Photography · head to head
Exposure X vs Pic-Time
Exposure X
Photography
Perpetual-licence RAW editor and cataloguer built around film-emulation presets, from a very small vendor
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Pic-Time
Photography
Client galleries with an automated print store and marketing campaigns built in
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Pic-Time has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Exposure X the vendor has published almost no public updates since 2022, so buyers cannot be confident about the pace or certainty of future development.; 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: Exposure X covers Folder-based browsing, Pic-Time covers Designed galleries.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Exposure X and Pic-Time actually diverge.
| Attribute | Exposure X | Pic-Time |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | One-time purchase | Per month by photo count |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Web, 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 Exposure X
- Folder-based browsing
- Film emulation presets
- Non-destructive layers and masking
- RAW processing
- Plugin support
- Perpetual licensing
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.
Exposure X
- A photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packsnot Pic-Time
- Someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in foldersnot Pic-Time
- A buyer who wants a one-time purchase RAW editor on both Windows and Mac without a subscriptionnot Pic-Time
- A Lightroom user adding Exposure as an external editor specifically for its film emulation librarynot Pic-Time
Pic-Time
- A wedding photographer who wants print revenue from past clients without writing and sending the promotions personallynot Exposure X
- Studios where the gallery itself is part of the perceived product and a plain grid of thumbnails undersells the worknot Exposure X
- Album based workflows that need clients to comment on spreads rather than exchange PDFs by emailnot Exposure X
- Photographers with clients in several countries who need orders fulfilled by a lab local to the clientnot Exposure X
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Exposure X
- The vendor has published almost no public updates since 2022, so buyers cannot be confident about the pace or certainty of future development.
- Email contact with the company is reported as unreliable, leaving technical support tickets as the only dependable channel.
- Its RAW processing and masking tools are less capable than Lightroom, Capture One or DxO PhotoLab for demanding professional retouching.
- It has no cloud sync or mobile companion app, unlike Lightroom or Skylum products, so multi-device workflows are not supported.
- Buying into a small, quiet vendor carries real continuity risk; a perpetual licence protects existing files but does not guarantee the software will be updated for future camera models.
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
Exposure X
On request- Exposure X7$129/one-time
- Perpetual licence, no subscription
- Folder-based, non-database workflow
- Upgrade pricing of 89 USD for existing owners
- Exposure X7 Bundle$149/one-time
- Exposure X7 plus Snap Art and Blow Up plugins
- Upgrade pricing of 99 USD for existing owners
Pic-Time
Free- FreeFree
- Small photo allowance for evaluating the platform
- Store available with the commission that applies to this tier
- Paid tiers$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 Exposure X if
- You need folder-based browsing.
- You work on Windows, macOS.
- You also want film emulation presets.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is Exposure X or Pic-Time better?
- Neither clearly leads. Exposure X 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, Exposure X or Pic-Time?
- Pic-Time has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Exposure X and Free for Pic-Time.
- Does Exposure X or Pic-Time run on more platforms?
- Exposure X runs on Windows, macOS. 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. Exposure X starts at On request.
- What is Exposure X best used for?
- Exposure X is most often used for a photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packs, someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in folders, a buyer who wants a one-time purchase raw editor on both windows and mac without a subscription, a lightroom user adding exposure as an external editor specifically for its film emulation library. Of those, a photographer who wants film-look presets built into the editor rather than buying third-party preset packs and someone who dislikes database-style photo catalogues and wants to work directly on files in folders are not what Pic-Time is typically brought in for.
- What can Exposure X do that Pic-Time cannot?
- Exposure X covers Folder-based browsing, Film emulation presets, Non-destructive layers and masking, RAW processing. Pic-Time covers Designed galleries, Automated store campaigns, Wall art visualiser, Album proofing.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Exposure X: Is Exposure X7 still being sold and supported?
Yes, it is on sale and technical support responds to tickets, but public updates and communication from the company have been sparse since 2022.
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.
Exposure X: Do I need to import my photos into a catalogue?
No, it browses and edits files directly from folders rather than requiring a database import.
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.
Exposure X: Is there a subscription option?
No, it is sold only as a perpetual one-time purchase.
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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