iCloud Shared Albums vs SelfBooth
An honest, side-by-side look at iCloud Shared Albums and SelfBooth 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
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
Plans
SelfBooth Standard
Public SelfBooth product package without slideshow.
- Guests upload photos and videos by scanning a QR code or opening a custom URL
- No app download and no guest registration required
- Built-in camera or library upload for photos and videos
- Short 10-second video guestbook snippets
- Unlimited guests; pricing is per event, not per person
- Gallery live for 5 days from the selected event date
- Host can download guest photos and videos after the event
SelfBooth With Slideshow
Public SelfBooth package that adds live slideshow display.
- Guests upload photos and videos by scanning a QR code or opening a custom URL
- No app download and no guest registration required
- Built-in camera or library upload for photos and videos
- Short 10-second video guestbook snippets
- Unlimited guests; pricing is per event, not per person
- Gallery live for 5 days from the selected event date
- Host can download guest photos and videos after the event
- Live slideshow view for a TV or projector during the event
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. | ||
| Guest experience | ||
| Live slideshow A real-time slideshow of guest photos you can cast to a screen at the reception. | on SelfBooth With Slideshow (A$77 AUD) | |
| Video guestbook Guests record short video messages — a video guestbook for the couple. | Not verified | |
| Comments & likes Guests can like and comment on photos in the gallery. | Not verified | |
| 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. | Not verified |
| Media | ||
| Video support Guests can upload videos, not just photos. | ||
| 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 private — only invited guests can view or upload. | ~Shared Albums use subscribers/invites, but they are not a password-protected public wedding gallery. | Not verified |
✓ 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
- ✓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
- ✓Guests can upload by QR code or custom URL with no app and no registration
- ✓Supports photo and video uploads, including short video guestbook messages
- ✓Optional live slideshow package for TVs or projectors at the event
- xUpload window is short: the public FAQ says the gallery is live for 5 days from the event date
- xPublic customer review evidence is mainly SvenStudios provider-level testimonials, not SelfBooth-specific excerpts
What people say
Real reviews, each linked to its source.
iCloud Shared Albums
2 reviews
SelfBooth
1 review
Our Event Album beats both
If you are choosing between iCloud Shared Albums and SelfBooth, 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, iCloud Shared Albums or SelfBooth?
iCloud Shared Albums starts at $0.99 and SelfBooth at A$55. For comparison, Our Event Album is $39 one-time with no subscription.
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 SelfBooth cost?
SelfBooth starts at A$55 one-time.
Do iCloud Shared Albums or SelfBooth make guests download an app?
ICloud Shared Albums asks guests to install an app, while SelfBooth runs in a web browser, so guests just scan a QR code. Our Event Album is web-only: guests scan a QR code and upload, no app required.
Is there a better alternative to iCloud Shared Albums and SelfBooth?
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