Guestlense vs iCloud Shared Albums
A side-by-side look at Guestlense 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.
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
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 | Guestlense | 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. | ~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 how the gallery looks, for example with your names, colours, fonts or a theme. | ~Layouts, cover image and custom font; no logo branding is stated. | Not verified |
| Guest experience | ||
| Live slideshow A real-time slideshow of guest photos you can cast to a screen at the reception. | Not verified | |
| 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). | Not verifiedSaving individual items is documented; a bulk export is not. | |
| Moderation / approval Hosts can review, approve or hide uploads before they appear publicly. | ~The owner can delete anyone's photos; from iOS 27 the owner can approve participants (people, not uploads). | |
| Photo prints / products Order physical prints or photo products directly from the gallery. | Not verifiedA Polaroid-print package is mentioned in its FAQ but not offered on the pricing page. | 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 | 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 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
- ✓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
- ✓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.
“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 betweenGuestlenseandiCloud 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, 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 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 Guestlense 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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Set up your own album today
One QR code. No guest apps. One flat price, no subscriptions.
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