Google Photos vs iCloud Shared Albums
A side-by-side look at Google Photos 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.
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
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 | Google Photos | 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. | ~Album owners can create a QR code for an album; contributors need a Google 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. | ~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. | ~Slideshows on a TV with Chromecast or on photo frames; a live event wall is not mentioned. | 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. | Not verifiedSaving individual items is documented; a bulk export is not. |
| 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. | ~The owner can delete anyone's photos; from iOS 27 the owner can approve participants (people, not uploads). |
| 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 |
| 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 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. | ~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
- ✓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
- ✓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
Or consider Our Event Album
If you are choosing betweenGoogle PhotosandiCloud 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, Google Photos or iCloud Shared Albums?
Google Photos 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 Google Photos cost?
Google Photos 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.
What else could I consider besides Google Photos 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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