Cluster vs Google Photos
A side-by-side look at Cluster and Google Photos 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 to get started: up to 10 groups with 1,000 photos each.
- ·Private groups for invited people
- ·Photo and video sharing
- ·Comments/discussion around shared photos
- ·Up to 10 groups with 1,000 photos each
Free Tier
Free Google Account storage is shared across Google Photos, Google Drive, and Gmail.
- ·15 GB free Google Account storage shared across Photos, Drive, and Gmail
- ·Shared albums/conversations for photos and videos
Optional add-ons
Google One Plans
- ·Paid Google One storage adds capacity for Photos, Drive, and Gmail
- ·Prices and tiers vary by region
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 | Cluster | Google Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | ||
| QR code upload Guests scan a QR code to upload photos and videos to the event gallery — no app, no account. | Not verifiedGuests join by invite link, including on a table card; QR codes are not mentioned. | ~Album owners can create a QR code for an album; contributors need a Google Account. |
| No app required Guests contribute via a web browser; there is nothing to download or install. | ~People can view shared links without the app; adding to an album needs a Google Account. | |
| Guest experience | ||
| Live slideshow A real-time slideshow of guest photos you can cast to a screen at the reception. | Not verified | ~Slideshows on a TV with Chromecast or on photo frames; a live event wall is not mentioned. |
| Guest messaging / well-wishes Guests leave written well-wishes or messages alongside their photos. | ~Cluster supports private group discussion around shared photos, but not wedding guestbook well-wishes as a dedicated event feature. | 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). | ~Google Photos supports saving/downloading shared media, but it is not a wedding-specific one-click event export workflow. | |
| Moderation / approval Hosts can review, approve or hide uploads before they appear publicly. | ~Admins can limit posting and inviting to admins; no approval step is described. | ~Owners can remove people or items from albums; approving uploads first is not described. |
| Media | ||
| Video support Guests can upload videos, not just photos. | ||
| Face recognition AI groups photos by face so guests can find shots of themselves. | Not verified | |
| 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 |
| 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 can be shared with selected people or links, but this is not a password-protected wedding gallery model. | |
✓ 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
- ✓Web, iOS and Android access
- ✓Private groups are the core use case
- ✓Supports photo and video sharing for families and friend groups
- ✓Comments and discussion around shared photos
- ✓Free to start: up to 10 groups with 1,000 photos each
- xGuests join by invite link; QR codes are not mentioned
- xPaid plans are App Store in-app purchases
- xNo live slideshow is mentioned on its site
- xNo upload approval step is described
- ✓Free 15 GB Google Account storage is useful for small collections
- ✓Shared albums are familiar to many guests with Google accounts
- ✓Supports photos and videos across app and browser contexts
- ✓Paid Google One storage can expand capacity when needed
- ✓Good general archive if the couple already uses Google Photos
- xAlbum QR codes exist; event sign templates are not mentioned
- xContributors need a Google Account to add photos
- xSlideshows play on a TV or photo frame; Google’s help describes removing items, not approving them first
- xStorage is shared with Gmail and Drive, so large wedding media can use up the free 15 GB
- xPaid Google One pricing varies by region/account
What people say
Real reviews, each linked to its source.
“I would say go elsewhere and find a better app that has actual support.”
Or consider Our Event Album
If you are choosing betweenClusterandGoogle Photosyou 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, Cluster or Google Photos?
Cluster starts at $4.99 in-app purchase, with a limited free tier as well. Google Photos has a free tier, plus paid plans.
How much does Cluster cost?
Cluster starts at $4.99 in-app purchase, with a limited free tier as well.
How much does Google Photos cost?
Google Photos has a free tier, plus paid plans.
What else could I consider besides Cluster and Google Photos?
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.
More head-to-head comparisons
Keep comparingClusterandGoogle Photosagainst other event photo sharing apps.
| Comparison | Page |
|---|---|
Google PhotosvsWedibox | Open → |
ClustervsReplayMyDay | Open → |
ClustervsDropbox | Open → |
Google PhotosvsCamdeed | Open → |
Google PhotosvsPhotoCircle | Open → |
Google PhotosvsWedPicsQR | Open → |
Google PhotosvsiCloud Shared Albums | Open → |
Google PhotosvsCapsule | Open → |
ClustervsKwikpic | Open → |
ClustervsWedPicsQR | Open → |
ClustervsJoy | Open → |
ClustervsPhotoCircle | Open → |
Google PhotosvsEventoly | Open → |
ClustervsWeddingMix | Open → |
ClustervsDots Memories | Open → |
ClustervsKnipsmig | Open → |
ClustervsEventoly | Open → |
ClustervsSelfBooth | Open → |
ClustervsCapsule | Open → |
Google PhotosvsReplayMyDay | Open → |
ClustervsiCloud Shared Albums | Open → |
Google PhotosvsWedUploader | Open → |
ClustervsWedding Photo Swap | Open → |
Google PhotosvsKululu | Open → |
ClustervsScanova | Open → |
Google PhotosvsDots Memories | Open → |
ClustervsHoncho | Open → |
ClustervsFotify | Open → |
ClustervsWedibox | Open → |
Google PhotosvsFotify | Open → |
Google PhotosvsDropbox | Open → |
Google PhotosvsPixelParty | Open → |
Google PhotosvsHoncho | Open → |
ClustervsKululu | Open → |
ClustervsWedUploader | Open → |
Google PhotosvsGuestlense | Open → |
ClustervsPixelParty | Open → |
Google PhotosvsLense | Open → |
Google PhotosvsWedding Photo Swap | Open → |
ClustervsGuestlense | Open → |
Google PhotosvsWeddingMix | Open → |
ClustervsGuesticon | Open → |
Google PhotosvsJoy | Open → |
ClustervsGuestCam | Open → |
ClustervsCamdeed | Open → |
Google PhotosvsScanova | Open → |
Google PhotosvsWedbox | Open → |
Google PhotosvsGuesticon | Open → |
Google PhotosvsGuestCam | Open → |
ClustervsWedTrove | Open → |
Google PhotosvsSelfBooth | Open → |
Google PhotosvsKnipsmig | Open → |
Google PhotosvsWedTrove | Open → |
Google PhotosvsKwikpic | Open → |
ClustervsWedbox | Open → |
ClustervsLense | Open → |
ClustervsPOV Camera | Open → |
Google PhotosvsPOV Camera | Open → |
Set up your own album today
One QR code. No guest apps. One flat price, no subscriptions.
Get Your Album
