Honest Comparison

Fstop vs Pixieset

Pixieset started as a gallery delivery tool and added CRM features. Fstop was built as a CRM from day one. Here's how they actually compare for managing your photography business.

Updated March 2026 No BS comparison

TL;DR

The quick version

Monthly Price

$21.99/mo

vs

$25-40/mo

Built For

CRM first

vs

Galleries first

Contract Builder

Full drag-and-drop

vs

Basic templates

Feature Comparison

Fstop vs Pixieset — feature by feature

Feature Fstop Pixieset
Lead Management
Lead capture forms Built-in form builder Contact forms
Visual pipeline Kanban pipeline List view only
Auto-responses Email templates Auto-replies
Contracts & Invoicing
Contract builder Drag-and-drop builder ~ Basic templates
E-signatures Built in Built in
Invoicing Full invoicing Basic invoicing
Payment processing Track payments Stripe integration
Galleries & Delivery
Client galleries Not included Core feature
Print store Not included Built-in store
Download tracking Not included Full tracking
Communication
Gmail integration Send from Gmail Platform email only
Email templates Branded templates Basic templates
Branded emails Your brand everywhere ~ Limited branding
Branding
Custom branding kit Logo, colors, fonts Gallery branding
Branded contracts Fully branded ~ Basic branding
Branded invoices Fully branded ~ Basic branding

Pros & Cons

Where each platform shines

Where Fstop wins

Purpose-built CRM

Fstop was designed as a CRM from day one. Every feature — inquiries, contracts, invoices, emails — is built around managing client relationships, not delivering galleries.

Gmail integration

Send emails directly from your Gmail account. Clients see your email address, not a platform address. Conversations stay in your inbox.

Lower price, everything included

$21.99/mo gets you every feature. No plan tiers, no feature gates, no upsells.

Full contract builder

Drag-and-drop contract builder with custom clauses, your branding, and e-signatures. Not just fill-in-the-blank templates.

Where Pixieset wins

Gallery delivery

Pixieset's core product is gallery delivery, and it's excellent. Beautiful client galleries, download tracking, and a built-in print store.

Print sales

Built-in print store lets clients order prints directly from their gallery. Great passive revenue stream.

Established ecosystem

Pixieset has been around longer and has a larger user base. More integrations and community resources available.

All-in-one with galleries

If you want CRM + gallery delivery in one platform, Pixieset offers both (though the CRM features are more basic).

Pricing

What you'll actually pay

Fstop CRM

$21.99/mo

Everything included. No tiers.

  • Unlimited clients & leads
  • Contracts & e-signatures
  • Invoicing & payment tracking
  • Email templates & Gmail sync
  • Form builder & lead capture
  • Custom branding

Pixieset

$25-40/mo

Suite plan required for CRM features. Gallery-only plans start lower.

  • Gallery delivery (core strength)
  • Basic CRM and workflows
  • Online store for prints
  • Client portals
  • Contracts on higher plans
  • Limited email features

Who It's For

Which one is right for you?

Choose Fstop if you...

  • You want a dedicated CRM, not a gallery tool with CRM features bolted on
  • Gmail integration is important to you
  • You want a full contract builder, not basic templates
  • You already use a gallery platform you love and just need CRM
  • You want one flat price with no feature tiers

Choose Pixieset if you...

  • Gallery delivery is your top priority
  • You want print sales built into your workflow
  • You need an all-in-one platform for both galleries and client management
  • You prefer a more established platform with a larger community

A note about galleries

Fstop doesn't do gallery delivery — and that's by design. We believe in doing fewer things really well rather than cramming every feature into one platform.

If you love Pixieset's galleries (and they are genuinely great), you can absolutely use Pixieset for delivery and Fstop for CRM. Many photographers use separate tools for shooting, editing, and delivery — your CRM can be separate too.

The question isn't 'which one does everything?' It's 'which one does the CRM part better?' And that's where we think the answer is clear.

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Explore Features

See what fstop can do

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