Aurant vs SmugMug: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Aurant and SmugMug side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Aurant leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Aurant
Share full-resolution photo and film galleries by link, with no account or app
Best for you if:
- • Photographers and videographers who deliver client galleries and films and want invoices, contracts and booking in the same account
SmugMug
Create, store, share, and grow your photography business with an all-in-one platform.
Best for you if:
- • You want offers truly unlimited photo storage, including RAW files, without compression
| At a Glance | Aurant | SmugMug |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $9/mo, billed monthly Basic plan | From $20/mo, billed monthly Direct plan |
Category | Client Portals Video Hosting | Website Builders E-commerce Platforms |
Rating | n/a | 4.2/5 G2 4.2 · SourceForge 4.0 40 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose Aurant or SmugMug?
Choose Aurant if
- Photographers and videographers who deliver client galleries and films and want invoices, contracts and booking in the same account
- You want a free tier before you commit
- Budget matters ($9/mo, billed monthly vs $20/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in client portals, not website builders
Choose SmugMug if
- You want offers truly unlimited photo storage, including RAW files, without compression
- You want provides comprehensive tools for building professional photography websites without coding
- You work in website builders, not client portals
In-Depth Analysis
Aurant
Share full-resolution photo and film galleries by link, with no account or app
Aurant's pricing is fair and competitive for photographers and filmmakers, with the Free tier offering a generous no-card entry point.
Key features
SmugMug
Create, store, share, and grow your photography business with an all-in-one platform.
SmugMug's pricing is fair, especially for photographers who need robust storage and client-facing features.
Strengths
- Pro: Offers truly unlimited photo storage, including RAW files, without compression.
- Pro: Provides comprehensive tools for building professional photography websites without coding.
- Pro: Integrates robust e-commerce capabilities for selling photos, prints, and gifts.
- Pro: Includes client management features like private galleries and selection tools.
- Pro: Enhances photo security with watermarks, download protections, and access controls.
Weaknesses
- Con: No free tier is available, requiring a paid subscription to use the service.
- Con: The extensive feature set might have a learning curve for new users.
Key features
Plans and prices: Aurant vs SmugMug
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aurant |
| aurant.io/pricing read Oct 25, 2026 |
| SmugMug |
| smugmug.com/plans read Nov 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Aurant pricing and SmugMug pricing.
Key Takeaways
Aurant
- Lower entry price: $9/mo, billed monthly vs $20/mo, billed monthly
- Has a free plan
SmugMug
- Choose if you want create, store, share, and grow your photography business with an all-in-one platform
What the data shows
On the data below, Aurant leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only SmugMug has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 40 reviews); Aurant has none we can show.
- Aurant has the lower entry price: $9/mo, billed monthly (Basic) against $20/mo, billed monthly (Direct) for SmugMug.
- Only Aurant has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Aurant and SmugMug compare in 2026?
On the data below, Aurant leads on lower entry price and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only SmugMug has a published user rating (4.2/5 from 40 reviews); Aurant has none we can show. Aurant has the lower entry price: $9/mo, billed monthly (Basic) against $20/mo, billed monthly (Direct) for SmugMug. Only Aurant has a free plan.
What are Aurant and SmugMug used for?
Aurant: Share full-resolution photo and film galleries by link, with no account or app. SmugMug: Create, store, share, and grow your photography business with an all-in-one platform.
What does Aurant cost vs SmugMug?
Aurant's cheapest paid plan is Basic at $9/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. SmugMug's cheapest paid plan is Direct at $20/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Aurant and SmugMug?
Aurant focuses on share full-resolution photo and film galleries by link, with no account or app. SmugMug's main strength: offers truly unlimited photo storage, including RAW files, without compression.