Where is the best place to find photo books? Photo books have become one of the most popular ways to preserve and showcase life's best moments. Unlike scrolling through endless photos on a phone, a photo book transforms your normally digital memories into something lasting and tactile. Photo books are popular for important life milestones like weddings, new babies, graduations, or even everyday family memories like vacations you never want to forget.
Best Option
Mixbook is a popular stationery site known for both its photo book options and greeting cards. The company was designed for photo books, but promises "way more." The company got its start in 2006, and now it offers everything from photo books to cards to home decor that's designed with your personal memories. So far, Mixbook claims to have helped out 9.5 million happy customers with prints, cards, and photo books. So, no matter how you want to share your memories, you can get everything taken care of at this one-stop shop.
Pick from 796 template designs
Mixbook stands out with a truly impressive inventory. There are 796 "themes" (as the store calls them) to start off your photo book design. Whether you want minimal, wedding, portfolios, or designs that are super easy to just add your photos and go, Mixbook has it all. Some of the popular styles you can pick from include "whimsical," "watercolor," "vintage," "trendy," "modern," and "classic & formal." The only difference between Mixbook and other providers is that the hardcover vs. "layflat" designs have different names at Mixbook. For example, if you want a layflat book, you'll want to choose "spread-friendly" layouts from the filters.
Great features for full customization
When you start designing with Mixbook, you'll be able to upload files from your desktop, phone, Google Photos, Facebook, and SmugMug. From there, you can pick from your uploaded photos and drag and drop them into the "frames" that are pre-designed based on the template you chose. You can also change and update the layouts if you feel like your photo will fit a different shape or collage. If you change your mind about the theme you chose, you can update it quickly from within the design tool. Everything on Mixbook is editable, so you can drag and drop the photo frames, add text, delete text, change font sizes and colors, and even add extras like maps to your photo book to make your design even more personal. This has all the best features of a professional design tool, with plenty of template layouts to keep beginner designers from being overwhelmed.
Cost from $14.99 to $94 for any style or template
Mixbook's pricing is a little different from other sites in our review. Instead of putting the price on each book, the designs are all the same, with a starting rate of $14.99. This is going to be for a softcover photo book with whatever template design or style you choose. On the higher end, you'll find layflat books that are $94 for any template design or style. All photo books start with 20 pages, and any additional 2-page spread will increase the final price at checkout.
100% Happiness Guarantee
Mixbook offers a 100% Happiness Guarantee policy that notes that you can get a refund if you contact Mixbook via email or live chat. This applies to any reason that you might be unhappy with your Mixbook shipment. You can get a credit toward another Mixbook purchase if you want to try again with a different product. However, a refund is standard no matter the reason for your concern. There is no listed timeframe to reach out to Mixbook.
Top-rated site with high praise
Mixbook holds an impressive "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it has an outstanding 4.6-star average rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. This is out of 43,000+ individual customer reviews, too, so you can feel confident that a lot of customers use Mixbook and enjoy their products. Recent reviews claim that Mixbook is the "best photo album" site out there. There are also plenty of reviews praising the staff and helpfulness of customer service through the design process - and when things go wrong and returns need to be processed. While there are a handful of reviews with concerns about slow prints, the majority of customers are over the moon about their photo books.
Top pick: best one-stop shop
Mixbook is a site you can trust to offer standout photo books with hundreds of designs to choose from. The design tool is competitive and professional, offering as much customization as you can imagine. With reasonable prices, impressive design opportunities, and a phenomenal refund policy, Mixbook stands out from the pack. With its products backed by tens of thousands of reviews, Mixbook is the best one-stop shop for printwork and photo books of all kinds, earning it the #1 spot on our list.
Great
PikPerfect is a family-run print business that's owned and founded by a husband-and-wife team. Their happy family is based in Zurich, Switzerland, and the company is known for its specialty design work for photo books and wedding albums. Where most sites leave the photo book making in your hands, PikPerfect stands out from the pack by offering its assistance instead. PikPerfect offers a team of experienced designers who will do the design work for you. Designs from PikPerfect have been featured in news articles at Cosmopolitan and The Knot.
8 styles, but some customization inside
PikPerfect has 8 types of photo books, which include cookbooks, photographer albums, engagement albums, wedding guest books, travel photo books, family photo albums, baby photo books, and wedding albums. While there aren't as many "template" styles like we've seen at other photo book printers, PikPerfect lets you customize the types of photo books a bit. You can choose from a premium layflat, regular layflat, or standard photobook; choose your occasion, your size, and whether you want a photo on the cover; and even linen or vegan leather. You can also choose the paper type and how many pages you want to start with. PikPerfect has a page minimum of 24.
Pick between DIY and AI help
PikPerfect offers two ways to get your photo book designed. If you're super confident, you can do it yourself with the online photo book tool. On the other hand, if you want someone with a more professional touch, you can pay $0.95 per page to have an expert at PikPerfect design the album for you. Revisions are free with this method, and you'll get professional color correction and quality checks. To test out their design software, we looked through the DIY method, too. You will need to make an account with PikPerfect before you can use the design software. Once you get into the system, you'll be offered the ability to use AI-assisted design (if you want a middle ground between pro help and doing it 100% alone), or you can design your photo book using the software yourself. The design tool is similar to the one we saw on Photobook America, another service in our evaluation (so similar, in fact, that we suspect they're using the same software). You can drag and drop photos into the existing frames, and move around and resize any of the elements included. You can add or change text, add shapes, and more. PikPerfect also allows you to upload photos from your phone, computer, or from Google Photos.
Costs from $49 to $299 per book
PikPerfect's pricing depends on the type of album you decide on before you start designing. At the baseline, the standard Photo Book option is $49, the Layflat Album is $89, and the Premium Layflat Album is $199. Now, if you select all of the options at the lowest-tier (8x8-inch size and photo cover), the lowest cost for a photo book at PikPerfect is $49. If you decide to opt for all the upgrades (including Premium Layflat style, 14x10 in size, vegan leather, and a metal plate for the label), you'll be at $299 per book.
Quality guarantee without much detail
PikPerfect has a quality guarantee that promises that they will stand by any products they create. If you find a mistake with your order, you can contact PikPerfect within 14 days of when you received your photo book. You may be asked to provide photos to demonstrate the issue. However, there aren't any specifics added beyond a promise to "make things right," which isn't as transparent as we've seen with other photo book sites where you are promised a refund or reshipment.
Rave reviews for quality
PikPerfect was harder to find on third-party review sites than some of our other photo book stores. This could be because the company is based outside the US. There were no ratings on the Better Business Bureau or our usual third-party review sites like Trustpilot or Sitejabber. Instead, we found reviews on Reviews.io, where the company has an impressive 4.9-star average out of 3,000+ total reviews. The reviews are from verified buyers, and customers almost universally liked their experience buying photo books from PikPerfect. They loved the high quality, design, and customization, and those who used the professional assistance for making their book (instead of DIY) said that the professionals were fast, kind, and helpful with even the most intricate designs.
Best site for professional help
PikPerfect is a top-notch choice, especially if you want some professional help with your photo book - though you can DIY the photo book if you want (or use the upgraded AI technology for a middle ground). No matter how you want to make your photo book, there's plenty of flexibility at PikPerfect. While the prices are a little higher than some sites, you're paying for additional quality, and the rave reviews say that it's worth it. While we'd like to see a more detailed refund policy, PikPerfect's high scores from customers suggest you may not need to make returns or get reprints.
Very Good
Photobook America is a design site that's specifically geared toward getting photo books. While there are other photo gift ideas at Photobook America, most of the items in Photobook America's inventory are photo books. You can find some home decor, wall decor, cards, and calendars, too, though, if you want to get other photo-based items for your precious memories. The company got started in 2005, and now offers a competitive variety online (using Photobook Live) and printed photo books to enjoy.
Pick from 278 designs
Photobook America offers 278 different photo book designs to choose from. However, the browsing experience at Photobook America feels like it could use a bit of an update. The categories are listed to the left of the browsing window, but there are typos, and all of the numbers for how many of each category are offered by Photobook America are attached to the text, making them hard to read. The most popular categories of photo books include Travel, Anniversary, and Coffee Table Photo Books. All of the designs appear to be hardcover while browsing, but there are no details until you click on a specific listing page, where you can see the customizations for size, orientation, and options for softcover, hardcover, debossed hardcover, and deluxe hardcover. Most of the designs start at a 20-page minimum.
You or AI can design your photo book
Photobook America's design tool has two options when you first get started on a photo book: you can either let AI design the book for you (where you upload your photos and let AI technology built into Photobook America do the rest), or you can fully design the book yourself. To check out the editor tool, we chose the second option for the purposes of the review, but the AI tool will be particularly helpful for those who have little to no design experience. The first time we opened the editor, the site glitched and wouldn't show us any of the upload features, so we had to reload and start over. Once we got into the system, we found the photo book design tool to be fairly professional, with clear markings on the design tools. Photobook America allows you to upload photos from your computer, your phone, and from Google Photos. You can move text and photo "frames" around, resize them, and change backgrounds beyond just colorful pages. If you want to do the design work yourself, Photobook America gives you all the tools to succeed.
Prices from $9.99 to $90 per book
Photobook America's photo books are all at a uniform price for every template design. The lowest cost is for the smallest (6x6), square, softcover photo book shape, which is $9.99. At the high end, you'll find photo books at the larger sizes (17.5x12 inches), and in a landscape format with a hardcover finish for $90. There are plenty of options between those price points, depending on what you'd like size- and cover-wise.
100% quality guarantee for reprints
Photobook America offers a 100% quality guarantee that promises that each photo book goes through a full quality-control process before shipping out to you. If you're not happy, you can contact Photobook America's support team and show photos of any defects to get a resolution. You have 30 days to supply the necessary details. Keep in mind, the return policy doesn't actually promise refunds. There is a promise of replacement, however.
Less-well-known but still highly rated
Photobook America does not currently have a page with the Better Business Bureau. Instead, we had to rely on third-party review sites to get an idea of how popular this photo book retailer is compared to its competitors. On the bright side, Photobook America holds a solid 4.5 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot. The bad news? There are only about 95 total reviews for this retailer. So while the customers who have used Photobook America tend to like their results, there aren't many of them when compared to more popular photo book sites in our review. The fans that Photobook America has are often repeat buyers. One customer has gone back to Photobook America again and again over the course of 7 years. Praise for this photo book shop often includes clear photos, the easy-to-use design tool, and the frequency of offered discounts.
Unique AI features and positive reviews
If you want to get in ahead of the crowd on a print website, Photobook America is worth a look. It has a professional-level design tool, tons of templates, and a solid policy for reprints if something goes wrong. While it could use some TLC on the web design part, there are plenty of benefits for choosing Photobook America (including the AI tool for those who don't feel as confident with their design skills).
Good
VistaPrint is a print company that specializes in making products out of your own materials. Whether you want photos or to make prints of your professional art, VistaPrint has plenty of options to enjoy. The company got its start in 1995, and it's known for its helpful design tools and branding materials. Photo books are just one of many different items you can enjoy at this printwork one-stop shop.
More limited inventory than other sites
VistaPrint's inventory is fairly limited at face value. There's just one listing for photo books, and you have 8 options of different sizes to pick from. You can select landscape or portrait orientation with sizes from 5.5x4-inch up to 12x12-inch. It isn't until you get into the design software that you can see the options for the templates. The books start at a 20-page minimum. There are options for regular cloth covers and photo covers. There are 17 page layouts to choose from but no real starting templates compared to other sites, where you can have magazine-style designs and more.
Design tool isn't for beginners
When you start with the design tool, you'll be asked if you want the site to auto-populate your photos using AI technology (you upload your pictures and then the site arranges them in the best format in the photo book for you) or if you'd like to do the work yourself. From there, if you choose DIY, you can add page layouts, backgrounds, stickers (from online clipart), frames, and masks to all of your photos to bring them to life. However, VistaPrint does assume you have some design experience (if you don't opt for the AI-assisted version, that is).
Cost from $9.75 to $39
VistaPrint's pricing is all on one page since there's only one listing for photo books. The lowest cost option is the 5.5x4-inch size for $9.75. This includes the basic cover (not the photo cover, which is a $2.50 upcharge). The most costly option is the 12x12-inch size, which costs $37.50 per book (or around $39 if you choose the photo cover). The costs at VistaPrint are competitive, especially on the larger sizes.
30-day refund policy
VistaPrint's refund policy offers online support for your order. You will go through a click-through questionnaire to describe the issue with your item, and you may need to provide photo evidence of the problem. Once you've submitted your concerns, you will hear back via email, live chat, or a phone call. You have 30 days to request a refund as long as you are not the one responsible for the error (such as spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors).
Impressive reputation for helping customers
VistaPrint holds a stellar "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it has a solid 4.5 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot. The verified third-party reviews show that VistaPrint has quick and professional customer service. Those who had to ask for help said that their problems were resolved quickly (usually within a matter of hours). Customers love the wide variety of print materials you can get on VistaPrint, though we did have trouble finding specific reviews for photo books.
Worth a look for its other print works
VistaPrint is a competitive option, but the lack of variety in its photo books is a bit of a downside. While it's got great pricing and top-notch ratings from third-party review sites, we would love to see more templates and design options from VistaPrint. Considering its one-stop shop approach, it's definitely worth a look, especially if you have more than one print project in mind. But for photo books alone, VistaPrint earns a competitive score rather than a higher rating just because it doesn't beat out the top competitors in terms of design options.
Average
Printer Pix is a print store that got started back in 2011, designed to specifically bring life to your memories so you can enjoy them for years to come. The company is currently based out of Florida and offers a one-stop shop for all things print. Whether you want a custom printed blanket, photo book, canvas prints, or something else entirely, Printer Pix has something for you to immortalize your favorite memories.
Pick from hundreds of designs
When you start browsing, Printer Pix will show you around 20 total themes as their most popular. There are more once you get into the design editor, but to get an idea of the things you can do with their photo books, they give you 20 to start. You can pick from different types like hardcover, layflat, softcover, acrylic, fabric, and leather covers. Once you pick a photo book type, you'll be able to see all of the possible template designs (there are hundreds of them).
AI help or do it yourself
Printer Pix asks you to sign up for an account before you can start. Similar to a few other sites in our review, Printer Pix offers an AI-generation method for creating your photo book and a manual mode for those who prefer to DIY. The platform is technologically identical to a few other photo book stores in our review, including PikPerfect and Photobook America. All three companies may be using the same software for their editing tool. Like the other two sites, Printer Pix allows you to upload photos from your computer, phone, and Google Photos. Printer Pix has the ability to add photos from Facebook, too. You can add masks, stickers, frames, backgrounds, and change the theme directly from the editor. The page minimum is 20, but you can add more with the editor. Everything is movable with this design tool, so you can shift photos, frames, and text as you please (and resize as well).
Prices from $9.98 to $249.97 per book
The prices at Printer Pix are based on the cover you select, the size of the book, and the quantity. There are additional sales if you buy more than one photo book (with up to 49% off the per-book price at 10 books). The lowest-cost photo book is a softcover 8x8-inch photo book, which starts at $9.98 per book (with the purchase of just one book). The top-tier option is a Luxury Layflat photo book with a 16x12-inch size. This costs $249.97 per book (if you buy just one). These prices may go up a bit if you add more pages to your photo books during the design phase.
Satisfaction guarantee with no limitations
Printer Pix has a "no questions asked" satisfaction guarantee. This promises that you can get a refund if you're not satisfied with your order for any reason. There are no limitations to this guarantee, making it one of the more customer-friendly policies in our review.
Mixed feedback on shipping times and customer service
Printer Pix has a pretty dismal rating from the Better Business Bureau. This photo book printer has a "D+" rating from the BBB. On third-party review sites, its reputation is right in the middle with a 3-star average rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. There are over 22,000 individual reviews, so the fact that feedback for Printer Pix is so mixed is somewhat concerning. Recent reviews are pretty evenly balanced between 1- and 5-star ratings. Customers who liked their experience with Printer Pix said that the photos were very clear and offered an impressive level of "crispness" when compared to other photo book design stores. However, for those who didn't enjoy their experience, there were complaints about slow shipping or a lack of communication about orders.
Mid-tier option with competitive pricing
Printer Pix is a decent choice if you're looking for low-cost options for photo books, but with other sites in our review that offer similar design tools and more reliable customer service, Printer Pix isn't as high-ranking as it could be. The low BBB rating and mixed reviews keep it from really competing with its rivals.
Fair
Artifact Uprising is a stationery store known for its custom photo books. This retailer offers a competitive variety using eco-conscious materials, so you can trust that your photo books are good for the environment. The paper is sourced from Mohawk (which is the longest-running paper mill in the U. S.), and the majority of the materials used in the paper are recycled. As an added benefit, Artifact Uprising uses press printing, which is also a more eco-friendly way to print. Promising easy personalization and a way to ease your mind about paper usage, Artifact Uprising initially stands out from the pack.
Pick from 80 photo book styles
Artifact Uprising offers 80 different styles of photo books. These range from hardcover styles with embossed titles, books with printed photos on the covers, and more. The popular styles include layflat photo albums, hardcover books, softcover books, baby books, and wedding albums. You can also find books for things like "year in review" or travel. Most of the books at Artifact Uprising range from 20-50 pages, but you can get 50-100 pages or 100+ pages in some of them.
A professional-grade design tool
Artifact Uprising has an odd design tool requirement: you can't upload photos from your desktop. Instead, you have to use either Google Photos or your phone to get started. However, when you get into the builder, you have plenty of options for professional layouts, which you can apply to the pages or keep the default settings for the photo book if you're not as confident with your design skills. You can move around items like text boxes or photo placeholders, where you can fill in with your family photos. Some of the more important text boxes or photos will be static, so you won't move things by accident that are essential to the page design. You can pick from page layouts that use from 1 to 6+ photos. There's even a large view to manage pages, which can help you if you want to see all of your book pages all in one place. The design tool is incredibly professional.
Prices from $14.25 to $165 per book
Artifact Uprising has a competitive price range, and often, some of the photo books have sales and deals included. For example, the lowest-cost photo book we saw was a Couple Softcover Photo Book for $19 normally. At the time of our review, this book was $14.25 on sale. Now, at the high end, Artifact Uprising's photo books can cost up to $165. The Wedding Guest Book is the highest cost (hardcover) book that we found. However, at the time of our review, this one only cost $132 on sale.
No promises for guarantees or refunds
Sadly, only non-custom items are eligible for returns and refunds at Artifact Uprising. While Artifact Uprising states that it is happy to talk to you to find a resolution if you're not pleased with your photo book when it arrives, there are no specific promises in terms of refund policy or reprints. If your photo book does arrive damaged or incorrect, you have 30 days to contact Artifact Uprising, and you'll need to be prepared to upload your original images against the incorrect prints to compare what went wrong.
Concerning reports of blurry or bad-quality prints
Artifact Uprising, regrettably, holds a "D-" rating on the Better Business Bureau. This is due to the failure to respond to recent complaints. It has a middle-tier score overall from third-party review sites, too. Artifact Uprising shows a 3.3-star average out of 5 on Trustpilot. There is a mix of reviews that shift between 5- and 1-star ratings (with over 50% of all reviews holding just 1 star. Some customers had issues with orders showing up blank, some say that the print quality is bad, with photos that were blurry or darker than the original. Others noted that getting ahold of customer service was a challenge as there aren't any live agents to contact. While there were some customers who liked their wedding albums and the site's organization tools, most preferred another service for their photo books.
Green printing isn't enough
While we love the eco-friendly practices at Artifact Uprising, there aren't enough benefits to using this print store when compared to others on the market. Artifact Uprising has too many problems with its ratings (especially considering how much you're paying, you want your photo book to be top quality). Without a concrete refund or reprint policy, Artifact Uprising doesn't stand out as a trusted place to buy your photo books.
Subpar
Mpix is a photo lab offering unique and beautiful photo books that are designed for storytelling. The company is based out of Pittsburg, Kansas, and promises "unmatched" quality with professional-grade paper and materials in every book. Mpix stands out with its free shipping on any order over $35, and you can trust that every photo book is made in the U.S. The company has been around since 2003, and is a one-stop shop offering prints, wall art, tabletop books, and holiday photo gifts of all kinds.
Only shows 5 styles to choose from
Mpix offers a wide range of photo book styles, including hardcover, softcover, guest books, signature albums, and classic photo books with a range of different designs. However, there are only seemingly the previously mentioned 5 types (hardcover, softcover, guest books, signature albums, and classic photo books) to choose from. When you click through those types, you'll see design options for sizing, and the option to customize your book, but in terms of pre-built styles, those don't show up at all while you're browsing.
Bit of a learning curve with this design tool
Before you can start your photo book designs at Mpix, you will have to sign up for an account. On the bright side, Mpix offered us a 25% off coupon when we first joined the site. When you get into the design tool, there are lots of features to explore. It can take a bit of a learning curve to get through all the steps of creating a photo book at Mpix, but one perk is that if you want to add a professional touch, Mpix offers photos that you can choose from online that can provide a unique "boost" to your design. Or, you can upload your own photos from your desktop device. At the time of our review, there was no option to upload photos from online or cloud-based photo storage sites. To edit pages, you'll need to click on pages that are empty and choose a layout. Then, you can fill out the template layout. While you can move photos within the snapped "frames", you can't move the frames themselves, so the layouts are pretty static.
Cost from $29.99 to $44.99 per book
Mpix, oddly, doesn't show you any pricing until you get into the design tool. When we browsed the different options, we found the lowest cost classic photo book was $29.99 with a minimum of 20 pages. The premium hardcover books start at $44.99 with the standard 20 pages. There are higher costs if you choose to add more than 20 pages, and there's a limit of up to 100 pages per photo book.
Refunds are only for errors that you didn't make
Mpix's return policy includes a 100% satisfaction guarantee. You have 30 days to contact Mpix if you're not happy with your photo book. There are also some requirements that you double-check custom features. This includes text, spelling, grammar, positioning, image cropping, and other parts of the design that you're in charge of. If you want a reprint of something that is your error, it may affect your ability to get a refund.
Mpix makes changes that aren't always positive
Mpix is owned by Miller's Professional Imaging, so when we researched the company's reputation, we needed to use Miller's page from the Better Business Bureau. Currently, Mpix's parent company holds a full "A+" rating from the BBB. However, on third-party review sites like Trustpilot, Mpix has a 2.8-star average out of 5. This is due primarily to complaints from customers who are unable to get free shipping. There are also complaints about the quality of the home decor prints, where mounts fall off the wall and break after only a few weeks. Mpix has also received complaints for incorrectly resizing images and making changes to the final submission that customers made when they sent in their designs for the order.
It just doesn't stand out
Mpix isn't one of the most outstanding sites for photo books. Compared to other services in our review that have better design tools and more templates to choose from, Mpix seems a bit bare bones. Considering that the company has received a concerning average score from reviews, it just doesn't stack up against more popular and more advanced design options.
Weak
Chatbooks is a print company that's been around since 2014. Unlike some other sites in our review that offer prints of all kinds, Chatbooks is a site that specializes in photo books. The company promises a "family feel" because it was a family owned and operated company when it got started. Now, it's a much larger company that has over 150 employees, but promises to keep that "individualized" feel if you need help with your photo books at any time. As a bonus, Chatbooks provides free shipping on all standard shipping orders and eco-friendly packaging for all shipments.
Only 10 books, but they have custom options
Chatbooks has plenty of photo book options to choose from. You can find classic photo book designs, yearbooks, designer cover photo books, and layflat styles. There are also options for seasonal photo books or "monthly" books that let you keep track of precious moments as they happen throughout the year. Technically speaking, though, there are only 10 items to choose from. These are all customizable with multiple sizes on each listing and different cover colors to choose from. However, it does seem to still be a smaller overall selection than we've seen at other photo book stores (especially considering that Chatbooks specializes in photo books).
Disappointingly limited design tool
Chatbooks allows you to upload photos from your computer, your phone, or from Google Photos, so you can access all of your favorites from Instagram or just those that you've filed away for fun photo book purposes. However, design options are a little limited with this design software. Chatbooks doesn't let you move photos around or add additional text boxes to the pages. You can either have full photo pages (or collage pages) where you directly upload the photos to the page, or full pages of text. However, the photos are hard to select for specific "placeholder" spaces. The only helpful feature we could find was the global "rearrange" options, where you can change around the photo book pages. But there aren't any ways that we could find to edit text fonts or colors, so what you see is what you get.
Pricing from $15 to $80 per book
Chatbooks' pricing isn't too costly compared to other photo book stores in our review. The least costly photo book starts at $15 for the Classic style This option is for the 6x6 size with a softcover finish. The most costly photo book option at Chatbooks is the layflat style, which is $80 without any customizations. This price requires a minimum of 20 pages of photos, but the cost can go up if you add additional pages to your design during editing.
Lifetime refund guarantee
Chatbooks has a decent return policy, promising returns and exchanges for new and unopened products, slightly used products, or those that are defective because of Chatbooks' error. Chatbooks also offers a lifetime return policy. The company says that if you're not happy with your photo book for any reason (they specify that this includes prints, ships, feels, and even smells), Chatbooks promises to make it right. There are no return costs, and the policy applies to the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Increasing complaints are a red flag
Chatbooks has a concerning "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. It reports that Chatbooks has failed to respond to complaints as the primary reason for the rating. On the other hand, Chatbooks' reputation on Trustpilot is much better than its BBB score. Currently, this company holds a 4.2-star average rating out of 5 with over 2,000 total ratings to back up the score. 70% of all ratings on Trustpilot have earned a full 5 stars, too. However, the recent reviews over the last few months show an increase in negative feedback. One customer said that the company is a "good idea," but the service has been "worsening" over time. We had to go back 7 months from the date of our review to find a single review with 5 stars. The rest were 1- or 3-star ratings. The complaints include long delivery times, issues with limitations in the design tool, and more.
A falling reputation isn't competitive
Chatbooks initially seemed like a solid choice with its lower-than-average costs for photo books and a lifetime refund policy, but the reviews show a completely different story. With an "F" rating from the BBB and increasingly upset feedback from customers, this may not be your first (or second, or third) choice for photo books. The limited inventory, too, is a bit of a downside. Regrettably, with its falling reputation, Chatbooks earns one of the lowest scores in our review.
Weak
Shutterfly is a popular site for print designs of all kinds. It was originally known as a place to store photos, and now you can take those and turn them into all kinds of keepsakes. Shutterfly's inventory includes everything from greeting cards to home decor to photo books. Promising a fully custom experience, you can design your photo book from the ground up. Plus, with writing and design AI tools, those of you who want a little extra help can get that perfect photo book design without spending countless hours making your own edits.
Pick from 219 different options
Shutterfly offers an appealing range of different photo book types, including travel, everyday, wedding, family photo, or totally blank options that let you design every piece from the ground up. There are 219 template styles to choose from, and you can get hardcover, leather, and softcover photo books from this print store. You'll find 219 different design templates, with a mix of solid color, photo covers, and embossed. Photo books start at a 20-page minimum at Shutterfly.
Detailed customization
Shutterfly's design tool allows you to upload photos from your phone, Amazon Photos, Google Photos, Facebook, ArtLab, and many more online or cloud-based photo sites. The design software is pretty easy to use, but it comes across as a bit cluttered, so you might need to take a little time to learn where everything is. You can change layouts to any of the designs offered by Shutterfly. There's full customization allowed, so you can move the photo frame boxes or text boxes around, and the tool will allow you to resize and change the color and font of your text. You can add extra photos too, beyond the ones that are already designed in the template. It's pretty easy to work with, and the snapping tool makes it simple to line up different elements of your design.
Costs from $1.99 to $205.49 per book
Shutterfly's pricing ranges from $14.99 per book up to $205.49, and this mostly depends on the specifics of the book you choose. The lowest-cost option is the 8x8-inch book with a soft cover and standard pages. The higher-end option is the 12x12-inch size with a premium leather cover and the deluxe layflat finish.
60 days to contact them about problems
Shutterfly offers a 100% happiness guarantee that promises they won't stop fixing your photo book until you're entirely happy with the final product. The company states that you can contact them at any time to remake an order right away if there's an error with it. However, if you're asking for help with something that wasn't Shutterfly's fault, there will be a 50% return fee, and you may not be able to get a refund (or even a partial one) if you wait more than 60 days to resolve the problem.
Terrible reputation across the board
Shutterfly regrettably has a "D-" rating from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it has one of the worst reputations on third-party review sites. For example, it has only 1.6 stars out of 5 from Trustpilot. There are tons of complaints about mistakes in the orders: photos that are cut in half, lost projects (one of them was a photo book that was deleted from the platform), inability to download photos, and orders that are never shipped. We struggled to find consistent positive reviews for this company, with pretty much every complaint you could imagine lodged in between. Yikes.
Not worth the worries about bad photos
Shutterfly sounds like a great option in theory, but when you look at the reviews and feedback from actual customers, it falls near the bottom of the pack. Unfortunately, with so many poor reviews with complaints about every aspect of the service (including bad photos or lost projects), we just can't recommend it when there are plenty of trustworthy photo book sites available instead.
Poor
Snapfish is a well-known online photo service that's got everything photo-based that you can imagine. Photo books are just one of the many options for photo-themed gifts and designs you can make with Snapfish. The company also lets you upload and store photos on its platform, if you'd like to keep track of your memories in one place. Whether you're looking for greeting cards, photo books, canvas prints, home decor, mugs, calendars, or more, Snapfish has got you covered. It's a 100% one-stop shop for all your photo needs.
A mid-tier inventory
Snapfish's collection of photo books includes travel, gallery, family, wedding, baby, and kids. You can also find a range of cover types, including hardcover, matte cover, linen cover, leather cover, layflat hardcover, premium layflat, and softcover. When you get into the design tool, you can see all of the themes in a scrolling list. The photo books generally start at a minimum of 20 pages. There were over 100 different themes to choose from, including holiday styles or those specifically for babies or kids. In general, though, Snapfish had a bit of a smaller inventory than we've seen at some competitors.
Could use a simpler tool
The design tool for Snapfish is a little bit clunky for photo books. Changing your theme can take some searching (it's just a tiny blue link at the top of the screen), and the elements are stacked, so if you click on something, you have to make sure that it's the one you actually want to move.There's only a quick tutorial, which does help, but the UI is just a little more difficult and slower when compared to some of the professional-grade design tools at other photo book stores. On the bright side, you can add photos from your existing Snapfish account, your computer, your phone, Google Photos, and Facebook.
Costs between $5.60 and $104.99 per book
Snapfish's prices depend on the size and type of cover that you want. So, if you start at the low end, you'll be looking at softcover photo books. The least costly option is the 5x7-inch size. This will cost you $5.60 per book, one of the lowest prices in our review. To see their high-end photo books, you'll want to look at the matte hardcover in the seamless layflat style. The 12x12-inch is the largest size offered for this version, and will cost $104.99 per book.
Happiness seems guaranteed
Snapfish's refund policy is pretty competitive. The company offers a happiness guarantee that promises that you can contact Snapfish with any concerns you have about your order. You'll need your order number and a description (sometimes a photo) of the problem you want to get your refund for. Depending on the situation, Snapfish will also offer you a reprint at no cost.
Bad reputation for photo books
Snapfish, regrettably, has an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, Snapfish has a highly concerning 1.3-star average rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. According to recent feedback, Snapfish's customers have felt let down by their experiences. There are tons of reviews with negative notes about the customer service team. On top of that, customers are frustrated by orders that don't arrive, and those who ordered photo books (and received them) said there were tons of errors. Some photos were cut off, while others are facing the wrong direction. Overall, we struggled to find positive feedback for Snapfish.
Not worth the bad prints
Snapfish just hasn't earned the trust of its customers, so it falls to the bottom of the pack in our review. If you can't be confident that your photo book will come in top condition (or you can't trust the customer service to help you out if there are problems), then it's not worth your time and money. For your next photo book purchase, you might want to stay away from Snapfish.
Continued from above...
Photo books have become one of the most popular ways to preserve and showcase life's best moments. Unlike scrolling through endless photos on a phone, a photo book transforms your normally digital memories into something lasting and tactile. Photo books are popular for important life milestones like weddings, new babies, graduations, or even everyday family memories like vacations you never want to forget.
With modern stationery stores and other online retailers, it's easier than ever to get a photo book made exactly how you picture it (pun intended). Modern photo book retailers give you total control over layouts, covers, and page designs without needing any design experience. You can choose from hundreds of templates, mix text with your photos, and select background themes that match your story. You'll feel like the editor of a fancy magazine, except instead of fashion and perfume, you and your memories (or those of your loved ones) will be the star.
Ordering photo books online also makes the process more cost-effective than traditional printing methods. In the past, creating a custom photo album meant paying for professional printing or buying expensive materials to try to DIY a photo book. Now, online retailers offer flexible pricing and special deals that fit almost any budget. Many services allow you to order just one copy or take advantage of discounts for larger quantities, which is perfect if you want to share copies of your creation with family or friends (like a wedding gift bag idea, maybe). Plus, digital previews and online editing tools help prevent mistakes before printing, saving you time and money in the long run.
At the end of the day, photo books make thoughtful and lasting gifts for loved ones. Whether you're creating a family yearbook, a travel recap, or a celebration of a new baby, a photo book tells a story that words alone can't express. It's something people can hold, flip through, and treasure for years, long after a social media post has faded from memory. Giving someone a personalized photo book shows care and effort, making it the perfect way to share your memories, celebrate your connections, and keep those special moments alive.
So, if you're ready to start designing your next photo book but you're not sure where to begin, don't worry - we've put together some photo book factors that can help you narrow down the best site to design and print your favorite memories:
No matter what your reason is for printing and sharing your memories, you want your photo book to be something beautiful to return to for years and years of enjoyment. To help you get your memories preserved like a top-tier gallery, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top photo book stores available today. This way, you can reminisce and delight in your family memories with loved ones and friends any time you want. Enjoy having your favorite photos right in the palms of your hands!
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Why Have Photo Books Become So Popular?
The simple answer to that question lies outside of the photo book itself: Digital photography and a computer.
The days of coming back from a European vacation with a hundred rolls of exposed film and no way of knowing if you got a good photograph of anything is over. After spending many dollars on developing the film, it was normal to fill several traditional photo albums with shots of dubious quality, a time consuming and expensive activity. Few people, aside from yourself, want to see a dozen shots of the Eiffel Tower from different angles. But they will be happy to look at one great photo of the icon on the Seine, especially if it was taken by you. If it is context with other spectacular photos of the City of Light, well, what's not to like?
Digital cameras allow you to click away until you get the image you want. If you know how to use the digital camera, then loading the photographs into your computer is probably easy for you, as well. The final step, creating a photo book, using the best of your best photographs, rather than oodles of ordinary ones, is a simple effort for anyone.
Therein lies the reason for photo books' rising popularity. The books, created from your skill, your eye for composition and your flair for storytelling, provide a way for you, and others, to truly enjoy the event you have experienced. And with the help of photo book companies, you can do it without too great an effort nor too great an expense.
Photo books are a perfect memento for a wealth of occasions, especially since you can determine exactly how many photo book copies you need for yourself and to share.
It goes without saying, the bride and groom will treasure their wedding photo album, but the parents of the couple, would no doubt enjoy a photo book of the event, perhaps with more candid, family shots included than would be in the formal arrangements. A photo book of Mom and Dad's Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary party, with Grandma and Grandad taking a turn on the dance floor, would probably be a best seller if it were available to the whole clan, and with a photo book, it can be.
Photo book services allow a digital photographer to easily manipulate, crop and resize images. They also provide easy access to a wide range of other variables, from backgrounds to photo placement and fonts for captions.
Photo book cover options include spiral bound, soft covers, hard backs, leather bound and dust jackets. Photo books can be created in several different sizes, from 4x6 inches to portfolio sized perfect for display on the coffee table. Choices include photo books which either have page curl and those with lay flat features.
The result is a totally customizable photo book of personal memories.
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