Dots Memories vs iCloud Shared Albums
A side-by-side look at Dots Memories 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.
Intimate
Entry event plan for smaller albums.
- ·Original photo quality
- ·2-minute videos
- ·Guest web access requires registration
- ·Unlimited memories/uploads
- ·Up to 50 guests
- ·No advertising
- ·Bulk photo/video upload
- ·No guest app download required
- ·Bulk album download
- ·Storage included
- ·QR templates
Classic
Mid-tier event plan; active plan in the Spanish page render.
- ·Original photo quality
- ·2-minute videos
- ·Guest web access with no registration
- ·Unlimited memories/uploads
- ·Up to 175 guests
- ·No advertising
- ·Bulk photo/video upload
- ·No guest app download required
- ·Bulk album download
- ·Storage included
- ·QR templates
Luxe
Highest visible event plan with the largest guest cap and longer video limit.
- ·Original photo quality
- ·5-minute videos
- ·Guest web access with no registration
- ·Unlimited memories/uploads
- ·Up to 350 guests
- ·No advertising
- ·Bulk photo/video upload
- ·No guest app download required
- ·Bulk album download
- ·Double backup
- ·QR templates
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 | Dots Memories | 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 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. | ||
| NFC support Guests tap an NFC tag or card with their phone to open the upload page. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Print-sized QR sign/card templates Downloadable QR sign and card templates sized for printing at home or at a print shop. | ~QR templates are included; printing/physical signs are not separately promised. | Not verified |
| No Sign-Up Required Guests contribute without creating an account or signing in. | ~Classic and Luxe say no registration; Intimate says registration required. | Not verified |
| Customization | ||
| Custom branding Personalise how the gallery looks, for example with your names, colours, fonts or a theme. | Not verifiedThemed QR templates only. | Not verified |
| Guest experience | ||
| Live slideshow A real-time slideshow of guest photos you can cast to a screen at the reception. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Video guestbook Guests record short video messages — a video guestbook for the couple. | Not verified | |
| Photo challenges / games Photo prompts or scavenger-hunt style games to get guests snapping. | Not verified | |
| Comments & likes Guests can like and comment on photos in the gallery. | ||
| Audio guestbook Guests leave voice messages (often via a dial-in phone) — an audio guestbook. | Not verified | |
| Management | ||
| Download all Download all photos and videos from the event at once (e.g. a single ZIP). | Not verifiedSaving individual items is documented; a bulk export is not. | |
| Moderation / approval Hosts can review, approve or hide uploads before they appear publicly. | Not verified | ~The owner can delete anyone's photos; from iOS 27 the owner can approve participants (people, not uploads). |
| 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. | ||
| Face recognition AI groups photos by face so guests can find shots of themselves. | Not verified | 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 |
| 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 |
| Other | ||
| Multi-language The guest-facing interface is available in multiple languages. | 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
- ✓No guest app download on public event plans
- ✓Unlimited memories/uploads on all visible event plans
- ✓Supports comments, reactions, videos, voice messages, and Dotbooks
- ✓Strong App Store and Google Play footprint
- xGuest caps apply by plan: 50, 175, or 350 guests
- xIntimate requires registration according to the plan matrix
- xLive slideshow was not found in the current public plan matrix
- xThe product is broader than weddings, so some flows are less wedding-specific
- ✓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.
“Our guests uploaded over 500 photos and not a single one was missed. It was magical to see the wedding from so many different perspectives.”
Or consider Our Event Album
If you are choosing betweenDots MemoriesandiCloud 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, Dots Memories or iCloud Shared Albums?
Dots Memories starts at €24.90 and iCloud Shared Albums at $0.99. For comparison, Our Event Album is $39 one-time with no subscription.
How much does Dots Memories cost?
Dots Memories starts at €24.90 one-time.
How much does iCloud Shared Albums cost?
iCloud Shared Albums starts at $0.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well.
Do Dots Memories or iCloud Shared Albums make guests download an app?
Dots Memories 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 Dots Memories 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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One QR code. No guest apps. One flat price, no subscriptions.
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