Softwr

Photography · head to head

NightCap vs Pixieset

NightCap logo

NightCap

Photography

Long-exposure camera app for iOS aimed at night sky, star trail and light trail photography

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Pixieset logo

Pixieset

Photography

Client gallery, store and studio management platform priced by storage volume

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Pixieset has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: NightCap it is iOS-only, so Android photographers cannot use it at all.; Pixieset pricing is by storage, so cost tracks the size of your accumulated archive rather than current work, and a photographer five years in pays more than a new one shooting the same volume unless old galleries are archived off the platform.
  • They diverge on capability: NightCap covers Manual exposure control, Pixieset covers Client galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which NightCap and Pixieset actually diverge.

Attributes where NightCap and Pixieset differ
AttributeNightCapPixieset
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasePer month by storage volume
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiOSWeb, 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 NightCap

  • Manual exposure control
  • Star trail mode
  • Light trail mode
  • Northern lights mode
  • Meteor shower mode
  • Astro mode with stacking

Only in Pixieset

  • Client galleries
  • Store
  • Studio Manager
  • Website
  • Download controls
  • Mobile app
  • Client proofing
  • Analytics

What people use each for

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

NightCap

  • An iPhone owner wanting star trail or Milky Way photos without buying a dedicated cameranot Pixieset
  • A hobbyist photographing the northern lights who needs exposure control the stock camera app lacksnot Pixieset
  • Someone capturing light trail shots of traffic or fireworks at nightnot Pixieset
  • A photographer who prefers a one-time purchase app over yet another photography subscriptionnot Pixieset

Pixieset

  • Delivering a wedding gallery with a pin code, a print store attached and download limits set per collectionnot NightCap
  • Selling prints without holding stock, using an integrated lab that ships directly to the clientnot NightCap
  • Running contracts, invoices and booking enquiries alongside delivery instead of paying for a separate studio CRMnot NightCap
  • Giving a client a favourites list to choose album images without exchanging files by email or WeTransfernot NightCap

Where each one falls short

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

NightCap

  • It is iOS-only, so Android photographers cannot use it at all.
  • Results are still limited by the physical sensor size and aperture of an iPhone, so it cannot match a dedicated mirrorless camera for astrophotography.
  • It requires a tripod or other stabilisation for most of its long-exposure modes, which is an extra cost and inconvenience beyond the app itself.
  • Its manual controls have a learning curve for someone used to a fully automatic point-and-shoot camera app.
  • As a niche app from a small developer, update cadence and long-term support are less predictable than a major platform vendor camera app.

Pixieset

  • Pricing is by storage, so cost tracks the size of your accumulated archive rather than current work, and a photographer five years in pays more than a new one shooting the same volume unless old galleries are archived off the platform.
  • The free plan takes a percentage commission on store sales, which means the photographers most likely to start free, those selling prints, are the ones the commission costs most, and the effective rate should be compared against ShootProof and Pic-Time before committing.
  • Print fulfilment is restricted to the labs Pixieset has integrated, so a studio with an existing lab relationship or specific paper stock cannot use its own supplier through the store.
  • There is no customer-selectable hosting region, so photographers working under contracts that require client images to stay in a specific jurisdiction cannot satisfy that requirement on Pixieset.
  • The website builder is a portfolio tool rather than a site platform, with limited page structure, no blogging depth and no real SEO control, so most studios that grow move the public site elsewhere and keep Pixieset for delivery.
  • Consolidating galleries, store, invoicing and site with one vendor means a pricing change, an outage or a policy change hits every part of the business at once, and exporting client and sales history out is a manual process.

Pricing, plan by plan

NightCap

On request
  • NightCap$2.99/one-time
    • Full manual exposure control
    • All shooting modes included
    • No subscription

Pixieset

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 3 GB of storage
    • Client galleries with download pins
    • Commission charged on store sales
  • Basic$8/month
    • 10 GB of storage
    • No commission on store sales
    • Custom logo and gallery colours
  • Plus$16/month
    • 100 GB of storage
    • Custom domain
    • Client proofing and favourite lists
  • Ultimate$undefined/month
    • Highest storage tier for archives that outgrow Plus
    • All gallery, store and branding features
    • Billed annually

Which should you pick?

Choose NightCap if

  • You need manual exposure control.
  • You work on iOS.
  • You also want star trail mode.
NightCap review

Choose Pixieset if

  • You need client galleries.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want store.
Pixieset review

Questions people ask

Is NightCap or Pixieset better?
Neither clearly leads. NightCap starts at On request and Pixieset at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, NightCap or Pixieset?
Pixieset has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for NightCap and Free for Pixieset.
Does NightCap or Pixieset run on more platforms?
NightCap runs on iOS. Pixieset runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Pixieset for free?
Yes. Pixieset has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. NightCap starts at On request.
What is NightCap best used for?
NightCap is most often used for an iphone owner wanting star trail or milky way photos without buying a dedicated camera, a hobbyist photographing the northern lights who needs exposure control the stock camera app lacks, someone capturing light trail shots of traffic or fireworks at night, a photographer who prefers a one-time purchase app over yet another photography subscription. Of those, an iphone owner wanting star trail or milky way photos without buying a dedicated camera and a hobbyist photographing the northern lights who needs exposure control the stock camera app lacks are not what Pixieset is typically brought in for.
What can NightCap do that Pixieset cannot?
NightCap covers Manual exposure control, Star trail mode, Light trail mode, Northern lights mode. Pixieset covers Client galleries, Store, Studio Manager, Website.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

NightCap: Is NightCap still maintained?

Yes, it remains listed and updated on the App Store, including a rebuilt version offered free to existing customers.

Pixieset: Is the free plan actually usable for a working photographer?

For delivery, yes, at 3 GB. For sales, it is expensive, because the commission on every store order continues indefinitely while a paid plan removes it.

NightCap: Is it a subscription?

No, it is sold as a one-time purchase.

Pixieset: What counts towards my storage?

Every file uploaded to a collection, including galleries delivered years ago. Archiving or deleting old collections is the only way to bring the number down.

NightCap: Does it work on Android?

No, NightCap is iOS-only.

Pixieset: Can clients download full resolution files?

Yes, if you enable it. Download size, pin protection and expiry are set per collection, so you can release web sizes immediately and full resolution after payment.

Pixieset: Can I use my own print lab?

No. Store fulfilment goes through the labs Pixieset has integrated, and self-fulfilment means handling orders outside the platform.

Share

Related pages

More on NightCap

More on Pixieset

Keep looking

Other head to heads