iCloud Shared Albums vs Joy
A side-by-side look at iCloud Shared Albums and Joy 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
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
Free
- ·Wedding website, guest list, online RSVP, registry, mobile app, digital invites, multiple editor accounts, support
- ·Shared Albums help article says each event includes up to 1,000 photos free of charge
- ·Guests can contribute to shared albums by link or QR code without creating a Joy account
- ·Optional upgrades exist, but the pricing page does not publish amounts
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 | iCloud Shared Albums | Joy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Offline capture Guests can capture photos while offline; uploads sync once they are back online. | 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 | ~Help suggests using the QR code on table signs/coasters/thank-you cards; Joy does not appear to sell printed QR signs from the checked sources. |
| No Sign-Up Required Guests contribute without creating an account or signing in. | Not verified | |
| Photographer upload | Not verified | ~Anyone with the shared album link can upload; no dedicated photographer-upload workflow found. |
| Photo booth mode | Not verified | Not verified |
| Customization | ||
| Custom branding Personalise how the gallery looks, for example with your names, colours, fonts or a theme. | Not verified | Not verifiedOptional upgrades include custom domain names and premium designs; gallery branding is not stated. |
| Custom domain / URL Use a custom URL or domain for the event gallery. | Not verified | ~Pricing page says custom domain names are optional upgrades but does not publish price or availability details. |
| Watermarks Add a watermark or overlay to photos in the gallery. | Not verified | 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 |
| Digital invites / RSVP Send digital invitations and collect RSVPs. | Not verified | on Free |
| Guest messaging / well-wishes Guests leave written well-wishes or messages alongside their photos. | Not verified | ~Joy supports broader guest communication in the app/planning product, but this is not a dedicated guestbook/well-wishes feature for photo collection. |
| Real-time photo feed / wall A live feed or wall of photos as guests upload them during the event. | Not verified | |
| Comments & likes Guests can like and comment on photos in the gallery. | ~App Store review mentions guests posting pics and communicating; current shared-album help does not clearly document gallery comments/likes. | |
| Audio guestbook Guests leave voice messages (often via a dial-in phone) — an audio guestbook. | Not verified | 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. | Not verifiedGuests can download photos; a bulk download is not stated publicly. |
| 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). | ~Hosts can set album visibility and allow uploads; no source found for pre-publication approval/moderation workflow. |
| 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. | Not verifiedPublic pages mention photos only. | |
| Face recognition AI groups photos by face so guests can find shots of themselves. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Filters / in-app editing In-app filters or basic photo editing before uploading. | Not verified | Not verified |
| AI culling / curation AI automatically selects or curates the best shots. | Not verified | Not verified |
| MagicFind™ AI Photo-Finding AI finds every photo a specific person appears in and delivers it to them. | Not verified | Not verified |
| Auto categorization | 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. | ~Shared albums must be set to Public with Guest Uploads enabled; anyone with the share link can view photos, so this is link-private rather than a locked private 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
- ✓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
- ✓Wedding website, guest list, RSVP, registry, digital invites, and mobile apps in one platform
- ✓Shared Albums can be opened by link or QR code, with no Joy account needed for guest uploads
- ✓Live slideshow listed on its app page
- ✓4.8/5 from 8.7K App Store ratings (checked 2026-10-06)
- xNot a dedicated event photo-sharing product; photo collection is one part of a larger wedding platform
- xAnyone with the share link can see photos in that album
- xExact pricing for optional upgrades is not published on the pricing page
- xNo current source found for face recognition, NFC, audio guestbook, or photo challenges
- xIts Shared Albums help article now requires signing in to read
What people say
Real reviews, each linked to its source.
“Plus I love that all my guests can use the app for the schedule as well as post pics and communicate with us!”
“I'm seeing loads of candid shots taken by wedding guests!”
“6 guests who had, without a doubt, previously RSVP'd "yes," had inexplicably disappeared without warning.”
“I found that going and doing this from the website itself is easier than the app.”
Or consider Our Event Album
If you are choosing betweeniCloud Shared AlbumsandJoyyou 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, iCloud Shared Albums or Joy?
iCloud Shared Albums starts at $0.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well. Joy has a free tier.
How much does iCloud Shared Albums cost?
iCloud Shared Albums starts at $0.99 monthly, with a limited free tier as well.
How much does Joy cost?
Joy has a free tier.
Do iCloud Shared Albums or Joy make guests download an app?
ICloud Shared Albums says guests can upload from a web browser, and Joy 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 iCloud Shared Albums and Joy?
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.
More head-to-head comparisons
Keep comparingiCloud Shared AlbumsandJoyagainst other event photo sharing apps.
| Comparison | Page |
|---|---|
JoyvsScanova | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsScanova | Open → |
JoyvsGuesticon | Open → |
JoyvsFotify | Open → |
JoyvsSelfBooth | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsGuestlense | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsWedTrove | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsPhotoCircle | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsPOV Camera | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsCluster | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsKwikpic | Open → |
JoyvsWedibox | Open → |
JoyvsWeddingMix | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsGuestCam | Open → |
JoyvsWedUploader | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsLense | Open → |
JoyvsCapsule | Open → |
JoyvsKnipsmig | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsSelfBooth | Open → |
JoyvsCluster | Open → |
JoyvsKwikpic | Open → |
JoyvsLense | Open → |
JoyvsGoogle Photos | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsCamdeed | Open → |
JoyvsReplayMyDay | Open → |
JoyvsPhotoCircle | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsGoogle Photos | Open → |
JoyvsWedTrove | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsGuesticon | Open → |
JoyvsDots Memories | Open → |
JoyvsPixelParty | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsPixelParty | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsDots Memories | Open → |
JoyvsCamdeed | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsWedding Photo Swap | Open → |
JoyvsGuestCam | Open → |
JoyvsPOV Camera | Open → |
JoyvsEventoly | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsCapsule | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsWedPicsQR | Open → |
JoyvsWedbox | Open → |
JoyvsGuestlense | Open → |
JoyvsWedding Photo Swap | Open → |
JoyvsDropbox | Open → |
JoyvsWedPicsQR | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsWedbox | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsWedibox | Open → |
JoyvsHoncho | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsWeddingMix | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsKnipsmig | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsKululu | Open → |
JoyvsKululu | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsEventoly | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsHoncho | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsDropbox | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsWedUploader | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsReplayMyDay | Open → |
iCloud Shared AlbumsvsFotify | Open → |
Set up your own album today
One QR code. No guest apps. One flat price, no subscriptions.
Get Your Album