Compare price and subscription
The prices are from the makers’ websites and Elkjøp. Aura and Nixplay give their prices in US dollars.
| Price of the screen | Subscription | Shows the next photo on its own | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frameo | NOK 1,099 for a 10-inch frame at Elkjøp (source 1) | Free. Frameo+ costs $1.99 a month (source 2) | Yes, the frame shows each photo for 10 seconds to 30 minutes (source 1) |
| Aura | $149 for the 10-inch Carver (source 3) | Free, no subscription (source 3) | Yes, the frame shows each photo for 15 seconds to 4 hours (source 4) |
| Nixplay | $179.99 for a 10.1-inch frame (source 5) | Free up to 500 MB of photos. Plus costs $29.99 a year (source 6) | Yes, the frame shows the albums you choose (source 5) |
| Komp | NOK 7,995 (source 7) | NOK 249 a month, and the first 3 months are free (source 7) | Yes, Komp shows the photos automatically (source 7) |
| iPad | From NOK 5,990 new from Apple, or the one you already have (source 8) | Free. A shared album from iPadOS 27 or later uses the owner’s iCloud storage (source 17) | Yes, with the slideshow in the Photos app (source 9) |
See how the photos arrive
| How the family sends photos | Does the older person have to do anything? | Privacy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frameo | From the Frameo app, 10 photos at a time in the free version (source 2) | No, once the frame is on Wi-Fi and you have added the family (source 10) | The photos are kept on the frame, and they are end-to-end encrypted between the app and the frame (source 11) |
| Aura | From the Aura app, by email, or from iCloud and Google Photos (source 3) | No, but the frame needs Wi-Fi (source 3) | The photos are kept on Aura’s servers (source 3) |
| Nixplay | From the Nixplay app, the website, or by email to the frame (source 12) | No, but the frame needs Wi-Fi (source 12) | The photos are kept on encrypted servers in the US (source 13) |
| Komp | From the Komp app (source 7) | No, Komp has one button and built-in 4G (sources 7, 14) | Only invited family members have access (source 7) |
| iPad | From a shared album in iCloud, or you add the photos yourself (source 15) | No, once the slideshow is set to loop (source 9) | The photos are kept on the iPad, and in iCloud when you use a shared album (source 15) |
Frameo: a low-cost frame with a free app
Several makers use Frameo in their frames, among them Denver, whose frames Elkjøp sells. The family sends photos from the Frameo app, and you choose how often the frame shows the next photo (sources 1, 10).
The free version sends 10 photos at a time and videos of up to 15 seconds. Frameo+ costs $1.99 a month, lets you send 100 photos at a time and 2-minute videos, and includes a cloud backup (source 2).
The photos are kept on the frame. Frameo A/S is based in Denmark and says it cannot see the photos, because they are end-to-end encrypted between the app and the frame (source 11).
Aura: add photos with no subscription
With Aura, you pay only for the frame, and the family can add as many photos and videos as they like. The frame gets the photos from Aura’s servers, so it needs Wi-Fi (source 3).
You can add photos before the frame is unwrapped, so it shows something right away (source 3). The prices on the website are in US dollars, so check that Aura ships to Norway before you order.
Nixplay: free up to a limit
With Nixplay, the family sends photos from the app, the website, or by email to the frame’s own address (source 12). The free plan has room for 500 MB of photos and 500 MB of video (source 6).
When you are over the limit, the frame does not show the new photos until you delete something or upgrade (source 16). The photos are kept on encrypted servers in the US (source 13).
Komp: for someone who does not want to tap anything
Komp has one button, and its screen does not react to touch (source 14). The family sends photos and messages from the Komp app, and Komp shows them automatically. A video call starts after 10 seconds, and Komp has built-in 4G, so it works without Wi-Fi (source 7).
Komp costs NOK 7,995 and NOK 249 a month, with 3 months free and a 90-day return period (source 7). Kompany AS in Oslo makes Komp, and it says Komp suits people who live in a care home and people with dementia (source 14).
iPad: when you already have one
An iPad can show an album as a slideshow in the Photos app, and if you turn on Loop, the slideshow starts again when it ends (source 9). The photos can come from a shared album in iCloud, where the rest of the family adds photos (source 15).
A new iPad costs from NOK 5,990 at Apple (source 8), so if you do not have an iPad already, a photo frame costs less. Read how to use an iPad as a photo frame and keep the screen on.
How to choose
- For a low-cost frame that shows the photos automatically, choose Frameo.
- If the family wants to add lots of photos without paying every month, choose Aura. Check first that Aura ships to Norway.
- If there is no Wi-Fi where the oldest person lives, or you want video calls, choose Komp.
- If you already have an iPad, try the slideshow first, because it is free.
If you are looking for a gift, you can find more ideas in the guide to Christmas gifts for grandparents.
How to do it with skokk
We make skokk, an app where the whole family shares photos and short videos in a private group. On an iPad or another tablet, skokk can show the photos in simple mode, one at a time, with big buttons.
If you turn on Photo frame in simple mode, the photos change by themselves, and the screen stays on while the app is open. The screen has no buttons, and a tap on the photo does nothing, so the older person does not have to tap anything. A video plays once without sound. If you do not have a tablet, a photo frame is a better fit.
Photos are free, and video, “Like” and comments cost NOK 200 a month per group. We store the photos in the EU/EEA, at Google Cloud in Finland. The app is not in the App Store or Google Play yet.
Read how simple mode worksWant to see the family’s photos on the iPad, without tapping anything?
Get skokkSources
- Elkjøp: Denver Frameo 10.1" digital photo frame PFF-1021 WiFi (in Norwegian). elkjop.no/product/…/331201
- Frameo: Plus & Premium. frameo.com/plus
- Aura: Carver. auraframes.com/digital-frames/color/carver-gravel
- GearBrain: Aura Carver digital frame review. gearbrain.com/review-aura-carver-digital-frame-2647020140.html
- Nixplay: 10.1" Touch Screen Photo Frame. nixplay.com/products/nixplay-smart-photo-frame-10-1-inch-touch
- Nixplay: Compare plans. nixplay.com/pages/compare-plans
- Komp: Komp + Family-abonnement (in Norwegian). komp.family/product/komp
- Apple: Buy iPad (Norway, in Norwegian). apple.com/no/shop/buy-ipad/ipad
- Apple: Make a slideshow on iPad. support.apple.com/en-us/guide/ipad/ipadd2c69f4d
- Frameo. frameo.com
- Frameo: Privacy Policy. privacy.frameo.com
- Nixplay: How do I set up my Nixplay frame? nixplay.com/blogs/help/how-do-i-set-up-my-nixplay-frame
- Nixplay: How will Nixplay ensure that my content remains secure and accessible? nixplay.com/blogs/help/how-will-nixplay-ensure-…
- Komp: Hvem passer Komp for? (in Norwegian). komp.family/hvem-passer-komp-for
- Apple: How to use Shared Albums in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro. support.apple.com/en-us/108314
- Nixplay: My content is restricted, what does that mean? nixplay.com/blogs/help/my-content-is-locked-what-does-that-mean
- Apple: Shared Albums limits. support.apple.com/en-us/148868
