SmugMug alternatives: commission, pricing and what you still need

SmugMug is one of the longest-running photo platforms out there, and it is genuinely good at what it was built for: storing, showing and selling photos. If you are looking at SmugMug alternatives, it is usually for one of three reasons: the commission on your print sales, the price of the plans that let you sell, or the fact that it does not run the rest of your business.

This article covers all three with SmugMug’s own published figures, and where an alternative like Arcadina makes more sense. We are Arcadina, so we have a stake in this, which is why you will also find a section on when SmugMug is the better choice. SmugMug details were checked on smugmug.com and its help centre on 15 October 2026.

1. How much does SmugMug take from each sale?

• You cannot sell on the cheapest plan (Direct). Print and download sales start on the Portfolio plan.
• On print sales, SmugMug keeps 15% of your margin, meaning the difference between the lab cost and your selling price. If a print costs $10 at the lab and you sell it for $30, SmugMug keeps $3 of your $20 margin.
• On the Pro plan, some extras are charged separately: boutique packaging is $7 per order per lab, and branded thank-you cards are $1 per order. If a coupon pushes an order below base cost plus that commission, you pay the difference.
• SmugMug runs the checkout in its own cart and pays your profits out afterwards.

It is a convenient, hands-off model, but it means you pay the subscription and a commission on top. With Arcadina you sell your photos commission-free on every plan, from $10 a month, and payments go straight to your own PayPal or Stripe account.

2. What will you pay over a year?

These are the prices shown on SmugMug’s website on 15 October 2026, billed annually:

Add a domain, registered separately, and the commission on the prints you sell. Arcadina’s pricing starts at $10 a month for galleries and store (€10 in the EU), and the Suite with website, galleries and studio management starts at $24 a month billed annually, with your domain free for the first year on annual Website or Suite plans.

3. Where will you handle quotes, bookings and contracts?

SmugMug is built to store, show and sell photos. It does not include quotes, online booking, contracts or invoicing, so you will need another tool for that, with its own subscription and dashboard.

With Arcadina a client can request a quote, book the session and pay a deposit, sign the contract and, weeks later, receive their private gallery and order prints, all in the same account.

At a glance

When SmugMug is the better choice

• Storage is your priority. SmugMug keeps unlimited full-resolution photos on every plan.
• You sell mostly to clients in the US or UK and want the labs to handle the whole order, all the way to delivery.
• You value round-the-clock human support and do not need booking or contracts in the same place.

When Arcadina is the better fit

• You want to sell your photos with no commission on any plan.
• You want your website, galleries, store, quotes, booking and contracts in one account.
• You would rather keep your payments in your own PayPal or Stripe account.

If you are comparing several options, our roundup of client gallery platforms for photographers may help.

Try it free for 30 days, no card. Upload a real shoot, set your prices and compare what you keep from each sale.