Photography · head to head
Adobe Bridge vs ShootProof
Adobe Bridge
Photography
Free file browser for Adobe formats with ratings, keywords and batch renaming
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
ShootProof
Photography
Client proofing galleries, print store and studio billing with no commission on sales
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Adobe Bridge there is no catalogue database, so files on a disconnected external drive cannot be browsed or searched, which rules Bridge out as an archive tool.; 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: Adobe Bridge covers Mixed format previews, ShootProof covers Proofing galleries.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Adobe Bridge and ShootProof actually diverge.
| Attribute | Adobe Bridge | ShootProof |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free with an Adobe account | Per month by photo count |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Web, iOS, Android |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Adobe Bridge
- Mixed format previews
- Ratings and labels
- Batch rename
- Metadata templates
- Camera Raw handoff
- Output and stacks
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.
Adobe Bridge
- Sorting a mixed delivery folder of layered files, layouts, PDFs and photographs before deciding what to opennot ShootProof
- Stamping copyright and contact metadata across a whole card of images at ingestnot ShootProof
- Batch renaming a shoot into a studio naming convention before it enters a cataloguenot ShootProof
- Browsing an InDesign packaged job where seeing the layout thumbnails saves opening each documentnot ShootProof
ShootProof
- A portrait studio whose print revenue exceeds its subscription cost, where a percentage based competitor would be the more expensive optionnot Adobe Bridge
- School and sports volume work where galleries are keyed to individual subjects and priced from a fixed sheetnot Adobe Bridge
- A photographer who wants contracts, invoices and gallery delivery billed to one vendor instead of threenot Adobe Bridge
- Wedding delivery where clients need a downloadable set and the parents need a print ordering routenot Adobe Bridge
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Adobe Bridge
- There is no catalogue database, so files on a disconnected external drive cannot be browsed or searched, which rules Bridge out as an archive tool.
- Camera Raw editing depends on Photoshop or Lightroom Classic being installed, so the free application is not a raw workflow on its own.
- Performance over network volumes and NAS shares is poor, and thumbnail caches on large folders regularly need clearing to fix stale or missing previews.
- Adobe has invested lightly in Bridge for years and releases little beyond compatibility updates, so buying into its workflow means depending on a product with an uncertain roadmap.
- Installation goes through the Creative Cloud desktop application and an Adobe account, which forces a background service and a login onto machines that otherwise have no Adobe software.
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
Adobe Bridge
Free- Adobe BridgeFree
- Free with any Adobe account, no paid plan required
- Installed through the Creative Cloud desktop application
- Camera Raw editing requires Photoshop or Lightroom Classic to be installed as well
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 Adobe Bridge if
- You need mixed format previews.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, macOS.
- You also want ratings and labels.
Choose ShootProof if
- You need proofing galleries.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want print store.
Questions people ask
- Is Adobe Bridge or ShootProof better?
- Neither clearly leads. Adobe Bridge starts at Free and ShootProof at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Adobe Bridge or ShootProof?
- Adobe Bridge starts at Free and ShootProof at Free.
- Does Adobe Bridge or ShootProof run on more platforms?
- Adobe Bridge runs on Windows, macOS. ShootProof runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Adobe Bridge for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Adobe Bridge best used for?
- Adobe Bridge is most often used for sorting a mixed delivery folder of layered files, layouts, pdfs and photographs before deciding what to open, stamping copyright and contact metadata across a whole card of images at ingest, batch renaming a shoot into a studio naming convention before it enters a catalogue, browsing an indesign packaged job where seeing the layout thumbnails saves opening each document. Of those, sorting a mixed delivery folder of layered files, layouts, pdfs and photographs before deciding what to open and stamping copyright and contact metadata across a whole card of images at ingest are not what ShootProof is typically brought in for.
- What can Adobe Bridge do that ShootProof cannot?
- Adobe Bridge covers Mixed format previews, Ratings and labels, Batch rename, Metadata templates. ShootProof covers Proofing galleries, Print store, Zero sales commission, Contracts and invoices.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Adobe Bridge: Is Adobe Bridge really free?
Yes, with a free Adobe account. But raw development inside it needs Camera Raw, which comes with Photoshop or Lightroom Classic, so most of its value assumes a paid subscription.
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.
Adobe Bridge: Can Bridge replace Lightroom?
No. It has no catalogue, no non destructive develop history of its own and no way to search images that are not currently connected.
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.
Adobe Bridge: Does it work on Linux?
No. Windows and macOS only.
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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