Aura vs Nixplay vs Skylight: Which One Fits Your Room?
How the three big digital frame brands compare, and who each one suits.
A good picture frame disappears and lets the picture do the work. That is the test worth applying to a digital one too. Does it read as a piece on the wall, or as a tablet on a stand?
Aura, Nixplay, and Skylight are the three big names. Each one wins on one thing. Here is the short take, then the table.
The Quick Answer
Aura wins on the look and the screen. Skylight wins on grandma. Nixplay wins on video and on the app, but you pay a fee now to get the parts that used to be free.
Head to Head
| What you care about | Aura | Nixplay | Skylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-inch screen | Carver, 1280x800 | 10.1", 720p HD | Frame 10, 1280x800 |
| 15-inch model | Walden | 15.6 inch touch model, in Nixplay's store | Frame 15 |
| Free cloud | Yes, no cap | 500 MB only | Free tier, Plus $39/yr |
| Send by email | Frame members only, one photo per email | Yes | Yes, no app needed |
| Plays video | Yes, 30 second clips, sound on a tap | Yes, with sound, 15 seconds free | Plus plan only |
| Touch the screen | No | Yes, on the current 10.1 | Yes, heart tap |
| Price band | $100 to $200 | $100 to $200 | $100 to $200 at 10 inch, over $200 at 15 inch |
| Looks like a real frame | Yes | No | No |
How Each One Looks on a Shelf
We have not put these three side by side in a room. This part comes from each maker's own photos and spec pages. Aura sells some versions with a mat around the screen, like a framed print. The Carver has a semi-matte screen that dims with the room. That is why we say Aura looks the most like a picture frame.
Screen Quality
At 10 inches the Carver and the Skylight are 1280 by 800, and Nixplay lists 720p HD. Aura does not win on pixels here. What Aura does better is the panel itself: it is colour calibrated, semi-matte, and it dims to the room. Aura and Skylight both sell a 15-inch frame too. Nixplay sells a 15.6-inch touch frame in its own store. It is a newer model than the one we reviewed.
Setup Pain
Skylight is the easy one. You hand grandma the frame, plug it in, and she sees a slideshow. You send pictures to a private email and they show up. No app for her. Aura and Nixplay are run from an app, so someone in the family has to set that up and manage it. If you want to learn more, read our grandparent picks.
Storage and Fees
This is the part Nixplay buyers are mad about. Nixplay used to give 10 GB free. They cut it to 500 MB and put Google Photos behind a paid plan. People left. Read the full story in our Nixplay paywall write-up.
Aura is the calm one. Unlimited cloud, no plan. You buy the frame, you are done. Skylight has a free tier plus a $39 a year Plus plan for video, captions and albums.
Video
Nixplay plays short videos with sound. The 15.6-inch model we reviewed has been replaced, so the 10.1 is the one we point to if video matters. Aura plays video too, up to 30 seconds, but it runs silent until you tap the bar. Skylight needs Plus to play it.
Photo Sources
Nixplay takes photos by email and from your camera roll for free. Google Photos, Dropbox, Facebook and Instagram are on its paid plans. Aura ties to Google Photos, iCloud, and the Aura app at no extra cost. Skylight uses email and its app. It does not list Google Photos.
Quick answers
- Which brand has the best screen?
- At 10 inches they are close. The Carver and the Skylight Frame 10 run 1280 by 800, and Nixplay lists its 10.1 as 720p HD. Aura says its panel is colour calibrated and semi-matte, but it is not a resolution win.
- Which one does grandma want?
- Skylight. It takes photos by email. No app, no login, no setup screen.
- Which one plays video?
- All three play video. Aura plays clips up to 30 seconds. It stays quiet until you tap the bar. Nixplay plays 15 second clips with sound on the free plan. Skylight needs the Plus plan.
- Which brand has no fees?
- Aura. Free cloud, no plan, no cap. Nixplay charges above 500 MB. Skylight Plus is $39 a year.
- Which one actually looks like a picture frame?
- Aura. The bezel and matte finish read as a frame across a room. Nixplay and Skylight look closer to a tablet on a stand.
The Verdict
Buy Aura if you want a frame that looks like a frame. Buy Skylight if grandma will use it. Buy Nixplay if you want video and you can live with the fee. Three good brands. Pick the one that fits the room and the user.
Frames we recommend for this
Current models only. Prices are shown on Amazon, not here.
Aura Carver10.1" · 1280x800 · Unlimited storage
The Aura Carver is a great pick if you want a widescreen frame with a calibrated screen and zero storage fees.
Check Price
Nixplay Classic 10.1" Touch Frame10.1" · 720p HD (16:10) · 500 MB free, then paid plans storage
Pick the Nixplay Classic if you want video clips that play with sound. Storage costs extra after 500 MB, and Google Photos needs a paid plan.
See today's price at Nixplay
Skylight Frame 10"10" · 1280x800 · Basic free, Plus plan $39/year storage
One of the simplest frames to use. A good fit for grandparents who do not want to learn an app. Just email photos to the frame.
Check PricePaid links. We earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you.
DigitalPictureFrames.com
Written by the editorial team at Anvil Road LLC. We research digital frames against manufacturer documentation so you get honest, sourced advice.