Photo sharing apps · 2026 shortlist

Best Photo Sharing Apps: 3 Options Compared

A good photo sharing app depends on who is adding the pictures. A family album, a group trip and a party with 100 guests need different things. These are our 3 picks by use case.

Compare the three

For events, choose an album guests can see and contribute to.

Our short answer

The best fit depends on what you want to keep.

Choose Gathmo for a shared event album without guest accounts. Choose Google Photos for friends already using Google. Choose FamilyAlbum for sharing a child’s photos and videos with relatives.

Side by side

Three options, in one glance.

Checked 28 September 2026

01For parties and events

Gathmo

Guests view and add their own contributions

Browser access without guest accounts

Free: 60 total items, 5 GB, 30 days

Original-file ZIP export requires payment

Gathmo

Free · paid from €29

Best for: bringing guest photos, video and voice into one album.

Guests scan a QR code, browse permitted contributions and add their own media. Free video and voice clips run up to 30 seconds each. Essential costs €29 per event for 50 GB, 90 days and original ZIP downloads. It fits a shared occasion; the free album is not permanent family storage.

Gathmo plans

02For an existing group

Google Photos

Collaborative photo and video albums

Share by link; owner controls collaboration

Contributors need to sign in

Free storage is shared with Gmail and Drive

Google Photos

Free within account storage

Best for: trips and everyday sharing with friends who use Google.

Create a shared album and enable collaboration so friends can add pictures. Viewing through a link and contributing have different requirements. Each free Google account includes 15 GB shared across services, so check remaining space. This is a good fit when everyone already has an account.

Google Photos sharing controls

03For children’s family photos

FamilyAlbum

Free unlimited photo and video storage

Albums organised by month; family comments

Built around children’s growth

Computer uploads require Premium

FamilyAlbum

Free · optional Premium

Best for: keeping relatives involved in a child’s everyday life.

Invite relatives to follow the family album and respond to photos. FamilyAlbum suits an ongoing record of childhood, with automatic monthly organisation. Its free storage is attractive for that purpose. For a one-off event, compare the guest joining process with a browser-based event album before choosing.

FamilyAlbum features

See Gathmo plans Compare wedding photo sharing apps Compare event photo sharing apps