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Photography · head to head

Nik Collection vs ShootProof

Nik Collection logo

Nik Collection

Photography

Plugin suite of specialised editing tools, black and white, HDR, colour effects, sold as a one-time purchase by DxO

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: Nik Collection it is a finishing plugin suite, not a RAW editor, so it needs Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or DxO PhotoLab installed to use its full feature set.; 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: Nik Collection covers Silver Efex Pro, ShootProof covers Proofing galleries.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Nik Collection and ShootProof actually diverge.

Attributes where Nik Collection and ShootProof differ
AttributeNik CollectionShootProof
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelOne-time purchasePer month by photo count
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOSWeb, 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 Nik Collection

  • Silver Efex Pro
  • Color Efex Pro
  • HDR Efex Pro
  • Analog Efex Pro
  • Viveza
  • Host and standalone modes

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.

Nik Collection

  • A Lightroom Classic user who wants Silver Efex specifically for black and white conversionnot ShootProof
  • A DxO PhotoLab user finishing landscape work with HDR Efex tone mappingnot ShootProof
  • A photographer building a vintage film look with Analog Efex on top of a standard RAW editnot ShootProof
  • Someone who wants a one-time purchase finishing toolkit rather than adding another subscription to an existing editing stacknot ShootProof

ShootProof

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

Where each one falls short

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

Nik Collection

  • It is a finishing plugin suite, not a RAW editor, so it needs Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or DxO PhotoLab installed to use its full feature set.
  • Standalone mode has fewer capabilities than running it through a host application, which is not always obvious to a first-time buyer.
  • New major versions are paid upgrades, so the true multi-year cost is higher than the one-time headline price suggests for users who upgrade every release.
  • It does not integrate with Lightroom cloud-based (non-Classic) or with Capture One, narrowing which existing workflows can use it as a plugin.
  • Since DxO acquisition from Google, some of the individual Efex tools have seen slower feature development than dedicated competitors like Topaz for specific tasks such as noise reduction.

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

Nik Collection

On request
  • Nik Collection$159/one-time
    • Lifetime licence, no subscription
    • Runs as a plugin or standalone application
    • Upgrade pricing offered to existing owners for future versions

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 Nik Collection if

  • You need silver efex pro.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want color efex pro.
Nik Collection 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 Nik Collection or ShootProof better?
Neither clearly leads. Nik Collection 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, Nik Collection or ShootProof?
ShootProof has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Nik Collection and Free for ShootProof.
Does Nik Collection or ShootProof run on more platforms?
Nik Collection runs on Windows, macOS. 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. Nik Collection starts at On request.
What is Nik Collection best used for?
Nik Collection is most often used for a lightroom classic user who wants silver efex specifically for black and white conversion, a dxo photolab user finishing landscape work with hdr efex tone mapping, a photographer building a vintage film look with analog efex on top of a standard raw edit, someone who wants a one-time purchase finishing toolkit rather than adding another subscription to an existing editing stack. Of those, a lightroom classic user who wants silver efex specifically for black and white conversion and a dxo photolab user finishing landscape work with hdr efex tone mapping are not what ShootProof is typically brought in for.
What can Nik Collection do that ShootProof cannot?
Nik Collection covers Silver Efex Pro, Color Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Analog Efex Pro. ShootProof covers Proofing galleries, Print store, Zero sales commission, Contracts and invoices.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Nik Collection: Is Nik Collection a subscription?

No, DxO sells it as a lifetime licence with optional paid upgrades for future versions.

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.

Nik Collection: Do I need Photoshop or Lightroom to use it?

It works best as a plugin inside Photoshop, Lightroom Classic or DxO PhotoLab, but it also has a smaller-featured standalone mode.

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.

Nik Collection: What is Nik Collection best for specifically?

Black and white conversion through Silver Efex and HDR tone mapping through HDR Efex are its most distinctive tools.

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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