Looking for a PicPortal alternative? Both send photos live over FTP. Sideline includes a roster database from high school to the pros, image sales, and unlimited uploads for $14.99/mo.
Roster files for 1.6M athletes, high school through the pros
Unlimited galleries and uploads on every plan
Image sales, RAW previews, voice memos, and analytics included
macOS app for captioning and roster tools
500 free AI captions · $0 today · Cancel anytime
Trusted by world-class photographers from these leagues and organizations
At a glance
PicPortal is a live FTP gallery platform — point your camera at their server and clients see photos update in real time. But that's where it stops. AI captions, roster management, image sales, RAW previews, voice memos, and analytics all require other tools. PicPortal's plans start at $19.99/mo for galleries alone, and features like AutoDownload, white-labeling, and shareable editor links are locked behind higher tiers.
Sideline Live matches PicPortal on live FTP delivery — then adds AI captioning, rosters, proofing galleries, direct image sales, and a full macOS workflow app for only $14.99/mo – with unlimited galleries and premium features available on every plan.
Feature comparison
Last updated October 2026
| Feature |  Sideline Live |
 PicPortal |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | ||
| Auto-updating web galleries | | |
| Direct camera → cloud via FTP | | |
| AutoDownload | |  Some plans only |
| Drag and drop photos | | Some plans only |
| Galleries & Access | ||
| Unlimited galleries | | Some plans only |
| Unlimited photo uploads | | Some plans only |
| Shareable editor links | | Team plans only |
| Password-protected galleries | | Some plans only |
| Preview RAW files in gallery | |  |
| Voice memos & transcription | | |
| White-labeling | | Team plans only |
| Custom domains & branding | | Team plans only |
| Slideshow mode | | Requires separate app |
| Monetization | ||
| Watermarked proofing galleries | | |
| Sell images directly | | |
| Branded watermarks on downloads | | |
| Advanced analytics | | |
| AI & Rosters | ||
| AI caption generation | | |
| Roster management & code files | | ESPN sports only |
| Import IPTC from Photo Mechanic | | |
| Refer & earn program | | |
| Free trial | 14 days | 7 days |
| All-in monthly cost |
$14.99/month Everything above included Start Free Trial |
$4.99–$19.99/mo Basic is $4.99 for 250 images. Plus is $19.99 for unlimited. |
Delivery
Auto-updating web galleries
Direct camera → cloud via FTP
AutoDownload
Some plans onlyDrag and drop photos
Some plans onlyGalleries & Access
Preview RAW files in gallery
Voice memos & transcription
Slideshow mode
Requires separate appMonetization
Sell images directly
Watermarked proofing galleries
Advanced analytics
AI & Rosters
AI caption generation
Roster management & code files
ESPN sports onlyAll-in monthly cost
Basic stops at 250 images. Plus is unlimited. Both include Pixel AI and roster codes.
Start Free TrialReal-world scenarios
Same assignments — different tools. PicPortal now captions and pulls roster codes. Here's what each one still covers.
| What you need | |
PP |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited live galleries | | |
| Roster files | | |
| AI captions | | |
| Shareable editor links | | |
| macOS captioning app | | |
Why Sideline wins: Pixel can caption a frame and match a jersey to an ESPN roster. Sideline captions from a database that runs from high school to the pros, in the same app you use to deliver.
| What you need | |
PP |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited live galleries | | |
| Password-protected galleries | | |
| Sell images to other parents | | |
| Watermarked proofing | | |
| Gallery analytics | | |
Why Sideline wins: Share photos with the whole team in real time and sell to other parents — PicPortal can't monetize your galleries at all.
| What you need | |
PP |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited live galleries | | |
| White-label & custom domains | | |
| Shareable editor links | | |
| Advanced analytics | | |
| AI captions & rosters | | |
Why Sideline wins: PicPortal can caption with Pixel and pull ESPN rosters. Sales, analytics, and a roster database past those leagues are still on Sideline, and PicPortal keeps branding on the team plan.
Pricing
Pixel AI and roster codes are included on every PicPortal plan. The $4.99 plan stops at 250 images. Unlimited delivery is $19.99.
PicPortal plans
Storage starts at 10GB, and more costs extra.
Sideline — all-in-one
Sideline Captions
$14.99/mo
Live FTP galleries AI sports captions Rosters & code files Image sales & analytics500 free AI captions · 14-day full access · $0 today · Cancel anytime
Switch in 3 steps
No rebuild. No downtime. Your camera keeps shooting.
Create your Sideline account in minutes — test on a real assignment before you cancel anything.
Paste a public PicPortal gallery URL in your Sideline dashboard and we'll pull the images into a new gallery. You don't have to leave old work behind.
Swap the FTP credentials in your camera to your new Sideline gallery. Same workflow you already know — images update live as you shoot.
500 free AI captions · 14-day full access · $0 today · Cancel anytime
Why switch
01
Sideline is $14.99/month for live FTP, AI captions, roster files from high school to the pros, and image sales. PicPortal Plus is $19.99/month for unlimited images. The $4.99 plan caps you at 250 images a month.
02
Photographers consistently report Sideline Live connecting on the first try — the same camera FTP workflow you're used to, but fewer headaches on gameday.
03
PicPortal's Pixel writes captions and can pull roster codes from ESPN, or from a list you upload. Sideline builds code files from 1.6M athletes — high school through the pros — and captions from those rosters, jersey numbers, and voice memos.
04
Image sales, RAW previews in the gallery, voice memos, and gallery analytics are included at $14.99/month. PicPortal does not sell images from the gallery or show who viewed them. Extra storage above 10GB costs more on their plans.
05
Import existing PicPortal galleries with one URL paste, swap your camera FTP credentials, and you're live — most shooters can switch in just a few minutes.
06
Sideline is built by working sports photographers who actually use the product on assignment — not a generic help desk reading from a script.
From photographers who switched
I used Sideline Live for the first time last night, and all I can say is WOW. It was incredible. I just cancelled my PicPortal subscription. Thanks for making such an incredible tool.
"Love what you've created here. Really awesome stuff!"
"Sideline is game changing. I have told literally everyone in my circle about it. Does everything I need."
"I'm amazed, and I'm really happy with how good the results are."
"I really enjoy using Sideline. I think it's going to be the industry standard soon. It has already helped me a ton with my workflow."
"Awesome piece of software."
"I used Sideline for an MLS game recently, and it was absolutely amazing. I was super impressed how quick and accurate the captions were. I used the IPTC template that I created and applied it upon import, so there was no need for me to use Photo Mechanic whatsoever. Sideline has become an indispensable tool for me. Keep up the excellent work!"
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you cancel PicPortal and move to Sideline.
Both do live FTP galleries. PicPortal now includes Pixel AI captions and roster codes, starting at $4.99/month for 250 images or $19.99/month for unlimited. Sideline is $14.99/month with unlimited uploads, AI captions tied to a roster database from high school to the pros, image sales, RAW previews, voice memos, gallery analytics, and a macOS app.
Yes. If your camera supports FTP, it works with Sideline Live. See supported cameras. Enter your Sideline gallery credentials into the camera's FTP settings — the same workflow as PicPortal, with no servers to configure or maintain.
You can import images from public PicPortal galleries into Sideline Live using the Import from PicPortal tool in your dashboard. Paste a gallery URL and Sideline pulls the images into a new gallery so you're not starting from scratch.
It depends on the plan. PicPortal Basic is $4.99/month and includes Pixel AI and roster codes, but it stops at 250 images and leaves out AutoDownload and password-protected galleries. PicPortal Plus is $19.99/month for unlimited images, with 10GB of storage unless you pay extra. Sideline is $14.99/month with unlimited galleries and uploads, a roster database from high school to the pros, image sales, and analytics. If you shoot more than a couple hundred photos a month, Sideline costs less than PicPortal Plus and covers more of the job.
PicPortal is built for live delivery — which it does well — but sports shooters typically need more: AI captions, roster/code files, image sales, and a professional-grade desktop workflow. PicPortal doesn't include any of those, so most photographers end up paying for 2–3 separate subscriptions on top of it. Several features like unlimited galleries, editor links, and branding are also locked to higher PicPortal tiers.
Yes. Sideline Captions writes sports captions from your rosters, jersey numbers, and voice memos. Sideline Rosters builds Photo Mechanic code replacement files from 1.6M+ athletes, high school through the pros. PicPortal's Pixel also writes captions, and it can pull roster codes from ESPN for leagues like the NFL, college football, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS, or from a list you upload. It does not include that broader roster database.
Yes. Sideline Live includes watermarked proofing galleries, direct image sales, branded download watermarks, and advanced gallery analytics — all included at $14.99/month. PicPortal does not offer image sales or analytics at any plan level.
Most photographers switch in a single assignment: start your 14-day trial, optionally import existing PicPortal galleries via URL, then swap your camera's FTP credentials to your new Sideline gallery. Same camera workflow, with image sales, a full roster database, and unlimited uploads included.
14 days of full access to Sideline Live, Sideline Captions, Sideline Rosters, and the rest of the platform. No credit card tricks — cancel anytime during or after the trial. PicPortal's trial is 7 days.
Yes. Sideline supports white-label galleries, custom domains, password protection, shareable editor links, and unlimited galleries — without PicPortal's team-tier upsells for basic sharing features. See our For Teams page for multi-photographer setups.
500 free AI captions · 14-day full access · $0 today · Cancel anytime
AI captions tied to 1.6M athletes, image sales, and unlimited uploads. One subscription at $14.99/month.
500 free AI captions · 14-day full access · $0 today · Cancel anytime