Guestlense vs iCloud Shared Albums
An honest, side-by-side look at Guestlense 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.
Plans
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
Digital Guestbook + 30 QR Cards + 50 Polaroid Prints
Adds up to 50 Polaroid-style photo prints with worldwide free shipping.
- Everything in Digital Guestbook + 30 QR Cards
- 1 order with up to 50 Polaroid-style photos printed and shipped
- Worldwide free shipping
Plans
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
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.
| Feature |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | ||
| QR code upload Guests scan a QR code to upload photos and videos to the event gallery — no app, no account. | ||
| 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 | |
| Printed QR signs / cards Provides printable QR signs, table cards or stickers to display at the event. | ~Printed QR cards are included only in $99+ packages. | Not verified |
| No Sign-Up Required Guests contribute without creating an account or signing in. | Not verified | |
| Photo booth mode | Not verified | |
| Customization | ||
| Custom branding Personalise the gallery with your names, colours, logo or theme. | Not verified | |
| Guest experience | ||
| Live slideshow A real-time slideshow of guest photos you can cast to a screen at the reception. | ||
| 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. | ~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). | ~Shared Albums store copies and may reduce media quality; downloaded content may not contain the same information as the original. | |
| Moderation / approval Hosts can review, approve or hide uploads before they appear publicly. | ~The owner can manage subscribers and delete photos/videos, but there is no pre-publication moderation queue. | |
| Photo prints / products Order physical prints or photo products directly from the gallery. | ~Polaroid-style prints are included only in the $199 package. | Not verified |
| 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 |
| 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 | ||
| Password protection Protect the gallery with a password or access code. | Not verified | |
| Private gallery The gallery is private — only invited guests can view or upload. | ~Shared Albums use subscribers/invites, but they are not a password-protected public wedding gallery. | |
✓ 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
- ✓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 and Polaroid-style prints
- ✓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 or Polaroid prints
- xFAQ says videos are slightly compressed on download
- xMaximum video duration is not publicly stated
- xZola rating is based on only 2 reviews
- ✓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.
Guestlense
3 reviews
iCloud Shared Albums
2 reviews
Our Event Album beats both
If you are choosing between Guestlense and iCloud Shared Albums, compare 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, Guestlense or iCloud Shared Albums?
iCloud Shared Albums is the cheaper of the two, starting at $0.99 against Guestlense's $49. For comparison, Our Event Album is $39 one-time with no subscription.
How much does Guestlense cost?
Guestlense starts at $49 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 Guestlense or iCloud Shared Albums make guests download an app?
Guestlense runs in a web browser, so guests just scan a QR code, 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 Guestlense 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.
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 - From $39