Does the Nixplay picture frame charge a subscription fee?
The Nixplay picture frame charges an optional subscription package called “Nixplay Plus”. This subscription fee is required to unlock and expand upon features such as cloud storage, access to the Nixplay mobile app, online access to the frame, and video/audio playback. Other popular high-end digital picture frames like the Skylight frame use a similar subscription-based model.
The issue here is that despite charging extra recurring fees, Nixplay’s frames still charge premium up-front prices. Traditionally, subscription-based devices often reduce the price of the hardware. In turn, they recuperate any potential losses through their subscription service or upsell. This isn’t the case for Nixplay and Skylight frames.
When you look at their upfront prices, Nixplay picture frames cost similar to – and often more than – Pix-Star’s frames; yet they don’t offer anything unique. Instead, almost all of Nixplay’s features are locked behind their subscription paywall. For reference, Pix-Star offers almost all of the same features – and many more – without charging a cent extra. We’ll take a deeper look at how Nixplay and Pix-Star frames compare in the next section.
Should you choose not to purchase the “optional” Nixplay Plus subscription, you’ll be left with a Wi-Fi picture frame that performs like any mid-range digital frame – yet costs a whole lot more. When you factor in the cost of the subscription fees over the frame’s lifespan, along with their high upfront cost, Nixplay picture frames become one of the most expensive on the market.
For all this money, you don’t get anything unique or particularly versatile. You’re only paying for access to their mobile app. There’s no USB/SD card support, no plug-and-play feature, no way to import photos directly from social media, no video and audio support (without Nixplay Plus), and the list goes on.
We recommend avoiding digital picture frames with monthly fees. They don’t offer enough “free” functionality to compete with similarly priced frames. With versatile non-subscription-based digital picture frames like the Pix-Star on the market, we don’t think that Nixplay’s performance justifies their excessive long-term cost!
How do Pix-Star and Nixplay picture frames compare?
In terms of sheer value for money, the Pix-Star frame is one of the best out there. They’re packed full of robust and versatile features, don’t charge monthly features, and are better for both families and elderly users. At their price point, the Pix-Star is probably the best digital picture frame with Wi-Fi and cloud on the market at the moment.
One of Pix-Star’s biggest pros is its 4:3 aspect ratio and highly customizable slideshows. You can easily control the play order and frequency in which photos display. Additionally, include videos in slideshows and even play audio files over them for enhanced personalization.
Without purchasing the Nixplay Plus subscription plan (paid monthly or annually), Nixplay picture frames hardly stand up to or compare with Pix-Star’s frames – both in terms of features/functions and value for money. While their displays are a little higher resolution, Nixplay’s 16:9 aspect ratio leads to most photos being boxed in by black pillar bars.
Even with the Nixplay Plus subscription active, Nixplay photo frames are missing several key features that Pix-Star still offers. Prime examples of these key features include more versatile video and audio support, offline functionality (Nixplay frames don’t work well without Wi-Fi), and extensive USB/SD card support.
Bulk photo-sharing on Pix-Star’s frames is far more intuitive. Additionally, Pix-Star’s frames link effortlessly to a dozen external sources to import photo albums. Supported sources include Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, Google Photos, Flickr, Dropbox, your computer (via a synced folder), and more. This web album feature saves synced albums to the frame’s internal storage and makes them available for offline use. You can even access these linked albums and start slideshows from them from anywhere in the world.
In summary, the Pix-Star is more robust features and is much more affordable – particularly in the long run. They don’t charge any extra recurring fees or hidden costs. They offer the same – and better – features than subscription-based Wi-Fi picture frames like Nixplay and Skylight.
How do I send pictures to the Nixplay picture frame?
The most common way to send pictures to the Nixplay picture frame is through the Nixplay mobile app. Unfortunately, access to Nixplay’s mobile app and web app is locked behind the Nixplay Plus subscription paywall. You can only send a handful of pictures to the frame under the “free” version Nixplay offer.
Unlike many other top digital picture frames with Wi-Fi and cloud photo-sharing, Nixplay cannot import photos from social media or photo-sharing profiles. Additionally, there is no USB/SD card support, making bulk photo-sharing slow and often frustrating.
With competing frames like the Pix-Star, you get extensive USB/SD card support. There’s a plug & play feature that lets you play slideshows directly from the inserted USB/SD card without having to copy anything to local storage first. Since Pix-Star doesn’t limit the maximum size of compatible USB/SD cards, you get access to potentially unlimited storage space for your photos, videos, and audio files.
Can the Nixplay picture frame play audio and video?
You can only play video and audio files on the Nixplay picture frame if you purchase the Nixplay Plus subscription package. This lets you share video clips up to about 15-seconds in maximum length. Without Nixplay Plus, you cannot send video or audio clips.
Additionally, you cannot play video and audio clips in slideshows alongside photos. There’s also another common issue whereby videos are cut off depending on the slideshow’s transition speed settings.
For comparison, Pix-Star frames let you play 2-minute video clips without charging any extra recurring or hidden fees. You can still send pictures using the Pix-Star Snap mobile app. Additionally, you can load videos to the frame using a USB/SD card. this is also where you’ll play audio files from (when they’re played over slideshows).
Does the Nixplay picture frame work with USB/SD cards?
Nixplay picture frames don’t support USB/SD cards. This is relatively uncommon among digital frames this expensive. Other top digital picture frames with Wi-Fi that don’t support USB/SD cards include the Skylight frame and the Aura digital picture frame range. Both Aura and Skylight don’t have internal storage; Nixplay’s digital frames have 8GB of internal storage.
For reference, the Pix-Star frames are much more affordable in the long run as they don’t charge any recurring fees. Despite this, you get great USB/SD card support and a plug-and-play feature. This lets you play slideshows on the Pix-Star frame without having to copy anything to its internal storage first. Since Pix-Star doesn’t restrict the maximum size of supported USB/SD cards, you can use them as a form of connected external storage space!
