Showit vs. Pixieset: Which Is Best For Photographers?
Let’s be real—choosing a website platform as a photographer can feel a little like picking between coffee and tea. Both will get the job done, but they have totally different vibes.
If you’ve been scrolling through options, chances are you’ve come across Showit and Pixieset—two popular platforms made with photographers in mind. But which one is actually right for you?
Are you dreaming of a completely custom website that looks exactly how you want? Or do you want an all-in-one system that includes client galleries? In this post, I’m breaking down Showit vs. Pixieset so you can pick the perfect fit for your business (without pulling your hair out in the process).
Ease of Use
Let’s talk about ease of use—because nobody wants to spend hours wrestling with their website when they could be out shooting gorgeous photos instead.
Showit: Drag, Drop, and Done
Showit is like playing with digital Legos—you can move things around however you want, no coding is required! The drag-and-drop builder gives you total creative freedom, so if you can dream it, you can design it. Want text slightly to the left? Move it. Want an image bigger? Resize it. No annoying grid restrictions, just pure creative bliss.
That being said, because Showit is so flexible, it does take a little time to get used to. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to go back to a rigid template-based system.
Pixieset: Easy, but More Structured
Pixieset is more of a “fill in the blanks” kind of website builder. It’s super simple—just pick a template, swap out your text and photos, and boom, you have a website. The downside? You don’t get as much creative freedom. You’re pretty much working within the template’s structure, so if you love customization, you might find it a bit limiting.
Which One Wins?
If you want the easiest, most beginner-friendly option, Pixieset is the way to go. But if you love the idea of total creative freedom (and don’t mind a tiny learning curve), Showit takes the cake.
Design and Customization
Now, let’s talk about design—because as a photographer, your website should look just as stunning as the photos you take.
Showit: Your Creativity, Unleashed
Imagine having a blank canvas where you can design literally anything. That’s Showit. It gives you 100% creative freedom, letting you move, resize, and style every single element on your site exactly how you want it. No coding, no restrictions—just pure drag-and-drop magic.
You can start with a template and customize it to the max, or if you’re feeling extra creative, build a site from scratch. Plus, Showit is a designer’s dream, meaning if you love a super unique, branded look, this is where it shines.
Pixieset: Beautiful but Boxed-In
Pixieset offers sleek, modern templates that look great right out of the box. They’re designed specifically for photographers, so they already feel portfolio-friendly. But here’s the catch—you’re working within a structured system. You can change colors, fonts, and images, but the layout is pretty locked in.
If you’re the kind of person who likes a done-for-you approach and doesn’t want to tinker too much, this can be a plus! But if you want full control over your website’s look, Pixieset might feel a little limiting.
Which One Wins?
If you want total creative control, Showit is the clear winner. If you prefer a simpler, more structured setup where you don’t have to make a ton of design decisions, Pixieset is the easier choice.
Either way, your website should reflect you, so it all comes down to how much freedom you want!
Blogging Capabilities
A blog can be a game-changer for attracting new clients and boosting your website’s SEO. Whether you want to share client sessions, photography tips, or behind-the-scenes stories, having a solid blogging setup is something important when considering your website builder.
Showit: Full Control with WordPress
Showit connects directly with WordPress, which is one of the best blogging platforms available. This means you get powerful SEO tools, advanced blogging features, and complete control over your blog’s design. You can create custom layouts, add plugins, and optimize every post to help your site rank higher on Google.
The downside? WordPress can take some time to learn if you’re new to it. But once you get the hang of it, it’s an incredibly powerful tool for growing your business through content.
Pixieset: Simple and Straightforward
Pixieset has a built-in blogging system that’s easy to use and doesn’t require any extra setup. You can quickly add posts, upload images, and share your latest work without dealing with plugins or additional settings. However, the customization options are limited, and the SEO tools aren’t as advanced as what WordPress offers.
Which One Wins?
If blogging is a big part of your marketing strategy, Showit’s WordPress integration gives you more control and better SEO features. If you just want a simple way to share updates without worrying about customization, Pixieset makes it easy. It all depends on how much blogging you plan to do and how much flexibility you want.
Client Galleries and Image Delivery
For photographers, a website isn’t just about looking good—it also needs to function well for delivering images to clients. Let’s see how Showit and Pixieset handle this.
Showit: No Built-in Gallery System
Showit is all about website design, so it doesn’t have a built-in system for delivering galleries to clients. You can create beautiful portfolio pages to showcase your work, but for client proofing and downloads, you’ll need to integrate with a separate gallery service like Pixieset, ShootProof, or Pic-Time. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it does mean using an extra platform for client interactions.
Pixieset: Built for Photographers
Pixieset is designed with photographers in mind, so client galleries are built right in. You can upload full sessions, allow clients to download images, order prints, and even sell digital products directly through your gallery. Everything is connected within one system, making it an all-in-one solution for both your website and client image delivery.
Which One Wins?
If you want an all-in-one platform that includes client galleries, Pixieset is the better choice. If you prefer a completely custom website and don’t mind using a separate service for image delivery, Showit gives you more design flexibility.
SEO and Getting Found on Google
Having a beautiful website is great, but if no one can find it, it won’t do much for your business. Let’s break down how Showit and Pixieset handle SEO.
Showit: Built for SEO with WordPress
Showit’s biggest advantage is its integration with WordPress, which gives you access to some of the best SEO tools available. You can optimize blog posts, customize meta descriptions, and use plugins like Yoast SEO to fine-tune your rankings. Showit also allows full control over image alt text, page titles, and headings, which helps improve search visibility.
One thing to note—because Showit is highly customizable, you need to be intentional about structuring your site for SEO. It doesn’t automatically optimize content for you, so it’s important to follow best practices when setting up your site.
Pixieset: Basic but Functional SEO
Pixieset offers built-in SEO settings, allowing you to update page titles, meta descriptions, and image alt text. However, it doesn’t provide the same level of control as Showit. There’s no WordPress blog integration or access to advanced SEO plugins, which can make it harder to compete for top rankings in search results.
That said, if you’re looking for a straightforward solution without having to learn much about SEO, Pixieset covers the basics well.
Which One Wins?
If you want to take full advantage of SEO and grow your website’s visibility through blogging and optimization tools, Showit is the better option. If you just need simple SEO settings without the extra customization, Pixieset will get the job done.
E-Commerce and Selling Digital Products
If you want to sell digital products like presets, guides, or even prints, your website platform needs to support e-commerce. Here’s how Showit and Pixieset compare when it comes to selling online.
Showit: E-Commerce Through Third-Party Platforms
Showit doesn’t have built-in e-commerce features, but you can integrate it with the Shopify Starter plan or other third-party platforms. This gives you full control over the shopping experience, allowing you to create a completely custom storefront. However, setting up e-commerce requires a little more work since you’ll be managing it through another service.
Pixieset: Built-In Store for Photographers
Pixieset includes a built-in store, making it easy to sell prints, digital downloads, and other products directly from your website. You don’t need any third-party platforms—everything is handled within Pixieset. This makes it a great option if you want a simple, all-in-one system for selling photography-related products without extra setup.
Which One Wins?
If you want a fully customizable shop and don’t mind integrating with Shopify or another platform, Showit gives you more flexibility. If you’re looking for an easy, built-in solution for selling prints and digital files, Pixieset is the more convenient option.
Pricing and Overall Value
Now that we’ve compared the features, let’s talk about cost. A website is an investment, so it’s important to know what you’re getting for your money.
Showit: Higher Cost but More Customization
Showit offers different pricing plans depending on whether you need a blog. Their basic plan (without a blog) is more affordable, but if you want the full power of WordPress blogging, you’ll need a higher-tier plan. Since Showit doesn’t include built-in galleries or e-commerce, you may also need to pay for additional services like Pixieset or Shopify, depending on your needs.
While Showit is more expensive than Pixieset, it gives you complete creative freedom, which can be worth it if you want a fully customized site that grows with your business.
Pixieset: Budget-Friendly and All-in-One
Pixieset’s website plans are generally more affordable, especially considering that client galleries and an online store are included. They offer a free plan with limited features, which is great if you’re just starting out. However, for full functionality, you’ll need a paid plan.
If you want an all-in-one platform where you don’t have to worry about extra integrations, Pixieset gives you solid value at a lower cost.
Which One Wins?
It depends on your priorities. If you want a custom-designed website with powerful blogging and SEO features, Showit is worth the higher price. If you’re looking for an affordable, all-in-one solution with built-in galleries and a store, Pixieset offers great value.
Conclusion
Both Showit and Pixieset have their strengths, and the best choice really depends on what you need for your photography business. If you want a simple, all-in-one platform with built-in galleries and an online store, Pixieset is a great option. But if you’re looking for a highly customizable website with powerful blogging and SEO features, Showit is hard to beat.
As a photographer, I personally chose Showit for my photography website because I wanted full creative control over my brand and the ability to design something truly unique. In fact, I built my entire photography website using one of my own Showit templates! This allowed me to create a site that reflects my style and speaks directly to my ideal clients. Since Showit doesn’t have built-in client galleries, I use Pixieset for image delivery—which works perfectly for keeping my website beautifully custom while still offering a seamless experience for my clients.
If you’re a photographer trying to decide between the two, think about what’s most important for your business. Do you want complete design freedom, or do you prefer an all-in-one system? No matter which you choose, having a well-designed, professional website will help you attract clients and grow your photography brand.
Looking to build a Showit website that stands out? Check out my collection of Showit website templates designed specifically for photographers! Sign up for my email list and get a 15% discount code to use in my shop.
