Raise your hand if you’re a photographer! Chances are you’ve probably heard of both Showit and Pixieset. And if you’ve ever wondered which platform is the better fit for your brand, you’re not alone! On the surface, both can offer clean templates and user-friendly features… but they serve very different purposes behind-the-scenes.

As a website designer, here are some things that you should consider before making a commitment to either:

001. The Platform’s Purpose

Pixieset was originally designed for gallery delivery, not full-scale websites. It does appear that they’re stepping it up with some more templates and basic site-building tools, but they’re still best known as a client gallery system.

Showit, on the other hand, was made for building creative and strategic websites from the ground up. No coding required. No creativity capped into grids.

If you’re mostly sharing galleries and want a quick, clean solution then Pixieset will probably work for you. If you’re wanting your website to tell your brand’s story, showcase your full brand, or grow with your business, Showit may offer more flexibility.

002. Design Capabilities

With clean and simple templates, Pixieset is definitely easy to use, but they offer limited customization. They’re ideal if you’re looking for more of a plug-and-play style and don’t want to worry about layout or branding decisions.

Now if you’re wanting full creative control with a true drag-and-drop interface, Showit is your girl. You have the ability to customize layouts, integrate movement, and use your brand fonts, colors, and imagery in a way more dynamic way. It’s especially helpful if you’re really wanting your website to feel unique, rather than strictly templated. (and who are we kidding, even Showit templates don’t feel like templates.)

003. SEO & Growth Tools

Both platforms offer some SEO functionality, but Showit’s connection to WordPress (what you’re looking at right now) opens the door for more powerful blogging and long-term growth. That integration is especially helpful if blogging, education, or content marketing is part of your strategy.

The SEO features that Pixieset have are a bit more limited and basic, but they can still work well for simple sites where blog traffic isn’t a major focus.

004. Ease of Use

If simplicity is a top priority of yours, Pixieset is probably right up your alley. It has a gentler learning curve and is streamlined, which is perfect for photographers who are already familiar with the platform’s gallery tools.

Showit may take some more time to get comfortable with, but they offer far more design flexibility once you do get the hang of it and for many creatives, the trade-off is worth it. Now, we’ll also mention that they have a fantastic “How-To” library, and I also offer extensive how-to videos with all of my templates.

So which one is right for you??

There’s really no one-size-fits-all answer, BUT here’s a helpful way to think about it:

• If you’re looking for a clean, functional site to complement your galleries, Pixieset might be enough for now.
• If you’re ready to build a brand experience, attract more of the right clients, and grow intentionally… Showit gives you more space to do that.

And if the idea of designing on Showit feels overwhelming? You’re in luck, that’s where template tools (and customization services) can make it easy.

I’m creating a library of beautifully designed Showit templates to help photographers and creatives launch their brands with clarity and confidence. And if you’d rather hand over your template, my Signature Edit service can bring that to life for you without the customization price tag.

Interested in my shop or customization services? Take a peek here.