Frequently asked questions

From Docker setup to GDPR — the questions that come up before the first install.

01

Is PicPeak really free?

Yes. PicPeak is open source under the MIT license — no premium tiers, no feature locks, no hidden costs. Password protection, white-label branding, analytics, guest uploads, and expiry dates are all included.

You only pay for your own hosting: a VPS from about $5/month, for example at Hetzner or DigitalOcean. For comparison: Pixieset costs $96–360 per year, PicDrop from €228.

02

How do I install PicPeak?

In under 5 minutes with Docker: get a Linux server or VPS, clone the repository from GitHub, configure the .env file, run docker compose up -d.

PicPeak runs on any Linux server, VPS, or a Raspberry Pi. The full guide is in the GitHub repository.

03

What does running it actually cost?

Only the hosting: a VPS from about $5/month is enough. It serves unlimited galleries for unlimited clients — storage is limited only by your server, not by a pricing tier.

04

Does PicPeak support GDPR?

Yes — self-hosting puts compliance in your hands: client photos never leave your server and no third party has access. You control storage, deletion, and processing yourself. That makes PicPeak especially interesting for European photographers.

05

Can I use my own domain and branding?

Yes. Point your own domain (e.g. gallery.yourstudio.com) at your server and match colours, logos, and fonts to your brand. Your clients see your branding everywhere — no PicPeak logo, no notice. This is included for free; Pixieset and PicDrop sell white-label only on higher tiers.

06

How do galleries expire?

When creating a gallery you set an expiry date. Before it, PicPeak sends automatic reminder emails; after it, the gallery becomes inaccessible and is archived — not deleted. That keeps client deliveries predictable and your server tidy.

07

Can guests contribute their own photos?

Yes, per gallery: wedding guests and event attendees upload their phone photos into the same event — the gallery becomes more complete without you collecting anything.

08

What makes PicPeak different from Pixieset or PicDrop?

Self-hosted: photos stay on your server. Free: €0 instead of $8–30/month (Pixieset) or from €19/month (PicDrop). Unlimited storage instead of pricing tiers. MIT-licensed source code instead of vendor lock-in. All features included instead of paywalls.

The details are in the comparisons at the bottom of this page.