The Best Photo Card Companies

Tuesday, September 17th

2024 Photo Card Company Reviews

Mixbook

• Thousands of photo card designs
• Design-your-own option
• Prices start at $0.89 per card
• Order anywhere from 1-9999 cards
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• Over 30,000 five-star reviews
• In business since 2006

Mixbook, founded in 2006, stands out as a premier platform for crafting exquisite photo cards and a wide array of personalized products, including photo books, calendars, home decor, invitations, and announcements. With an impressive track record of over 15 million customer-created projects, Mixbook offers a captivating and fully customizable online design experience.

Website is a treat to use

Creating stunning photo cards on Mixbook is not only effortless but also a delightful journey. The platform provides pre-designed card templates for various occasions, ranging from weddings and baby showers to holidays and graduations. You can also opt to start from scratch for a truly unique creation.

Personalize it to make it truly yours

Personalization is where Mixbook truly shines. You can choose the type of photo paper that suits your vision, with options like satin finish, signature matte, premium matte, pearl finish, cotton texture, and luxe board. Shape your photo cards to your heart's desire, whether you prefer squared corners, double rounded corners, vintage crest edges, or even ticket-shaped cards.

Design tools make life easier

Mixbook's user-friendly design tools empower you to upload photos seamlessly from your mobile device or desktop computer, including options for connecting with social media accounts and/or cloud storage. You can effortlessly drag and drop your images anywhere on the card, creating a layout that reflects your unique style. Even with pre-designed themes, you have the freedom to customize further by removing elements you don't want, such as photo or text boxes. Add a personal touch with heartfelt messages, choosing from a wide selection of text fonts and colors, and embellish your masterpiece with charming stickers.

Get as much or as little instruction as you like

As you work your way through the design process, Mixbook is there to help you every step of the way. There are tutorials you can take to learn more about the nitty-gritty, or just trust that the checks-and-balances throughout the process will redirect you if you try to use a photo with a too-low resolution or you've got an image that will fall outside of the print area.

Buy anywhere from one card to thousands

While pricing will naturally depend on the design you choose, the quantity you order, and any premium features like foil or upgraded cardstock, we found photo cards for as low as $0.89 at Mixbook. We were also impressed that we could order any quantity from 1 to 9,999. It's nice that this print shop understands that not every customer wants to make the jump in 50- or 100-card increments.

Your satisfaction is guaranteed

Mixbook's exceptional commitment to customer satisfaction is exemplified by its 100% happiness guarantee. If, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your order, Mixbook will refund it without hesitation. This dedication to quality and service is reflected in their "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Happy customers give it five stars

You'll also find people singing Mixbook's praises - to the tune of 30,000+ five-star reviews on Trustpilot alone. While most comments and compliments are about the photo books, it's still reassuring to see that orders here are delivered on time (or early, even), the photo quality is crisp, and projects come out pretty much exactly as they look on the screen during the design process. Is it any wonder that nearly 95% of Mixbook customers give the company a 4- or 5-star rating?

#1 all-around choice for photo cards

Mixbook offers a superb platform for creating gorgeous, unique photo cards. Whether you're celebrating a special event or sending warm holiday wishes, Mixbook's user-friendly interface, extensive customization options, and commitment to customer happiness make it the perfect choice for all your photo card needs. With our highest ranking among photo card companies, Mixbook should also be your top destination for crafting memorable and personalized photo cards that leave a lasting impression.

Zazzle

• Almost 200,000 photo card designs
• Designs from independent artists
• Create-your-own option available
• Pricing starts as low as $0.32 per card
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee
• "A+” rated by the BBB
• Thousands of five-star reviews
• In business since 2005

Zazzle, born from the creative minds of Robert, Bobby, and Jeffrey Beaver in 2005, is a dynamic platform that revolutionized the world of personalized products. Driven by cutting-edge technology, Zazzle empowers both customers and designers to craft their own items in collaboration with independent manufacturers, with an astounding collection of over 300 million unique project designs available for purchase.

Use filters to narrow down the 200K designs

If you find yourself navigating the vast landscape of photo card options on Zazzle, be prepared for an exciting journey that may consume hours of your time - but only if you don't make good use of the filters. With a staggering array of nearly 200,000 photo cards, including designs for Thank You, Holiday, Birthday, Sympathy, and Anniversary, you'll want to make sure to use the tools that allow you to fine-tune your quest by filtering for features such as foil, type, format, orientation, shape, size, price, and official licenses, among others.

Best for bargain-hunters

Are you on a tight budget? Zazzle is one of the only print shops we looked at that gives you the ability to sort cards from low-to-high price. Amazingly, you can get cards for just $0.32 here - if you're buying at least 100 of them, anyway. But, even dropping down to an order of just 24 on that bargain design, you'll still pay just $0.40 each.

High-end photo cards also available

Of course, if design is king and you're not super-concerned about the cost, Zazzle lets you take it exactly to that level, whether you create your own photo card or use one of their ready-to-customize designs. Rearranging the inventory according to high-to-low price, we had fun discovering some life-size birthday cards (complete with photo collages) for $60. Aside from those once-in-a-lifetime jumbo cards, the highest-end design we spotted at Zazzle was the Blush and Gold Two Photo Graduate Thank You Foil Greeting Card. No matter how many you order, that card costs $6.30 each. But wow, it's gorgeous!

Easy-peasy editing and no account required

The editing tools at Zazzle let you get as detailed as you want, or keep it simple and just change the text. That makes for a perfect experience for just about anyone to design a photo card here. And, better yet, you don't have to create an account to get started on making those changes. We made it all the way through checkout without needing a Zazzle account, which we love.

Customers really love using this site

Customer feedback reflects positively on Zazzle's offerings and the delightful customization experience it offers. Across Google Reviews, Trustpilot, and beyond, the company typically gets an excellent 4.6-star average with thousands of five-star reviews. Customers say that what they get matches exactly what they ordered, photo cards and other products arrive ahead of time quite often, and that Zazzle's support team is helpful, friendly, and on the ball when anything goes even a little off kilter. The BBB further backs Zazzle with an "A+” rating.

100% satisfaction guarantee

Plus, Zazzle's commitment to customer satisfaction is underscored by its 100% satisfaction guarantee, offering you the peace of mind that you can obtain a refund or replacement by simply reaching out to customer service within 30 days of receiving your order.

Excellent choice for photo cards across the design and price spectrum

Zazzle's reputation, along with its exceptional inventory of designs and top-notch customization tools, reinforce this company's standing as a premier choice for crafting photo cards. If you're willing to invest a bit more to create stunning and distinctive photo cards, Zazzle provides an ideal platform for your creative endeavors.

Greeting Card Universe

• Unlimited number of greeting card designs
• On-staff artists will custom-design a greeting card within 48 hours at no charge
• Prices from $1.39 to $3.89
• Customize your greeting inside the card
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business for over 20 years

If we had to describe Greeting Card Universe in one word, it would probably be "eclectic”. Everything about this card shop is quite different from most of the other options on our list, and that's in mostly good ways. If you've ever browsed the greeting card aisle at your local Hallmark store and thought, "I wish they had a card for that”, this site is your solution.

Unbelievable variety and customization

We're really not exaggerating when we say that this is where you'll find cards for every conceivable occasion, from the everyday to the exceptional. Their unique collection spans far beyond the usual birthdays and holidays, encompassing milestones like driver's license achievements, wisdom tooth surgery recovery, and even heartfelt messages for college students far from home. Greeting Card Universe doesn't shy away from life's unusual moments either, offering cards for situations that might leave you lost for words. From expressing gratitude to organ donor families, to acknowledging significant life events like prosthetic eye reception or breast augmentation recovery, they've got it covered. And if you're in search of cards for diverse cultural holidays, Greeting Card Universe has a veritable cornucopia of options, with the added bonus of their talented freelance artists who can create custom designs (at no charge) within 48 hours if needed.

One-off or many photo cards, it's up to you

With any card you send, you can customize the message inside. It's literally like going to the greeting card aisle with a pen and entering your own congrats or condolences. Unlike most photo card sites we reviewed where you have to buy at least 10-20 cards in a set, Greeting Card Universe lets you send something for that one-off occasion for mailing on the date you specify during checkout. Typically you'll pay $3.89 for a single card, but pricing can go as low as $1.39 on bulk orders of photo cards.

Send cards to the recipient or to you

Cards are mailed out on the next business day unless you specify otherwise, so as long as you've got a bit of lead time, you'll have no problem creating a one-of-a-kind photo card and getting it delivered. You can either have them shipped to you (you want to give the cards out in person) or sent directly to the recipient for just $0.44 in postage.

Not what we'd call "elegant”

All that being said, the design tools and the interface aren't the slickest we've seen. There's no easy integration with social media or even Google Photos, and a photo that was easily accepted by some rival photo card shops was deemed "too small” for Greeting Card Universe. And, if we're being frank, the designs themselves are a little... cheesy. Some of them feel like they were designed as a middle-schooler's first foray into digital media (but they'd probably still get an "A” because for a pre-teen, it's pretty good).

A big hit with customers

On the other hand, you'll find lots of love for Greeting Card Universe. Not only has the company earned an "A+” and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau over 20 years in operation, but their rating average there and elsewhere is stunningly high. Across more than 20,000 customer reviews, 90% or more give GCU a perfect five-star rating. From the quirky cards themselves to the quick shipping and top-notch customer service, there's almost nothing but praise for every aspect of getting cards (photo and otherwise) through Greeting Card Universe.

Best option if you've got a really unique occasion

No, here you're not going to find high-end, foil-embossed wedding announcements or holiday greeting cards that will make your neighbors green with envy. But, that's not really what Greeting Card Universe is after: instead, they promise to deliver (literally) "any card imaginable”, and they absolutely do. If you need the perfect card for a holiday or occasion that just isn't covered by your typical card store, you can count on Greeting Card Universe.

Minted

• Thousands of photo card designs
• Designs created by independent artists
• Free help from professional designers
• Create-your-own option
• Prices start at $1.64/card
• Free recipient addressing when you upload your contact list
• "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
• In business since 2008

Minted operates on a distinctive model where they showcase stationery, art, and gifts crafted by independent artists. It's a creative marketplace where artists gain exposure and earn a living from their work. Since 2008, Minted has been running design challenges, allowing artists to submit their creations for public voting and recognition.

Beautiful designs but the site can be tricky to browse

The designs you encounter on Minted are contemporary and visually appealing. When you dive into Minted's extensive collection of photo cards, you'll discover diverse themes, attributed to the individual artists who designed them. It's not the most intuitive site to browse, though: instead of showing all photo cards in one location, Minted makes you click around a little to land on the type of card you're ordering (like graduation or holiday). Once you get there, you can filter cards by event, format, style, occasion, and theme.

Upload a photo to find designs fast

One really helpful tool on Minted is the "Find It Fast” button. If you already have a photo in mind for your cards, upload it and be taken to a short list of designs that the platform suggests as a good fit. You'll need to be in the category you want already, like Holiday or Graduation, but it can definitely speed up the process if you're trying to design and be done already. We didn't think every suggested design was a winner (like a Christmas tree cutout... that cut off the faces of the two people in the photo) but we were still glad for the shortcut. Just be aware that Minted doesn't assume you only want a photo card, so some of the recommended designs may not feature any.

Free design help with unlimited proofs

Your process with photo card creation at Minted gives you unlimited proofs with an actual designer. Not exactly sure how you want the design elements to come together? Have some ideas for changes? No problem. Just use the Live Chat feature to reach out, and someone on the Minted team will give you a hand - at no cost to you.

Connect your contacts for free addressing

Another perk of buying photo cards here is the free recipient addressing. You'll have to upload your contact list to access it, but that's another solid way to take one more thing off your to-do list.

Understandably expensive

To view the pricing for a specific card, you'll need to click on it and explore the details. Generally, this print shop tends to be a bit pricier, partly due to the fact that you're purchasing from both the artist and Minted. However, this premium reflects the distinctiveness of the designs. The more photo cards you order in one go, the lower the per-card cost. For instance, ordering around 100 cards may set you back about $2.11 per card, but if you increase your order to a few hundred, the per-card price drops to as low as $1.69. Opting for higher-quality paper will also impact the overall cost, and expect a somewhat hefty surcharge of $99 if you want your design to include foil.

Watch for discount offers

When we visited the Minted site recently, we were offered a 20% discount on our first order if we entered our email address. Another pop-up invited us to take a survey and get 15% off, so keep an eye out for any offers that might come up as you browse the site.

Easy-breezy refunds or replacements

In case your purchase doesn't meet your expectations upon arrival, you can return it to Minted for any reason. Just reach out to customer service with your order number, describe the issue, provide a photo as evidence, and indicate whether you prefer a replacement or refund.

Customer feedback is a mixed bag

How likely is it that you'll need to take Minted up on that guarantee? The Better Business Bureau doesn't think it's too likely; or, at least, they're pretty confident that Minted will make things right if there's a problem. After all, the BBB gives this print shop a perfect "A+” rating and accreditation. The feedback in other places was a little more lukewarm, though. On Trustpilot, Minted only averages 3.4 stars out of 5 across nearly 2,000 ratings. Although an impressive third of all reviews there were a perfect five, a surprising 25% gave Minted the lowest possible score. It seems that you're probably going to love it or hate it here. It's worth mentioning that Minted offers a suite of services for wedding planning (as a sister business to their print work, more or less), and some of the complaints came from unhappy brides who had trouble with things like setting up events and RSVPs online.

Give it a look if you like backing indie artists

We really love supporting independent artists, and Minted is one of the only photo card services on our list that makes that so easy (and fun) to do. If you don't mind paying a little (or a lot) more for luxe designs and features, this print shop could be well worth your attention. However, because not every customer seems to be having a seamless experience with Minted's service, we can't quite put it at the top of our list.

Nations Photo Lab

• Thousands of design options
• Prices start at $0.52 per card
• Design-your-own cards available
• In-depth design tools
• Site is designed by photographers, for photographers
• "A+” rated by the BBB

Nations Photo Lab is the option built by photographers, for photographers. Their staff of over 150 photo enthusiasts has helped more than half a million customers to preserve (and share) their special moments via photos. Naturally, this includes photo cards.

You'll have to hunt down the photo-specific designs

Shopping for photo cards with Nations Photo Lab is a little more labor-intensive than with some of its competitors. They don't have a page on the site dedicated strictly to photo cards: instead, you'll need to have an idea of the occasion (like Christmas or Adoption Announcements) or the type of card (such as a postcard or accordion fold) and go from there.

Reasonably-priced and lots of discounts offered

Pricing here varies widely, depending on the style of the card, how many you order, and what extras you include: that's pretty common everywhere. But, in general, you can find some smaller photo card styles with a starting price of $0.52, and most of the traditional ones are somewhere in the $1 to $2 range (when buying large quantities). Also, if you sign up for emails and texts when you see the pop-up, you can save 25% on your photo card order. Plus, at the time of our visit to Nations Photo Lab, there was a sitewide promo of 30% off on all cards, and a code for an extra 25% off. Since most of the designs we looked at came in minimum order packs of at least 25 photo cards, those savings are quite welcome.

You'll need to make an account early on

The site itself is a little glitchy too. As we were scrolling through all of the types of photo cards, one style didn't have a "starting from” price, just some brackets. And, while not an error, we didn't love that we were required to create an account just to step into the design process: no pricing, no place to upload the photo, zero is shown to you until you let Nations Photo Lab know who you are. That's not our favorite way to interact with any business, not just those who offer photo cards.

Superlative design tools

On the other hand, once you get past that, well, annoyance, you'll find some of the most robust tools for creating photo cards that we've seen anywhere. Best of all, it comes with tips for how to best use the application as you work through the design process. By photographers and for photographers indeed! If having tons of hands-on tools is a top priority, you'll want to come to Nations Photo Lab first.

Very positive reviews for the company and the designs

How about customer feedback? You'll see a couple hundred reviews on each photo card you look at here. However, sometimes they're all for the same style of card (postcard or folded) and not necessarily for the specific design. We also found conflicts as we clicked on the reviews: one time, it showed the overall score (usually 4-something out of 5 stars across 200+ ratings), and another time it went to comments just for the design (and it was less than a 4-star average).

Solid BBB rating

Fortunately, going beyond those inconsistencies and getting deeper into people's experiences, we found an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau and thousands of five-star ratings for Nations Photo Lab. Although those ratings are for the company as a whole and not focused solely on photo cards, it's reassuring that 75% of reviews on Google alone would give the company a perfect score.

Great photo cards if you've got some expertise

If you're just the average person wanting a cute family Christmas card or a quick-and-easy graduation announcement, the truth is that you might be a little overwhelmed by Nations Photo Lab. The design tools are complex and may be a bit much. On the other hand, if you know your way around cameras and/or design and are looking for the perfect online partner to make your photo cards come out picture-perfect, this is one of the best options out there.

Picaboo

• Around 450 photo card designs to choose from
• Create-your-own option
• Prices from $1.29 per card
• 30-day satisfaction guarantee (but no refunds)
• In business since 2002

Picaboo transforms memories into personalized keepsakes, providing a wide range of customization choices for photo cards, calendars, home decor, photo books, and beyond. This creative endeavor began in 2002 when Howard Field and Kevin McCurdy, both alumni of Babson College, came together in Palo Alto, California. Their mission was to harness the power of photo editing tools to enhance a diverse array of products.

Just 400 photo card styles

Picaboo is most widely used for creating photo albums, and not necessarily for photo cards. You'll get that impression right off when you notice that there are only about 400 photo card designs to choose from: a much smaller selection than many of its rivals, who tend to offer thousands upon thousands of styles. But, like most competitors, Picaboo also has a design-your-own-card option, so you can always get creative and make exactly what you have in mind.

Filters will make life easier

Here's what you can expect when you click on the "create card” button. You'll be taken to a page that lets you scroll through all 400+ designs, so we recommend that you use the filters on the left side to get a little more specific. The category types are fairly standard: winter holidays (Christmas, Holiday Greetings, Hanukkah, New Year's), graduation, baby, thank you, and birthday invites (but notably, no wedding announcements or invitations, though as we browsed we did find options for "save the date”).

Start by uploading a photo

And, before you get too far down the track, we want to point out a tool that we love with Picaboo: the ability to start by uploading a photo and preview all card designs specifically with that image. Most services make you get a little further down the design path first, which can waste your time.

Not the smoothest design experience

But from there, the tools on Picaboo aren't quite as slick. When you click on a card design that piques your interest, it doesn't keep the photo in the preview. We also noticed that the pop-up with the design didn't fit well on the screen; it was hard to click the X (and we even had to hide our bookmarks bar to get to it at all). You'll want to jump to the design phase pretty fast, but even there you'll still have to upload your photos again. Everything else is relatively straightforward: enter the text (including the return address on the envelopes, for most designs), and so on.

Higher-than-average prices

Most cards at Picaboo start at $1.29 each - but that's only if you order 500 of them. Picaboo doesn't come right out and make it easy to see how much you'll pay based on the size of your order, but it's on their main Pricing page: for a minimum order of 10 cards, the price ranges from $2.09 each for Signature Flat designs to $2.79 each for Premium Folded cards.

Satisfaction sort of guaranteed

Picaboo says they offer a "100% Satisfaction Guarantee”, but it definitely comes with restrictions. If the cards you receive don't match what you saw during the creation process, they'll make it right by sending you a corrected product at no charge within 30 days. However, beyond this guarantee, there isn't a return policy in place. If you're unhappy with a product, you'll receive store credit in the form of "Picabucks," which you can apply toward future orders.

Reputation isn't what we'd like to see

That's important to know, because despite having ratings from the Better Business Bureau in the "B-” to "A+” range (it depends on which arm of the company you're looking at), Picaboo doesn't get the best feedback with respect to quality - especially that of the photos themselves. Both professional feedback from places like PC World and reviews from everyday customers say that photos can be perfectly fine at upload but come out grainy in print, printed photos turn black over time (maybe not a big issue with cards but certainly a problem with albums and books), and so on. Plus, Picaboo recently made the decision to eliminate their customer service phone number, leaving frustrated clients with nothing but live chat (during weekday business hours) and email to get help.

Some room for improvement

Picaboo isn't the worst place you could buy photo cards. The preview tool is helpful, the selection is decent, and the BBB isn't totally against this company. But that doesn't exactly make Picaboo the best, either. At the end of the day, you're going to find more overall - more designs, more options, more useful design tools, and more attention to customer happiness - with the higher-rated print shops on our list.

Simply To Impress

• Over 6,000 photo card designs to choose from
• Create-your-own option
• Prices start from $0.62 to $1.53
• Frequent sales and promotions
• Expedited printing/shipping available
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Parent company is "A+” rated by the BBB
• In business since 2003

Founded by Heather Hasse in 2003, Simply To Impress set out to make sharing moments through photographs more affordable and accessible. As part of the PlanetArt brand family, which includes well-known sites like CafePress and Canvas World, Simply To Impress focuses primarily on photo cards and invitations. But here's the catch: they haven't exactly been wowing customers over the years, with decidedly mixed feedback that has kept them from moving up in our rankings as well. But, let's take a look at what you can expect from Simply To Impress, and you can decide for yourself.

Thousands of designs to choose from

There are over 6,000 designs for photo cards here: just make sure you start out by clicking the box on the left-hand side of the page that reflects the number of photos you want to include, because otherwise you'll also see designs with none at all. Other filters you may find helpful are Category, Shape, Orientation, and Color.

Big focus on graduation and holiday cards

Holiday and Graduation photo cards get the most focus at Simply To Impress, with around 1,700 and 900 designs for each of those categories, respectively. We were surprised that wedding announcements and invitations were way down the list, with just a few dozen styles to choose from. Still, with the Create Your Own option always on offer, you can literally get any photo card you can imagine here.

Competitively priced

Pricing for photo cards is much lower with Simply To Impress than at most rival print shops. For pretty much every card we looked at, the starting price per card was between $0.62 and $1.53. Of course, that assumes that you're buying more than just a handful; the minimum order for most cards is 15, and naturally you'll pay more per card for that quantity than if you're ordering 100 or more at a time. Your final cost will also be determined by the cardstock and/or foil type you select; the listed prices on your results list typically default to the most budget-friendly options and allow you to upgrade if you choose.

Fantastic discount offers

You'll also have no shortage of savings opportunities when buying photo cards here. At the time of this review, we got two impressive alternatives: a 40% discount if we signed up for emails from Simply To Impress, or a 30% off sitewide sale.

Several options for faster delivery

If you're in a hurry, some cards are eligible for Lightning and Rush shipping upgrades. Rush gets your photo cards to you within two business days and comes with a $9.99 expediting fee (in addition to having to choose overnight shipping as your delivery option), while Lightning comes next business day with a fee of $16.99. But, there's a long list of photo cards that can't be hurried along, and that includes designs with foil, Luxe Double-Thick cardstock, or folded cards (that last one can be done with Rush but not Lightning).

Late delivery for a lot of customers

Unfortunately, even if you expedite your print and ship, there's a real possibility that you still won't get your cards on time. That's a big part of why Simply To Impress just hasn't moved up in our rankings: customer feedback still indicates (even over several years of evaluations) that orders are getting delayed with little to no warning or explanation from the company.

Lots of clients come away disappointed

Simply To Impress' parent company, PlanetArt, gets an "A+” from the Better Business Bureau. However, there are still several dozen complaints filed there - and despite having lots of sites in the brand portfolio, most of the rants specifically mention Simply To Impress as a problem. Jumping over to Trustpilot reveals the same thing: over 265+ reviews, Simply To Impress only earns an average of 2.7 out of 5 stars, with frequent fails in print quality, delivery, and above all, customer service. Customers complain about getting poorly-printed photo cards and only being offered a discount on a reprint when, rightly, they should be getting a refund or a no-cost rerun of the original order. Offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee is pretty meaningless if it's not actually honored, and that seems to be the case with Simply To Impress.

Not a recommended print shop for photo cards

Simply To Impress has some appealing qualities, but we'd advise you to proceed with caution. Nobody wants to spend time crafting a beautiful photo card only to have it arrive late or not at all, or deal with a customer service nightmare. That's why they've landed one of our lowest ratings. Your photo card journey might be better served elsewhere to avoid potential headaches.

Artifact Uprising

• Several hundred photo card designs
• Design-your-own option available
• Pricing typically starts from $1.35 to $1.95 per card
• Made in the USA
• Strong focus on recyclable and reclaimed materials when possible
• In business since 2012

Created by a family team of photographers based in Denver, Artifact Uprising isn't your average photo card print shop. Across their entire store (which includes much more than greeting cards), they focus on recyclable and reclaimed materials, exemplifying the company's commitment to eco-friendly practices. You'll see that most when you look through the gift options here.

Limited design selection

As you might expect from a more niche print shop, there aren't thousands and thousands of photo card designs in the Artifact Uprising catalog. For example, in the Christmas category, there were only about 50 different options, and we didn't see anything on offer for graduation announcements. We also thought that the featured design on the main photo cards page (a photo of two boys wearing face masks) was a little off-putting (who wants to be reminded of that? Or who would make a greeting card with a photo where you can't even see the kids' faces?) Even the text design was strange, with a hyphen for no apparent reason ("TH-ANK YOU”).

The definition of "vanilla”

And, what you'll find tends to be on the minimalist side: beige, tan, white and cream are the "flavor” of the day here. You won't see any big, bold designs or patterns for your photo cards. These look more like something you'd find hanging in a quiet gallery somewhere. Not that that's a bad thing: you just need to know that's what to expect.

Some options are out of stock

As you get into the details of the photo card that interests you, it's easy to see all available options and upgrades. Pearlescent paper? Foil? A different orientation (landscape vs. portrait)? Take your pick. We did notice that half of the envelope color options were out of stock on the photo cards we preferred.

Prepare to pay more here

Most photo cards here have a minimum order of 10 cards, typically priced at $2.40 each. It's only when you order 300 cards that you get the lowest possible price (around $1.30 per card). Printing the return address on the envelopes comes at an extra fee of $0.40 each (even though some rival print shops give you that for free).

Reputation isn't good

Artifact Uprising is kept from ranking higher among photo card printers for several reasons. First, the company only has a "D-” rating from the Better Business Bureau. We're relieved that it's only for failing to respond to six complaints there, but it also begs the question why the company never responded to such a low number of issues? We found that in other places we looked, customers had a hard time getting a response from Artifact Uprising reps during critical times like holidays, when gifts hadn't been shipped during the estimated timeframe and were then going to arrive late. And that's not all: professionals rated this company as just "meh” with respect to product quality, with images often coming out blurred and even not getting fixed on reprints offered by the company.

Doesn't deliver what it promises

Those kinds of issues are one thing if you're going with something budget-friendly for your photo cards. But when the whole focus or premise of a company is offering high-end final products (with a matching cost), it's even more unacceptable when orders come late or in less-than-pixel-perfect quality. This all adds up to Artifact Uprising's low ranking among photo card options in our evaluation.

Shutterfly

• Thousands of card designs
• Design-your-own feature available
• Pricing starts at $0.98 per card
• Streamlined design process
• Free return and recipient addressing
• Partnered with Costco and other companies

Established in 1999, Shutterfly is one of the original providers of personalized photo services, offering a wide range of options including custom cards and stationery, prints, gifts, calendars, wall art, home decor, and wedding products. You may have even been directed to this company when warehouse giant Costco transferred all of their photo services there, or maybe even as a promo to access photos from a cruise you took.

Design portfolio is large

You'll have no shortage of design options when you start browsing the photo cards at Shutterfly. All of the traditional occasions are there, from Wedding and Graduation Announcements to Christmas Cards, plus plenty of more niche moments like Summer Party Invitations and New Home events. In Christmas Cards alone, we found nearly 800 different styles. And, like most of the photo card retailers we evaluated, Shutterfly also gives you the ability to upload your own designs and create a one-of-a-kind card.

Filters are fantastic

We really appreciate the number of filters Shutterfly puts out there. It makes it so much easier to get right to the designs that are going to match what you've already got in mind, from the trim options (like rounded, ticket, or scallop) to style (such as traditional or whimsical). And, when you've finally got a results list that looks right, you'll see at a glance what color options are available and what the cards will cost.

Low prices when you order a lot of basic photo cards

Just keep in mind that the pricing, like most places, shows you the lowest possible cost, but that's usually based on a pretty large order. The lowest per-card price we spotted at Shutterfly was $0.98 each, but that was on a minimum order of 1,000. The same card was $2.19 each if we ordered just 1 or a pack of 10. Those prices also assume the most rock-bottom features, like square trim and standard cardstock; every other change you make (even rounding out the corners or upgrading to signature stock) will add up quickly.

Easy design and integration features

For the average person who doesn't know much about design, the Shutterfly interface will feel refreshingly easy to use. You won't have to create an account to start designing your photo cards: just choose the style, fill out the form with the corresponding information (like family name or wedding date), and it'll show right up on your preview. When it's time to add photos, you can upload them from your computer or connect with Google Photos, Facebook, Instagram, and more.

Some perks not offered by rivals

Another plus is that Shutterfly will address your envelopes at no extra cost. This includes the return address (which is fairly standard) and the recipient address (which is usually an add-on fee).

Reputation has taken a nosedive

Sounds pretty good so far, right? You're probably wondering, then, why this is one of the lowest-ranked options on our list of photo card providers. While we loved Shutterfly back in the day (in fact, we still get emails with "your memories from this date” from more than 20 years ago), its reputation is absolutely abysmal now. First off, the Better Business Bureau gives this print shop a disappointing "D-” rating, with almost 300 complaints filed in the last three years and 20 that went without a response from Shutterfly.

It gets worse

Then, jumping over to Trustpilot, Shutterfly has an even more lackluster 1.7-star average out of 5: despite having nearly 20,000 five-star ratings over the years, almost every single one from the last six months (and even longer) is a single star, mostly because you can't go any lower. From being charged for orders that never arrived, to getting the runaround from customer service, there's no shortage of complaints regarding Shutterfly's quality and support. That's a big letdown for people who've used this print shop for their photo cards from year to year: you just can't trust that the quality is going to be there anymore.

You've got better options than Shutterfly

All in all, you're better off going with almost any other option for your photo cards. Shutterfly is definitely trending downward, and you won't be able to rely on this service to get your cards printed right the first time and delivered when you need them. Skip Shutterfly and go with a higher-rated company instead.

Snapfish

• Over 6,000 templates for photo cards
• Design Your Own feature available
• Pricing starts at $1.20/card
• Have cards shipped to you or pick up at nearby Walgreens
• Can have cards stamped, addressed, and sent for you

Snapfish is the photography companion that's been around since 1999. Based in sunny San Francisco, California, they've weathered the digital storm for quite some time. But, let's not sugarcoat things: Snapfish isn't exactly basking in five-star glory, even after recently being acquired by District Photo.

A land of discontent

In fact, the Better Business Bureau slapped them with a "D-” rating that has held for more than a few years. If that doesn't make you raise an eyebrow, maybe this will: there's a chorus of discontented customers out there singing a less-than-happy tune about their Snapfish experience. If you're looking for a photo card experience that'll rival a happy Hollywood ending, you might want to go elsewhere already.

No shortage of photo card designs

When it comes to options, Snapfish doesn't skimp on themes for your photo card designs. We're talking everything from the jolly holidays to graduation, birthdays, weddings, and even the somber "In Memoriam" category (for those times when you need to combine nostalgia and sympathy...?). Plus, they've got the "Design Your Own" option, because who needs pre-made templates when you're a DIY genius?

Make good use of filters to save time

Within these categories, there's a truly broad range of modern designs. If you want to focus on just photo cards (after all, that's why you're here), be sure to click the filters at the top to indicate how many photos you want your card to have; otherwise, you'll also see options with none. There are over 6000 styles to choose from, so we recommend you use as many filters as you can. It's easy to see at a glance what color themes are offered for each template, the starting cost per card, whether it's flat or folded, and so on.

Options galore

But there's more. When you click on the photo card that interests you, you'll be given more options. Looking for rounded edges? Prefer magnets? How about picking up your online order at a Walgreens near you? All of that is offered to you before you even start to customize your design. You can even opt to have your card stamped and mailed for you: it never even comes to your door.

Easy integration for adding photos

Now comes the easy part. Snapfish makes it as simple as dragging and dropping your photos (from your computer, Google Photos, IG or FB) and adding some snazzy text. And don't forget to add the return address on the envelope; that's usually included in the price.

Mid-range pricing on cards

Speaking of price, most Snapfish cards range between $1.20 to $2.60 per card, depending on the options you've selected and how many you're buying. That falls right in the middle of the photo card printers in our review: not the most or the least expensive.

Disappointed customers

However, before you dive headfirst into this photo card adventure, let's talk about the fine print. There's an ominous cloud looming over Snapfish's reputation. Some customers have whispered tales of website glitches while designing their photo cards: annoying, but not so bad. But then there's the mystery of the disappearing pixels - some customers say their photos looked top-notch online, only to reveal their pixelated secrets in person. Even reviews left as recently as a few hours prior to this review pointed out that uploaded photos are automatically standard resolution instead of full, unless you manage to spot that tiny box that tells Snapfish otherwise. And forget about being able to reach customer service, or to get any kind of helpful interaction if you manage to get a hold of someone. With all of these customer complaints, it should be no surprise that Snapfish has a dismal 1.3-star average across nearly 700 reviews on Trustpilot alone.

Last on the list of photo card options

Snapfish might seem like the cozy cafe of photo card creation at first glance, but with that "D-” rating from the Better Business Bureau and the laundry list of customer complaints, it's a bit more like ordering an exotic dish at a sketchy restaurant. Our recommendation? Check out a photo card service with a better reputation. After all, you don't want your photo cards to end up as a plot twist you'd rather forget, do you?