Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

Vista Print Review

Sunday, September 15th

2024 Photo Book Company Reviews

Vista Print Review 4 Star Rating

Vista Print

4 Star Rating
  • Prices from $13 to $50
  • DIY design model
  • Online and offline designing
  • 3-8 day shipping
  • "A+” rating from the BBB

VistaPrint stands out for its unique purpose, focusing not only on custom photo creations for individuals but also on helping small business owners create custom marketing products. The company has gained widespread recognition for its business cards, which they have been printing since 1995. Their commitment to catering to diverse needs is evident through their extensive collection of designs for every occasion and target audience.

Build from scratch

There aren't any pre-made themes to choose from at VistaPrint. VistaPrint offers three distinct routes for customers to embark on when creating a photo book. Like other photo book creation sites, they provide hardcover photo books in seven sizes and layouts, available with either a linen or photo cover. For a simpler and more affordable alternative, customers can opt for spiral-bound, laminated photo books. These books come in two variations, one displaying one photo per page with accompanying text and the other showcasing six photos per page with captions. The smaller two options are ideal for those creating photo books for children.

Good for pros

To customize their photo book, customers can either download an editor to their computer or use VistaPrint's online version, though you will need an account to save your work. The design tools provided by VistaPrint are user-friendly and familiar, resembling those offered by most other photo book design websites, making it easy for users to navigate and create their projects. However, without any pre-made themes, customers will be starting from scratch when creating their photo book, a process that may take longer and may be overwhelming for those new to photo book creation.

Best Photo Book Companies

Total cost varies based on custom items

The cost of VistaPrint's hardbound photo books ranges from $13 to $50, depending on the chosen size. Each book comes with 24 pages, and customers have the option to add more double-sided pages for an additional cost ranging from $0.75 to $1.50 per page. However, the maximum number of pages that can be added to any photo book is limited to 120. It's important to note that the starting price for photo books may vary depending on factors such as the type of photo paper (glossy or matte) and the chosen cover type, both of which may incur additional charges.

Ships within 3-8 days

In terms of getting your new photo book delivered to your home, the price of shipping at VistaPrint is directly related to the amount in your cart. There are three different shipping timelines too. You can choose between 8 days, 6 days, and 3-4 days. The pricing schedule is as follows:

  • Order total of $0-$35: Shipping costs $8.99-$25.99
  • Order total of $35.01-$150: Shipping costs $11.99-$34.99
  • Order total of $150.01-$500: Shipping costs $17.99-$44.99
  • Order total over $500: Shipping costs $25.99-$59.99

It's important to note that only the first two tiers will really apply for photo books unless you buy a ton of them at once. The most you should expect to pay for shipping is $34.99 if you want it shipped within 3-4 days.

Best Photo Book Companies

Top marks from the BBB, but mixed reviews

VistaPrint has garnered positive feedback from customers regarding the quality of the photo books they create. The company has an impressive "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. On the other hand, there have been some mixed customer reviews for VistaPrint as a company; these concerns are mostly related to delivery issues with their prints, rather than the photo books themselves. Overall, VistaPrint's customer service has received high praise from individuals who have faced order-related concerns. The company has an average star rating of 3.9 stars out of 5 across different review sites.

Best for DIY fans

While there's a lot of fun stuff with VistaPrint, the lack of pre-made themes for customers to choose from when creating their photo books is the primary reason VistaPrint hasn't earned a higher rating from us. For those seeking pre-designed themes and a more streamlined photo book creation process, we recommend exploring our top-ranked photo book companies instead. However, if you're big on DIY and design, this might be a fun challenge for you, and it makes VistaPrint worth checking out.

Where is the Best Place to Get Photo Books Out There Today?

Photo books are a fantastic way to keep our special memories in a tangible, beautiful format instead of just storing pictures on computers or in boxes. They are perfect for different occasions, like giving them as anniversary gifts, thoughtful birthday presents, or even creating yearly projects to decorate coffee tables, making it easy to look back on good times.

For example, weddings and engagements have become extra special with the rise of personalized photo books. Couples use their wedding or engagement photos to create these books, allowing guests to sign and leave heartfelt messages during the wedding reception. This makes photo books an important part of people's lives as they become a way to treasure precious moments, experiences, and important events.

The Best Photo Book Companies Compare Photo Book Companies Compare Photo Book Company Reviews What are the best Photo Book Companies Best Photo Book Company Reviews

Photo Book Company FAQ

Photo Books are available year-round, ranging in celebration type, shapes and sizes. Photobooks can be used for any life event, keeping the memory within wedding albums, yearbooks, travel adventures, and more. A lot of companies allow the customer to pick a style and size to best fit for the occasion. When it comes to the type of cover, many companies have softcover, image-wrap hardcover, debossed hardcover, flush mount, or deluxe hardcover, to name a few.
Depending on the size, and type, the number of photos can range from 50 to 800 per photo book. On average a typical photobook has about 20 pages that are customizable. Each page can contain several photos and if you run out of pages, most companies will add a page for an additional cost.
Photo books range in value of $15.99 to $39.99 depending on the company, size, material, style, and number of pages. Some companies offer discounts upon first purchase and include monthly free promos. Cover styles can include softcover, hardcover, and leather. Paper type options can range from the base type of semi-gloss finish to premium matte lay flat.
Photo books come in all shapes and sizes. Standard photo books normally start at 8.5-inch x 8.5-inch and can get larger or smaller. The maximum size available is 12-inch x 12-inch. The minimum size offered is 5.5-inch x 4-inch. Some companies do offer layout size options as well.
Delivery can take anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks depending on the what you order. Bulk deliveries may take longer than the normal to receive. Shipping costs vary on the specific service and size of the package.
Most companies have you start out with picking either a theme/style of photobook, whether it is modern, simple, birthday, wedding, you name it they will have it. Then you select the size of the photobook and the type of cover and paper within. Finally, the fun begins, insert photos. For some people it may be easier to have the photos already downloaded on your device before you upload them to the photobook
Customization can differ per company. Customization can include size, style, type, format, color, font, quality, page style, and number of pages. Some companies offer bulk bundles of photo books (like yearbooks for schools).
Depending on the company, if you are not satisfied with your purchase you can return your product with a full refund. Most companies offer a customer satisfaction guarantee and excellent customer service options. Make sure to check the site has a customer satisfaction guarantee before purchasing.
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

In the past, making a photo book was a lot of work. It involved printing loads of photos, getting binders, stickers, fancy paper, and special tools for adding cool borders. Hours were spent carefully gluing the pages together and writing descriptions for each picture. Although some people enjoyed this scrapbooking process, it took a lot of time and resulted in big, bulky books that took up a lot of space.

Thankfully, in today's digital age, photo books are easier to make than ever. Many people opt to create photo books online due to their convenience and endless creative possibilities. With just a few clicks, you can capture family vacations, document special events, or preserve moments with loved ones. The ability to create photo books online has led to a significant rise in the number of people who now choose to immortalize their cherished moments in these beautifully designed keepsakes.

What's really fantastic about online photo books is how flexible and customizable they are. They can be super simple with just photos laid out neatly, or they can be like fancy scrapbooks with fun borders, stickers, and our own text. For example, if you're making a photo book about your beach vacation, some websites even offer special themes that let you add seashell stickers, "sandy" texture pages, and frames with palm trees to match the beachy pictures.

That's pretty awesome, right? So, no matter what style you like or what you want to remember, creating a photo book gives you the freedom to be as creative and personal as you want.

If you're looking for a fresh new way to collect your photographs, or you just have some memories that need to be shared, don't worry. There are so many places to get photo books these days that it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, we've done the research to help you find the photo service that caters to your unique needs and crafts a photo book made just for you.

To help you get started we've put together some tips to point you in the right direction:

  • Cost: Compare the photo book cost with other competitors. Check if you pay per page or for the entire book, regardless of its size. You may also want to see if there are extra costs for delivery, or if that's included in the price of the photo book.
  • Customization: Depending on what you need your photo book for, you may want to look for various size options and choose between softcover and hardcover books. Ensure there are ample choices for fonts, colors, borders, stickers, themes, and photo arrangements.
  • Features: To make sure that you have the best experience creating your photo book, you may want to prioritize user-friendly websites that offer easy navigation and straightforward tools for creating your photo book. Avoid platforms that may cause confusion and frustration during the creation process.
  • Customer feedback: Ultimately, customers like you are some of the best people to check in with when making your decision. They, like you, have a clear idea of their preferences and have made photo books with these companies before. So make sure you check out customer feedback and BBB ratings to ensure that photo service is the one that meets customers' needs.

To help you find the best spot to get a photo book today, Top Consumer Reviews has assessed and ranked different photo services to put together a beautiful collection of your favorite memories. Whether you're seeking a wedding photo book or something to track memories for your little ones, there are options out there for everything (even the DIYers who want to be more hands-on). We hope this takes out the stress of photo book creation and helps you get back to organizing the memories most important to you!

See the Best Photo Book Company
The Best Reviews of Photo Book Companies