<p class=”body-text”>The photo book of your dreams is waiting for you at one of these top sites, for a terrifically reasonable price, and firsthand user reviews are absolutely raving about all of them. So please, direct your attention to the winners rightttt down here:</p>” />
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Pros
- Quick shipping
- You can upload photos through the Amazon photos app
- Great $ deal for a hardcover
Cons
- The limited sizing
Let’s go ahead and add photo books to the long and growing list of things we can turn to Amazon for. They offer a glossy hardcover option for only 17 bucks, and you can easily upload your pictures within minutes. Their books display one photo per page, so it is a great option for all of you indecisive girlies out there who just wanna choose a bundle of pics, press upload, and go.
| Shipping time | 3-5 days |
|---|---|
| Book sizes | 8×8″ |
| Page count | 20-74 |
| Cover options | Hardcover, softcover |
2
for a straightforward design process
Vistaprint Photo Books
2
for a straightforward design process
Vistaprint Photo Books
Pros
- You can create it from your phone
- It autosaves drafts during the design process
Cons
- Can’t add photos larger than 4Mb
Vistaprint makes creating your custom memorabilia a breeze. No, like, actually. There’s a “Smart Assistant” available during the design process, and it really elevates the whole affair. It’ll ID the best images for you, and generate page layouts in only a few minutes. Then after that’s all said and done, you can hop back in and make personalized adjustments as you wish. We love technology. Oh, and that linen book cover option that Vistaprint offers? Pure class.
| Shipping time | Up to 10 business days |
|---|---|
| Book sizes | 5.5” x 4”,
8” x 6″, 11” x 8.5”, 5.5” x 5.5”, 8” x 8”, 12 ” x 12”, 8.5” x 11” |
| Page count | 24-120 |
| Cover options | Hard cover, linen |
| Paper options | Standard glossy, standard matte |
3
for a jaw-droppingly gorgeous masterpiece
Artifact Uprising Photo Books
3
for a jaw-droppingly gorgeous masterpiece
Artifact Uprising Photo Books
Pros
- 1:1 expert design help is available
- Wide color range
- Reviews say the creation process is super user-friendly
Cons
- Some options are on the pricier side
Alright, so let’s get into the ART that the Artifact Uprising books are. I mean, they had to live up to their namesake. You can add pics to their desktop editor via your computer, Dropbox or Instagram. From there, they’ve got a *huge* range of sizing and binding options, from leather to classic softcovers. They’re mostly known for their Signature Layflat photo book, and it’s got extra thick pages and is handcrafted with a plant-based linen cover. Yeah, this is the place where you’ll create a long-lasting piece that’ll one day be a precious relic.
| Shipping time | 3-10 business days |
|---|---|
| Books sizes | Varies based on cover option |
| Page count | 20-380 |
| Cover options | Softcover, hardcover, layflat (linen and leather) |
| Paper options | Matte finish, lustre finish, semi-gloss |
4
for creative templates
Shutterfly Photo Books
4
for creative templates
Shutterfly Photo Books
Now 25% Off
Pros
- 24-hour photo book designer service
- Multiple book templates
Cons
- Some reviews flag that the online design tools can be glitchy
Shutterfly sure knows a thing or two about setting users up on the right path for the perfect book. They’ve got a service that has a special in-house designer do the editing for you, and it’s $Free.99. You can provide whatever special instructions that you’d like, and your personalized book draft will be delivered to your inbox within 24 hours. Beyond that speedy offer, Shutterfly also has unique templates for birthdays, weddings, births, you name it. And the maximum amount of photos you can add in is 800. Yes, you did indeed read that correctly. Literally all of the memories can fit.
| Shipping time | 5-7 business days |
|---|---|
| Book sizes | 8″ x 8″,
8″ x 11″, 10″ x 10″, 11″ x 8″, 11 x 14″, 12 x 12″ |
| Page count | 20 and up |
| Cover options | Hardcover, softcover, acrylic, linen, leather |
| Paper options | Standard pages, standard layflat, deluxe layflat |
5
for high-tech photo selection
Google Photo Books
5
for high-tech photo selection
Google Photo Books
Pros
- You can create a book from your phone
- Really affordable pricing
Cons
- There’s not a wide range of formatting options
You know that whole side hustle that Google’s got being like, the world’s largest online search engine or whatever? They really utilize those skills when it comes time to create a personalized photo book. You can type in terms like “birthday” or “family” and Google Photos will choose the best options from the batch provided.
| Shipping time | 8-11 business days |
|---|---|
| Book sizes | 7″ x 7″,
9″ x 9″ |
| Page count | 20-148 |
| Cover options | Hardcover, softcover |
| Paper options | Semi-gloss |
Pros
- Same-day pickup is available at Walmart stores near you
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- The pages are on the thinner side
- Limited customer support
Ballin’ on a budget won’t limit your photo book options at good ol’ Wally World. Shipping is free for orders over $35, and if you’re really on a time crunch, they offer same-day pickup at nearby stores (same-day as in…sometimes it’s ready within an hour!). If you’re printing multiple copies of a book for a group gift, consider this spot, as their prices are pretty unbeatable. They’ve also got a huge range of styles, designs, and templates.
| Shipping time | 3–5 business days |
|---|---|
| Book sizes | 5″ x 7″,
8″ x 6″, 8″ x 8″, 8″ x 11″, 11″ x 14″, 12″ x 12″ |
| Page count | 20-150 |
| Cover options | Hardcover, softcover, linen, paper or premium leather |
| Paper options | Semi-gloss |
Pros
- Discounts and promotions are frequently available
- The design tool is easy to navigate
- You can create a book from the Snapfish app on your smartphone
Cons
- A few reviews complain about the print quality being a bit low
Snapfish’s new and improved online photo book designer is live on their site, and it’s here to make the whole picture editing/arrangement thing a piece of cake (instead of a glitchy, distressing hassle). Snapfish also offers a v helpful video tutorial for those of us who may need a little more hand-holding in the graphic design department. Their template categories are as top-tier and specific as you can get. There’s blueprints to build a book for any occasion, from beach vacays to rustic weddings.
| Shipping time | Up to 5 business days |
|---|---|
| Book sizes | 8″ x 8″,
8 x 11″, 12″ x 12″, 11″ x 14″, 7″ x 5″ |
| Page count | 20-150 |
| Cover options | Softcover, hardcover
matte hardcover, linen hardcover, leather hardcover |
| Paper options | Semi-gloss |
8
for a wide breadth of design choices
Milk Classic Photo Books
8
for a wide breadth of design choices
Milk Classic Photo Books
Pros
- Premium template choices
- Wide range of covers and paper material
Cons
- Longer delivery time
- Pricier option
Reviews rave about Milk’s premium quality books. Their books can be delivered in a hand-bound presentation box, and they’re committed to using top-grade inks to print your pictures with the highest definition. With seven different linen cover options, there’s truly something for everyone here. The pre-made layouts on Milk Books have been created by expert publishers, JIC you’d like to defer to the professionals during your book-making journey.
| Shipping time | Up to 17 business days |
|---|---|
| Book sizes | 7″ x 5.2”,
9.25″ x 7.4”, 13″ x 11” |
| Page count | 24-200 |
| Cover options | Linen |
| Paper options | Semi-gloss, satin |
Pros
- User-friendly book editing service
- Wide range of shapes and sizes
- Their blog dedicated to providing design inspo
Cons
- Matte and luster paper costs extra $
Mixbook offers a design experience that’ll make creating photo books addictive. Just ask the community of devotees that regularly share their final products on the site’s inspo gallery. Anddd you can invite your friends and family to collab on projects with you in Mixbook’s easy-to-navigate designer. There’s also so many customizable layouts, so you’re not 100 percent locked into any ol’ template. Creative control is the name of their game.
| Shipping time | 3-5 business days |
|---|---|
| Book sizes | 11″ x 8.5″,
8.5″ x 8.5″, 8″ x 6″, 14″ x 11″, 6″ x 6″, 10″ x 10″, 12″ x 12″ |
| Page count | 10-399 |
| Cover options | Softcover, hardcover, lay flat |
| Paper options | Semi-gloss, matte, lustre |
What should be included in a photo book?
While no two books will end up the same, there are a few defining features you’ll want to add to your masterpiece to make it memorable. After all, these are meant to tell a story. If your book includes snaps taken over a span of time rather than on one specific day, then consider labeling pictures with dates to really position the reader, and to up the nostalgia factor in years to come!
Another sentimental add-on you might want to consider is captioning photos with quotes from when they were taken. Was there a stand out moment during the maid of honor’s speech at your wedding? Or a running joke that defined your family vacation? Drop it under the pics during the design process to really fill out your book.
How we selected the best photo books
There are good photo books and great photo books, so to discern which sites provide the latter, we turned to the firsthand user reviews. Delivery times, pricing, print quality, and user-friendly design platforms were all key factors that were considered as we combed through the online reception, and in the end, the nine book-making spots above came out on top. Here, there’s a range in order for you to find the perfect match depending on what you’re looking for.
Annabel Iwegbue is an assistant editor at Cosmopolitan who covers lifestyle, beauty, and astrology. Just, you know, all of the things. Before joining Cosmo, she wrote for Harper’s Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film. You can check out some of Annabel’s work here and also find her on Instagram and Twitter.
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