Own the records and the galleries
Clients, sessions, invoices, and galleries live in your WordPress database, not a third-party cloud.
Looking for a Pixieset alternative you host on WordPress?
Pixieset is a strong hosted gallery platform with studio tools layered on. Mankai is a WordPress photography CRM you install yourself: galleries, booking, contracts, invoices, and a client portal on your domain and in your database.
Mankai
Honest summary
Neither product is junk. The fit depends on hosting tolerance, galleries, and how you want to get paid.
What Pixieset does well
- Client galleries, proofing, and print/download sales are the core strength: polished and familiar to many clients.
- No web host required. Pixieset hosts galleries and websites, and Studio Manager sits in the same brand family.
Where Mankai takes a different approach
- Mankai runs as a WordPress plugin on hosting you control. Client records, galleries, and invoices live in your database.
- Flat annual licensing with no per-client meters from Mankai, and no Mankai cut on Stripe or PayPal payments.
Stay with Pixieset if…
- You want hosted galleries and do not want to touch WordPress or hosting.
- Pixieset’s gallery delivery and store workflow already cover most of your business.
Consider Mankai if…
- You want galleries and CRM on your own domain and server, not a third-party cloud.
- You’re tired of stacking Suite + storage tiers, or pairing Pixieset with yet another CRM.
At a glance
Simple side-by-side facts as of July 24, 2026. Their plans change, so double-check before you decide.
| Topic | Pixieset | Mankai |
|---|---|---|
| Where it lives | Pixieset hosts it for you | On your WordPress site |
| Built for WordPress | No | Yes, as a plugin |
| Studio CRM | Yes, through Studio Manager | Yes: clients, sessions, pipeline |
| Booking | Yes in Studio Manager | Yes, included |
| Contracts and quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Invoices and payments | Stripe, PayPal, or Pixieset Payments | Your Stripe or PayPal |
| Extra fee on invoices | No Pixieset cut on Studio Manager invoices | No Mankai cut |
| Print store cut | 15% on Free galleries; 0% on paid Gallery or Suite | No Mankai cut on your print orders |
| Client galleries | Yes, that is the main product | Yes: proofing and a print shop |
| Client login | Gallery and Studio Manager client links | Portal on your own domain |
| Public website | Yes, Pixieset Website | Optional Photography Theme |
| Where client data sits | Pixieset’s servers | Your WordPress database |
| Starting price | From $336/yr for Suite (billed yearly) | $149.99/yr for the CRM; hosting is separate |
| How you pay for it | Monthly or yearly plans, plus storage limits | One flat yearly license |
| Client limits | Storage and plan features cap what you can do | Unlimited clients from Mankai’s side |
| Moving over | You can export contacts; it is not one-click | Optional Setup & Migration help; no auto-import |
What this page does not claim
- Whether Studio Manager uses multi-seat team pricing as a primary meter.
- Full GDPR / whole-account export scope beyond documented CSV exports.
- Dollar savings versus any specific Pixieset Suite configuration.
Switch or stay
Honest cases in both directions. Pixieset may still be the better fit. Switching for the wrong reasons wastes a season.
Why someone might switch
Reasons not to switch
What migration involves
There is no magic import button. You pack what matters, rebuild the studio pieces in Mankai, and cut over when you are ready.
-
Export your people
Pull contacts from Studio Manager so client names and emails come with you.
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Save what you still need
Download active galleries and keep invoice history from your payment processor.
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Rebuild the studio setup
Session types, contracts, questionnaires, and templates get recreated in Mankai.
-
Point new work at your site
When you are ready, new bookings and galleries go to your WordPress install.
Old galleries, favorites, and store orders do not transfer automatically. Finish mid-stream jobs where they are, then move new ones.
If you want help, Setup & Migration is a one-time project after you buy. We agree on scope, then I invoice. Nothing auto-charges from the form.
See the full feature set
This page is about the switch. Features and a clickable demo live elsewhere.
Browse all features Visit the live studio (opens in a new tab)
Questions people ask before leaving Pixieset
For many studios, yes: proofing, favorites, delivery, watermarks, and a print shop at your prices. It will not clone every Pixieset Store lab integration or mobile app. Compare the workflows you actually use.
No. The CRM works with a theme you already have. The Photography Theme is optional if you want the matching public site built around Mankai.
They will notice a new gallery and portal URL on your domain. That is usually the point. Plan messaging and a clean cutover for active jobs.
No. Mankai does not take a percentage on print orders. You set product prices; payment processing is your Stripe or PayPal.
Stay on Pixieset, or hire Setup & Migration and solid WordPress hosting so you are not the sysadmin. Self-hosting is a real tradeoff, not a slogan.
This is a comparison, not a pitch. Neither product is the right fit for every studio. Read their current docs, skim Mankai’s features if the WordPress path interests you, and pick the stack that matches how you want to work.
Pixieset site (opens in a new tab) Mankai features Mankai pricing
