The best photo booth software depends on the booth you run: an iPad app suits a simple selfie booth, PC or Mac software suits DSLR and custom booths, and business management tools suit operators running many events. Ten options follow in no particular order.
A photo booth is half hardware and half software. The camera takes the picture, but the software decides how fast guests get it, how it looks and whether it reaches their phone before they've left the room.
The ten tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, covering booth apps, desktop software and the admin side of running a booth business. Every description comes from the maker's own site, read this week. For a look at where booths are heading, see my piece on how AI photo booths are changing events.
Photo booth software at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free app or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booth.Events | iPad photo booth app | Easy iPad booths | Not stated |
| BoothBook | Photo booth business management software | Bookings, contracts and staff | Trial only |
| Breeze Booth | Photo booth software from Breeze Software | Fully custom branded booths | Not stated |
| Check Cherry | Event booking software for event pros | Online booking for booth businesses | Trial only |
| Darkroom Booth | Photo booth and photo entertainment workflow software | Event photographers adding booths | Trial only |
| LumaBooth | Photo booth software and apps, formerly dslrBooth on Windows | Booths on PC, Mac, iPad or Android | Trial only |
| Simple Booth | Photo booth app and selfie stand | Brand activations | Trial only |
| Snappic | Photo booth software for professionals | Growing a booth side hustle | Trial only |
| Sparkbooth | Photo booth software for Windows and Mac | Webcam booths on a laptop | Trial only |
| Touchpix | All-in-one photo and video booth app | 360 video booths | Trial only |
Ten photo booth tools to consider
Booth.Events
Best for: iPad users who want an easy photo booth app with AI tools and templates built straight from PDF files.
BoothBook
Best for: Owners of booth businesses who want bookings, contracts, staff and client design choices handled while they focus on events.
Breeze Booth
Best for: Builders of custom or branded booths who want total control of the interface and the option to run fully offline.
Check Cherry
Best for: Photo booth owners, DJs and other event pros who want clients to book, sign and submit event details online.
Darkroom Booth
Best for: Event photographers who run booths too and want hands-free automated printing, sharing and live event galleries.
LumaBooth
Best for: Operators who want the same booth software across Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone and Android devices.
Simple Booth
Best for: Agencies and brands running activations that turn guests into content creators with a branded selfie booth.
Snappic
Best for: Side hustlers growing a booth into a full business who want AI effects, GIFs and 360 booth options.
Sparkbooth
Best for: Anyone who wants a simple webcam booth on any laptop with a one-time licence and a month-long trial.
Touchpix
Best for: Teams running 360 and video booths who want one app working with GoPro and DSLR cameras on several systems.
Guest photos are personal data
The ICO explains that personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable living person, including people identifiable from factors specific to their physical identity. A clear photo of a guest's face can fall into that.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Before your first event, you'll want to decide how photos are shared, where they're stored and when they're deleted. Some booth software can run fully offline, which helps if a venue or client is cautious about data.
Booth app, desktop software or business admin?
Booth apps run on an iPad, phone or tablet and suit selfie stands and quick setups. Desktop software runs on a PC or Mac with a DSLR or webcam and suits custom booths and mirror booths. Business management tools don't take pictures at all: they handle bookings, contracts, staff and client choices for booth companies.
Many operators use one of each: booth software at the event and admin software back at the office.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Which cameras, printers and devices does it support?
- How do guests get their photos: text, email, QR code or print?
- Can you brand the screens, overlays and galleries for each client?
- Does it work offline if the venue Wi-Fi is poor?
- Can it do GIFs, video, AI effects or 360 booths?
- How easy is it to set up a new event template?
Features guests notice
- Instant sharing. Photos land on phones before guests walk away.
- Branded templates. Every print looks like the event, not the booth company.
- Fun extras. GIFs, boomerangs and AI effects keep the queue going.
- Live galleries. Hosts can see and share the night's photos.
Starting a booth business?
Start with one reliable setup and learn it well. You'll thank yourself at the first busy wedding. It's better to run ten smooth events with simple software than one chaotic event with every feature switched on.
Do you make photo booth software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing photo booth software
Plan for bad Wi-Fi. Venues promise great internet and then a hundred guests join it at once. Choose software that keeps taking photos and queues sharing until the connection comes back, and test it with your router switched off.
Then think about the business side early. Bookings, contracts and staff scheduling eat more hours than the events themselves. If you're writing toasts for your own weddings and events, my ChatGPT prompts for wedding speeches might come in handy too.
Frequently asked questions
What is photo booth software?
It controls the camera, screens and sharing in a photo booth, turning shots into branded prints, GIFs, videos or digital galleries.
Is there free photo booth software?
None of the tools on this list named a free plan on the pages I read, but most offer free trials. Check the table.
Can I run a photo booth on an iPad?
Yes. Several apps on this list are built for iPad booths, which are quick to set up and easy for guests to use.
Do photo booths need internet?
Not always. Some software works offline and sends photos when the connection returns.
What software do photo booth businesses use for bookings?
Some operators use dedicated booking and business management tools alongside their booth software. Check the type column.
Are guest photos covered by data protection rules?
They can be. The ICO says personal data includes information about an identifiable person, so set clear sharing and deletion rules.
