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Photography · head to head

Capture One vs Pic-Time

Capture One logo

Capture One

Photography

Professional RAW photo editing and tethered capture software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pic-Time logo

Pic-Time

Photography

Client galleries with an automated print store and marketing campaigns built in

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pic-Time has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Capture One subscription pricing across multiple tiers can be more expensive than one-time purchase alternatives.; Pic-Time the commission on store sales means the true cost rises with your success, so a photographer with strong print revenue may pay far more than the subscription implies and should price the top tier against the percentage before choosing.
  • They diverge on capability: Capture One covers RAW Conversion, Pic-Time covers Designed galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Capture One and Pic-Time actually diverge.

Attributes where Capture One and Pic-Time differ
AttributeCapture OnePic-Time
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer month by photo count
Free tierNoYes
Platformswindows, mac, iosWeb, 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 Capture One

  • RAW Conversion
  • Tethered Capture
  • Advanced Color Grading
  • Cloud Collaboration
  • Mobile App
  • Multi-Screen Viewing

Only in Pic-Time

  • Designed galleries
  • Automated store campaigns
  • Wall art visualiser
  • Album proofing
  • Regional lab fulfilment
  • Digital delivery

What people use each for

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

Capture One

  • Professional studio photography editingnot Pic-Time
  • Tethered shooting during commercial photoshootsnot Pic-Time
  • Advanced color grading for editorial photographynot Pic-Time
  • RAW file management for high-volume photographersnot Pic-Time

Pic-Time

  • A wedding photographer who wants print revenue from past clients without writing and sending the promotions personallynot Capture One
  • Studios where the gallery itself is part of the perceived product and a plain grid of thumbnails undersells the worknot Capture One
  • Album based workflows that need clients to comment on spreads rather than exchange PDFs by emailnot Capture One
  • Photographers with clients in several countries who need orders fulfilled by a lab local to the clientnot Capture One

Where each one falls short

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

Capture One

  • Subscription pricing across multiple tiers can be more expensive than one-time purchase alternatives.
  • The interface has a steeper learning curve than simpler tools like Lightroom for casual users.
  • Perpetual license option lacks access to the newest features added in later versions.
  • Mobile app functionality is more limited than the full desktop application.

Pic-Time

  • The commission on store sales means the true cost rises with your success, so a photographer with strong print revenue may pay far more than the subscription implies and should price the top tier against the percentage before choosing.
  • Storage is counted by photo, so high volume delivery pushes you up the tiers even when the files themselves are small.
  • There is no contracts, invoicing, booking or CRM module, so a working studio still pays for a separate management tool and reconciles two systems.
  • Lab coverage is uneven by country and some regions have a single partner, which removes any ability to shop for print quality or price.
  • The automated campaigns go out under your studio name on Pic-Time schedules, and photographers with a small or recently marketed client list can look pushy unless every sequence is edited by hand.

Pricing, plan by plan

Capture One

On request
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • Desktop RAW editing
    • Color profiles
    • Tethering
  • All in One$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Mobile iOS app
    • Online collaboration
  • Studio$undefined/month
    • Offline collaboration
    • Multiple viewer screens
    • Automated cropping
  • Pro Perpetual$undefined/mo
    • One-time desktop purchase
    • No ongoing updates required

Pic-Time

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Small photo allowance for evaluating the platform
    • Store available with the commission that applies to this tier
  • Paid tiers$undefined/month
    • Priced by the number of photos stored
    • The sales commission differs by tier and falls on the higher plans
    • Automated marketing campaigns included from the paid tiers upward

Which should you pick?

Choose Capture One if

  • You need raw conversion.
  • You work on windows, mac, ios.
  • You also want tethered capture.
Capture One review

Choose Pic-Time if

  • You need designed galleries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want automated store campaigns.
Pic-Time review

Questions people ask

Is Capture One or Pic-Time better?
Neither clearly leads. Capture One starts at On request and Pic-Time at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Capture One or Pic-Time?
Pic-Time has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Capture One and Free for Pic-Time.
Does Capture One or Pic-Time run on more platforms?
Capture One runs on windows, mac, ios. Pic-Time runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Pic-Time for free?
Yes. Pic-Time has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Capture One starts at On request.
What is Capture One best used for?
Capture One is most often used for professional studio photography editing, tethered shooting during commercial photoshoots, advanced color grading for editorial photography, raw file management for high-volume photographers. Of those, professional studio photography editing and tethered shooting during commercial photoshoots are not what Pic-Time is typically brought in for.
What can Capture One do that Pic-Time cannot?
Capture One covers RAW Conversion, Tethered Capture, Advanced Color Grading, Cloud Collaboration. Pic-Time covers Designed galleries, Automated store campaigns, Wall art visualiser, Album proofing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Capture One: Can I cancel a Capture One subscription anytime?

Yes, subscriptions can be cancelled anytime with no fees, according to the pricing page.

Source
Pic-Time: Does Pic-Time take a percentage of print sales?

Yes, and the rate depends on the plan you are on, with the higher tiers reducing it. Check the current rate for your tier, because it usually outweighs the monthly price difference.

Capture One: Can I switch between subscription and perpetual license?

Yes, users can transition between subscription and perpetual licenses, and after 5 years of subscription, converting to a perpetual license costs nothing extra.

Source
Pic-Time: Can it replace my studio management software?

No. There is no contract signing, invoicing or booking. Pic-Time covers delivery and sales only.

Capture One: Is there a mobile version of Capture One?

Yes, a Capture One Mobile app is available for iPad and iPhone, supporting RAW conversion and tethering with 550+ camera support.

Source
Pic-Time: Do clients need an account to view a gallery?

No. Galleries open from a link with an optional password, and an email is only requested when a client downloads or orders.

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