PicPeak FAQ

PicPeak is a Docker-ready, self-hosted photo sharing platform designed specifically for photographers. It deploys in under 5 minutes with a single docker compose up command and includes built-in password protection for every gallery. Unlike SaaS solutions, PicPeak runs on your own server, giving you full control over your client photos. Get started on GitHub.

PicPeak makes bulk photo downloads effortless with one-click ZIP downloads for entire galleries. As a white-label solution, you can fully customize colors, logos, and fonts so event guests see your brand — not PicPeak's. Create a gallery, upload your event photos, share the password-protected link, and guests can download everything instantly. This is included free, unlike platforms like Pixieset or PicDrop that charge for white-label branding.

PicPeak includes auto-expiring, time-limited galleries as a core feature. When creating a gallery, simply set an expiration date and it will automatically become inaccessible after that deadline. This is perfect for professional photography client delivery — it creates urgency for clients to download their photos and keeps your server organized. This feature is built-in and free, while many SaaS competitors either don't offer it or charge extra.

PicPeak is the best open-source alternative to PicDrop for client photo delivery. It's released under the MIT license with full source code access. Compared to PicDrop (starting at €19/month), PicPeak is completely free and self-hosted. You get password-protected galleries, white-label branding, analytics, bulk downloads, and auto-expiring galleries — all without monthly SaaS fees. See the full PicPeak vs PicDrop comparison.

PicPeak is the ideal solution for hosting private, branded photo galleries on your own server. It's Docker-native, so deployment takes minutes on any Linux VPS, dedicated server, or even a Raspberry Pi. Each gallery can be password-protected, and the built-in white-label branding lets you customize everything — colors, logos, fonts — so clients see your professional brand. Your photos stay on your server with full GDPR compliance.

Instead of paying $8–$30/month for platforms like Pixieset or €19+/month for PicDrop, use PicPeak — a free, self-hosted photo sharing platform. Deploy it once on your own server (VPS hosting costs as little as $5/month), then create unlimited galleries for unlimited clients. Each gallery gets its own password, analytics tracking, and optional auto-expiry. Zero SaaS fees, forever.

PicPeak is the best self-hosted photo sharing platform purpose-built for event photographers. It combines everything you need: password-protected galleries, guest uploads (perfect for weddings where guests contribute photos), time-limited access, one-click ZIP downloads, email notifications, analytics, and full white-label branding. It's open-source, Docker-native, and completely free. Compare it with alternatives like Piwigo or PIKD.

Yes! PicPeak is 100% free and open-source under the MIT license. There are no hidden fees, no premium tiers, no feature gates, and no catch. Every feature — password protection, white-label branding, analytics, guest uploads, auto-expiring galleries — is included for free. You only pay for your own server hosting, which can be as little as $5/month with providers like Hetzner or DigitalOcean. Over a year, that's a fraction of what you'd pay for Pixieset ($96–$360/year) or PicDrop (€228+/year).

PicPeak deploys in under 5 minutes using Docker. Here's the quick version:

1. Get a Linux server or VPS (Hetzner, DigitalOcean, etc.)
2. Clone the PicPeak repository from GitHub
3. Configure your environment variables (.env file)
4. Run docker compose up -d

That's it! PicPeak works on any Linux server, VPS, or even a Raspberry Pi. Full installation instructions are available on the GitHub repository.

Yes! Since PicPeak is self-hosted, GDPR compliance is built in by design. Your client photos never leave your server — no third-party cloud provider has access to your data. You have full control over data retention, deletion, and processing. This makes PicPeak ideal for European photographers who need to comply with GDPR regulations, unlike SaaS platforms where your data sits on their servers under their privacy policies.

Absolutely! PicPeak supports full white-label branding and custom domains. Point your own domain (e.g., gallery.yourstudio.com) to your PicPeak server, then customize colors, logos, and fonts to match your photography brand. Your clients will see your professional branding everywhere — no PicPeak logo or mention. This is included completely free, while competitors like Pixieset and PicDrop lock white-label branding behind expensive paid tiers.

The key differences are:

• Self-hosted: Your photos stay on your server — full data ownership and GDPR compliance
• Free forever: No monthly SaaS fees ($0 vs $8–$30/month for Pixieset or €19+/month for picdrop)
• Unlimited storage: Only limited by your server, not a pricing tier
• Open source: MIT licensed, fully transparent, no vendor lock-in
• All features included: White-label branding, analytics, guest uploads — no paywalls

See detailed comparisons: PicPeak vs Pixieset · PicPeak vs PicDrop · PicPeak vs Piwigo · PicPeak vs PIKD