Capsule vs iCloud Shared Albums
An honest, side-by-side look at Capsule and iCloud Shared Albums for collecting photos and videos at your event. Every figure below comes from each app's own pricing and our verified feature checks, so you can compare cost, features and real reviews without the marketing spin.
Skip the comparison. Our Event Album beats both.
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.
Plans
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
- iPhone, Android, Instagram, digital camera, app, and website uploads
- Real-time album viewing and Live TV Slideshow listed on features page
- Comments, captions, likes, prints, and digital photo books supported
Add-ons
Optional extras, separated from real plans so the base price stays clear.
Storage Fee
- Continued hosted storage after the free 30-day post-event window
- Treat as annual storage TCO, not an event package upgrade
Plans
Free
Free iCloud storage tier; Shared Albums have separate album limits and do not work like a wedding QR gallery.
- Shared Albums do not count against iCloud storage
- 5,000 photos/videos per shared album
- 100 subscribers per shared album
- Videos up to 15 minutes and delivered up to 720p
- Shared photos may be reduced to 2048px on the long edge
Our Event Album is $39 USD, one-time
No subscription, no per-guest fee, and no add-on sorting needed for the core album experience.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the verified feature catalog, not the stored page copy.
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | ||
| QR code upload Guests scan a QR code to upload photos and videos to the event gallery — no app, no account. | ||
| No app required Guests contribute via a web browser; there is nothing to download or install. | ~Capsule supports direct website uploads, but its core flow also uses iPhone/Android apps and does not present as a no-app QR gallery. | |
| 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. | ||
| 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). | ~Capsule is framed as collecting wedding photos into one album, but a one-click bulk download workflow was not clearly documented on the current public pages. | ~Shared Albums store copies and may reduce media quality; downloaded content may not contain the same information as the original. |
| Moderation / approval Hosts can review, approve or hide uploads before they appear publicly. | Not verified | ~The owner can manage subscribers and delete photos/videos, but there is no pre-publication moderation queue. |
| 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 private — only invited guests can view or upload. | ~Shared Albums use subscribers/invites, but they are not a password-protected public wedding gallery. | |
✓ supportedx not supported~ partial? unconfirmed
The matrix is easier when the essentials are included
- ✓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
- ✓Supports iPhone, Android, Instagram, digital camera, and website uploads
- ✓Live TV slideshow and real-time album viewing are listed on the features page
- ✓Comments, captions, likes, prints, and digital photo books are supported
- xThe site feels old and some product details are thin
- xNo current no-app QR upload flow was verified
- xBulk download behavior and guest account friction are not clearly documented
- xStorage becomes a recurring annual fee after the free post-event window
- xNot as polished as a modern wedding QR gallery for live event use
- ✓Free Shared Albums do not count against iCloud storage
- ✓Built into Apple Photos for iPhone/iPad/Mac users
- ✓Supports comments and likes on shared photos/videos
- ✓Apple documents clear limits: 5,000 items per album and 100 subscribers
- ✓Useful for small Apple-heavy groups that already use Photos
- xNot a wedding QR gallery and not friendly for mixed Android/Google guest lists
- xHard 5,000 photo/video limit per shared album and 100 subscriber limit
- xShared media may be downscaled; downloaded content may not contain the same information as the original
- xNo live slideshow, moderation queue, custom branding, or event upload signage workflow
- xiCloud+ storage prices are monthly subscriptions if the couple also needs more Apple storage
What people say
Real reviews, each linked to its source.
iCloud Shared Albums
2 reviews
Our Event Album beats both
If you are choosing between Capsule and iCloud Shared Albums, compare them with the simpler option: 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 anytime
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 asks guests to install an app, while iCloud Shared Albums asks guests to install an app. Our Event Album is web-only: guests scan a QR code and upload, no app required.
Is there a better alternative to Capsule and iCloud Shared Albums?
Our Event Album is the alternative most couples choose over both: QR-code photo and video uploads with no guest app, a live slideshow, unlimited uploads, and a one-time $39 with no subscription.
Our Event Album beats both. Start your album in 5 minutes.
One QR code. No guest apps. One flat price, no subscriptions.
Get Your Album - From $39