photobook photo tiles review

7 Best Photo Tiles to Buy for Decorating Walls in 2024

By Eva Williams 9 days ago, Inspiration

If you want to fully transform the atmosphere in your living room or decorate your bedroom with unique elements, you can use black-and-white or colorful photo tiles. There is a range of companies on the market that print photos of custom sizes thus allowing their clients to get lovely prints for making their houses feel more homely.

Top 7 Photo Tiles Platforms

• CanvasDiscount - Uses a magnetic hanging system
• Shutterfly - Good delivery packaging
• Mixtiles - Specializes in photo tiles
• Photobox - With free Android and iOS apps
• Snapfish - Inexpensive option
• FreePrints - Lifetime guarantee
• ZoomTiles - Removable & restickable photo tiles

To attach photo tiles to the wall, you can use adhesive stripes or other hanging systems they come with. They typically don’t weigh much, which is why it’s easy to hang them wherever you want. I have rounded up the most reliable services that allow you to order photo tiles today.

When selecting the best platforms, I was paying attention to the print quality, a variety of frames, prices, and shipping terms. On this list, you will find both dedicated services that specialize solely in printing photo tiles and companies that offer a variety of other printed products as well.

1. CanvasDiscount - Our Choice

• Quick order placement
• Ships orders within 24 hours
• Decent print quality
• Doesn’t require signing up

Verdict : What I like the most about this service is that it has created a reliable hanging system for its photo tiles. Each of them is fitted with magnetic elements that make it easier to attach tile magnets to the wall. It makes it extremely easy to experiment with different placements of photo tiles and reattach them several times.

Besides, I like that there is no need to sign up to order photo tiles for wall. You can quickly upload photos using your phone. If the price of your order exceeds $70, you will get free delivery. A photo tile costs from $5 .

2. Shutterfly

• Streamlined interface with great sharing options
• A variety of sizes
• Allows printing text on the back of tiles
• A collection of presets
• Large prints are pricey
• Expensive shipping

Verdict : If you are serious about decorating your home and want to order photo tiles of impressive quality, Shutterfly is what you need. You can order tiles of various shapes and sizes. While professional photographers might be slightly disappointed with the print quality, other users won’t notice anything wrong. The colors are bright and perfectly saturated. However, there might be some issues with their accuracy.

Despite some minor shortcomings, Shutterfly is a great option to consider if you have some money. To print one 8x8-inch tile, you will need to pay $12.99 .

3. Mixtiles

• Super easy to use
• Many positive reviews
• Lots of framing options
• Free shipping options are available
• A limited choice of sizes
• Tiles are difficult to attach

Verdict : The process of placing an order is pretty streamlined. Even though I was reluctant to use my social media account when using Mixtiles, this service is quite secure. I quickly figured out how to import my pictures from Google Drive and social networks. This platform also allows uploading images from your laptop or PC.

All the stickable photo tiles can be attached with the help of adhesive tape. If you need to change the position of your tiles, you can easily restick them wherever you want. Many clients who ordered photo tiles from this company emphasized in their reviews that frames are easy to restick. Each tile printed by Mixtiles will cost you $11 .

4. Photobox

• Different upload sources
• Secure payment options
• Photos of decent quality
• Coupon codes with discounts
• The quality could be improved
• Pricey shipping

Verdict : I believe that Photobox is the best photo tiles service as it allows me to quickly get beautiful prints for decorating my living room. Besides, it is known for quick delivery, which allows its clients to get their printed orders within the shortest time possible. To sign up, you need to indicate your email and come up with a secure password. It will allow you to upload images from various devices and synchronize your data.

When using this service, you can order photo books, photo calendars, photo tiles and other printed products. To give them a unique feel, you can add captions to them and tell other people about the importance of these photos. Loyal clients can get 50 free photo prints monthly. To order a tile, you need to pay from $9 per product .

5. Snapfish

• Allows printing one tile per month for free
• Mobile-friendly service
• No subscription
• Paid shipping
• Subpar quality

Verdict : Snapfish is an all-in-one solution that will come in handy for budget-conscious people. Similarly to Shutterfly, it allows you to order tiles of different shapes, including the standard square and unique heart shape.

You can order photo wall tiles in 3 sizes. While some services allow you to access a wider variety of options, it’s still nice that this company offers its customers a choice. You can also select between a matte and metallic finish. The latter is perfect for anyone interested in black and white photography . You can quickly hang your tiles on the wall using an adhesive strip. However, it might be impossible to attach this strip to coarse walls. When placing an order, you are required to pay $9 per tile .

6. FreePrints

• Automatic backups
• It is available for business and personal
• Notifications if backups fail
• Easy restore process
• Weak functionality
• Expensive subscription

Verdict : FreePrints is a widely used photo printing app that lets you print pictures on the go using only your smartphone. After installing the app, you can quickly place your order and get professional-quality prints with accurate colors without wasting a lot of time. You just need to upload pictures that you want to use for decorating your home, select a suitable size and number of tiles, and confirm your order. You will receive your photo tiles by email.

I was slightly put off by the fact that FreePrints is not as free as its name may lead you to believe. However, its services are quite affordable. It has a streamlined interface and comes with intuitive tools. While it will cost you at least $9 to print a tile, you will be pleased by the high quality of this service.

7. ZoomTiles

• Streamlined interface
• Budget price
• Speedy delivery
• High quality
• Only one size

Verdict : After addressing ZoomTiles, you will easily decorate your home using the best photo tiles for budget-conscious people. You can experiment by selecting where to hang them to give your interior a more welcoming feel. Before sending your pics, check if they are 800x800-pixels big, otherwise, your tiles might become blurry. This app will help you see if your images fit the required size.

What I like the most about ZoomTiles is that it fares better than other photo printing services when it comes to accessibility. You can reach out to the company by using its app or an online-based platform. To print a tile, you need to pay only $4.30 . To get 4 tiles, you are required to pay $17.20. However, if you order at least 4 tiles, the company will cover the shipping costs.

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The Best Photo Book Service

By Erin Roberts

We live in a digital world overflowing with images and screens. By creating a tangible photo book, you can reconnect with your images, as well as those moments in time. And photo books make sharing memories with family and friends so much easier.

After conducting more than 100 hours of research and testing (which included creating 23 photo books and consulting with a master printer on the results), we recommend Mixbook as the best online photo book service.

Everything we recommend

Easy-to-design photo books with vibrant colors

This service offers the best book-building experience, modern design options, color-accurate photo reproduction, great customer service, and a powerful app.

Buying Options

Budget pick.

Affordable photo books for gifts or small projects

If you want to print multiple copies of a photo book to give as gifts (or for projects that aren’t meant to be keepsakes), this service delivers good-enough books at an affordable price.

Creating photo albums is fun with Mixbook , which gathers images from your computer, social media profiles, online photo-storage accounts, and even your smartphone. In our testing, it offered the best book-building experience of the bunch, as well as some of the best themed layouts. Our finished album looked vibrant, with accurate colors, and had a high-quality feel.

If you just need a basic photo book, VistaPrint can get the job done at a cost significantly lower than our top pick. It offers some of the best album-creation software we tested, including a Smart Assistant option that made album design a snap. Although the cover photo wasn’t as color accurate as that of our top pick, the photos inside were almost indistinguishable, as was the paper quality.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked and tested, our pick: mixbook, budget pick: vistaprint, tips for making your best photo book, the competition, frequently asked questions.

To discover which features are important in a photo book service, we’ve researched more than 50 companies and created 23 albums since the first iteration of this guide. We’ve compiled a mixture of images from high-resolution DSLR cameras and iPhones, selecting specific examples for both color and resolution testing, and used them to directly compare the image quality of different albums.

When updating this guide, we’ve consulted several experts, including Taylor McAtee, printing expert and owner of Stretch and Staple , a print shop in Seattle. We also crowdsourced input from friends who enjoy making albums with their family photos.

If you want to create an album of your digital photos, a photo book service is absolutely the way to go. Today’s digital photo books look much sleeker and more elegant than the scrapbooks of old. They’re also much easier to replace if an original gets damaged.

Digital photo books can be customized to fit any purpose, such as for a baby book, a family trip album, or even a school yearbook. They also make great gifts for grandparents and family. And if you’re a photographer, photo books are a wonderful way to curate your work in something that can be reproduced for distribution.

If you want to make a fancier book to document a special event, such as a wedding, consider upgrading to a layflat book, which has a unique type of binding that allows two-page spreads to lie completely flat, with no crease in the middle. You could also consider choosing a more luxurious cover, such as leather or crushed silk, to match the occasion.

If you have a collection of vintage photo albums or boxes of family photos sitting around, you might want to scan those photos and upgrade to a digital photo book.

In researching online photo book services, we looked for those that allow you to create a customizable book with captions and multiple photos on one page. We eliminated services that don’t let you at least arrange and reorder photos. And, on the flipside, we dismissed any that looked too technical or complex for people with no design experience.

Many photo-printing services offer frequent, deep discounts and promotions throughout the year, so it can be difficult to make an accurate pricing comparison—but holidays and annual shopping events are a great time to finally click the albums you have waiting in your cart. Otherwise, we can’t say for sure whether one service will be cheaper than another at any given time, so we prioritized services that offered basic, 20-page, approximately 8-by-11-inch books for under $50.

In general, these are the key features we considered:

• Customization options: The best photo book services strike a fine balance between offering a creative, diverse range of editing options and overwhelming people with a dizzying range. The service should work for photo junkies and for people who just want to quickly make a wedding album.
• Intuitive photo book software: The editing tools should be easy to grasp, even at an amateur level. Ideally, they should include all of the basics, such as a black-and-white filter, shadows, brightness, contrast, and saturation, plus the ability to rotate, resize, and reorder images.
• Elegant, ready-made layouts: You should be able to choose from a wide range of photo layouts that can suit any number of photos in a variety of orientations. You should never feel the need to create your own design.
• Flexibility in design: For more-ambitious people, a good photo book service allows you to design a layout from scratch.
• Print quality that’s true to the source files: The photo book shouldn’t make your high-resolution photos look blurry, grainy, or oversaturated. It should capture the resolution and colors as accurately as possible, even if you mostly use photos from Instagram.
• Variety of cover and binding options: The cover is the first thing people see when they look at a photo book. We preferred services with a range of options that look nice and can withstand years of handling.
• High-quality paper choices: We looked for paper that is durable, of high quality, and resistant to tearing. Photo book services should offer a variety of paper types, such as gloss, semigloss, and pearlescent.
• Easy to reprint and revisit: Unlike traditional, scrapbook-like photo albums, digital photo books can be reproduced at any time. Therefore, the service you use should save your photos, layouts, and projects so you can return to print or edit them whenever you want.
• Flexible upload options: A good service should at least be able to receive photos from your computer, as well as from online platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
• Layflat spreads: These spreads allow you to depict one picture across two pages without the center crease of a traditional bound book. Though this sounds fancy, it’s a common offering from photo book services and a worthwhile upgrade in photography or wedding books. We didn’t make this option a requirement, but we gave extra points if a service offered it.

To test these services, we made 20-page photo books using DSLR shots taken by professional photographers, as well as iPhone snaps taken during my honeymoon trip to Tahiti. We specifically selected images that can be harder to print to see how each service performed when tasked with HDR (high dynamic range) images, tricky colors, black-and-white photos, and even dimly lit iPhone snapshots.

We laid out each book in the same order, using the service’s most basic, white template. We also used each service’s default font for captions, sticking with whichever typeface and size were assigned to the theme we chose. All of the companies allow you to change fonts, but that can be a hassle, and we decided the default font would look nice enough. For each book, we also used the default cover and paper options (which are the cheapest or second-cheapest available).

Over the years and several rounds of testing, we’ve asked printing expert Taylor McAtee to compare and contrast print and page quality. We’ve asked friends who enjoy making family photo albums to examine the photo books, and they’ve provided helpful, real-world observations, such as which paper finish might hold up best in the grubby hands of a 5-year-old.

Mixbook has easy-to-use and intuitive design software, vibrant and accurate colors, and modern layouts that make it our pick for the best photo book service for most people. It is one of the few services that offers a dedicated mobile app in case you prefer designing from your phone, and you can invite collaborators to help with or review a project before it goes to print.

Versatile image-uploading options makes it easy to find the photos you want. If most of your iPhone photos end up trapped inside your phone (like ours do), you’ll likely find that adding mobile images directly to Mixbook makes the design process much more efficient.

Using a QR code on your computer screen, Mixbook guides you in selecting and loading pictures from your phone. After you refresh your screen, voilà—your iPhone snaps are now available for you to add to your current project. You can also upload directly from a computer, your social media (Facebook and Instagram), and photo storage accounts (Google and SmugMug).

Its book-building software is the easiest to use. The Auto-Create option feels like magic: after you’ve uploaded your images, a single click of a button builds your book using “only the best images.” It’s an efficient way to get a solid first draft, and it’s easy to customize from that point.

Unlike some of its competitors, Mixbook offers a swap button to swiftly replace one image for another. You can quickly change layouts too: The software displays recommended layouts using your images and may be filtered by number of images per design.

It offers helpful tips to make sure you never feel lost. Mixbook’s guidance boxes were the most helpful resource of any service we tested. These pop-ups, which you can close as needed, provide tips as you start to build a book.

Its photo-editing tools are simple and efficient. These include the same basic options offered by most other services: brightness, saturation, contrast, and opacity. You can crop and zoom in and out of photos easily, though the free-rotation tool was tricky (to fix your horizon lines, you have to click and hold down the arrow in the circle).

Six filters can give your printed photos an Instagram feel; you can also play with shadows and borders or even make a heart-shaped image. Text was easy to insert, and Mixbook offers a plethora of font choices and controls.

Thoughtful little touches make a big difference. When you’re pulling from an available image library in Mixbook, you simply have to hover over a photo to make it bigger. We really liked this feature, since it can be tough to choose your next image based on a tiny thumbnail. (When we used other services, we sometimes had to add the actual photo just to determine if it was the one we’d meant to include in the first place.)

It offers more templates than the competition. Each well-designed template can be kept as is or modified.

Mixbook offers 138 “everyday” album templates, from the simple Minimal White design (which we chose) to birthday, wedding, and seasonal themes. Plus, the themed layouts show actual photo examples, a truly useful feature when envisioning what you’ll create.

Photo reproductions are vibrant and color-accurate. As in previous testing, our 20-page, 11-by-8.5-inch Mixbook photo book was one of the most vibrant among all of the books we created, and the colors most-closely matched those in our original photographs.

Mixbook did a good job of correcting a tricky photo of me about to board a helicopter for the first time: I’m a too-dark, shadowy subject in front of the sunny landing platform where a helicopter and pilot wait. Mixbook struck a better balance of the contrast, picking up more detail in my face while retaining the vibrant background colors.

We reached out to Mixbook to ask about its color-correction practices. CEO and co-founder Andrew Laffoon confirmed that Mixbook automatically applies “very minimal” autocorrection, and that the feature can’t be turned off.

Mixbook uses high-quality paper. Of the six books we created in our most recent round of testing, Mixbook’s simplest album option came with the second-thickest pages—akin to the pages of a coffee-table book. The pages felt durable enough to stand up to the grubby paws of a small child, and they had enough sheen that we also thought they could endure a small mess and be wiped clean.

Its pricing is on a par with that of competitors. Mixbook albums cost about as much as or slightly more than other comparable albums in this category. But it’s always worth seeking out a discount, since the service usually offers an active 50%-off coupon .

If you don’t see a coupon at checkout, you can always make the book and then wait to purchase it until you can get a discount. This is especially handy if you opt for upgrades, like layflat pages, which can nearly double the price of an album.

Mixbook doesn’t spam you with email ads. Unlike Snapfish , which took our order as an invitation to send promotional emails daily, Mixbook didn’t automatically inundate our inboxes with promos once we created an account. We actually had to go into account settings to sign up for Mixbook’s email offers (and you can unsubscribe just as easily).

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Other photo book services offer more photo editing tools. We worked with Mixbook’s available brightness, saturation, and contrast sliders to boost a cloudy day photo. Though the results looked a bit better on screen, the printed version still appeared dark. Of course, you could use an external image-editing program, but we often found we needed to make another small tweak or two once we placed images on the page; editing that image elsewhere and then reimporting it to use in our design felt like a time-consuming chore. A more robust editing suite within Mixbook’s interface would mean we could make any necessary edits seamlessly while creating a photo book.

For a basic photo book at a lower price than our top pick, VistaPrint gets the job done, even if the cover photo was a little oversaturated and the design process wasn’t quite as smooth.

It lacks our top pick’s cute design templates. When you start creating your VistaPrint photo book, you can only select from seven size options, and it doesn’t have any design templates to start from. You can add some 1990s clip art or masks within the editor, but that’s not nearly as attractive or easy as selecting from one of the hundreds of templates Mixbook offers.

Adding photos is easy, yet limited. Unlike our top pick, VistaPrint only allows uploads from your computer and doesn’t allow for HEIC files, which is how iPhones and iPads save images by default.

You can change your device’s camera settings to shoot JPEG, and it’s not difficult to convert HEIC files to JPEG after the fact, but it is one more hurdle that can get in the way when you’re itching to start designing. You could opt to create a book via VistaPrint’s mobile site, which works fine with HEIC files, but that platform isn’t as easy to use as the desktop site.

Photo-editing tools are few, but print quality was nearly perfect. VistaPrint’s editor offers even fewer photo-editing tools than our top pick, and it doesn’t offer a way to fix an imperfect horizon line—a photographer’s pet peeve. By default, VistaPrint will “enhance” all photos automatically; a pop-up window bears this warning as you begin to create your photo book.

We left the auto-enhancement option on, and the results were as good as our top pick, with accurate color reproduction and impressive corrections on our tricky test images. Only the cover image appeared oversaturated, and VistaPrint had two tries at this, since the first copy arrived with a slight wrinkle in the corner of the cover.

Customer service is responsive, too. VistaPrint was responsive to our complaint; it requested images of the damage and then sent us a new copy for free. The new book arrived in just a few days. The cover was unwrinkled but still a bit oversaturated, which made skin tones appear too pink.

It’s a great book and good value. If you just need a simple book, perhaps at a price that makes multiple copies possible, VistaPrint is a solid option. The final result was a very close second to our top pick in terms of color accuracy and page quality, with just a few flaws noticed during the creation process and a not-quite color-accurate cover.

Printing expert Taylor McAtee said you should trust the experts at whichever photo book service you choose. “Just pick the photos you like,” McAtee said, explaining that because your home computer likely doesn’t have a color-calibrated monitor, the on-screen edits you make could look much different when printed.

He also offered two additional tips for selecting photos for a printed book: Avoid washed-out, intentionally very bright (aka high-key) images, which often don’t look as good in print as they might on a glowing digital screen. And don’t apply Instagram filters or use other editing apps that may compress your iPhone files, since doing so can result in a low-resolution photo when it’s printed.

Snapfish was about the same price as our top pick but, as in past years, delivered a book with dull and muted photos and some of the thinnest pages we saw in testing. Snapfish also sent us the most promotional emails following our order—at an annoying pace of about one every other day.

The photo book we built with Pikto looked a lot like the results from our budget pick, VistaPrint, but the service cost a bit more, and its software was clunkier, with no swap button. It was also difficult to connect with its customer service: No one ever answered our calls during business hours, no chat help was available, and the back-and-forth email assistance we did receive was slow.

Walmart Photo is a past budget pick, but the album we created this year wasn’t as good as in previous years. The cover image was oversaturated, making skin tones appear pink and not true to life. Color accuracy was also off throughout the thin pages, appearing dull compared with the competition.

Though Shutterfly was previously a top pick, the last time we physically tested the service, its image quality was a letdown. We took a fresh look for this update but found for its price, about $10 more than our top pick, other photo book services offer better editing tools.

Though we love the minimalist look of Artifact Uprising ’s designs, the books we ordered were both oversaturated. We tested the Hardcover Photo Book and the Photo-Wrapped Hardcover Book, the two most-expensive options we tested. In each book our photos were oversaturated, but especially so for the Photo-Wrapped Hardcover Book. This made my skin look especially reddish-pink in many photos, as though I had a significant sunburn throughout my trip (I didn’t). While turning up the vibrancy can make an image really pop, the downside can be inaccurate skin tones.

Google Photo’s photo books are the path of least resistance for people who already use Google Photos. Although it’s a fast and brainless solution, the automated process allows for little control or creativity. Photos are autofilled in chronological order, and it’s a hassle to move images around if you’d like a different format. If all of your photos aren’t already stored with Google, that adds another step in the process. Layout and design options are limited, and it doesn’t have image-editing tools.

We also checked out Amazon Photos . As with the Google option, creation is a breeze as long as you’re already using it to store your photos. The online software allows for slightly more control over image placement, but it doesn’t have image-editing tools or enough design options overall.

Apple also allows you to create a photo book right from Photos, using the Motif app. But just like the Google Photo and Amazon Photo, this option is very specific to the platform, and you have very little control over design or photo editing.

We made two books with Blurb —one with its web-based software, Bookify, and another with its downloadable software, BookWright.

We were disappointed with the options available in Bookify; it had very few layouts, and they had too much white space for our liking. We also experienced major glitches with captions.

BookWright, meanwhile, offers a huge range of design options, including layouts and fonts, with very little glitching. It reminded us a great deal of Photoshop or InDesign, so if you’ve used those programs before, you may be familiar with the added controls. We also liked that Blurb allows you to upload a PDF to create your book, and that it offers plug-ins for Adobe InDesign and Lightroom. BookWright could be a good choice for amateur photographers or anyone looking to print a series of books.

Nations Photo Lab , our pick for the best online photo printing service , continues to disappoint us with photo book software that offers almost no photo editing and only basic layouts, at a more expensive price than our top pick.

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.

Where can I get a same-day photo book?

Our previous budget pick, Walmart Photo , offers same-day pickup. And the site, which has some of the best photo-editing tools available, makes designing and customizing an album easy. Other services, like CVS and Walgreens , offer same-day pickup, but we haven’t tested them.

Which photo book services offer apps?

Several photo book services have a mobile app. Our top pick, Mixbook , has an app for iPhone owners . Though our budget pick, VistaPrint, doesn’t offer a dedicated app, the mobile version of the website is okay.

Which service has the best-quality photo books?

Among the 17 books we tested, Mixbook had some of the most vibrant color pages, and the colors most closely matched the colors in our original photographs. Mixbook also had more user-friendly software than most of the other services we looked at.

Meet your guide

Erin Roberts

Erin Roberts is a freelance writer reporting on cameras and camera accessories at Wirecutter. She started her career as a photojournalist working in newspapers—shooting film—and was the mobile-imaging editor at DPReview. She is also a professional photographer who has made her living photographing everything from rock stars to humpback whales.

Further reading

The Best Instant Camera

by Arriana Vasquez and Erin Roberts

The best instant camera for taking high-quality, retro-cool photos is the Fujifilm Instax Square SQ40 .

The 16 Best Tech Gifts for Any Gadget Lover

by Samantha Schoech

Looking for gifts for a tech-obsessed loved one? We have Wirecutter-tested picks, including headphones, speakers, camera tripods, and more.

The Best Online Photo Printing Service

by Phil Ryan

We’ve tested dozens of online photo printing services, and we’ve consistently found that Nations Photo Lab is the best place to get prints.

The 19 Best Gifts for Photographers

by Arriana Vasquez and Phil Ryan

Photographers can be picky about gear—which is why selecting a gift for a shutterbug can be a sticky wicket. Here are stellar finds endorsed by our staff photographers and reporting experts.

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Published: May 27, 2022 · 4 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

Stickable Photo Tiles - 12 different retailers and who we recommend

Are you looking for some fun decorations for your wall? How about stickable photo tiles?

Stickable photo tiles are a fun way to hang your photos on the wall. They are square tiles (usually about 8 inches by 8 inches) that come with and without frames. You can often get them in bulk so you can arrange multiple photo tiles on your walls in different patterns and styles.

If you need something classy and pretty to add to your home decor, check out these websites where you can get stickable photo tiles!

What are stickable photo tiles?

Shutterfly tiles, snapfish photo tiles, storyboards, photosquared, overall recommendations:.

Stickable photo tiles are basically exactly what they sound like. They are boards (usually made of lightweight foam core) that can stick on your wall.

Often the photo is printed directly on the tiles or boards, so you can't change out the photos. Even if the tiles come with frames so they look like normal picture frames, they aren't. Once you get a photo printed on a photo tile, you can't change it.

They are also not canvases, so they aren't as long-term as other prints or canvases. A lot of other products are designed to last for a long time, and while photo tiles can last for a few years, they probably won't last a lifetime like a good canvas can.

One other thing to know when reading this post is that we reference mats occasionally, but they aren't really mats. They are basically big white borders that mimic a mat in a normal frame. They look really classy, but just know that when we reference a mat, we are referring to the border that looks like a mat.

Even if they don't last forever, stickable photo tiles are still a great product, and can look great on your wall! Check out these companies to find photo tiles that work for you.

One of the biggest differences is whether or not the stickable photo tiles has a frame or not.

Stickable Photo Tiles With Frames

Mixtiles is probably the most popular option on this list, for good reason.

• Cost: $11 per tile
• Deal: 12 tiles for $99 or 16 tiles for $125 ($8.25 and $7.81 respectively)
• Size: 8x8 inches
• Frame: Optional black or white frame, optional white mat
• Manufacturing time: Usually about a week
• Shipping: Free shipping

How do Mixtiles work?

Each Mixtiles comes with a sticky strip on the back. Just peel the plastic off this adhesive strip, and stick it to the wall. You can reposition your Mixtiles easily, up to two dozen times. Just pop them off and move them somewhere else - they won't damage your wall! The frames are very simple but very classic, so they'll look good in any home.

My girls have Mixtiles in their bedroom, and they are so pretty! Check out our full Mixtiles review here .

• Cost: $14 per tile
• Deal: You can buy them for a discounted price if you buy more
• Size: 8.25x8.25 inches
• Frame: Black, white, or gray with white or gray mats
• Manufacturing time: 24 hours
• Shipping: Free shipping in the US

How does Tilepix work?

TilePix uses magnetic mounting, so put a removable magnetic wall pad and your TilePix will stick right to it. You can easily rearrange your tiles and because you're not using any tape strips, you don't have to worry about the mounting losing its stickiness.

We bought and love Tilepix in our gallery wall! Check out our full TilePix review here .

• Cost: $24.99 per tile
• Deal: Often 50% off, so the tiles cost $12.50 each
• Size: 5x7, 8x8, and 8x10
• Frame: Black, white, or brown frame
• Manufacturing time: They will get to your door in 5-10 business days
• Shipping: Varies based on order

How do Shutterfly Tiles work?

Shutterfly makes lightweight framed photo tiles with double-sided adhesive. The adhesive will allow you to hang your photos easily, and you can rearrange them without leaving any sticky residue.

The photos are printed on their signature cardstock and are of really great quality. They aren't going to work very well for wallpapered or heavily textured surfaces though, so just a heads up!

• Cost: Set of three for $50, or $16.66 each
• Deal: They sometimes have promo codes you can use for 20% off or more
• Size: 8x8 or 12x12 inches
• Frame: Black, white, or pinewood
• Manufacturing time: 2-3 days
• Shipping: Free shipping on most orders

How does Photobook work?

This is the only option with real wood frames, opposed to plastic or resin options.

You can stick them to the wall with easily applied adhesives. With the frames, you can have your photos mounted behind the frame or in front for a 3D effect. They are really classy since they have a thin pine frame that comes in natural, black, or white.

• Deal: Often have sales like 16 tiles for $99
• Frame: Black or white frame and optional white mat
• Manufacturing time: Less than a week

How do HappyTiles work?

HappyTiles come with adhesive tape on the back. Just peel away the protective paper and hang them on the wall. To take them off the wall, you just need to gently pull the tile from the bottom to detach them. Then you can restick them! You can even cover the adhesive with parchment paper if you're storing them for any reason.

• Cost: $12 per piece
• Deal: Discounted prices if you're ordering more tiles (only $10 each for 4-7 tiles, $9 for 8-15, etc.)
• Frame: White or black frames available as well as white mats
• Manufacturing time: 72 hours

How does Picombo work?

I haven't used these, but they seem very similar to the other options: There's a sticky strip on the back of the tile. Just peel away the top protective layer and stick your tile to the wall!

They have a very classic look that would look great in an office or family room.

Unframed Stickable Photo Tiles (Raw Edges)

• Cost: $8.99-24.99
• Deal: Regular deals throughout the year
• Size: 8x8, 8x12, 12x12 inches
• Frame: No frame or mat

How do Snapfish photo tiles work?

You can get these foam tiles in both matte or metallic finishes, and they stick to the wall with self-adhesive magnets. Snapfish is the only manufacturer we know of that offers a metallic option.

These do not have a frame or mat, so it's just the tile with no border. You cna also use their app to easily order photo tiles.

• Cost: $13 per tile
• Deal: Get 5 free boards in a set of 8
• Shipping: Free shipping in US

How do Storyboards work?

Storyboards tiles are made of PVC foam which makes them durable and lightweight. The boards come with 4 re-positionable adhesive patches that can be attached and detached 5 times without issue.

If the adhesives wear at (which happens very rarely), just email [email protected], and they will send you new ones for free.

• Cost: $94 for 3, which is $31.33 each, then $19 for each additional tiles
• Deal: 30% off on first order
• Manufacturing time: 48 hours

How do WallPics work?

Wallpics tiles have four sticky pads on the back that will adhere to almost any wall. Just remove the paper covering the sticky pads and easily hang your tiles on the wall.

They are designed to be moved around without damaging your walls and they are intended to last for years. If the sticky pads are no longer sticky, they'll replace them for free!

• Cost: $16 per tile
• Deal: Buy 6 for the price of 4, get 12 for the price of 7, get 25 for the price of 15
• Frame: No frame available, unfinished edge
• Shipping: Free for 8 tiles or more

How does MixPix work?

MixPix tiles are made out of light foam so they are super lightweight and easy to hang on the wall.

There's an adhesive magnetic hanging system, so you stick a magnetic strip onto your wall, and then stick your MixPix tile to it. This is very similar to the TilePix hanging system, just without frames.

• Cost: $15.33 per tile
• Deal: 3 tiles for $46
• Shipping: Free shipping and ships internationally

How does Printage work?

Just peel and stick these photo tiles to your wall with the mounting squares on the back of the tile. You can easily pull them off the wall and rearrange the tiles without leaving sticky residue on your walls.

These tiles are restickable up to 20 times without needing new adhesive strips.

• Cost: $12 per tile
• Deal: Coupons sometimes available
• Manufacturing time: 1-2 days

How does PhotoSquared work?

Honest disclaimer: I haven't tried PhotoSquared, and I'm not sure I'm going to. They had a massive data breach in 2020 (read about it here and here ). In addition to full names and addresses, all the photos that had been uploaded for printing were leaked. Eek!

We understand data breaches can happen to any company, but more robust security measures are needed when family pictures start getting hacked. So for now, we don't recommend PhotoSquared.

Stickable Photo Tiles With Colored Edges

This last option is unique from either category above. It's not framed, but it isn't a raw edge either. Instead, it's a colored edge, the way a stretched canvas would be.

In addition, Snaptiles include a wall mount - so the wall mount sticks to the wall with adhesives, but then additional tiles stick to each other with magnetic edges. It's very unique, and unlike the other options on this page.

Snaptiles are a little different because they include a wall mount.

• Cost: $12.25 per tile
• Deal: Get 4 tiles for $49

How do SnapTiles work?

Snaptiles use adhesive strips, so just peel off the backing on the adhesive mount and position them on the wall. Position the tile against the wall mount and slide it down to lock firmly onto the wall mount. You can also snap the tiles onto each other to make a fun arrangement of photo tiles.

The only con to this method is that it means you're locked into an edge-to-edge arrangement, where all the tiles are touching each other. I tend to prefer the tile arrangements with more white space between, which defeats the purpose of the cool wall mount and magnets for me.

Quality-wise, these are all pretty similar. They are essentially a photo mounted on foam core, with some kind of hanging mechanism or adhesive. So there's not a lot of difference in what your photos will look like, just the frame and price.

If you want the cheapest for less than 10 tiles, there are a few places to look. The cheapest for just one or two would be Snapfish, but those don't come with a frame. If you want a frame, you can order from Mixtiles or Happytiles, which are $11 each.

The cheapest for 10-20 tiles , your best option is Mixtiles, Tilepix, Picombo, or Mixpix. All of them have discounted prices for bulk orders, especially if you're getting 12 or 16 tiles.

If you're looking to get a large amount, like 40 tiles, we'd suggest Picombo. They have some great deals for big quantities.

If you want to change swap photos around your grid, these are the companies we'd suggest. Both Tilepix and Mixpix use magnetic backings so once you know where you want your stickable photo tiles, you can put up the magnetic mountings. Then you can rearrange your photo tiles on those magnets as often as you want.

If you don't want to go with magnets, you can go with either Mixtiles or Printage since they can be pulled off the wall and re-stuck to it more than a dozen times without losing their stickiness.

If you want the highest quality frame , we'd suggest Photobook as they use real pine wood.

I f you need to get them quickly, your best option is Mixpix or Tilepix, because their manufacturing time is only 24 hours.

If you're looking for stickable photo tiles, these are some great companies and websites to check out. We have reviews on Mixtiles and Tilepix that you can look at if you want more detailed information on those two, but there are definitely more companies out there!

Stickable photo tiles are a really cute way to decorate your walls! Have you ever purchased some before? Which brand did you get?

Reader Interactions

Lyle Hayden says

June 01, 2023 at 2:02 am

How to get a quote please

Justine Woodham says

June 10, 2023 at 9:59 am

I have used MIXTILES because of the adhesive back. however, I have a problem now with trying to move a photo. it seems that the adhesive pulls in my painted walls? so, I leave them in place (for now) Are there recommendations to help remove the photo without damaging the paint? otherwise, I am very happy with MIXTILES quality and value. * I have also used FRACTURE for a special memorial photo of a family member. beautiful vibrant color on the image.

April 16, 2024 at 7:54 pm

Hi! is there any of them where you can change the picture inside the frame?

April 26, 2024 at 1:22 pm

I don't think so - that's when a regular frame would work best!

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Printique – Photo Tiles Review

Elevate your memories with printique.

In an age dominated by digital screens, finding a way to preserve and cherish our most treasured memories in a tangible and lasting form can be a challenge. Enter Printique , a true gem in the world of photo printing and personalized products. I recently had the pleasure of using their services, and I am beyond impressed with the quality, variety, and attention to detail that they offer.

User-Friendly Website

The journey with Printique starts with their user-friendly website that seamlessly guides you through the process of creating and ordering your personalized products. The interface is intuitive, and navigating through various categories and customization options is a breeze.

Printing Quality

When it comes to photo printing, Printique truly shines. The printing quality is nothing short of outstanding. The colors are vibrant, the details are sharp, and the images come to life in a way that’s hard to replicate with digital displays. The Photo Tiles we ordered have amazing color accuracy and print precision. Plus the material itself is super light and a breeze to hang with the included peel and stick adhesive. The adhesive is re-stickable, which allows you to try out different layouts before landing on your favorite. The Photo Tiles are printed on high-quality, silver halide paper that’s layered on to a thick, durable foam. The detailed printing process offers a superior professional grade look with bright colors and sharper details.

Wide Range of Products

Printique offers an impressive array of products to suit every need. From traditional prints to canvas wraps, metal prints, and more, their selection is diverse and caters to various tastes and preferences. The ability to customize products to your liking adds a personal touch that enhances the emotional value of each item.

Customization & Creative Control

What sets Printique apart is their dedication to providing customers with creative control. The online design tool allows you to manipulate and customize your photos, layouts, and text to create unique and meaningful pieces. The ability to visualize and experiment with different options before placing an order is a game-changer.

Packaging & Shipping

I was equally impressed by Printique’s attention to packaging and shipping. My products arrived well-packaged, ensuring they were protected during transit. The delivery was prompt, and the items were in pristine condition upon arrival.

Customer Service

Printique’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in their responsive and helpful customer service. They are readily available to address any inquiries or concerns, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish.

Printique has redefined the art of preserving memories. Their commitment to quality, customization, and customer satisfaction makes them a top choice for anyone looking to bring their photos to life in a tangible and meaningful way. Whether you’re creating a personalized gift, decorating your home with stunning wall art, or compiling cherished memories in a photo book, Printique’s exceptional printing quality and attention to detail will leave you thoroughly impressed. Don’t let your memories fade away in the digital abyss – elevate them with Printique and create keepsakes that will be treasured for generations to come.

To learn more, check out: www.printique.com

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Mixtiles Review: Stickable Photo Tile Galleries

Mixtiles let you turn your photos into hassle-free wall galleries. Read this review to find out about quality, ease of use, value for money, and more.

Photography Gear Reviews | By Ana Mireles

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Photo galleries are a beautiful and trendy way to decorate your walls at home or at the office.

Now you can get one without any hassle, thanks to Mixtiles.

Mixtiles are lightweight stickable photo tiles . Simply remove the protective paper from the adhesive and stick the Mixtile to your wall.

You can make any composition you want and rearrange it as many times as you need. 

You can forget about drilling holes or leaving marks on the wall. Mixtiles are the perfect solution when you rent or when you don’t have any hardware for hanging frames. Or even if you do, this is a quick, clean, and hassle-free way to decorate. 

In this article, I’ll share with you my experience in ordering and using Mixtiles. I’ll also look at some of the most popular alternatives and tell you how they are different from Mixtiles. 

Lastly, I’ll also answer a few FAQs. Of course, for further information, you should visit the Mixtiles website directly or contact their customer service. 

Mixtiles didn’t pay me to write this review. All the opinions are sincere and based on my experience with their product, paid for myself.

I hope the information you find here is helpful to you.

Table of Contents

What is Mixtiles?

• Easy to upload, customize, and order
• Free shipping
• Easy to mount
• They look great
• A bit pricey when not on sale
• Not all print sizes are available on the app or worldwide
• No glossy paper is available
• Not much information about the centerpieces

Size and weight:

• 8″x 8″ (21 cm x 21 cm) – 3.9 oz (110.6 gr) framed / 3.1 oz (90 gr) frameless
• 8″ x 11″ (21 cm x 27.94 cm) – 6.31 oz (179 gr) framed / 5.1 oz (145 gr) frameless
• 12″ x 12″ (31.6 cm x 31.6 cm) – 8.82 oz (221 gr) framed / 8.2 oz (233 gr) frameless
• 12″ x 16″ (31.6 cm x 41.75 cm) – 10.72 oz (304 gr) framed / 11 oz (311 gr) frameless
• 20″ x 20″ (49.53 cm x 49.53 cm) – 16.72 oz (474 gr) framed / 20 oz (570 gr) frameless
• 20″ x 27″ (49.53 cm x 68.59 cm) – 21.38 oz (606 gr) framed / 30 oz (850 gr) frameless
• 27″ x 36″ (68.58 cm x 91.44 cm) – 34.46 oz (977 gr) framed / 28.68 oz (813 gr) frameless

Note that not all sizes are available on the app. Also, the biggest size is only available in the US. 

All prints are done on matte photo paper. 

Centerpieces:

Mixtiles also sells centerpieces if you want to add a tile with text to your collage. It’s not clear what the size or material is of this product. 

Specs of the product reviewed in this article:

• Eight matte photo paper prints
• 8″ x 8″ (21cm x 21 cm)
• Black frame

Size & Handling

Before I talk about the packaging, I’d like to make a special note about the fast delivery. When I placed the order, the estimated delivery time was eleven days. Instead, I received my Mixtiles by the third day!

They arrived in a nice branded box. Inside, four Mixtiles were arranged on a cardboard tray side by side and tightly fitted so they wouldn’t move and get scratched around the edges.

In one of the corners, you could see the mounting instructions – not that many instructions are needed, though. Once I pulled out the tray, the remaining four items were arranged in the same way underneath. 

Everything was protected without using any plastic, foam, or any other material that’s bad for the environment – I really appreciated this.

The box was slim and light, but this will depend on the size and number of Mixtiles that you order.  

Once I took them out of the box, they were very light and easy to handle. Also, because of the small size, I was able to hold them with one hand and use the other to make marks, place the bubble level, etc. 

Mixtiles Quality

There are two things to consider when you evaluate the quality of the Mixtiles. One is the build quality of the product. The other is the print quality of the picture. 

Build quality

The product is well-built, in my opinion. The tiles are extremely lightweight, but this doesn’t mean that the frames feel flimsy. They feel structured and durable.

Once they’re placed on the wall, they might not feel super stable. However, this is because the adhesive foam tape is only on the top side.

Even if the foam is not particularly thick, it does add volume. This means the tiles aren’t flat against the wall. This wobbling doesn’t move them out of place or anything, but a second sticky foam on the bottom would make them more stable.  

The quality of the adhesive looks good. You don’t need to push hard or hold them for a while until they adhere – they get fixed into position immediately.

Since I just got them a few days ago, I don’t know if the adhesive will loosen as time passes – but so far, so good. 

Print quality

I uploaded photos that were already the right size at a resolution of 300 ppi. The resulting prints are good quality.

It’s not fine-art quality – it’s the standard that you would get from any printing service. So, you might not use Mixtiles for a museum exhibition, but they look great on the walls of a home or office. 

Mixtiles allows you to import photos directly from Facebook or Instagram. Since these platforms have already resized and compressed your images, you might not receive the best quality photograph. However, this has to do with the quality of the file and not the quality of the print.

So, be careful with this. If you have the original file, I suggest that you upload it directly instead of importing it from your social media. This will ensure a better quality photo.

The minimum recommended size they ask for is 800 by 800 pixels. Otherwise, the app will warn you about your photos being too small.

Ease of use

I’ll divide this section in two, so I can review both the website and the product, as they’re both part of the user experience. 

The home page is very friendly and clean. There’s a big pink button with the text “Let’s Go” inviting you to move forward. Once you do, you get offered two choices – buying for yourself or someone else. 

On the “someone else” section, you can select whether you want to buy Mixtiles or gift cards. However, after choosing, you’re asked to provide your name and email address. Then, there are a series of questions – like, “How did you find out about Mixtiles?”.

This all happens before you see the products or decide if you even want to buy them. I found this quite off-putting. 

You can skip the questions, but the name and email are required. Also, despite the fact that I didn’t tick the box agreeing to receive promotions and marketing emails, I’m receiving one per day.

For these reasons, it wasn’t a great start – but from there, the rest is quite smooth and intuitive.

Let me give you a quick tip that I found later. Instead of clicking on the inviting “Let’s Go” button, open the hamburger menu on the top left and go directly to the section you want.

This ordering section has a nice and minimal design. This is a very refreshing experience compared to other e-shops that try to make you buy more and more things. 

You can choose the Frame, Size, and Mat (i.e., the border size) and see live previews as you change your choices. There are six possible filters you can apply to your photos.

It may feel weird that you don’t see a price next to your order, as we’re used to seeing the tally adding up as you shop. Instead, to keep the design minimal, you can only see the price when you choose the size. Here you can see the price per item and any promos or bundles. 

To see the tally, you can press the Checkout button. This won’t finish your order – you can go back to continue with your setup.

If you want to remove an item, simply click on it to select it and click the trash can icon.

Once you’re ready, click on Checkout again. Here, you can add your name, address, phone number, and payment method. You’ll also see the estimated delivery date. 

Finally, click “Confirm and Pay” and you’re all done. You’ll get a confirmation email with the order number and a tracking link.

This section is going to be very short because the Mixtiles are very easy to use.

Start by peeling off the protective paper from the adhesive.

Then, put the Mixtile on the wall and, using a bubble level, make sure it’s straight.

Now, press on the top part or wherever there’s an adhesive foam. 

That’s it. Just repeat these three steps with each one of your Mixtiles to create a wall gallery. 

Alternatives to Mixtiles

Stickable photo tiles are a great way to decorate your home or office without any hassle or hardware. Unshockingly, they’ve become very popular. 

Here are a couple of alternatives to Mixtiles and what their main differences are. 

Happytiles is another brand of stickable photo tiles. The website design and experience are very similar to Mixtiles.com. You can customize the frame and mat in the same way as you can on Mixtiles.

There aren’t any filter options, though this doesn’t make too much of a difference. What differs more are the product sizes and materials. While Mixtiles allows you to choose from a variety of sizes, Happytiles only offers one – 8.5″ x 8.5″. 

On the other hand, Happytiles does offer other materials. You can print on glass and on canvas – the size for these is 8″ x 8″.

The thickness and weight, of course, change according to the material. 

MIXPIX by CanvasDiscount

Another alternative to Mixtiles is MIXPIX. These are the stickable photo tiles designed by CanvasDiscount.

The individual tiles are less expensive than the Mixtiles. Although, when you buy a Mixtiles promo pack, this may not be the case. 

On the downside, the free shipping on CanvasDiscount is only available if you buy ten or more MIXPIX tiles. Instead, on Mixtiles it’s always free. 

Again, Mixtiles has the advantage regarding size availability because MIXPIX only comes in 8″ x 8″ tiles. However, they have the advantage of a magnetic hanger. 

So, instead of sticking the tile directly to the wall, you stick a magnet. This way, you can change the photos anytime you want without the risk of wearing out the adhesive.

Value for Money

Mixtiles might seem a bit pricey when you look at them as individual products. However, they’re not meant to be bought singularly.

The idea is that you can create beautiful wall galleries. So, once you start to bundle them, the price starts to drop. 

For example, big sizes were designed with the idea of creating triptychs. As such, a bundle of three has a discounted price compared to the price of three single tiles.

The small tiles are meant to create galleries, so you can get bundles of 6, 8, or 12 – the more you buy, the bigger the discount. 

On top of that, Mixtiles often runs promos because of Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Christmas, etc. There’s always something to celebrate, and as a result, there’s often a discount code you can use. 

Depending on the bundle/promo you get, the price is quite fair, and it gives good value for money. The quality is good enough, and the tiles look great.

You’ll also save a lot of time and hassle compared to hanging regular frames. 

There are less expensive options on the market, but there are often trade-offs. For example, you may have to pay shipping costs, or you have fewer sizes to choose from. 

In any case, I haven’t tried other brands, so I can’t comment on the quality or user experience of the less expensive options. What I can tell you is that with Mixtiles, I feel that I got good value for money. 

FAQ’s

Do Mixtiles really stick?

Yes, in my experience, they do. I used them on regular, painted concrete walls. On their website, they confirm that they stick to most walls, and they offer a refund if you have any problems. 

Do Mixtiles have glass?

No, there’s no glass in the frame.

Can you change the photo inside a Mixtiles frame?

No, the design is not meant to be opened for you to replace the photo. 

Is there worldwide shipping?

Yes, Mixtiles has shipping options to most countries. Not only that, it’s free for all.

Do they have a guarantee?

Mixtiles offers a satisfaction guarantee that covers a full refund or a replacement. You need to email them to explain your situation, and they’ll work with you to find a solution. Since I was satisfied, I don’t have any experience to give you further insight in this regard. 

How do I redeem a Mixtiles gift card?

On the Mixtiles home page, open the hamburger menu. Here, choose the option Change Promo Code. 

Mixtiles Review | Conclusion

As you can see, there are a few things I think could be improved. All in all, though, I honestly believe that Mixtiles is a good product, and I wouldn’t hesitate to buy more in the future or give them as a gift for a photographer friend or otherwise. 

I just want to say again that Mixtiles didn’t pay me to do this review. All the opinions are sincere and based on my experience. I hope the information you find here is helpful to you.

You'll Also Like These:

Ana Mireles is a Mexican researcher that specializes in photography and communications for the arts and culture sector.

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Snaptiles Photo Tiles Review

I've been on a bit of a photo tiles kick as of late. I wanted a new and unique way to hang photos in my home and a way that would allow my son and wife to get involved in the process.

If you follow my articles here on PhotographyTalk, you might recall that my first foray into photo tiles was with Mixtiles.

I did a full review on that experience , which - spoiler alert - was not the best.

So after a disappointing turn with Mixtiles, I headed back to Google, did a search for "photo tiles," and discovered Snaptiles photo tiles.

What follows is my review of these magnetic photo tiles.

What are Snaptiles Photo Tiles?

We created a design that my son called a "spaceship with blasters."

In short, Snaptiles are magnetic photo tiles that allow you to quickly and easily display your photos.

Each photo tile measures 8 x 8 inches, and they have magnetic strips that snap the tiles together. This allows you to create just about any kind of design you wish.

You can hang up to 12 Snaptiles from a single mounting bracket (up to 30 Snaptiles with the addition of four thumbtacks), so the possibilities for showing off your photos are virtually endless.

This is a window shape we made with our Snaptiles.

You can connect so many tiles together because the photo tiles are extremely lightweight.

They're printed onto a premium SBS Acid-Free paperboard to save weight without sacrificing quality. In fact, they're printed using the same printing technology as high-quality photo books.

Additionally, Snaptiles have a UV protective lamination so your photos remain crisp and bright over time.

How to Use Snaptiles

The process of mounting Snaptiles to the wall really couldn't be any simpler...

The mounting bracket (shown above) has four adhesive strips on the back. Just peel the backing off, press down firmly on each strip for 10 seconds to bond it to the wall, and you're ready to go. Remember, if you have more than 12 tiles, you can insert the included four thumbtacks into the holes on the mounting bracket for additional support for up to 30 tiles.

There's even a built-in bubble level so you're sure your creation is level.

Next, you mount the anchor tile (shown above) to the bracket by snapping it into place. To do so, you simply remove the two perforated areas to expose the mounting holes. Then you can connect more photo tiles using the magnets that solidly connect them together.

Four  tiny  holes to display up to 30 images is pretty astonishing if you ask me. Now, instead of having tons of nail holes in the wall, we can display these tiles with some adhesive strips and thumbtacks. Nice!

Snaptiles App

To make the process of getting your Snaptiles easier, you can use the Snaptiles app  for iPhone.

Within the app, you choose your favorite photos from Instagram, Facebook, or the gallery on your phone and edit them to suit your tastes.

Then, you place your order right within the app, and the Snaptiles team will ship them to you. Shipping is even free!

Snaptiles Cost

Snaptiles are budget-friendly at $59 for the first set of four, and $9 for each tile after that.

As I noted above, shipping is free.

The size of the tiles is set at 8 x 8 inches, but you can select the type of edge on the photo - one of a number of different colors or you can choose a mirrored edge.

Snaptiles Review

Our design of a rocket ship with thrusters.

The first thing that I'll say about Snaptiles is, since when has hanging photos become fun?!

Honestly, hanging Snaptiles on my son's wall was such a fun experience that he, my wife, and I got to enjoy together.

You can see above and below the various designs we were able to come up with.

From a rocket ship to an airplane, a window to a Christmas tree, and even a robot, there were really no bounds on the designs we came up with.

Snaptiles can be formed into a robot too!

What's so interesting about Snaptiles is that they help your memories come to life.

On the one hand, you're handling the photos as you mount them to the wall, so you get to reminisce about the people or place that's in each shot.

On the other hand, Snaptiles enables you to come close together as a family as you share in the experience of remembering special photos as you arrange them on the wall.

My personal favorite design is our airplane.

Plus, with each new event in our lives, we can order more Snaptiles to add to the display!

This also gives us an opportunity to explore new arrangements of photos to keep the display fun and fresh.

The ability to completely change the arrangement of photos is a  huge  benefit.

Once we get "bored" with how the display looks, or are simply curious about what other arrangements we can come up with, changing things up takes just a few minutes.

You can see the thickness of the tiles from the side. It gives the photo tile display an awesome 3-D look!

This is just not something that's possible with Mixtiles because they are peel-and-stick. You get around 10 peel-and-sticks before the strips need to be replaced.

With Snaptiles, there's no such limit because of the magnets, so we went through seven or eight designs on the very first day without having to worry that the tiles would lose their ability to attach.

I initially ordered just one set of four Snaptiles, but I was so impressed with these photo tiles (and my son loved them  so  much) that I ordered a whole bunch more, as you can see in the photos above.

But above and beyond the quality of the product and its ease of use, I really loved how hanging our photos became a family event.

As I said before, my wife and son got involved in the process, and we had a  great time coming together as a family to create new and interesting displays, arranging photos based on subject or color or who's in the shot, and simply enjoying one another's company.

That time together to construct our photo display and have fun is a gift that keeps on giving!

So, would I recommend Snaptiles? ABSOLUTELY! These photo tiles are  awesome . Get started with your Snaptiles experience by visiting their website or downloading the Snaptiles app .

Stay tuned for a head-to-head review in which I compare Snaptiles and Mixtiles in more detail.

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Shutterfly review: Good but not great

Shutterfly has great software and above-average print quality, but it doesn’t rise to the same level as mixbook.

Tom's Guide Verdict

Shutterfly is an easy to use and reliable service that does a lot of things right. In particular, the paper quality was great overall, and it did a decent job with its photo printing, particularly for its books and its cards. On the other hand, the quality of its calendar was just fair. Mixbook remains the best photo book service overall for its higher quality and better software, but if you want a relatively stress-free experience in creating solid if not spectacular products from a seasoned brand, Shutterfly is the one for you.

Superior paper quality for books, cards, and envelopes

User-friendly software

Easy to share online projects with others

Massive selection of stickers/clipart

Mediocre calendar quality

Slow to load images for projects

Flimsy book binding

Most expensive cards (but often discounted if you buy more)

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

• Print quality

Photo book rating: ★ ★★ ☆ ☆ Photo card rating: ★★★★★ Photo calendar rating: ★★★☆☆

Shutterfly is a venerable name in custom photo printing with its services going back more than two decades to, essentially, the dawn of digital photography. This heritage shows with its vast array of photo product offerings and design features including numerous pre-built templates for photo books , photo calendars , and cards.

Shutterfly is a service we often recommend to friends and family simply because of its reliability and useability. When you’ve been around as long as Shutterfly has, you’ve worked out most of the kinks of producing and delivering photo products to customers. The company is also generous with special pricing offers, with many of its products deeply discounted, particularly for returning customers.

We just wish Shutterfly’s overall quality was a bit better, particularly for its calendars. While the paper and print quality was good overall, the bindings for its books are flimsy and we worry how they will last over time. And while its cards were among our favorites, the calendars were mediocre at best. Read the rest of our Shutterfly review to find out whether a long track record of customer satisfaction is enough to make this your printing choice.

• Best photo books
• Best photo calendars
• Best photo cards

Shutterfly review: Prices

Shutterfly photo books An 8 x 8-inch hardcover book starts at $37.48 for 20 pages (Lay flat versions start at $57.48.) Standard hardcover books go up to 11 x 14-inches for $104.99. A softcover book ranges from $24.98 (8 x 8-inch) to $33.73 (10 x 10-inch). Deluxe layflat books start at $144.98 for an 8 x 8-inch with a leather cover.

Shutterfly calendars An 8 x 11-inch, 12-month centerfold wall calendar starts at $34.99, or $44.99 for a 12 x 12-inch. A traditional “flip-over” desktop calendar costs $29.98 as does an easel calendar, which consists of twelve 5 x 7-inch monthly cards and a small wooden easel.

Shutterfly photo cards Shutterfly offers so many different card types and styles with frequently discounted prices, it can be overwhelming. The good news is you’re bound to find some good deals, particularly if you’re ordering a lot of cards. For instance, 5 x 7 holiday cards start at 98 cents each for 200 or more of the cheapest design and go up to $4.52 for 30 or fewer premium cards with gold foil text. Wedding cards range from $1.09 to $5.33. These are the list prices, though, which you may never pay. Every card we looked at had all its list prices crossed out and replaced with a discount. The holiday cards, for example, started at 74 cents and went up to $2.85 at time of order.

Shutterfly review: Software

Shutterfly has the richest and most diverse assortment of photo book templates of the services we tested. There are 265 templates broken down into 31 categories including Professional, Wedding, Birthday, Travel, Recipe and many more. If you can think of a theme, they probably have it too. It can be overwhelming to pick one, but we recommend picking a template that catches your eye and just trying it out. (You can always start over if it doesn’t suit you.)  Or you can create your own from scratch, which is what we did.

After you’ve made your selection, Shutterfly displays the backgrounds and embellishments (such as clip art or frames) you can use while customizing each one. If you create your own book from scratch, as we did in order to produce similar products across all the services we evaluated, you can access the full arsenal of customization tools Shutterfly has to offer.

Honed, we assume, by years of feedback from users, Shutterfly’s editing workspace is extremely well-organized and easy to use. There’s a two-page spread preview in the middle with thumbnails of the photos in the project at the bottom, and menus on the left featuring access to page-layout options, page backgrounds, and "Embellishments" such as stickers/clipart or frames. There’s a flowchart at the top of the screen to show you where you are in the overall process. It allows you to jump back or ahead to any step, such as selecting a style, laying out images on a storyboard, or selecting options including cover and page type and finish.

We thought Shutterfly offered a good compromise between providing full control over a project and not overloading you with too much information. If you get stuck while making a product, just click the question mark icon in the lower left to bring up the help overlay. You can then click on different parts of the screen to get popup descriptions of what they do. The only downside is we found the software somewhat slow to use; in particular, there was a noticeable lag of a few seconds before images displayed in a layout.

There’s a vast assortment of backgrounds to choose from (4,751 options), which you select by cover or interior pages, Occasions (Pets, Sumer, etc.), Style, Day (Aloha Hawaii, Best Mom Ever), and other criteria. A similar interface lets you select from Shutterfly’s collection of 30,000 stickers, 5,786 ribbons that run across the page or photo, and 637 straight-frame types. Shutterfly offers about 100 text fonts and a small range of font and color options. 

While you can’t fully edit photos you have imported into Shutterfly (as you can with Mixbook ), you can apply one of six filters, as well as rotate images or remove redeye. You can also choose to have the photos automatically color corrected by Shutterfly’s internal algorithm.

If you’re moving between projects like we were, you’ll be pleased that the interface for Shutterfly’s calendar design is nearly identical to the one for its books. The same options are offered for editing photos (applying filters), adding backgrounds, stickers/clipart, ribbons, and frames, or configuring text. You can fully configure any text element on the calendar grids: individual month names, year, day names, grid numbers. However, you can only change the grid style itself by selecting a different style template for the whole project.

Shutterfly’s design software for cards is very similar to what’s offered for its other products aside from one confounding omission: There is no undo button. If you want to go back and make changes to a card, you’ll have to manually deconstruct your mistakes or just start over, which can be frustrating.

Meanwhile, the options abound with over 700 card templates for a myriad of occasions including Christmas (and Navidad), New Years, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Thanksgiving, Easter, Eid, Diwali, Birthday, Graduation, and newborn baby, as well as a range of wedding offerings (save the date, invites, bridal shower, etc.). There are thank you cards, thinking of you cards and special collections including affirmations from Ted Lasso and snark from The Onion. Once you choose a card type, say, Holiday Cards, you can filter the options by 15 criteria, including photo orientation, number of photos, price, trim options, and metal foil or glitter color.

You can share your designs for photo books, calendars, or card projects with others online, allowing them to view, like, order, and make customizable copies of your creations. If you ever get stuck, the site does provide live 24/7 chat support though we found it less comprehensive than what’s offered from Mixbook, which has the best live support of the services we tested.

Shutterfly review: Print quality

Shutterfly photo books Despite its robust and intuitive software, the resulting photo books were a mixed bag. While the page quality was the best of all the photo books we reviewed, the color was just ok, with some pale skin tones in portraits getting washed out while darker skin appeared oversaturated with a loss of detail.

The default glossy hardcover was quite eye-catching though, and the color of our waterfall shot looked natural with ample detail. But the shiny cover surface is prone to glare. Inside, the pages have a good weight and the smooth matte finish produced minimal reflection.

Some brighter images, however, appeared slightly washed out in print. We also weren’t so keen on the binding, which felt flimsy, and cut off the edges of the images in the center crease.

Overall, though, we were pleased with our Shutterfly book if not as thrilled as we were with the end results from Printique and Mixbook , which produced the best books of the bunch. Without the weight of those expectations, however, most users will likely be fine with their books from Shutterfly, particularly the pain-free experience in making them.

Shutterfly calendars Shutterfly’s calendar is a step backward, however. It finished second to last of the services we tested, with mediocre color, washed out highlights, and an overall flat and faded look. The detail and sharpness in our cover and calendar page images was not bad considering some of the exposure issues. For instance, it was easy to read the text of the newspapers and magazine covers in a portrait of a newsstand man we shot in Florence, Italy, which we used for the month of July. (And if only we understood Italian better, we could figure out what they say!)

The top metal ring binding of our wall-hanging calendar felt rickety and cheap, and we were concerned how it would hold up over the course of the year. On the hand, the actual monthly date grids looked sharp and were easy to read. The smooth matte surface of the grid pages was also easy to write on, with little to no bleeding for ink or magic marker.

So while there’s nothing that special about Shutterfly’s calendar, it’s highly functional and we think most folks will find a practical use for their creations if they won’t be blown away by its quality. This all, however, is a vast improvement over the previous time we reviewed Shutterfly calendar and named it by far the worst of all the services we tested then. Maybe Shutterfly took our criticisms to heart?

Shutterfly photo cards Shutterfly’s photo cards and envelopes were top notch. For comparison’s sake, we ordered a basic two-sided holiday card to test the various services this time around, and Shutterfly nailed it. The family portrait on the cover of our card was crisp, clear and inviting if a little bit too yellow in the skin tones for our taste. That’s a nit-pick though. The rear of the card, which featured a photo we took of a Tuscan vineyard at sunset, looked fabulous. The text was easy to read and the Signature Smooth Cardstock, which was the least expensive option, was thick and felt professional. Our only gripe is the intrusive Shutterfly logo on the back.

In previous years of reviewing Shutterfly, our reviewer ordered a more expensive, decked-out holiday card, with metal foil and premium envelopes, which took top honors for overall quality, placing first for paper and text quality, color, and sharpness. So, whether you plan to spend a little or a lot, Shutterfly’s cards are winners. The company’s envelopes also were the best of all the services we tested. Even the basic, entry-level envelopes were simple, elegant, and classy.

Shutterfly review: Verdict

Shutterfly finished solidly in the middle of the pack in our testing of the best photo books . On the one hand, we appreciated the company’s clear and reliable software, which was not only simple to use, it offered a vast array of templates and tools for customizing your photo products. Image quality, however, was inconsistent. While our photo books looked decent, the binding was flimsy and image exposure levels were all over the map. 

Meanwhile, Shutterfly’s calendars, while improved from our review last year, still didn’t stand out, finishing second to last in our testing this time around. Photo cards, on the other hand, are clearly Shutterfly’s forte. They finished in first place. So, while Shutterfly does a lot of things right, there are enough misses to fall short of the top tier of Printique and Mixbook .

More from Tom's Guide

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Dan Havlik has worked in the photo industry for over decades and is currently editor-in chief of Wild Eye ( www.wildeyemagazine.com ), a new magazine devoted to the celebration of nature, wildlife, and underwater photography. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Outdoor Photographer and Shutterbug magazines. He has been an editor and writer for a variety of other publications and websites including Photo District News (PDN), Rangefinder, Wired, Popular Science, Popular Mechanics, Consumer Reports, Maxim, Men’s Journal, Imaging Resource, and LAPTOP. Dan is also an avid runner with three marathons under his belt and has written fitness reviews, including guides to the best running shoes and GPS watches, for Business Insider.

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Chatbooks Review

Sunday, May 12th

2024 Photo Book Company Reviews

• Prices from $7 to $20
• 5-10 day shipping
• 300+ themes
• Integrates with social media
• Satisfaction guarantee
• Replacement guarantee

Chatbooks was founded in 2014 as a small family project. Being short on time for traditional scrapbooking, the founder of Chatbooks started posting photos on Instagram for her family and friends to see. This led to the idea of turning these photos into automatic photo books. Despite growing to a team of over 150 people, the company strives to maintain a personal touch and avoid becoming a faceless corporation. Their ultimate mission is to strengthen families through their photo book service.

300+ themes available

There are plenty of options available at Chatbooks. On top of offering a variety of styles (including yearbooks or designer-style photo books), there are more than 300+ different themes available. Some of these themes were developed by Chatbooks themselves (so you can only find them here) while many others are from popular brands known for paper or artistic products. For example, you can find themes designed by Paper Source, which is a popular shop for cards, posters, and other paper products. From kids and family themes to holiday themes, there's something here for everyone.

Easy shopping experience

On top of having a robust platform, Chatbooks also has a mobile app. With tons of 5-star ratings on it, you know you're getting a high-tech approach when you go with this service. Chatbooks also offers two different ways to shop. You can buy special occasion photo books for a one-time cost, or you can subscribe and receive regular shipments of beautifully designed photo books. Most of their books come in 6x6 or 8x8 sizes and you can choose between hard- and soft-cover for all designs.

Pull photos from your social media

Then, once you've gotten into the build, you can easily pull photos from either an online source or from your computer. Instead of just waiting for you to upload photo after photo, Chatbooks is designed to interface with your Instagram, Facebook, and Google Photo accounts, allowing you to easily take photos you're already proud of and put them in a physical photo book.

Buy a single book or subscribe for regular photos

Chatbooks offers a variety of popular products at different price points depending on how you want to pay. With both membership and single purchase options available, you can choose what kind of photo book (or books) you want and how often you want to get them. The types of photo books include:

• Monthbooks: Starting from $10, this is a monthly photo book subscription with outstanding customer reviews. Each month, customers can print a 30-page photo book directly from the photos on their phones.
• Monthly Minis: Priced at $7 per month, these mini books are designed for small hands. Customers receive a 30-page photo book filled with pictures from their phones. The added benefit is the "Toddler Guarantee" for extra peace of mind (more on that later).
• Classic Photo Books: Prices for Classic photo books start at $15. These books can be filled with up to 366 pages, making them ideal for capturing memories from vacations, special occasions, and more.
• Canvas Wall Tiles: Available at $20 each, customers can transform their photos into stunning wall art with custom canvas prints. These prints are peel-and-stick for easy and quick home decor.

Two guarantees for one

At Chatbooks, customer satisfaction is their top priority, and they offer the Chatbooks Love Guarantee to ensure complete happiness with each photo book. If customers encounter any issues with the book, such as printing, shipping, texture, or any other aspect, the company is committed to addressing them. The Love Guarantee promises to either reprint the book to meet the customer's expectations or offer a full refund. On top of that, Chatbooks offers a Toddler Guarantee to provide extra reassurance. In case a photo book gets damaged due to the curious hands of little ones, the company will replace it for free.

Delivery as early as 5 days

Chatbooks' printing process for all its products requires up to 4 business days. After the printing is complete, the shipping duration is determined by the chosen shipping method. Customers can select from three shipping options:

• Standard: Takes 5 days for transit for $4.99
• Premium: Takes 3 days for transit for $9.99
• Express: Delivers within 1 day for $24.99

It is important to note that shipping is not free or included in the cost of the one-off photo books, so you will need to factor that into your total. However, if you subscribe to Monthbooks, you can get free shipping as part of the membership.

BBB and customers are polar opposites

The reviews from customers and the ratings from the Better Business Bureau tell two different stories with Chatbooks. According to the BBB, the company has an "F" rating overall. But there is only 1 total review on the BBB to even come close to explaining why the rating is so low. On the other hand when we checked on Chatbooks at verified third-party review sites and the app stores (for the company's mobile app), the ratings were all 4 and 5 stars across the board.

High customer praise

With over 10,000 individual reviews on the Apple Store alone along with copious reviews on Trustpilot, Chatbooks has an impressive 4.5-star average out of 5. Customers love the quality of the photo books and the regular shipments for the subscription, and they praise the quick responses and friendly interactions with customer service. Given these scores from customers, we're still not sure why the business has an "F" rating from the BBB, but it's worth checking out the photo books at this store despite that seemingly undeserved grade.

Top marks for tech and mobile integration

Overall, Chatbooks stands out in the photo book market. With a wide range of over 300 themes available, customers can find tons of fun designs to suit their needs. The user-friendly interface and mobile app make the photo book creation process effortless and interactive, allowing easy integration with social media accounts through desktop and mobile apps. Chatbooks offers both one-time buys and subscription plans, making it convenient for customers who want a variety of purchase options. On top of that, Chatbooks also offers the Chatbooks Love Guarantee, which promotes customer satisfaction and prompt resolution of any issues.

Strong choice

With the customer feedback considered, this modern platform stands out as a service with tons of flexibility and great customer service. Give Chatbooks a try the next time you need a photo book.

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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.

Photo Book Company FAQ

What types of photo books are available, how many photos can i put in my book, how much does it cost, what size options are there, how long does delivery take is it free, how do i create a photo book, how customizable is the photo book, what if i am not happy with my photo book.

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!

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Shutterfly vs. Mixbook: Comparing 2 Great Photo Books

Several months ago, we compared the biggest and best printers available for on-demand photo books .

And although there are plenty of excellent options out there with different advantages and disadvantages, two, in particular, stand out from the pack.

On one end of the spectrum stands Mixbook , an impressive newcomer. Recently, the on-demand bookbinders have made waves among photographers for the quality of their products. On the other end is Shutterfly , an early undisputed giant with a more mainstream following.

When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. We evaluate products independently . Commissions do not affect our evaluations.

Mixbook vs. Shutterfly

For those new to the world of photo books, both are incredibly appealing options to collaborate with.

In most ways, the two companies are neck and neck with one another. They offer similar prices and products, making it hard to determine the differences between the services.

However, our goal at PhotoWorkout is to clear things up for our readers so that they may make the decisions best for them. So, today we’ll be dissecting the two front runners, comparing Mixbook vs. Shutterfly piece by piece.

Related Post: Mixbook Photo Book vs. Blurb

MIXBOOK OVERVIEW

In short, here was my final verdict on their books:

Going into the review, I had high expectations of Mixbook based on what others had to say. The online press did not disappoint. From the moment I went on the website to the minute I finished flipping through my book, it was hard for me to find faults. That’s not to say that the Mixbook photo book is perfect. While it is affordable, it’s not the cheapest option around. The internal editor could always offer additional tools and capabilities. More sizing and binding options certainly couldn’t hurt things. However, to gripe on these points feels a lot like nitpicking.

Mixbook isn’t without its flaws, but it has garnered positive attention across the photo community for good reason. They offer a professional-looking final product well within most artists’ budgets. But does it hold up when examined head to head with a long-time industry leader?

SHUTTERFLY OVERVIEW

Shutterfly has been printing since 1999. It is a flagship printer shipping products in formats and on a variety of mediums. In the past, we have done several reviews about them, e.g.:

• a Shutterfly photo books review and
• we also reviewed the Shutterfly canvas prints as part of our discovery of the overall best canvas prints .

With years of experience under their belts, they have a few advantages that other smaller competitors can’t compete with.

Related Post:  Walgreens Photo Book Review

Offering seven different sizes and a variety of available materials, they have one of the most extensive photo book lines on the market. What’s more, Shutterfly is able to churn out finished products within three business days. Pricing starts as low as $16 per book (although add-ons can quickly increase the base cost). Make sure to check ongoing promotions  for steep discounts of up to 50%.

The site isn’t perfect – in particular, UI is a bit clumsy and cluttered at times. But thanks to the company’s resources, they’re able to offer solutions to get around some of their shortcomings.

For instance, Shutterfly offers a “Make my Book” service , in which trained professionals will design an album using whatever content you choose. Of course, if you want to keep the design work in your own hands, there are also simply drag-and-drop templates that the site has to offer.

A few weeks ago, I decided to print a mock-up for a personal photo project to see for myself if Shutterfly photo books lived up to their reputation.

There were a few minor differences between my Shutterfly product and my previous Mixbook order, but in most matters the two were comparable.

The matte finishes looked almost identical, as did the materials used to bind the cover. As far as print quality goes, I was impressed by the rich tonality and contrast Shutterfly’s finished project provided. Despite being a much larger corporation, Shutterfly adds just as much TLC into its books as Mixbook.

Before trying out Shutterfly, I assumed that their business revolved around making almost scrapbook-esque family albums and instant prints. Shutterfly can, in fact, accomplish those tasks. However, they also prove to be a viable contender for fine artists looking for higher-quality products.

Head-to-Head Comparison

So which service is best for you? Here’s our take based on a few of the categories that matter most to potential buyers.

Our choice: Mixbook

On the surface, Shutterfly seems to be the more affordable print service. After all, the company loves to tote around the fact that they offer photo books under $20. Furthermore, they frequently have sales going on that may take a nice chunk of change out of your final fee. However, there are some added fees that will likely catch you off-guard at checkout.

As with most sites, Shutterfly has a number of add-ons that can be applied to an order to enhance the final product. Unlike most websites, however, Shutterfly customers will almost certainly have to tack on add-ons, as base books are pretty bare bones. For instance, each book order only includes 20 pages – beyond that, customers must buy by the page. Larger volumes charge over $2 to add just one page to a volume. Combined with a $10 fee to remove Shutterfly logos as well as shipping and tax fees, it’s easy to see how many users wind up spending more than they intend on even simple book projects.

That being said, Mixbook’s prices aren’t far off Shutterfly’s. In fact, their base prices are almost identical (although Mixbook’s larger photo books are  slightly less expensive). However, we’re giving Mixbook the edge in this round because they’re a little bit more straightforward with pricing than their competitor.

Print Quality & Binding

Our choice: Tie (Both Mixbook and Shutterfly do an excellent job)

Shutterfly’s prints were absolutely beautiful, far surpassing my expectations. The tones were rich, and the paper complimented my black and white images especially well.

Unfortunately, there was one minor print error that I ran into (the edge of one of my images bled off the top side of the page whereas my other shots had a white border all the way around). However, despite the misprint, I was happy enough that I would use their services again.

I was also pleased with what I received from Mixbook. They did an excellent job with color management, and my end product looked exactly as it did on my online preview. My one little gripe, in retrospect, is that I think the printers may have added a little bit of extra sharpening between my submission and the print.

Honestly, it was too difficult to choose a winner in this category simply because they both do an excellent job. Their few weaknesses balance one another out, making it hard to identify a clear-cut winner.

I was a little bit more impressed with Shutterfly’s prints as a whole. However, I liked Mixbook’s standard binding a bit more. While Shutterfly’s pages need to be held down to stay in place, Mixbook’s default bind lays much flatter.

Options & Support

Our choice: Shutterfly

In this field, Mixbook, unfortunately, doesn’t stand a chance. The small company employs under 100 individuals. Shutterfly, on the other hand, has a workforce of nearly 2,000 employees.

For first-time users, Shutterfly is an easy choice because they simply have more resources to guide customers through the bookmaking process.

In fact, Shutterfly has a “ Make my Photo Book ” Service in which you can forward photographs and the folks behind the scenes will design the perfect book for you. They also offer a variety of presets and templates that are easy enough for beginners to use, but still, offer some control over the finished product.

That’s not to say that Mixbook is especially difficult to use or that their staff is in any way unhelpful. They too have templates and social media shortcuts that can make the process of building a photo book easier. But, because they are a smaller company, they can’t go above and beyond the way Shutterfly can.

The Verdict

Both services have earned their spots at the top of the food chain and provide comparable quality. If you’re not computer/design savvy and don’t want to go through the arduous process, Shutterfly may be the right option for you.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you have a large project and want to cut prices where you can, Mixbook may be able to cut prices without cutting quality.

In short, the printer you choose depends on where your priorities lie. Our final verdict is this: it’s difficult to go wrong with either of these heavy hitters.

Meghan is an artist and writer based out of Boston, MA. With an interest in everything from instant film to experimental videography, her work has been featured internationally in a variety of photographic exhibitions and publications. You can connect with Meghan on Instagram .

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18 thoughts on “Shutterfly vs. Mixbook: Comparing 2 Great Photo Books”

I did a Shutterfly book a few years ago and struggled with trying to go outside the pre-formatted boundaries with a custom book. Support helped me with non-intuitive work-arounds. My daughter gave me a Mixbook photo book of our family vacation to Japan together which I thought was great. For a gift today on Valentine’s day, I made a photo book for a friend. I went with Shutterfly’s “Create Your Own” option, partially because they keep your projects if you order every 18 months. The new flexibility was pretty easy. I was also swayed by the support issue in this review. A book was delivered on time, but it was not mine! Someone else’s nice Jewish wedding. Support over the weekend said a new book would be rushed to me today, but the site says that it is still being created and expected by 19th. The mature organization with support certainly fell short this time. I’ll certainly try Mixbook next time.

Unless you want to stick with the offered layouts without variation Shutterfly is just this side of hell. No visible grid to aid alignment from page to page, no “undo” action available, no “copy format” or “copy layout” to use on another page so you have to recreate it again on each page. Two solid days for something I could have done in photoshop in a few hours.

My order of 8 photo books all arrived with a white border on the right edge of the cover, something not shown on any view I had. The chat representative said it was my fault but they could generously reprint them (with an error I can’t fix because I can’t see it), paying just tax and shipping – $100!

It got resolved when a manager called me the next day (upon my request) – she acknowledged it was a printer error. Fortunately, I allowed plenty of time before they were needed – new ones arrive next week.

I will never use them again.

There is an undo action, but yes, otherwise correct. I find Shutterfly’s *custom* editor clunky and error prone.

And I also get printing errors where backgrounds don’t cover the entire printed area. They have always reprinted but I would much rather they just get it right first time

Can they do pearls finish for photo book?

This was very helpful! Thank you so much!

How many pages can be in a book

I checked with Shutterfly, they said you can have up to 111 pages in a book. When I checked with Mixbook, they said you could put up to 399 pages in a book. 99 pages in the flat page books.

There’s actually one BIG difference skipped out here. Mixbook doesnt allow the thick pages TOGETHER with a hard leather cover. You can get a thick soft cover that allows you to even put a photo there, but Shutterfly allows the thick pages and ALSO the beautiful leather cover that Mixbook won’t offer.

For some people working on wedding album, that can make a huge difference.

You CANNOT DOWNLOAD YOUR PHOTOS back to your desktop from Mixbook. So if you quickly want to get your picture back for another project you’re out of luck. Also made me wonder what they do with MY photos.

You CAN DOWLOAD the photos back from SHUTTERFLY.

That is not true. YOU CAN DOWNLOAD YOUR PHOTOS BACK TO YOUR DESKTOP FROM MIXBOOK! It’s easy. The photos are stored safely in Mixbook just as other photo processors.

I am not tech savvy, I had never created a photo book before, and I knew nothing about the various companies who offer such services. Our 50th anniversary was coming up, and I wanted a photo book that commemorated these 50 years. It was an all-consuming project, yet with Mixbook’s immense help, I completed this 121-page project and gave each of our children a book. I was thrilled at the quality of the book and the clarity of many old photos. Thanks Mixbook for answering my many questions and for providing the services you do. This senior citizen could never have finished such a project without your patience and helping hands!

Katherine, This was very helpful as I’m doing a “My Mommy and Daddy” book for my Son’s first baby which has also turned into an all-consuming project! I’ve never created a photo book before either, and since I’m scanning some old pre-digital photos I was worried about the clarity. I hope I’m as pleased as you with the finished project. Thanks from another senior citizen!

I’ve been using Mixbook for several years and have never been disappointed. My last project I decided to choose their metallic paper. When I received the book, I found the paper did not work as well as the standard gloss for some pics. My fault but when asked in follow up (they almost always do ask) I mentioned it and said I was not complaining because it was my choice. They absolutely insisted on reprinting it on regular paper for me. I told them no need but they insisted. That is customer service from a smaller company.

Vicki Did you get an answer to your question? I am doing research to find a photo book company that take my photos in Apple Photos ? Mb

I had two questions which were not answered. Which service is easier to use if all your photos are in Apple Photos? Which book allows for full paragraphs of text (I have family stories to include with my photos). Vicki

Mixbook will allow you to put in full paragraphs. I have done it with a couple of projects i have done. I made family books for my parents with stories of their life.

Shutterfly also allows you to write full paragraphs. I have used it for years. One of my books was family stories with pages of text and few pictures.

There were two differences I noted 7 years back which made me a returning Mixbook customer. It was much easier to use special characters in Mixbook. I think it was the lowercase u with an accent mark (for Spanish) which would not work in Shutterfly. But what kept me at Mixbook was the increased options for editing elements on the page. I enjoy the process, and I have more control at Mixbook.

Review Highlights

“ I was concerned that the print quality would be low, the shipping would be late, and the resulting customer service hassle would drive me to murder. ” in 12 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

303 Second St

South Tower, Ste 500

San Francisco, CA 94107

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838 reviews

We've used Snapfish in the past - the photos & service have been good. Fast forward 4 years and we ordered a simple collage print - the cost was decent but shipping a bit steep (more than $4) for one print. After two weeks, the print had not yet arrived and we contacted cyustomer servie for a replacment. They did replace the print and it arrived about a week later. The orignal print did finally showed up after several more days (USPS). Not sure what's happened to this company....consider other services.

Essentially NO CUSTOMER SERVICE. I could not find an email or phone number for customer service on the Snapfish.com website. After actively hunting through the HELP section, I found the only way to contact Snapfish was through LIVE Chat- which felt to be outsourced to another country and was not helpful. I contacted my credit card company and disputed my transaction. SHAMEFUL.

A once acceptable vendor has gone to s--t. If you like dealing with BOTS or untrained and untrainable customer service keyboard jockies, this is your opportunity. Regretfully, these folks would screw up a one car funeral. Couple their marginally pathetic outputs with the incompetence that is UPS, which it uses for shipping, and, well, those of us who have of necessity dealt with Unfettered Putrid Service (UPS) for more than a day can predict the outcome. Today I had the pleasure of dealing with Kiprotich in Snapfish Customer Service. Mind you, this was all done via Live Chat (there is no other option, and I waited 30 minutes and was initially number 92 in queue, which matched my high school football jersey number way back when, perhaps an omen given the complete obliteration of the lateral collateral ligament of my left knee joint the second game of my senior year) so one would think that the reward for having to wait for the advancement of this queue would be the opportunity to speak with somebody whose cranium resides somewhere outside his/her/its kiester. No such luck. Having received a text from Snapfish that told me of my parcel's delivery, I returned home and no package was to be found. I contacted the untrained Kirprotich who magically told me to wait two more days for the delivery. About three minutes later, he changed the story and told me to reach out to UPS. I must have asked this possible birthing object, if perhaps the company sent the text in error as his second admonishment, to contact UPS would suggest that the imminent delivery was NOT two days away as he first suggested, ten times but never received an answer UPS is unfortunately just as hapless and although no fan of Jeff Bezos and the company he created, today's events makes me realize how brilliant he was to find an insular solution to the train wrecks that are UPS and FedEx. I'm done with this organization forever. It like so many other entities that venture capital turns to crap, here is yet another example devoid any means to talk to a live, calorie consuming, respirating human when things go south as the reviews confirm happens often, and all other manifesting clusters about which nobody piloting the submarine to the bottom of the Caspian with break neck acumen seems to give a crap. Dealing with these incompetents makes me long for the amazingly hot Honduran birthing object, Georgina, that worked the Photo Mat kiosk to which I long ago ambulated and drooled to have developed the pictures that my long deceased transvestite dentist/employer entrusted in the form of exposed 126 Kodacolor film cartridges. Not that it matters, but I also like cassette tapes and VHS movies in which a woman named "Seka" could be seen.

DO NOT USE THIS SERVICE! I spent most of the day retrieving pictures for a photo book for my mom who is in a nursing home with dementia in another state for Mothers Day. I also paid an additional $17 to have the order expedited. I looked on-line to check the album and it said I had no orders! There was no phone number to call, only a chat room. I "chatted" with a customer service rep who could not find my order. Mothers Day is 3 days away, so I do not have time to do another book. I "saved" the photo book on their web site and the charge is pending on my paypal account. I am so upset. Now I have to find another gift to send to my mother while disputing this charge!

Understandably you can't leave a review on their website or facebook to warn people not to buy their cheap poor quality crap. Spent money on their "deal" for an 8x8 and what a cheap piece of **sh**. But obviously no way to contact the company or leave a review.

I ordered digital copies of my son's senior photos so I could choose the sizes and amounts I wanted. I ordered many prints from Snapfish with various poses and sizes. When they arrived, his hair had a definite reddish tint to it (he's a brunette). I went through the chat and they resent the photos. Again, totally a redhead with a weird coloring to all of the photos. I thought maybe it was the digital uploads so chatted with the senior photo company, who was great but couldn't see any discoloration in the digital copies (I didn't either). So, I ordered just one set from Walmart thinking I'd see if that was the problem. The Walmart prints were gorgeous! So, the quality of the Snapfish prints really were poor. While the price was right, it wasn't worth it for terrible photos! Their customer service needs some work but they've definitely lost a customer here.

Left is Snapfish, right is Walmart. BTW, my son is not a redhead.

A customer for over a decade, never had a problem with an order until today. I ordered a custom XL shirt. The brand they use is the exact same brand that TEEPUBLIC uses, I have ordered over 20 shirts from TEEPUBLIC all XL and all fit perfect. This shirt that snapfish sent is a L at best. Customer service chat was a joke as they made the exact statement twice and told me I was out of luck. I told them maybe the shirt was missed-tagged. I was told I could get product credit but would still have to buy another and try a bigger size. Really? Just lost a long-time customer.

My order of 20 Christmas cards arrived with five of them unusable. The gold lettering was done incorrectly, making the card hard to read and super weird looking. I waited 45 minutes on the chat line, only to be told that my replacement cards would not arrive until 12/21, too late to send them with gifts as I had planned. In addition, the image quality is not good. I gave two starts instead of one because the rep was super polite even though she probably deals with complaints all day considering the other reviews.

Quick update: the return address on the envelopes for the 2nd order were illegible. Does this company have NO quality control??

Return address on my 2nd order of New Year's cards from Snapfish.

This company does not stand behind its product. I was given a credit to my account for an error made when selecting the back design on the card. So I placed a second order that came out to the same price but the cardstock was different so the credit was null and void. A reputable company would apply the credit, charge me the difference and call it a day. instead, I have paid twice. And they got rid of their Customer Service call-in line, so plan to manage any issues via Chat. I'll be using a different company next time.

Poor customer service who blames the customer for their defective product. I had purchased a 4 mugs from them. The photo on one of the mugs was significantly cut off and also distorted. I asked customer service via chat (the only way to contact them) if they could just remake the same exact mug and ship it out since it was an error on their part. They proceed to passively aggressively blame me for the mistake and give me enough credit to purchase a new mug, but no cover the shipping and instructed me to reorder the mug. So for me to reorder the mug, I would have to pay an extra $12 for the exact same mug. Terrible terrible terrible.

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FreePrints Review – Can You Really Print Photos for Free?

Ricardo Doyle

App Orbit is a website that reviews various mobile apps. We DO NOT own or operate any of the mobile apps ourselves. Any issues or support requests should be sent directly to the app developers.

This is my FreePrints App Review.

I am someone who loves photos. I get great pleasure from displaying photos proudly on a creative photo wall. So, when I heard there was an app that lets you print pictures for free , I just had to test it out. I could spend hours browsing a photo album treasuring memories.

During my testing of the FreePrints app, I found that they actually do what they say. The app is a free online photo printing service that is unique. It offers tons of freebies, including free printed photos and photobooks. You only pay for the shipping. 

In this FreePrints app review , I’ll be looking at how well the app works, the quality of the prints, and any other bonus features that the app offers that might make it worthwhile to consider downloading. I also look at a free print app review for other apps, to see what alternatives there are.

If you’re interested in testing out the app yourself, why not download the app?

Android version: download here . Pricing: Free

iOS version: download here . Pricing: Free

Product Overview

FreePrints is a free photo print app that lets you print photos and images from your smartphone for free. By using the app, you can choose to print 85 4×6 size prints, a photo book, and a photo tile for free each month. You’ll just have to pay the shipping and handling fees, which usually cost about $2 – $15 per order depending on where in the country you are located.

As far as a free picture printing app, FreePrints is very good. The quality of the photos is good , and the delivery is usually fast. The amount of free images you can print per month is also quite astonishing. Add to that one free photobook and a free photo tile every month that more than makes up for the shipping cost.

It’s certainly one of the best app for printing photos from iPhone and Android for free .

Features of the App

Now’s the time in this FreePrints app review where we start looking at the different features that this app offers users.

Is it Really Free?

In a word, yes. It’s best to think of FreePrints as a subscription box . The app prints the photos and pictures you send for free, and you just pay for the shipping. I know what you’re thinking. The shipping is where they catch you. 

However, during our testing for this FreePrint app review , we found that the shipping usually ranges between $2 – $15 per order. As far as shipping fees go, this is more affordable than many online photo printing services. 

It’s also worth mentioning that some other products and extras cost more, such as copies of photos or different sizes. However, you’re under no obligation to purchase any of these. You can choose only to use your freebies and pay for the shipping.

There’s no subscription fee , signup fee, or other hidden costs that may creep up out of the blue when installing and using the app. 

Do They Offer a Range of Products?

FreePrint does offer a variety of photo printing options . The free option includes 85 4×6 prints, one 20-page softcover photo book with 5×7 photos, and an 8×8 printed wall tile. 

Beyond this, you can add other products to your order for an additional fee. There’s a range of photo sizes that you can choose from. You can also adjust the length of your photo book to add more photos. Additionally, there’s a hardcover photo book option available as well.

How Can I Use the App?

You can use this app to print photos from iPhone and Android . It has an effortless design and is easy to use. When you open the app, you can easily upload images directly from your smartphone. You also have the option to upload photos from your social media sites, Dropbox, Google Photos, Amazon, Flickr, and Files.

Alternatives

In this FreePrints app review, we came across a few alternatives. After looking at other free prints app reviews, we’ve identified a few that you can look at if you’re looking for something similar.

I f you download the app, you get 100 free 4×6 prints each month for the first year . Besides this, you can also create stunning cards, postcards, invites, photo books, gifts, and more for a small fee. Snapfish is a free print app for iPhone and Android .

By using the Shutterfly app, you get an exclusive offer of free unlimited 4×4 or 4×6 photos ready on the same day, although this is just a one-time offer. The quality of the prints is also of a high standard. They also have a variety of printing options that include custom stationery, mugs, and more. The Shutterfly app is available on Android and iOS .

Print Studio

Print Studio, unfortunately, doesn’t have any free photo print options available . However, when it comes to the quality of prints , you cannot go wrong with this app. You can easily upload photos from your smartphone that you wish to order and have the prints delivered to your door. Although you have to pay for the shots, I found the costs fair. Print Studio is available for Android and iOS .

Pros and Cons

All apps have their advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at some of FreePrints pros and cons to help you decide if it is worth downloading.

Final Verdict Of FreePrints App Review

In my FreePrints app review , I found the app very useful, and it delivered on the free aspect. I was able to get a few beautiful prints for free and just had to pay the shipping fee. The photos arrived within the two-week timeline I expected. All in all, this is an app to try.

If you want to give the FreePrints app a try, you can download it for Android here and iOS here .

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