At a glance
- Included
- Partial: plan-gated, add-on or limited
- Not offered
- Depends or not stated
| Feature | 9Pic AI | SmugMug | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery | |||
| Selfie search Edge: 9Pic AI | Included: Selfie search (FaceFind) on every plan | Not offered: No face or selfie search for visitors[1][2][3] | What it means: On SmugMug, people find themselves by browsing or keyword search. |
| Bib number search Edge: 9Pic AI | Included: BibTrack reads bib numbers on every plan | Partial: Number search works once the photographer has keyworded each photo[4] | What it means: On 9Pic AI nobody types bib numbers into photos by hand. |
| Delivery | |||
| Large events Edge: 9Pic AI | Included: One searchable gallery for the whole event | Partial: Each gallery has a photo cap; Events pages on Pro group several galleries[6][5] | What it means: Big races on SmugMug are split across several galleries. |
| Website and portfolio Edge: SmugMug | Partial: Event galleries; custom domain on Pro | Included: Portfolio website builder with templates, custom domain and branding[2] | What it means: SmugMug is the stronger home for a photographer's own brand. |
| Selling | |||
| Photo sales Edge: Tie | Partial: 9Pic Checkout on Business, no 9Pic commission | Included: Storefront on Portfolio and Pro; SmugMug keeps a share of each sale's markup[9][1] | What it means: Both sell. SmugMug runs payment and orders for you; on 9Pic AI the organiser keeps the revenue. |
| Prints Edge: SmugMug | Not offered: No print fulfilment | Included: Pro lab prints with shipping, reprints and refunds handled[9] | What it means: If buyers want prints, SmugMug handles them end to end. |
| Video | |||
| Video Edge: 9Pic AI | Partial: Motion clips and Flow reels for each participant, on Pro | Partial: Hosts and sells video files you upload; no per-participant clips or reels[8] | What it means: Only 9Pic AI makes a clip or reel for each participant. |
| Operations | |||
| Storage Edge: SmugMug | Partial: 1 year on Pay as you go, 2 years on Pro | Included: Unlimited full-resolution photo storage on every plan[1] | What it means: For a lifetime archive, SmugMug wins. |
| Uploading Edge: Tie | Included: Uplink desktop app for bulk upload | Included: Mac and Windows auto-uploaders, mobile apps and a Lightroom plugin[7][6] | What it means: Both handle large uploads without a browser. |
| Pricing model | |||
| How you pay Edge: Depends | From $0.03 per photo processed | Monthly or annual plan, plus a share of each sale's markup[1][9] | What it means: SmugMug charges for the business platform. 9Pic AI charges for the photos you process. |
Where they are the same
Both host photo galleries online, add watermarks, brand the gallery and can sell photos. Both have desktop uploaders, so large photo sets go up without a browser.
Key differences
-
Automatic search vs keyword tagging
SmugMug has no face or selfie search. Visitors browse galleries or search by keyword, caption or number, and number search only works when the photographer has keyworded each photo. 9Pic AI reads bib numbers and matches faces as photos are processed, so a runner finds their photos with a selfie or a bib number.
-
One event gallery vs split galleries
SmugMug caps how many photos one gallery holds, so a big race is split across several galleries and grouped on an Events page on the Pro plan. 9Pic AI puts every photo from the event in one searchable gallery, shared with one link and QR code.
-
Business archive vs event delivery
SmugMug is built to be a photographer's home: unlimited full-resolution storage, a portfolio site and print sales through pro labs. 9Pic AI keeps event galleries for 1 year on Pay as you go and 2 years on Pro, and on Pro adds per-participant clips with Motion and highlight reels with Flow.
Where SmugMug is the better choice
- You want one place for your whole photography business: portfolio website, client galleries and a lifetime archive.
- You sell prints and want the lab, shipping, reprints and refunds handled for you.
- You need unlimited full-resolution storage for every photo you have ever shot.
- You value round-the-clock human support and a company with a long track record.
Fit by event type
| Event type | Better fit | Why | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| City marathon or half marathon | 9Pic AI | Thousands of runners search by selfie or bib with no hand tagging | Marathons |
| Cycling or triathlon | 9Pic AI | Bib search still works when helmets hide faces | Cycling |
| Wedding or portrait client work | SmugMug | Client galleries, a portfolio site and print sales in one place | None |
| Photographer's own archive | SmugMug | Unlimited full-resolution storage and a website | None |
| School or college sports day | 9Pic AI | Parents find their child's photos with a selfie | Schools |
| Corporate event | Depends | A searchable gallery suits big events; a client gallery suits small ones | Corporate events |
What it costs
Scenario: a 5,000-runner half marathon with 60,000 photos. Change the numbers to see your own 9Pic AI cost.
| 9Pic AI plan | Math | Total | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go Lowest for your choices Does not include your choices | 60,000 × $0.03 | $1,800 | Selfie and bib search, watermarks, 1 year storage |
| Pro Lowest for your choices Does not include your choices | $200 + 60,000 × $0.02 | $1,400 | Adds Flow, Motion, Certify, Select, custom domain, 2 year storage |
| Business Lowest for your choices Does not include your choices | $350 + 60,000 × $0.02 | $1,550 | Adds 9Pic Checkout photo sales with no 9Pic commission |
How SmugMug charges
SmugMug sells subscription plans (Direct, Portfolio and Pro) billed monthly or annually, plus an Enterprise plan on quote for studios and institutions. Selling needs Portfolio or Pro, and event tools such as Events pages, pricelists and coupons are on Pro. On each sale SmugMug keeps a share of the markup you set above its base lab or download cost, which covers card processing and support. Paid add-ons cover RAW storage and extra collaborator seats. The free trial needs no card, but the site stays private while it runs. See the current numbers on SmugMug pricing[1][9][10]. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
Which costs less depends on how many event photos you process, whether you sell prints, and whether you also need a portfolio site and archive.
Using SmugMug and 9Pic AI together
-
Keep SmugMug for your portfolio, archive and print sales, as you do today.
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Upload each event to 9Pic with Uplink after each wave or at the end of the event.
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Import your start list so bib numbers map to participants. No keywording needed.
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Choose delivery: free downloads, or paid downloads with 9Pic Checkout on the Business plan.
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Share one gallery link by email, results page or QR code.
What does not move: your SmugMug website, galleries, keywords and print orders stay on SmugMug.
We set up your first event with you.
Case studies
Frequently asked questions
Fit
Is 9Pic AI a good SmugMug alternative?
9Pic AI is a strong SmugMug alternative for event photos, where participants need to find themselves among thousands of images by selfie or bib. For a portfolio website, lifetime archive and print sales, SmugMug is often the better fit, and many photographers use both.
Does SmugMug have face recognition?
SmugMug has no face or selfie search for visitors. People browse galleries or search by keyword, caption or number, and number search works only when photos are tagged. 9Pic AI includes selfie search and automatic bib search on every plan.
Cost
Is 9Pic AI cheaper than SmugMug?
SmugMug and 9Pic AI charge for different things. SmugMug charges a monthly or annual plan and keeps a share of each sale's markup. 9Pic AI charges from $0.03 per photo processed with no plan fee on Pay as you go, so the cheaper option depends on how many event photos you process.
Switching
Can I use SmugMug and 9Pic AI together?
Yes, SmugMug and 9Pic AI fit in one workflow. Keep SmugMug for your portfolio, archive and prints, and upload each event to 9Pic AI with Uplink so participants can search by selfie or bib. Nothing has to be tagged twice.
Data and privacy
How does 9Pic AI handle selfies and face data?
9Pic AI does not store the selfie used to search, does not train models on photos or faces, and keeps face data only while the gallery is hosted. Organisers decide how long a gallery stays live.
How we compared
We reviewed SmugMug's public plans and features pages and its help center articles on search, events, uploads, video and selling. We did not use a paid SmugMug account. We last checked on 26 Oct 2026. 9Pic AI facts come from our pricing and product pages. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Sources
- [1] SmugMug planshttps://www.smugmug.com/plans
- [2] SmugMug featureshttps://www.smugmug.com/features
- [3] SmugMug help: Third-party toolshttps://www.smugmughelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/18212852213908
- [4] SmugMug help: Add search to my sitehttps://www.smugmughelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/18212968678804
- [5] SmugMug help: Create and share Events and Favoriteshttps://www.smugmughelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/18212407552020
- [6] SmugMug help: Upload photos and videoshttps://www.smugmughelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/18212780494868
- [7] SmugMug help: macOS uploaderhttps://www.smugmughelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/38683855335828
- [8] SmugMug help: Video limitshttps://www.smugmughelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/18212983748628
- [9] SmugMug help: Get paid my profitshttps://www.smugmughelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/18212462590868
- [10] SmugMug help: Subscribe to SmugMughttps://www.smugmughelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/18212220436372
All accessed 26 Oct 2026.