Pelli

Pelli is a web platform for photographers that combines client galleries, studio administration, marketing and optional AI assistance. It is a strong fit for photographers who want proofing, contracts and payment tracking in one workspace rather than a gallery-only service. The main decision is whether its storage, video and booking limits match the way you deliver work.

Overview

Pelli brings selection galleries, delivery galleries and portfolios together with client proofing, downloads and gallery statistics. Clients can mark favorites, leave comments and download approved images, while photographers retain watermarking and download controls. That covers the core review-to-delivery cycle for portraits, weddings and commercial projects without requiring a separate proofing tool.

The business side is unusually broad for a gallery product. Contact management, quotes, invoices, contracts, payment tracking and automated workflows are included, making Pelli more relevant to a working studio than to someone who only needs file delivery. Spotify music integration can add audio to galleries, and Stripe handles payments for the online store.

Léa, Pelli's optional copilot, helps draft quotes and organize business tasks. A public website chatbot can answer prospect questions. These additions may reduce routine administration, but they should be treated as workflow conveniences rather than reasons to buy the service on their own.

Key features

Galleries and client control

Selection and delivery galleries support both client choices and final handoff. Favorites and comments give clients a clear way to communicate decisions, while statistics provide visibility into gallery activity. Watermarks and download permissions help balance presentation with control over original files.

Booking, payments and privacy

Online booking is restricted to Ultra. Clients request an available slot, but the booking form does not include deposit payment, so photographers needing deposits at the point of booking will need another step in their process. Pelli says stored data uses AES-256 encryption, communications use TLS 1.3, and the service is GDPR-compliant. Personal data is hosted in France and the EU, with the application database on OVH in Gravelines and photos and videos on Scaleway in Paris. AI features are opt-in, run on French servers and do not use customer data to train models.

File handling

Image files can be up to 500 MB, and videos have no per-file size limit in the terms. Actual plan quotas matter more for most users: video hours and storage can run out well before an individual file becomes a problem.

Pricing

Pelli is freemium, with a free plan, paid plans from €5 per month, and a 15-day trial. The plan figures below are shown in USD.

Free is useful for trying the gallery workflow, but three galleries and 1 GB leave little room for an active portfolio. Lite suits a solo photographer with a modest archive; its 15-gallery ceiling and one video hour are significant constraints. Pro is the practical tier for established photographers who need unlimited galleries, a store and the AI assistant, although 100 GB can still require regular housekeeping. Ultra is aimed at studios with substantial media libraries or a booking requirement; its premium is justified mainly by 1 TB and booking, not by a different gallery model.

Platforms

Pelli runs on the web, so it can be reached from a desktop or mobile browser without a platform-specific installation.

Who it's for

Pelli is designed for photographers from beginners to established studios. Beginners can start free and test proofing, while growing businesses gain quotes, contracts, invoices and workflow automation in the same system. It is less suitable for photographers who need only inexpensive gallery hosting, require booking deposits in the form, or regularly exceed the lower tiers' storage and video allowances.

Pros and cons

Pros

• One business workspace: Galleries sit alongside contacts, quotes, contracts, invoices and payment tracking.
• Strong proofing controls: Favorites, comments, downloads, watermarking and permissions support a complete client review cycle.
• Clear privacy posture: EU hosting, GDPR compliance, encryption and opt-in AI address common client-data concerns.
• Room to scale: Pro and Ultra remove gallery caps and expand storage substantially.

Cons

• Capacity is tight at entry level: Free has three galleries and 1 GB; Lite has 10 GB and one video hour.
• Booking is expensive and incomplete for deposits: It starts at Ultra, and clients cannot pay a deposit through the booking form.
• Web only: There is no dedicated mobile or desktop application.

Alternatives

For a broader directory of proofing tools, see Photo Proofing Software.

• Zno is the better choice if native Android, iOS, macOS or Windows access matters, with a free starting option.
• Lightfolio suits users prioritizing larger photo-storage allowances and unlimited galleries.
• Pic-Time is worth choosing for cross-platform access, client galleries and a print store on its free tier.
• Picflow fits collaborative workflows, offering unlimited galleries and collaborators on its free plan.
• CloudSpot is a lower-cost starting point, with a free tier capped at 5 GB and three client galleries.
• Pixieset Website is preferable when the priority is a hosted photographer website rather than studio administration.
• Photivo is an alternative web-based photography platform with a free Seed plan.
• PhotoGlacier offers a free web plan with 5 GB storage and up to three published galleries.

Verdict

Choose Pelli if you want client proofing and day-to-day studio administration in one web service, especially once unlimited galleries, a store or substantial storage become important. Look elsewhere if you need mobile apps, a gallery-only product, or booking that collects deposits; those requirements make Pelli's platform limits and Ultra pricing harder to justify.