Google Photos vs Guestlense
A side-by-side look at Google Photos and Guestlense 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 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
Digital Guestbook
Base digital guestbook package. Public card shows unlimited photos/videos, unlimited guests, 12-month access, 3-month upload, QR templates, QR URL/download, 7+ layouts, password-protected private guestbook, and captions.
- ·Unlimited photos and videos
- ·Unlimited guests
- ·12 month access period from event date
- ·3 month upload period from event date
- ·QR code templates (Canva)
- ·QR code download + URL
- ·7+ customizable site layouts
- ·Private guestbook with password
- ·Add captions to photo uploads
- ·Live slideshow
- ·Photo booth with filters
- ·Smart content moderation
- ·Bulk download
Digital Guestbook + 30 QR Cards
Adds 30 printed QR cards with worldwide free shipping. Public card says 5x7in or 8.5x11in.
- ·Everything in Digital Guestbook
- ·30 QR cards printed and shipped (5x7in or 8.5x11in)
- ·Worldwide free shipping
- ·Custom card design support by email
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 | Google Photos | Guestlense |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | ||
| QR code upload Guests scan a QR code to upload photos and videos to the event gallery — no app, no account. | ~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. | |
| 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. | Not verified | ~Printed QR cards are included only in $99+ packages. |
| No Sign-Up Required Guests contribute without creating an account or signing in. | Not verified | |
| Photo booth mode | Not verified | |
| Customization | ||
| Custom branding Personalise how the gallery looks, for example with your names, colours, fonts or a theme. | Not verified | ~Layouts, cover image and custom font; no logo branding is stated. |
| Guest experience | ||
| Live slideshow A real-time slideshow of guest photos you can cast to a screen at the reception. | ~Slideshows on a TV with Chromecast or on photo frames; a live event wall is not mentioned. | |
| Video guestbook Guests record short video messages — a video guestbook for the couple. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Photo challenges / games Photo prompts or scavenger-hunt style games to get guests snapping. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Comments & likes Guests can like and comment on photos in the gallery. | ~Captions are supported; likes/comments were not found. | |
| 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. | ~Owners can remove people or items from albums; approving uploads first is not described. | |
| Photo prints / products Order physical prints or photo products directly from the gallery. | Not verified | Not verifiedA Polaroid-print package is mentioned in its FAQ but not offered on the pricing page. |
| 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| Password protection Protect the gallery with a password or access code. | Not verified | |
| 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
- ✓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
- ✓Unlimited guests and unlimited photo/video uploads
- ✓No guest app or guest account required
- ✓Live slideshow and real-time gallery viewing are public features
- ✓Optional printed QR cards
- ✓12-month access and 3-month upload window
- xNo free event tier found on the current public site
- xBase package does not include printed QR cards
- xFAQ says videos are slightly compressed on download
- xMaximum video duration is not publicly stated
- xZola rating is based on only 2 reviews
What people say
Real reviews, each linked to its source.
“Guestlense Digital Photo Guest Book was a fantastic addition to our wedding day. Their communication throughout the process was professional and quick. The service was easy to use and very affordable, allowing us to keep all of our guests' photos in one place.”
“We used Guestlense for our wedding in October 2024 and loved it. Our guests uploaded a ton of photos and my husband and I were able to look through them that night.”
Or consider Our Event Album
If you are choosing betweenGoogle PhotosandGuestlenseyou 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, Google Photos or Guestlense?
Google Photos has a free tier, plus paid plans. Guestlense starts at $49 one-time.
How much does Google Photos cost?
Google Photos has a free tier, plus paid plans.
How much does Guestlense cost?
Guestlense starts at $49 one-time.
What else could I consider besides Google Photos and Guestlense?
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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