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Photography · head to head

ACDSee vs ShootProof

ACDSee logo

ACDSee

Photography

Photo cataloguing and RAW editing sold as a perpetual licence or as an ACDSee 365 subscription

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ShootProof logo

ShootProof

Photography

Client proofing galleries, print store and studio billing with no commission on sales

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only ShootProof has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ACDSee aCDSee is Windows-only, so it is not an option at all for Mac-based photographers, unlike Lightroom, Capture One or Pixelmator Pro.; ShootProof storage is counted in photos rather than gigabytes, so a wedding photographer delivering three thousand frames per job crosses tier boundaries within a handful of weddings regardless of how small the files are.
  • They diverge on capability: ACDSee covers Digital asset management, ShootProof covers Proofing galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ACDSee and ShootProof actually diverge.

Attributes where ACDSee and ShootProof differ
AttributeACDSeeShootProof
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchase or per-user subscriptionPer month by photo count
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Photography).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ACDSee

  • Digital asset management
  • RAW processing
  • AI editing tools
  • Perpetual or subscription licensing
  • Facial recognition
  • Mobile and cloud sync

Only in ShootProof

  • Proofing galleries
  • Print store
  • Zero sales commission
  • Contracts and invoices
  • Studio automation
  • Client mobile app

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ACDSee

  • A Windows photographer who wants to own the software outright rather than pay indefinitelynot ShootProof
  • A hobbyist with a large existing photo library who wants cataloguing and basic RAW editing without Lightroom cloud storagenot ShootProof
  • Someone leaving Adobe Lightroom specifically to avoid a subscription, willing to accept a smaller editing toolsetnot ShootProof
  • A photographer who wants AI masking and noise reduction without committing to Skylum or Topaz subscriptionsnot ShootProof

ShootProof

  • A portrait studio whose print revenue exceeds its subscription cost, where a percentage based competitor would be the more expensive optionnot ACDSee
  • School and sports volume work where galleries are keyed to individual subjects and priced from a fixed sheetnot ACDSee
  • A photographer who wants contracts, invoices and gallery delivery billed to one vendor instead of threenot ACDSee
  • Wedding delivery where clients need a downloadable set and the parents need a print ordering routenot ACDSee

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ACDSee

  • ACDSee is Windows-only, so it is not an option at all for Mac-based photographers, unlike Lightroom, Capture One or Pixelmator Pro.
  • A perpetual licence stops receiving new camera RAW profiles and AI feature updates after roughly a year, so a photographer who buys a new camera two years later may need to update or wait for third-party RAW support.
  • Its AI tools and masking are noticeably less refined than Lightroom, Luminar Neo or Topaz Photo AI in side-by-side tests, so buyers switching purely for editing quality are often disappointed.
  • The catalogue and browsing performance degrades on very large libraries compared with Lightroom Classic, according to long-time users managing tens of thousands of images.
  • Support and update cadence are slower than Adobe, with fewer third-party plugins and a smaller ecosystem of tutorials and presets.

ShootProof

  • Storage is counted in photos rather than gigabytes, so a wedding photographer delivering three thousand frames per job crosses tier boundaries within a handful of weddings regardless of how small the files are.
  • Gallery presentation is plainer than Pic-Time and Pixieset, which matters at the high end where the gallery is part of the product the client is paying for.
  • There is no bundled website or blog builder, so photographers still pay a separate hosting subscription that competitors include in the same fee.
  • Print fulfilment is strongest with North American labs, and photographers outside that region face longer lead times, higher shipping and a shorter list of usable products.
  • Support is email and ticket based with no telephone line, which is awkward when a client gallery fails on the evening before a delivery deadline.

Pricing, plan by plan

ACDSee

On request
  • Photo Studio Ultimate (perpetual)$149.95/one-time
    • One-time purchase, no subscription required
    • About a year of included updates
    • New camera RAW support stops after that unless you upgrade
  • ACDSee 365 Home$8.9/month
    • Always the current version
    • AI credits and cloud storage bundled
    • Billed monthly or 89 USD annually

ShootProof

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 100 photos stored
    • Full store and download delivery
    • No commission on sales
  • Photo count tiers$undefined/month
    • Tiers set by the number of photos stored, not by file size
    • No sales commission at any tier
    • Contracts, invoices and studio automation included

Which should you pick?

Choose ACDSee if

  • You need digital asset management.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want raw processing.
ACDSee review

Choose ShootProof if

  • You need proofing galleries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want print store.
ShootProof review

Questions people ask

Is ACDSee or ShootProof better?
Neither clearly leads. ACDSee starts at On request and ShootProof at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ACDSee or ShootProof?
ShootProof has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for ACDSee and Free for ShootProof.
Does ACDSee or ShootProof run on more platforms?
ACDSee runs on Windows. ShootProof runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use ShootProof for free?
Yes. ShootProof has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ACDSee starts at On request.
What is ACDSee best used for?
ACDSee is most often used for a windows photographer who wants to own the software outright rather than pay indefinitely, a hobbyist with a large existing photo library who wants cataloguing and basic raw editing without lightroom cloud storage, someone leaving adobe lightroom specifically to avoid a subscription, willing to accept a smaller editing toolset, a photographer who wants ai masking and noise reduction without committing to skylum or topaz subscriptions. Of those, a windows photographer who wants to own the software outright rather than pay indefinitely and a hobbyist with a large existing photo library who wants cataloguing and basic raw editing without lightroom cloud storage are not what ShootProof is typically brought in for.
What can ACDSee do that ShootProof cannot?
ACDSee covers Digital asset management, RAW processing, AI editing tools, Perpetual or subscription licensing. ShootProof covers Proofing galleries, Print store, Zero sales commission, Contracts and invoices.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ACDSee: Do I still get new camera support if I buy the perpetual licence?

Only for about a year after purchase; after that, new RAW formats and AI features require buying the next version or moving to ACDSee 365.

ShootProof: Does ShootProof take a cut of print sales?

No. Every plan, including the free one, keeps zero percent of print and download revenue. You pay only the subscription and the lab cost.

ACDSee: Is ACDSee available on Mac?

No, Photo Studio is Windows-only.

ShootProof: Is the free plan usable for real work?

Only for small jobs. One hundred photos covers a single short portrait session, so it works as a trial rather than as a business tier.

ACDSee: Is ACDSee 365 the same software as the perpetual version?

It runs the same core application but stays on the current release and adds AI credits and cloud storage that the perpetual licence does not include.

ShootProof: Can I use my own lab?

Yes. You can fulfil orders yourself or through a lab that ShootProof does not integrate with, but you then handle ordering and shipping manually.

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