Picture this: you’ve got a digital camera roll stuffed with adorable snapshots of your little ones, from their first steps to silly faces. While scrolling through those images on your phone is convenient, nothing beats the charm of a tangible photo album. With a plethora of options for creating your own photo books, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why I’ve compared two popular photo book services—Mixbook and Shutterfly—to help you decide which platform might be best for your needs.
Mixbook Overview
Since its launch in 2006, Mixbook has become a go-to for over 15 million projects, ranging from wedding albums and invitations to calendars and, of course, personalized photo books. You can easily create your book using their desktop site, mobile platform, or app.
Shutterfly Overview
Founded in 1999, Shutterfly is a well-known name in the world of personalized goods. It specializes in photo books, gifts, and home decor. As a parent company, it also oversees various brands like Tinyprints and Snapfish, making it a versatile option for custom projects.
Comparing the Two
To see which service truly shines, I created a 41-page hardcover photo book on both platforms using identical photos and layouts.
Pricing
Winner: Mixbook
As I worked on my Shutterfly book, I appreciated that the website showed a running total of my project’s cost. Shutterfly’s starting price for an 8×11 hardcover book with 20 pages was $55.97, with additional pages costing $2.19 each. By the time I checked out, my total came to $77.50, but I managed to snag a discount code that brought it down to $45.37.
On the other hand, Mixbook’s starting price for an 8.5×11 hardcover with 20 pages was just $15.66, with extra pages at $1.79 each. My final total after applying a coupon was $31.99. Even without discounts, Mixbook was around $15 cheaper, making it the more budget-friendly option.
Print Quality
Verdict: Tie
Both services provided excellent print quality. The colors were vibrant and the images were sharp, making the physical books look stunning.
Layout Options
Winner: Mixbook
Mixbook offers a whopping 688 design templates, making it easy to customize layouts for various photo counts. In contrast, Shutterfly has 95 styles, but they lack the same level of customization. Many of Shutterfly’s layouts span both pages, which can be a downside if you don’t opt for lay-flat pages.
Ease of Use
Winner: Mixbook
I found Mixbook’s interface more user-friendly. Shutterfly’s site sometimes felt slow, especially during photo uploads. Mixbook also has a neat collaboration feature that lets you work on projects with others. Both platforms allow for easy photo imports from places like Google Photos and Instagram.
Design Services
Winner: Shutterfly
Shutterfly’s free 24-hour design service is a game changer. You can choose from a selection of photos, specify how you’d like them arranged, and receive a professionally designed layout within a day. Mixbook doesn’t offer a similar service, but it does provide helpful tutorials.
Customization and Editing
Winner: Mixbook
Mixbook excels in customization, allowing you to drag and drop photos, text, and embellishments with ease. In contrast, Shutterfly’s options felt more rigid and less flexible.
Printing Options
Verdict: Tie
Both sites present a variety of printing choices, including softcover, hardcover, and different finishes. Shutterfly does offer leather binding, but it comes at a higher price.
Customer Support
Verdict: Tie
Both platforms offer chat support, but Mixbook seems to have a slight edge in customer satisfaction based on user reviews.
Shipping Time
Winner: Mixbook
Interestingly, my Mixbook arrived before my Shutterfly order, even though I placed the Shutterfly order first.
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with a plethora of customizable layouts, Mixbook is the way to go. However, if you want a hands-off approach and appreciate design assistance, Shutterfly might suit your needs better. Whichever you choose, both platforms can help you create beautiful keepsakes to treasure for years to come.
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