Payments
Get paid in your currency, into your own account, with the fee stated up front
Three things move money in a photography business: the deposit that secures the date, the invoice for the balance, and the prints or downloads a client buys afterwards. Galerly routes all three through the same rails, and the rules below are the whole story: who holds the money, what it costs, and when it is free.
Facts and prices checked on 2026-09-03.
Your Stripe account, not a Galerly wallet
Card and PayPal payments run through a Stripe Express account opened in your name from Galerly’s payment settings. Charges are made directly on that account, so Stripe pays out to your bank on its usual schedule for your country and you are the merchant of record. Galerly never holds client money and cannot delay a payout. Express accounts are available in 122 countries at the time of checking, including Switzerland, every EU member state, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.
What it costs
| Payment | Free plan | Starter, Pro, Business |
|---|---|---|
| Card or PayPal through Stripe (invoice, deposit, store) | 15% Galerly fee | 0% |
| Bank transfer | 0% | 0% |
| Stripe processing fee | Charged by Stripe, per your Stripe pricing | Same |
| Plan | Platform fee | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Galerly Free | 15% | $225 |
| Galerly Starter and above | 0% | $0 |
| Pixieset Free | 15% (15% on Free, 0% on paid plans) | $225 |
| CloudSpot Free | 15% (15% on Free and Entry, 0% from Lite) | $225 |
| ShootProof Free | 0% (0% on every plan, including Free) | $0 |
Platform fees only. Stripe's own processing fee is charged separately by Stripe on every platform and is not included. Bank transfers carry no Galerly fee on any plan. Competitor rates are their published free-tier rates, checked on 2026-09-02; Galerly's rate is read live from its pricing API.
Six currencies, one document each
You can bill in USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, CAD or AUD. Each invoice, quote and order keeps the currency it was created in, so a Swiss wedding in CHF and a London corporate job in GBP can sit in the same account. When you bill in CHF the invoice carries a Swiss QR-bill; when you bill an EU business with a valid VAT ID the invoice applies reverse charge; otherwise the client’s country rate applies.
Refunds and disputes
You refund from Galerly, in part or in full. When a Free-plan payment carried the platform fee, Galerly returns its share of the fee in proportion, so a refund never costs you more than the client paid. Card disputes are handled on your Stripe account with Stripe’s dispute process, because the charge is yours.
Where the money comes from
- Invoices: sent in the client’s language with a pay-online button and bank details; the balance of a project or a standalone bill.
- Booking deposits: paid on the public booking page or inside a combined proposal with the signature.
- Store orders: digital downloads and prints from a client gallery, fulfilled by you or by the lab partner (WHCC).
See how invoices handle VAT, reverse charge and the Swiss QR-bill.
Invoicing for photographersHonest limits
- No payment plans or instalments beyond deposit plus balance.
- PayPal appears where Stripe offers it for your account; not every country has it.
- Bank transfers are reconciled by you: Galerly shows the details and lets you mark the invoice paid, it does not read your bank account.
Frequently asked questions
Why 15% on Free?
Because Free includes the whole money stack and Galerly has to earn somewhere. It is the same rate Pixieset and CloudSpot charge on their free tiers, and it drops to 0% on the first paid plan at $9 per month.
Does Galerly take a cut of bank transfers?
No, on any plan. A bank transfer never touches Stripe or Galerly.
When does the money reach my bank?
On Stripe’s payout schedule for your country, since the charge is on your Stripe account. Galerly has no step in between.
Can I use Galerly without Stripe?
Yes. Without a connected Stripe account, invoices, deposits and orders are paid by bank transfer, with no fee.
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