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 Skype
Skype is a familiar platform for video calls and group messaging. But photos shared in Skype chats are compressed, buried in conversation history, and require every guest to have an account and the app. PartyLab is purpose-built for event photo collection — one QR code, live gallery, TV slideshow, and no account needed for any guest.
Feature by feature
| Feature | PartyLab | Skype |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Original photo quality preserved | Yes | No |
| Live gallery during the event | Yes | No |
| Built-in slideshow for venue TVs / screens | Yes | No |
| Digital guestbook captions | Yes | No |
| Photo reactions & likes | Yes | No |
| ZIP download of all photos | Yes | No |
| One-time pricing — no subscription | Yes | No |
| Purpose-built for in-event photo collection | Yes | No |
Where Skype falls short for photo collection
📦
Skype compresses photos and buries them in chat history
PartyLab stores original-quality photos and videos in an event gallery you can browse and export. 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.
📱
Every guest needs the Skype app and a Microsoft account
To send photos in a Skype group conversation, guests need to have the Skype app installed and be signed in with a Microsoft account or Skype name. At a birthday party, wedding, or family reunion with guests of all ages and tech comfort levels, asking every person to install Skype and create a Microsoft account before they can share a photo is a significant barrier that kills participation. PartyLab requires nothing from guests — scan a QR code with the phone camera, enter a name once, and photos start uploading immediately in the browser. No Skype, no Microsoft account, no app installation.
💻
No gallery, no slideshow, no bulk export
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.
Event organizers who switched to PartyLab
“My family tried using a Skype group chat to share photos from our reunion. Half the relatives didn’t have Skype anymore and couldn’t figure out how to install it on the day. We ended up with photos scattered across three different chats. The next year I used PartyLab — one QR code, 200 photos from 40 relatives in one gallery. Night and day.”
Margaret O.
Family reunion organizer, 60 guests across three generations
“We used Skype for a hybrid retirement party where remote colleagues joined by video. Collecting photos from both groups was a nightmare — some people had Skype, some didn’t. A colleague suggested PartyLab and I posted the link in the Skype chat for remote guests and put the QR code on tables for in-person guests. Every photo ended up in the same gallery. Brilliant.”
David H.
Office manager, hybrid retirement celebration
“PartyLab stores original-quality photos and videos in an event gallery you can browse and export. 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.”
Claire B.
Bride, 120-guest wedding with remote international family
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
Does Skype have a photo gallery feature for events?
Skype does not have a dedicated photo gallery for events. Photos shared in Skype conversations appear in the chat thread alongside messages and are compressed for delivery. There is no gallery view, no slideshow, and no bulk download. Skype also has file retention limits that can cause photos to disappear after a period of time. For in-event photo collection from a crowd, you need a purpose-built tool like PartyLab.
Can I use Skype and PartyLab together at a hybrid event?
Yes — they work well together for hybrid events. Use Skype for your video call with remote guests and share the PartyLab link in the Skype chat. Remote participants can open the PartyLab link on a second device, upload their own photos, and see the live gallery updating in real time. In-person guests scan the QR code at the venue. All photos land in the same gallery regardless of where guests are located.
Do guests need a Microsoft account to use PartyLab?
No. PartyLab is completely independent of Microsoft and Skype. Guests scan a QR code or open a link, enter their name once, and upload photos directly in any mobile browser. No Microsoft account, no Skype account, no app installation required. This is especially important for events with older guests or international attendees who may not have or want a Microsoft account.
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 Skype for the call. Use PartyLab for the photos.
One-time event packages from $44.99 USD.