web browser. Our Event Album is web-only: guests scan a QR code and upload, no app required.
What else could I consider besides Capsule and iCloud Shared Albums?
Our Event Album is another option: QR-code photo and video uploads with no guest app, a live slideshow, unlimited uploads, and a one-time $39 with no subscription.
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Set up your own album today
One QR code. No guest apps. One flat price, no subscriptions.
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