Skerp vs Pixieset
Looking for a Pixieset alternative?
Pixieset is a suite — galleries, websites, stores, CRM, AI editing. Skerp does one thing: photo proofing. If you want a focused proofing tool with annotations on every plan, two-way Lightroom sync, and EU-only data residency, this page is for you.
Facts verified against pixieset.com in May 2026.
Why photographers move to Skerp
Five reasons, in roughly the order we hear them.
Annotations on every plan, not a paid feature
Pixieset reserves richer review tools for higher tiers; favorites are the main feedback primitive. Skerp has pin annotations and per-image comment threads on every plan, including Free. Client feedback is the proofing workflow — gating it behind a tier doesn't make sense.
Two-way Lightroom sync, not just a delivery integration
Pixieset doesn't ship a Lightroom plugin. Skerp ships Skerper — a Lightroom Classic Publish Service that flows client approvals, ratings, and comments straight into the catalog, and your replies back to the gallery. One configuration; one fewer manual export step per job.
A proofing tool, not a suite tax
Pixieset Suite bundles a gallery, a website, a print store, a CRM, and now an AI editor. If you use all of them, that's fair. If proofing is the bottleneck, you're paying for parts of a suite that aren't solving your actual problem. Skerp is built only for the proofing + delivery loop.
EU-only data residency, publicly disclosed
All Skerp account data and images live in the European Union. Operated by Bruring Ops B.V., Amsterdam. Pixieset doesn't publicly disclose where your image data sits. For European photographers serving regulated clients, this is procurement, not a marketing claim.
No client account ever required
Pixieset offers optional client accounts; the workflow nudges clients to register. Skerp clients open a link and start selecting — no signup, no friction. Magic-link login is available for clients who want their history across photographers, but it's never required.
Feature delta, side by side
Feature-level only — competitor dollar figures change too fast to print.
| Capability | Skerp | Pixieset |
|---|---|---|
| Pin annotations on images | Yes — every plan | No — favorites only |
| Per-image comment threads | Yes — every plan, 50 MB attachments | No |
| Side-by-side compare with synced zoom | Yes — every plan | No |
| Real-time viewer presence | Yes — every plan | No |
| Two-way Lightroom sync (plugin) | Yes — Skerper, Standard+ | No plugin |
| EU-only data residency | Yes — publicly disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Client account required | Never | Optional |
| Offline review mode | Yes | No |
| PDF proof reports | Yes — annotations, comments, QR back to gallery | No |
| Print store / product sales | No — pair with any lab | Yes |
| Website builder | No — focused proofing tool | Yes |
| Photographer CRM (invoicing, contracts, bookings) | No — pair with your existing CRM | Yes — Studio Manager |
| AI culling / RAW editor | No — deliberate, pair with Aftershoot etc. | Yes — Photo Editor |
What Pixieset still does better
Honest deltas — Skerp isn't the right tool for every photographer.
- Print store and lab integration — if selling prints is a core part of your business, Pixieset has built-in e-commerce and shipping that Skerp doesn't.
- Studio Manager CRM — bookings, invoicing, contracts, lead capture. If you're consolidating your business tools, Pixieset gives you a single bill.
- Photo Editor — Pixieset's new AI culling + RAW editor lives inside the suite. Skerp deliberately doesn't enter the editing market.
- Brand recognition — Pixieset is the default suggestion in wedding-photographer groups, which can be useful when bidding for client work.
Skerp pricing, in one line each
Full breakdown on /pricing.
Free
$0
3 galleries · 3 GB · every proofing feature
Standard
$15/mo
Unlimited galleries · 50 GB · Skerper plugin · custom branding
Pro
$29/mo
Unlimited galleries · 500 GB · for high-volume work
Studio
Contact us
For teams · per-photographer-seat · Owner + Member seats unlimited
Switching questions
Can I import my Pixieset galleries into Skerp automatically?
No automated importer yet. The realistic path: keep your existing Pixieset galleries live for in-flight clients, and start new galleries on Skerp. Standard and Pro include pretty URLs (/yourname/gallery-slug) and custom branding, so client-facing galleries match your existing brand from day one.
Do my clients need to register a new account?
No. Skerp galleries are link-based — clients open the link and start selecting immediately. Optional: clients can register a magic-link account at /my-galleries to see every gallery you've sent them in one place. The registration is never required to view, select, or approve.
How do client selections get into Lightroom?
Two ways, and you can use either. (a) Copy filenames — export a plain text file of the approved filenames and paste the list into Lightroom's filter or library search. Works with any DAM that reads filename lists, available on every plan. (b) Install Skerper, our Lightroom Classic plugin, for two-way sync: selections, ratings, and comments flow into the catalog; your replies flow back. Standard+.
Does Skerp sell prints?
No. We don't run a print store and don't plan to. Pair Skerp with whichever lab you already work with — the photographer's relationship with the lab is a different problem space, and we don't want to be the middleman in it.
Where is my data stored?
The European Union, exclusively. Skerp is operated by Bruring Ops B.V., Amsterdam (KvK 81008716). All account data and image storage is in EU regions; the storage layer is Cloudflare R2 with EU-only region pinning. For European photographers serving regulated end-clients, this is a procurement-grade differentiator, not a marketing line.
What about my Pixieset client list?
Skerp has a client registry on Studio plans (shared across the team). For Standard / Pro, contacts are scoped per gallery — which is closer to how most solo photographers work. Mass-importing a client list from Pixieset isn't supported yet; clients re-attach when you send them their first Skerp gallery.
How long does it take to try Skerp on a real client gallery?
Free plan, no credit card, 3 galleries included — most photographers ship their first real proofing gallery in under 30 minutes from signup. The fastest validation is to use Skerp for your next selection round and ask your client whether the workflow feels different.
See Skerp on your next gallery.
14-day trial on every paid plan. No credit card. Free plan is genuinely useful if you want to test the workflow with one real client first.
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