When comparing SmugMug vs Google Photos, the Slant community recommends Google Photos for most people. In the question“What are the best cloud photo storage and portfolio services?” Google Photos is ranked 1st while SmugMug is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose Google Photos is:
Any images taken with your phone can automatically be backed up to Google Photos. And the first time you run the mobile app it will also help you back up any existing images and videos you might have on your phone.
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Pros
Pro Easy to use, powerful website customization options
By simply dragging and dropping various content blocks (such as menu, galleries, social buttons, text) around it's possible to quickly and visually lay out the site. Customization options are context aware. So, if a gallery is open, gallery customization options will be shown, if a page is open, page customization options will be shown. To change the look of the site there are multiple themes available that can be further customized by changing HTML & CSS.
Pro Good SEO
SmugMug automatically pulls photo metadata such as keywords, descriptions and captions, and inserts them in appropriate places in the webpage so that search engines can properly index them. If that information is not set before uploading, it can be added via back-end as well. Also in the back-end it's possible to set site-wide metadata and custom URLs to further optimize.
Content still needs to be dispersed via social media, blogs, forums, etc for it to show up in search results, but SmugMug has a well polished codebase that takes search engines into consideration and won't hinder content's exposure potential.
Pro Intuitive drag & drop backend
SmugMug has a drag and drop interface that allows organizing photos into folders and galleries, adjusting how they're displayed, setting privacy preferences, editing meta keywords and descriptions, etc in an easy to use manner.
Pro Galleries and folders can be password protected
A gallery or a folder and it's sub-items can be given a password that will be asked when trying to access them.
Pro Reasonable commerce options with fair sales commission
It's possible to sell digital downloads of photos and videos as well as prints. SmugMug takes 15% of profit on sale.
Pro Visitors can be allowed to upload photos
Anyone accessing a gallery using a specifically crafted URL can upload photos to it.
Pro Good branding options
Watermarks can be added to photos, printmarks to prints, and branding can be applied to orders (shopping cart, thank you prints and stickers).
Pro Engagement and feedback tools
Photos can be shared, commented on and liked.
Pro Business account users can set passwords that give access to the backend
It's possible to set an assistant password that gives access to the backend (with some limitations). Very useful for letting someone trusted upload and arrange photos. The assistant won't be able to delete photos or galleries, customize the site or access private folders.
Pro Custom domain support
To use a custom domain a "Power" pricing tier or higher is required.
Pro Can automatically back up phone's photos
Any images taken with your phone can automatically be backed up to Google Photos. And the first time you run the mobile app it will also help you back up any existing images and videos you might have on your phone.
Pro Can search photos
Text in photos, the content of the photo, and so on can be automatically searched. So one doesn't need to categorize to later find photos. Manual categorization is still possible.
Pro Simple sharing
Any picture or selection of pictures can be sent to anyone, even if they don't have a Google account. Photos will also give you a list of recommended photos to share.
Pro Free unlimited storage
Google Photos comes with free storage for images up to 16Mp and videos up to 1080p which means that most users need no longer worry about storage space.
Pro Can manually classify photos
Can create albums from photos or even manage the whole folders tree manually via Drive.
Pro Non-destructive built-in photo editor
Any photos that you edited can be undone to original copy.
Pro Smart shared libraries
Google Photos allows inviting other users to shared libraries. It has a feature that allows auto-adding all photos and videos or only of specific people to the shared library which is really useful for sharing with families or a close group of friends. It also allows the invitee to save those photos straight to their device automatically as if they took it.
Pro Send images and videos to Gmail and YouTube
If you linked your Google drive with google photos, then you can easily attach any of your Google Photos in an email message.
Pro Uses AI to create fun content
Google's AI automatically generates fun animations, collages, styled photos and stories every now and then which can be shared saved and shared to your device very easily.
Pro iOS app is easy and fun to use
The app is easy to use and has amusing features like reminders, where it pops up photos from many years ago.
Cons
Con Can't designate self as print provider
Con Lacks an integrated blog system
Con Might be removed anytime
Google has a tendency to quickly shut down or abandon services that don't perform well. Google Photos might run the risk of being discontinued if the user base of the app doesn't meet certain criteria.
Con Taking ownership of your backups is laborious
Major issue with this is getting access to your backups. Gotta wait for massive downloads. With OneDrive they are just files which you can move around.
Con The website has performance issues
The site tends to lag and file uploads can sometimes fail.
Con The web version lacks certain features available on mobile apps
Con Doesn't backup in the background
For iOS devices.
Con Not a lot of free storage space for high-res content
While there's a free unlimited storage plan, it's limited to 16 megapixel images and 1080p videos. Uploading full-resolution content, if you opt out of free unlimited storage plan, is limited to 15GB that comes with a Google account which is shared across all Google services. Increasing that storage space costs about $10/mo per 1TB of storage.
Con Files may be compressed if you're using the unlimited storage option
All images exceeding 16MP and videos exceeding 1080p will automatically be compressed to that size or lower. Meaning high-res images and videos won't work with the unlimited storage option.