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In the digital age we live in now, taking pictures with our phones has become very easy. But despite how easy it is, there is still a strong love for printed photos. Luckily, many online photo printing services have sprung up to meet this need, so we can keep our most important memories in physical form. These services offer more than just the usual 4×6-inch prints. For example, you can get customized cups, tote bags, and even canvas prints. With so many choices, it can be hard to choose the right service, but there are a few key things that can help you narrow down your options.
There is a big difference between a digital photo and a photo that has been printed. Instead of just being an image file on a screen, the second one is a real thing that you can touch. Even though you can show someone pictures of your baby niece on your phone, it’s not the same as proudly displaying or giving someone a favorite picture in person. People still want to see their pictures in print, so online photo printers like Mpix, Nations Photo Lab, Shutterfly, and Snapfish are still doing well.
The above services are great at making high-quality prints and personalized items from your digital photos, whether you want wallet-sized snapshots or photo canvases for your walls. Some services, like CVS Photo, can have your prints ready in as little as an hour, so you can hold your most precious memories in your hands almost right away.
Best Photo Printing Services Comparison Table
| Product | Shutterfly | Printique | Mpix | Snapfish | Walgreens Photo | Artifact Uprising |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official Website | Download Now | Download Now | Download Now | Download Now | Download Now | Download Now |
| Photo Printing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Options | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Print Sizes | Various | Various | Various | Various | Various | Various |
| Photo Books | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cards | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calendars | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gifts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shipping Options | Domestic and International | Domestic and International | Domestic and International | Domestic and International | Domestic and International | Domestic and International |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Customer Reviews | Positive | Positive | Positive | Positive | Positive | Positive |
Shutterfly
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Photo Printing | High-quality printing of digital photos |
| Photo Books | Create personalized photo books |
| Calendars | Design and print custom calendars |
| Cards and Stationery | Make customized cards and stationery |
| Home Decor | Print photos on various home decor items |
| Gifts and Keepsakes | Personalize gifts and keepsakes with photos |
| Photo Storage and Sharing | Securely store and share your photos online |
Shutterfly has everything you need if you want to decorate your whole house with custom photo art or make a unique gift for a loved one. Your pictures can be printed on pillows, blankets, drinkware, place mats, mouse pads, desk caddies, and almost anything else you can think of. It also does more traditional photo items like prints, albums, cards, magnets, and calendars.
You can use a computer or the Shutterfly app to upload photos, and you can also import photos from Facebook and Instagram. Just keep in mind that you should make sure your images look the way you want them to before doing so, since the platform doesn’t have a lot of editing tools.
The Good
- Lots of different goods and services
- User-friendly online design tools
- Good results from printing
The Bad
- Some things can be pretty pricey.
- Some items don’t have many ways to customize them.
Printique
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Fine Art Prints | High-quality prints on fine art paper |
| Metal Prints | Photos printed on sleek metal surfaces |
| Canvas Prints | Images reproduced on canvas for a artistic look |
| Photo Books | Design and create personalized photo books |
| Wall Decor | Print photos on various wall decor options |
| Cards and Calendars | Customizable cards and calendars |
| Professional Services | Photo retouching, color correction, and more |
Printique used to be called Adoramapix, and its logo proudly tells you that it is “An Adorama Company.” Adorama, a well-known store in New York that sells cameras and electronics, is a big name in the photography world, and Printique lives up to the company’s high and well-deserved reputation.
Printique is great in almost every way that matters when buying prints online. There are a lot of different types of paper to choose from, and many of them are high-quality and will please even the pickiest customers. Even better, the names of these choices are given. Some services don’t say much about the materials they use, but Printique is proud to tell you that you can choose Fujifilm Matte, Kodak Endura Luster, etc. This may not make sense to a casual user, but people who are serious about printing photos will appreciate the detail.
The Good
- The print quality and attention to detail are both very good.
- Wide range of materials and finishes for printing
- Advanced editing can be done by professionals.
The Bad
- Compared to some other services, prices may be higher.
Mpix
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Photo Prints | High-quality prints on professional photo paper |
| Framed Prints | Photos mounted and framed for display |
| Wall Art | Print photos on various wall art options |
| Photo Cards | Customizable photo cards for various occasions |
| Photo Books | Create personalized photo books |
| Calendars | Design and print custom calendars |
| Gifts and Keepsakes | Personalize gifts and keepsakes with photos |
When my kids were born, I made sure they got a shoebox full of old family photos, just like I did. I bought a film camera, but the film was too expensive, so I sold it and bought a DSLR instead. I started to print everything with Mpix. I’ve never been let down by the results. Mpix is a branch of Miller’s Professional Imaging, a printing service for professionals only, and the quality of the prints shows that it comes from a good place.
Mpix prints on Kodak Endura paper and gives you a choice of different kinds of paper. I tried out the E-surface, which makes blacks that are very deep and colors that look very real. It holds up well over time. Photos I printed in 2013 look exactly the same as when I first got them.
The Good
- Excellent color accuracy and print quality
- Orders are taken care of quickly.
- The website and ordering process are easy to use.
The Bad
- Some products don’t have many ways to customize them.
- During busy times, customer service may be slower.
Snapfish
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Photo Prints | Prints of digital photos in various sizes |
| Photo Books | Design and create personalized photo books |
| Cards and Stationery | Customizable cards, invitations, and stationery |
| Home Decor | Print photos on various home decor items |
| Calendars | Design and print custom calendars |
| Photo Gifts | Personalize gifts with photos |
| Photo Storage and Sharing | Online photo storage and easy sharing |
You can upload photos from your computer or phone, or you can import them directly from Facebook, Flickr, Google Photos, or Instagram. The website is easy to use, but like most cheap services, you’ll be constantly asked to buy extra things like books, mugs, and more. Even though some of these are fun (see below), it’s still annoying. I was surprised by how good the prints from Snapfish were for how cheap they were.
They’re better than what I got from a few other services that charged more than twice as much but aren’t reviewed here. Snapfish also has great prices for printing on things like coffee mugs that you might not expect. I recently made some mugs for my kids out of pictures they had drawn. Even though the results were fun, I wouldn’t put these prints in the dishwasher. Still, for $2 (or even less with a holiday coupon), it’s hard to go wrong.
The Good
- Prices that are reasonable for prints and products
- There are many ways to customize it.
- Design tools that are easy to use
The Bad
- Some competitors may have better print quality.
Walgreens Photo
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Photo Prints | High-quality prints of digital photos |
| Photo Books | Create customized photo books |
| Calendars | Design and print personalized calendars |
| Cards and Stationery | Customize cards, invitations, and stationery |
| Wall Decor | Print photos on various wall decor options |
| Photo Gifts | Personalize gifts with photos |
| Same-Day Pickup | Convenient same-day pickup at Walgreens stores |
Walgreens Photo was the fastest service we tried to get a one-hour photo order done. It was ready in just nine minutes, which was faster than any other service we tried. It costs two cents less per 4-by-6 print than CVS, which was our Choice for local pick-up.
On the Walgreens Photo site, you can pull photos from your social networks, do a little editing, and share galleries with your friends. Walgreens Photo is for people who need to print photos right away.
The Good
- There are a lot of options, and there are many Walgreens stores.
- Easy and quick option to pick up the same day
- Prices that are reasonable for prints and products
- Easy-to-use online interface makes it easy to order
The Bad
- Depending on where you are, the print quality might be different.
Artifact Uprising
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Photo Prints | High-quality prints on fine art paper |
| Hardcover Photo Books | Create premium-quality hardcover photo books |
| Wood Block Prints | Photos printed on wood blocks for a unique display |
| Wall Art | Print photos on various wall art options |
| Calendars | Design and print custom calendars |
| Greeting Cards | Customizable cards for various occasions |
| Premium Materials | Sustainable and high-quality materials used |
Artifact Uprising is the place to go if you want to give a meaningful photo gift. The company specializes in books, prints, frames, and calendars. You can change everything about the products, from the finish of the paper to the material of the book cover. The company also stands out because it works hard to use recycled and reclaimed materials. For example, recycled fibers are used to make hardcover photo books, and fallen pine is used to make wooden calendars. Everything is made in the U.S.
The company lets you upload photos from Google Photos, Facebook, and Dropbox. If you are about to upload a low-resolution photo, you will be warned. Even though everything it makes is of high quality, it is more expensive than the other choices on this list. For example, a 20-page Layflat Photo Album costs $165. Compare that to Mixbook’s 20-page photo books, which start at $9.99 for the most basic version. Artifact Uprising does have sales from time to time, though. In addition to photo books, the company offers options for framing, such as gallery frames, metal frames, wall tiles, tabletop frames, and floating frames.
The Good
- Prints and products of the highest quality
- Focus on materials that will last and won’t hurt the environment.
- A style of design that is elegant and simple
The Bad
- Prices are higher than some other printing services.
- Compared to larger platforms, it has a smaller range of products.
FAQs
There are a number of well-known services for printing photos, such as Mpix, Nations Photo Lab, Shutterfly, Snapfish, and CVS Photo. These services offer high-quality prints and many ways to make them your own.
To choose the right photo printing service, you should think about things like print quality, customization options, pricing, delivery times, and customer reviews. Look at what you need and compare the features and services of different providers to find the one that fits your needs best.