Starter
$44.99USD / event
- Up to 100 guests
- 2,000 photo and video uploads
- 25 GB storage
- Up to 250 MB per file
- 3 months upload and download access
Comparison
PartyLab vs Joy
Joy is a beautiful wedding website and planning tool. But guest photo uploads require the Joy app — a barrier that kills participation on the night. PartyLab gives every guest a QR code that works in their camera app, instantly.
Feature by feature
| Feature | PartyLab | Joy |
|---|---|---|
| Guests need to create an account | No | Yes |
| Guests need to download an app | No | Yes |
| One QR code for all guests to upload | Yes | No |
| Collects candid photos from all guests | Yes | Yes |
| Original photo quality preserved | Yes | No |
| Live gallery during the reception | Yes | No |
| Built-in slideshow for venue TVs / screens | Yes | No |
| Digital guestbook captions | Yes | Yes |
| Photo reactions & likes | Yes | Yes |
| ZIP download of all photos | Yes | No |
| One-time pricing — no subscription | Yes | No |
| Works on every device with no install | Yes | No |
Where Joy falls short on the reception night
📲
Joy requires the Joy app — every guest must download it
To upload photos through Joy, your guests need to download the Joy app on their phone and create an account or sign in with their phone number. For a 150-person wedding where guests range in age from 8 to 88, app install friction is a real barrier. Older guests, guests without data plans, and guests who are camera-shy about setting up accounts will simply not upload. PartyLab works entirely in the phone’s built-in camera app: scan the QR code, browser opens, tap upload. No download, no login, no friction.
🎥
Joy’s photo feature is a wedding website add-on, not a live gallery tool
Joy is primarily a wedding planning and RSVP platform. Its photo collection feature lets guests upload photos through the app, but there is no live gallery that updates in real time during the reception, no fullscreen slideshow for your venue’s TV or projector, and no QR code at each table that works without requiring the app. PartyLab is built specifically for the live collection moment: photos appear in the gallery within seconds of upload, and the slideshow can run on a screen at the venue so every guest can see the photos as they are taken.
💰
Joy’s premium features require a subscription or one-time upgrade
PartyLab offers Starter at $44.99 USD, Plus at $89.99 USD, Max at $179.99 USD per event. Each package is a one-time payment. There is no free upload tier or recurring event subscription. Starter: up to 100 guests, 2,000 uploads, and 25 GB storage. Plus: up to 500 guests, 10,000 uploads, and 100 GB storage. Max: no guest cap, 50,000 uploads, and 1 TB storage. Starter includes 3 months of upload and download access. Plus includes 1 year of upload and download access. Max includes 1 year of upload and download access. Download your files before access ends; downloaded copies are yours to keep.
Couples who used both
“We used Joy for our wedding website and RSVPs — it was great for that. But the photo upload feature required guests to download the app, and half of the older guests at our wedding didn’t bother. We wish we’d had PartyLab for the actual reception night — the QR code on the table cards would have gotten everyone uploading.”
Sophie & Ben R.
Newlyweds, 180-guest wedding
“Our Joy wedding website was gorgeous, but on the night, the photos were scattered. After the reception I only got photos from guests who already had the Joy app. PartyLab works in the browser — my 75-year-old grandmother uploaded from her phone without any help.”
Olivia M.
Bride, summer wedding
“We tried Joy’s photo album but barely any guests uploaded during the wedding. Then a friend told us about PartyLab. The difference is the QR code — you put it on the table and guests scan it with their camera. No download. Our next event, we’re using PartyLab from the start.”
Marcus & Priya K.
Hosts, 120-person anniversary party
One-time packages for your event
Create an event draft, then choose Starter, Plus, or Max before sharing with guests. Guest uploads require a paid package.
Plus
$89.99USD / event
- Up to 500 guests
- 10,000 photo and video uploads
- 100 GB storage
- Up to 500 MB per file
- 1 year upload and download access
Max
$179.99USD / event
- No guest cap
- 50,000 photo and video uploads
- 1 TB storage
- Up to 1 GB per file
- 1 year upload and download access
Every paid event package includes photo and video uploads, a QR code and event link, a live gallery, a live slideshow, photo captions, reactions, original-quality ZIP export, and guest email CSV export.
Frequently asked questions
Can Joy collect photos from guests who don’t have the Joy app?
Joy’s photo album feature requires guests to sign in through the Joy app or website. Guests who don’t have the Joy app installed need to download it before they can upload — creating friction that significantly reduces participation, especially from older guests or those without data. PartyLab works in any mobile browser with no app or account required.
Should I use Joy and PartyLab together?
Yes — many couples do. Joy is excellent for your wedding website, digital RSVPs, planning tools, and sending updates to guests before the wedding. PartyLab handles the live photo collection on the night itself, where the QR code at every table guarantees every guest can upload without downloading anything. Use Joy for planning, PartyLab for the reception.
Does PartyLab have a live gallery that updates during the reception?
Yes. Every photo uploaded through PartyLab appears in the live gallery within seconds. You can run the slideshow mode on a screen or projector at your venue — guests see their photos appear in real time on the big screen, which encourages even more uploads. Joy does not have a real-time live gallery feature built for this use case.
How much does PartyLab cost per event?
PartyLab offers Starter at $44.99 USD, Plus at $89.99 USD, Max at $179.99 USD per event. Each package is a one-time payment. There is no free upload tier or recurring event subscription. Starter: up to 100 guests, 2,000 uploads, and 25 GB storage. Plus: up to 500 guests, 10,000 uploads, and 100 GB storage. Max: no guest cap, 50,000 uploads, and 1 TB storage. Starter includes 3 months of upload and download access. Plus includes 1 year of upload and download access. Max includes 1 year of upload and download access. Download your files before access ends; downloaded copies are yours to keep.
Use Joy for planning. Use PartyLab for the night.
One-time event packages from $44.99 USD.