The best photo storage and sharing sites in 2023

The most reliable websites for sharing and storing photos are a must and provide space to store the countless amount of photos you take.
Sizes of photos are often large today: JPEGs created by the top cameras can weigh with a size of 15 to 20MB, whereas RAW files can reach as large as 95MB! It’s enough to fill the hard drive in no time. Even if you’re capturing off with one of the most powerful camera phones, the quantity of pictures that people snap can quickly occupy plenty of space.
The best photo storage and sharing sites in 2023
In addition to size, there’s a safety aspect to think about as well. The best photo storage and sharing sites will keep your photos secure and on the cloud, and will help you avoid the possibility of heartache in case your laptop, hard drive or mobile device is destroyed by fire, theft or a failure.
Furthermore, these sites will also assist you in keeping an eye on the photos you take. A lot of them have great tagging methods that are great to quickly locate a photo and, since they’re cloud-based you can access them from anywhere you’ve got an internet connection. They’re also ideal to share pictures with friends and family as well as having complete editing tools that are built-in. There are some that offer free tiers service and others are targeted toward professionals.
After evaluating all the main options, we’ve concluded that the most reliable photos storage as well as sharing website is Flickr. It has a free plan, however its paid plan offers unlimited uploads as well in touch-up tools, tag features along with a sharing platform as well as shorter video storage choices. Android and iPhone users who just want an easy method of backing up their videos and photos are advised to check out Google Photos and iCloud, for instance, because they are both affordable ways to back up smartphone images. Whatever your requirements are there’s likely there’s a storage service that will meet your needs; we’ve listed our top choices below.
The top photo sharing and storage websites available today
1. Flickr
The most reliable photo storage service for all
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: Up to 1,000 photosStarting subscription price: $72/year
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REASONS TO BUY
+Great selection of tools
+Extensive tagging features
+Clean interface
REASONS TO AVOID
-Free accounts limited to 1,000 photos
Flickr is one of the top photo sharing and storage websites because of its enormous quantity of storage as well as a minimalist, easy-to-use interface that is enjoyable to use. It is the ideal choice for serious photographers. Flickr also has a wide range of tools, a variety of tag features, and the ability to both downloading and viewing images in a range of resolutions (including unusually, the option to provide an original resolution). The site also includes an analytics engine that lets you know the number of people who are viewing your photos. A simple drag-and-drop feature allows you to create albums from your images as well as collections of photos taken by you as well as other photographers.
After being acquired by SmugMug The company recently introduced a cap of 1000 photos for free accounts. When you sign up for an Pro account(opens in a new window) ($72 annually) You get unlimited storage, the option to view your photos at resolutions of up to 6K, with no advertisements and the ability to stream videos of up to 10 minutes long. Pro members also receive 35 percent off the price of a $70 purchase from photo-book provider Blurb. (In our view, Blurb isn’t that great as a service, so take a look at our top picks for the most popular book of photos). Also, you can receive 50 percent off the beginning of your subscription to SmugMug and other perks.
2. 500px
Photo storage for pro photographers
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: Up to 2,000 photosStarting subscription price: $41.92/year
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REASONS TO BUY
+Can sell your photos as royalty-free artwork through the site
+Affordable subscriptions
REASONS TO AVOID
-Doesn’t offer photo-printing services
For serious photographers, 500px(opens in a new tab) has a focused design which puts your images in the spotlight, offering an easy and stylish way to showcase your most stunning images. It is possible to organize your photos into sets (photos of a specific subject) as well as Stories (photos of a particular occasion) which display the photos in a stunningly dramatic way.
Its free service permits users to upload up to seven images per week, however the ability to increase your upload limit is available on the paid plans for a fair cost: The average is $4.99 per month while Pro $9.99 monthly however, the website is currently offering a discounted rate for initial month (to $3.99 or $7.99/month). Both of them allow unlimited uploads as well as more options for customization and listings in the Pro directory. Whichever you pick 500px is still one of the top photo storage websites.
Also Read:- What is GPRS Full Form? What is GPRS?
3. Google Photos
The most efficient option for photo storage to backup photos off your smartphone
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: Unlimited storage for photos up to 16 megapixels and videos up to 1080pStarting subscription price: $2/month (100MB)
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REASONS TO BUY
+Unlimited storage for Pixel owners
+Lots of tagging and sharing features
+Basic editing tools
REASONS TO AVOID
-Photos limited to 16MP in size unless you pay for a Google Drive subscription.
-Photos from non-Pixel devices will count towards your existing cloud storage limit.
Google’s photo-sharing platform was initially designed mostly to backup images and videos taken on smartphones However, it has since evolved into one of the most sophisticated components of the whole Google ecosystem.
Google Photos uses AI to sort your photos into categories and make it simple to find the image you’re seeking. Enter “cat” for instance and it’ll go through all of them and search for every relevant image (that might be a bit for some). It will also be able to identify individuals and group them into groups; after you’ve given an identity to the group you’ll be able to look up all pictures featuring an individual person in the family or a acquaintance.
It’s also a great image editing service and sharing platform. Once you’ve uploaded a picture you can edit it by cropping and changing the colors. After editing you can make albums of videos and photos which can be shared with the public or only with specific Google users. In our review of the top software for editing photos we named Google Photos best for sharing. It’s also available to both Android as well as iPhone users.
Google continues to add new features as well. For instance when Google Photos sees that a particular person is featured in your image, it’ll offer to share the photo with them. It will also automatically colorize black and white images also. For more information, read our comprehensive tutorial on Google Photos. If you own a smart display that is Google Assistant-enabled such as Google’s Google Nest Hub or the Google Nest Hub Max, you can also transfer Google Photos to the display. Google Photos with the display and they’ll appear on the display.
Google Photos used to offer unlimited space and uploads with 16MP resolution and video with a resolution of 1080p. However, these days, any images you upload using any other device than Pixel will add to your free 15GB Google Drive limit. Users with a Pixel 2-5 is unaffected(opens in a new tab) in the event that they use the High or Express quality uploads. If you’d like to save more large video or image files then you’ll need to pay for storage space in Google Drive, which starts at $1.99 or PS1.99 per month, for 100GB.
4. Amazon Prime Photos
Unlimited photo storage available to Amazon Prime members
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: n/aStarting subscription price: $139/year (unlimited)
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REASONS TO BUY
+Unlimited storage
+Auto-tagging of photos and videos
+Decent sharing options
REASONS TO AVOID
-No free tier
-Amazon Prints not very good
Amazon Prime Photos (opens in a New tab)is an Amazon photo storage website that is available to Prime members. (Prime membership(opens in a new tab) costs $139/PS95 per year, after an increase in price.) This service allows you to save and share unlimited images on your phone, desktop or tablet. It automatically tags videos and images like by animal type, individual and place. You can also purchase photographs, prints calendars, and other items -all of which are shipped for free. It’s a shame it’s Amazon Prints sits at the lower end of our top photography books.
The users can add up to 5 family or friends members to access unlimited storage for photos and to store photographs in the Family Vault, and you can share photos via The Echo Show or Fire TV. It could be a good method to share your latest photos of your family with your grandparents. Amazon has introduced a new feature called Groups which allows users to share pictures with a larger number of people that is beneficial for those who are part of an organization or club.
5. Apple iCloud
A simple backup for photos alternative for iPhone owners
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: 5GBStarting subscription price: $12/year (50GB)
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REASONS TO BUY
+Easy to add photos from multiple users
+Simple sharing tools
+Tagging of people/places/things
REASONS TO AVOID
-No Android version
Apple’s iCloud(opens in a new tab) service is integrated in its Apple Photos software for Macs as well as iOS devices, but you can access all of its features from the Windows PC. Upload photos onto the free 5GB space and then share them on an online stream of photos that can be seen through Apple Photos or as a web page. Photos can be labeled with names and locations, and iCloud users can add their own photos. It’s a clever method of making a photo album of multiple photographersfor instance for example, a photo from a party or event that everyone attended. Apple Photos will also identify photos with faces that are similar, which you can label with the name of a person and contact details.
If you’re running over space Apple has three extra levels 50GB at 99 cents/month 200GB for $2.99/month and 2TB at $9.99/month. The two latter plans are able to be shared with family members. Be aware that Apple has recently launched the ability to let users on iCloud transfer photos as well as videos to Google Photos which could be worth a look when you’re in need of space and haven’t yet exhausted the capacity of your Google storage.
6. Adobe Portfolio
An excellent option for photo storage to Adobe CC subscribers
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: noneStarting subscription price: $120/year (20GB)
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REASONS TO BUY
+Multiple storage options
+Comes with subscription to Adobe programs
REASONS TO AVOID
-Pricey for casual users
Adobe provides their Portfolio web-based creator as well as photo storage service to subscribers using its Creative Cloud subscription software which gives users access to applications such as Photoshop along with Lightroom.
The basic plan costs $9.99/month and comes with 20GB of storage along with Adobe Fonts, Photoshop and Lightroom. A Photoshop-only plan includes 100GB of storage, which costs $20.99/month and a Lightroom-only plan that includes 1TB of storage costs $9.99/month.
If you’re really looking to spend a lot, the highest-end plan costs $52.99/month and comes with 100GB of cloud storage and all Adobe’s applications which include Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects and many more.
It’s worth giving it a go especially if you’re already paying for the Creative Cloud subscription. Events and photos can be labeled and tagged with captions. The presentation is clear and simple to use. It’s not surprising considering the fact that it’s designed for professional photographers who market their services through the Adobe Behance website. But it can be a great choice for amateur photographers seeking a simple easy way to showcase their work.
Also Read:- What is Chat GPT AI?
7. ImageShack
Unlimited photo storage at an affordable price
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: noneStarting subscription price: $3.99/month, $37.99/year (unlimited)
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REASONS TO BUY
+No free tier
REASONS TO AVOID
-Available on Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS
Although it does not offer the option of a free trial however, the starting price of ImageShack’s subscription$3.99 per month, or $3.99/month or $37.99/year for unlimited photosis quite large. In addition, you can photo-watermark, embed images as well as share images with others. The Premium ($29.99/month) as well as the Premium ($99.99/month) plans provide additional bandwidth to users who want to view and download their photographs, along with the ability to provide support for your photos, an interactive sizer, as well as API accessibility. Whatever plan you choose images are limited to 25MB, which could hinder professional photographers.
ImageShack allows you to tag images, and also keep track of other photographers through its website. Another plus is the availability of applications available for Android, iOS, Mac and Windows that allow you to effortlessly upload and save images on the ImageShack account.
8. Photobucket
An abundance of ecommerce and editing tools for professionals
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: 250 photosStarting subscription price: $72/year
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REASONS TO BUY
+Lots of editing tools
+Easy to sell prints
REASONS TO AVOID
-Intrusive ads on free version
A free edition of Photobucket(opens in a new tab) provides photo storage for 250 images, but it has a number of annoying advertisements, which include pop-ups that block your photos. There three levels of the paid, ad-free services: Beginning (25GB of storage for just $6/month) and Intermediate (250GB for $8 per monthly) or Expert (unlimited storage for $13 per month). If you sign up annually, the price drops to $5.39/month to begin, $7.19 for intermediate, or $11.69 in the case of Expert.
All of these plans permit users to display the images on a third-party website this is helpful when you’re planning to display your photos on a social networking website that doesn’t have an image-uploading feature.
Photobucket offers a wide array of editing tools that are accessible through an easy-to-use interface. The tools on this list include unusual ones such as the smart color brush that selectively injects colors back into a black-and white image.
After you’ve altered your photos, you are able to include basic tags and group them into stories or albums The latter is a nice scrolling display of text and photos. Photobucket offers extensive assistance for selling prints: you can purchase individual photographs as albums of your photos (starting from $1.99) as well as other items such as fleece blankets and tablet cases that feature your images on the covers.
9. SmugMug
A variety of tools for e-commerce that are suitable for professional photographers.
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: noneStarting subscription price: : $75/year
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REASONS TO BUY
+Lots of templates
+Ecommerce tools
+Unlimited storage
REASONS TO AVOID
-No free subscription
SmugMug(opens in new tab) is another design-focused photo storage site that offers a stylish home for your photos, with a custom homepage (such as richardb.smugmug.com) and many well-made design templates. In contrast, SmugMug costs more than many of the other services on our list. There’s no free version (though it offers an initial 14-day trial) and the lowest level is $9 per month (or $75 per year). It increases to $360 per year when you upgrade to The Pro package, which includes advanced features, such as e-commerce tools.
Whatever plan you choose that you choose, you’ll get plenty to pay for, with unlimited storage for photographs (each of them up to 500MB) and 1080p video, and a wide range of tools for editing that are easy to use, yet effective. They won’t be able to substitute for Photoshop within the arsenal of professional photographers however, they’re powerful enough to solve the majority of problems with photography and to alter a photograph.
10. Dropbox
Plenty of storage for photos however, there are no tag or editing tools
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: 2GBStarting subscription price: : $120/year (2TB)
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REASONS TO BUY
+Good sharing options
+Lots of storage space
REASONS TO AVOID
-No tagging of photos
-No editing features
Dropbox supports photos with their Android as well as iOS apps that automatically upload photos taken on mobile devices. You can also upload photos on your desktop to Dropbox(opens in a new tab) like you would other types of documents. Once your photos are stored saved in Dropbox, it is possible to make basic slideshows that anyone can access, or upload the images directly to others Dropbox users.
There isn’t tag, printing or the ability to edit images online. Dropbox does provide a no-cost collaboration tool, dubbed Dropbox Paper(opens in a new tab) It’s a lot similar to Google Docs, but this does not offer photo editing features. Therefore, Dropbox is a good alternative for photographers looking to save their images but not for those looking to organize and store images forever.
Dropbox provides a no-cost 2GB plan. A 2-TB account costs $9.99/month and includes 30 days of history of versions and the ability to recover files. A Pro plan ($16.58/month) includes 3TB of storage but 180 days of recovery, and many other features. Below is a complete list of all Dropbox’s plans for storage.
11. Facebook
Photo storage is free, however images are compressed
SPECIFICATIONS
Free subscription: unlimitedStarting subscription price: : n/a
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REASONS TO BUY
+Free to use
+Facial recognition auto-tags people
+Easy to share with others on Facebook
REASONS TO AVOID
-It’s Facebook
-Images get compressed
The kahuna of social networks also has an impressive set of photos storage tools for sharing, editing and sharing however, there are some restrictions. After uploading photos using your smartphone, desktop or web browser you can create albums with captions, and also tag images by date, location or people who appear in the images. Face recognition is also added. It tries to identify faces of your photos and add them to your album when they are connected to Facebook. The downside is that Facebook can reduce pictures to fit on the page. Facebook recommends(opens in a new tab) that you size your images to either 720 or 960 pixels in width. Images with a 2048-pixel width can be used when you choose the upload with high-quality however, if the file exceeds 100 kb the file will be compressed to make it easier for you to view.
Another issue is that there’s no way to share the original image. If a large portion of your friends and family members have Facebook accounts, this is an excellent method to share your casual photos or family pictures.
How to choose the right photo storage website for you
To be considered to be one of the top photo storage websites A service must provide six essential features:
- The value of the device should be enough storage space to store all your photos together over time at an affordable cost.
- Quality: Your images should be preserved in the original resolution, not compressed beyond recognition.
- User-friendliness The user must be able to upload images quickly and edit them easily.
- Accessibility Searching for photos using dates tags or other methods is likely to be easy.
- Shareability: A quality photo sharing site makes sharing your photos as easy as snapping photos, allowing you to upload photos on sites such as Facebook, Twitter and others.
- Printing: Anyone else who is interested in your photograph is likely to be able to purchase an image or create a book of photos in a snap.
How much storage space for photos do you require?
In one way it is difficult to answer because it depends on the number of photos you have and other aspects like the devices you’re using and what quality settings you choose to shoot with.
However, we are able to provide you with a few basic calculations based on the various sizes of pictures.
If you take the majority of your photography using phones, your photos will likely be between 4 and 10MB in size. Modern mirrorless cameras typically be able to handle more than 15MB and RAW images can be as large as 30-50 MB. As an (very) rough estimation, you can say:
Device | 5GB | 10GB | 100GB | 250GB |
Smartphone (10MB) | 500 | 1,000 | 10,000 | 25,000 |
Mirrorless (20MB) | 250 | 500 | 5,000 | 12,500 |
RAW (40MB) | 125 | 250 | 2,500 | 6,250 |
Even an (very rough) estimate such as the one above can give some idea about the vast distinction between the 5GB of free storage on Apple’s iCloud against something similar to the 250GB that you can get from the Photobucket Intermediate membership.
However, keep in mind that certain services are based upon the number of images rather than the size. And if you typically shoot with large-sensored devices like big-sensored cameras that are mirrorless and DSLRs and DSLRs, you may prefer one of them (or one that has unlimited storage)
Of course, video is something else entirely and can be even more difficult to determine because of length being another aspect. The best way to do this is to divide the size of your file by the length of the video for an individual device to obtain an estimate of MB/minute. and then figure out how much footage you’ll want to keep and then work out the rest. It may be necessary to use a calculator for this one.
How can we test photo storage websites
To determine which photo sites provide the most value for your buck, we compared several of them by uploading a selection of images of our reviews on cameras, then tagging and organizing them according to the website recommended. We also assessed how well the auto-tagging feature of a website worked in the event that it is it was available, and analyzed the possibility of storing the images in full resolution.
We also looked at the different ways we can print and share photos to figure out which one provides the most convenient and user-friendly array of options.
A key element of our analysis was the price of storage that was available for both free and paid levels. While it wasn’t the sole aspect — sharing and organizing features were given higher importance — it was a factor in our overall score. When we took all of these factors into consideration we were able to make a list of the top photo storage sites.