SmartAlbums Alternative
LAYON combines automatic album generation with flexible layer-based editing. Start with a folder of selected photos, generate your album, then refine each spread with full creative control, and pay once for life, or per album, instead of every month.
| Feature | LAYON | SmartAlbums |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ✓ 199 € + VAT once for life, or per album; monthly optional | Subscription (monthly/annual) |
| Automatic album generation | ✓ From your selected photos | ✓ Automated templates |
| Layer-based editing of every spread | ✓ Layers, masks, text, backgrounds | See vendor site |
| Print-ready export | ✓ JPEG, PNG, TIFF, PDF, with bleed and safe zones | See vendor site |
| Client proofing | ✓ Included | See vendor site |
| Free to try | ✓ First 3 albums free, no card, no watermark | See vendor site |
| Platform | ✓ Windows & Mac | ✓ Windows & Mac |
SmartAlbums facts limited to what Pixellu states publicly, checked on October 1, 2026; "see vendor site" where we could not verify. SmartAlbums and Pixellu are trademarks of their owner. LAYON is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pixellu.
LAYON is an alternative to SmartAlbums (Pixellu) for professional album design that needs no subscription. It combines automatic album generation with layer-based editing: start with a folder of selected photos, generate the album, then refine each spread with full creative control. 199 € + VAT once for life, or 3 album credits for 15 € + VAT, instead of a subscription; the first 3 albums are free.
Yes. LAYON can be bought once for life (199 € + VAT: all of LAYON 2, every 2.x update, on 2 computers at the same time, Windows and Mac mixed) or paid per album, with credits that never expire. No subscription is required; a monthly plan (9.99 € + VAT / month) exists for those who prefer one. LAYON runs on Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit) and macOS 12 Monterey or later (Apple silicon and Intel).
The starting point is similar: both build the album automatically from your selected photos. The difference is what happens next. In LAYON every spread opens in a layer-based editor, with layers, masks, text, backgrounds and per-photo adjustments, and the result exports as print-ready JPEG, PNG, TIFF or PDF, without leaving the app.