Nixplay Cut Free Cloud to 500 MB. Now What?
Nixplay locked Google Photos behind Plus. Here is where users went.
Updated May 14, 2026
Nixplay used to be the easy pick. Big app, lots of photo sources, free Google Photos sync. Then they cut the free cloud to 500 MB and moved Google Photos to a paid plan. Buyers were not happy.
I read the reviews. I saw the angry threads on Reddit and the Nixplay support forum. Folks who paid $200 for a frame three years ago felt like the rug got pulled. Here is the short story, what they swapped to, and what I would do.
What Nixplay Did
Free cloud went from 10 GB to 500 MB. Google Photos sync moved behind the Plus plan, which runs about $30 a year. Old buyers got a grace window, then the lock kicked in. The frame still works. The free piece got small.
Why It Hurt
People buy a frame as a gift. They send it to mom. Mom does not pay app fees. When the free side shrinks, the gift turns into a chore. That is the part that stung.
Where Users Went
| Brand | Free cloud | Google Photos | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aura | Unlimited | Free | $149 to $249 |
| Skylight | Free tier | Plus only, $39/yr | $159 to $299 |
| Pix-Star | Local only | No, email instead | $179 to $229 |
| Frameo | Local only | No | $60 to $150 |
| Nixplay | 500 MB | Plus only | $99 to $229 |
The Three Main Switch Paths
Aura
Most of the Reddit threads pointed here. Aura kept the unlimited free cloud promise. The Carver and Mason Luxe both ship with no plan, no cap. Read our three-brand take.
Skylight
Folks who wanted email sharing went here. You send pictures to a private address. Mom never opens an app. Skylight also markets a no-app gift setup, which is the easy win for grandparents.
Frameo
The budget switch. Frameo frames cost $60 to $150 and store photos on the frame. No plan. The app is the only path in, so the family has to install it. Trade-off is fine for most people.
Should You Still Buy a Nixplay?
Only in three cases. One, you want video with sound. Two, you already pay for Plus. Three, you got a deal that beats Aura on price by a wide margin. For most gift buyers, Aura is the cleaner pick.
The Lesson
When you buy a frame, check the cloud terms first. Free can become $30 a year overnight. Brands that charge zero fees, like Aura, take that risk off the table.
DigitalPictureFrames.com
Written by the editorial team at Anvil Road LLC. We research and test digital frames so you get honest, data-backed advice.