Cluster vs iCloud Shared Albums
An honest, side-by-side look at Cluster 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.
Free
Free app with in-app purchases; exact current paid package pricing and limits were not published in the visible App Store source.
- ·Private groups for invited people
- ·Photo and video sharing
- ·Comments/discussion around shared photos
- ·Free app with in-app purchases
- ·Exact paid limits not publicly enumerated in visible sources
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
iCloud+ 50GB
- ·50 GB iCloud+ storage
- ·Shared Albums still have separate album limits
iCloud+ 200GB
- ·200 GB iCloud+ storage
- ·Shared Albums still have separate album limits
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.
Guests scan a QR code to upload photos and videos to the event gallery — no app, no account.
Guests leave written well-wishes or messages alongside their photos.
Download all photos and videos from the event at once (e.g. a single ZIP).
Hosts can review, approve or hide uploads before they appear publicly.
Maximum photos/videos guests can upload to the gallery. Blank = unlimited.
How long the gallery stays live and uploads are kept. Blank = unlimited / forever.
The gallery is private — only invited guests can view or upload.
✓ 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
- ✓Strong App Store rating and a long-running private sharing product
- ✓Private groups are the core use case, not an afterthought
- ✓Supports photo and video sharing for families and friend groups
- ✓Comments/discussion around shared photos are part of the product positioning
- ✓Useful when a small group already wants an app-based private album
- xNot a wedding QR gallery and not built around event-day guest upload signage
- xFree app includes in-app purchases, but exact current paid limits are not clearly published
- xNo live wedding slideshow, event moderation queue, or bulk export workflow was verified
- xGuests may need to install or use the Cluster app experience
- xPoor fit for large, mixed-tech wedding guest lists
- ✓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.
“Apple App Store currently lists Cluster at 4.8 out of 5 from about 22K ratings.”
“A visible App Store reviewer said Cluster was a decent private family sharing experience, while noting mobile photo book ordering and crash frustrations.”
“Apple Support confirms Shared Albums do not count against iCloud storage but have limits, including 5,000 photos/videos per shared album and 100 subscribers per album.”
“Apple’s iCloud page confirms 5 GB free iCloud storage and iCloud+ paid storage plans from 50 GB upward.”
Our Event Album beats both
If you are choosing betweenCClusterandiiCloud Shared Albumscompare 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, Cluster or iCloud Shared Albums?
Cluster has a free tier. iCloud Shared Albums starts at $0.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well.
How much does Cluster cost?
Cluster has a free tier.
How much does iCloud Shared Albums cost?
iCloud Shared Albums starts at $0.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well.
Do Cluster or iCloud Shared Albums make guests download an app?
Cluster 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 Cluster 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.
More head-to-head comparisons
Keep comparingCClusterandiiCloud Shared Albumsagainst other event photo sharing apps.
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|---|---|
CClustervsPPOV Camera | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsLLense | Open → |
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iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsDDropbox | Open → |
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CClustervsCCamdeed | Open → |
CClustervsRReplayMyDay | Open → |
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iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsCCapsule | Open → |
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CClustervsWWedibox | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsKKwikpic | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsCCamdeed | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsGGuesticon | Open → |
CClustervsGGoogle Photos | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsDDots Memories | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsPPhotoCircle | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsSScanova | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsEEventoly | Open → |
CClustervsKKululu | Open → |
CClustervsKKwikpic | Open → |
CClustervsGGuestlense | Open → |
CClustervsWWeddingMix | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsKKululu | Open → |
CClustervsGGuesticon | Open → |
CClustervsPPixelParty | Open → |
CClustervsJJoy | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsWWedbox | Open → |
CClustervsLLense | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsGGoogle Photos | Open → |
CClustervsHHoncho | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsWWedibox | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsPPOV Camera | Open → |
CClustervsPPhotoCircle | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsFFotify | Open → |
CClustervsDDropbox | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsJJoy | Open → |
CClustervsWWedbox | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsGGuestCam | Open → |
CClustervsFFotify | Open → |
CClustervsSScanova | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsRReplayMyDay | Open → |
CClustervsCCapsule | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsWWedPicsQR | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsWWedTrove | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsWWedUploader | Open → |
CClustervsGGuestCam | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsSSelfBooth | Open → |
iiCloud Shared AlbumsvsWWedding Photo Swap | Open → |
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