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9 Best Photo Book Websites

Don't let your favorite photos go to waste — use these top-tested online services and turn them into keepsake albums.

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photobook services
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Photo albums create a tangible and lasting archive of memories — ultimately proving to be more durable and accessible than the mess of digital files on your phone and computer. Plus, a custom photo book can be a thoughtful and unique gift for birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, or other special events.

Online photo book services make it easy and quick to choose a theme or layout, upload photos and ship the book straight to the recipient. Best of all, some photo book makers even have apps so you can upload photos directly from your smartphone.

Our product analysts and experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute continuously test everything from the best wedding photo albums to the best printers and so much more. To find the best photo book maker websites, we reviewed each service for factors like ease of use and intuitiveness of the website and app, and, if applicable, photo quality, speed of delivery and extra features like templates, cover options and style.

1
Best Overall

Shutterfly Photo Books

Photo Books
Credit: Shutterfly

Pros

  • Free design services
  • Can easily edit within templates
  • Lots of templates and stickers to choose from
  • Good paper quality

Cons

  • Amount of options can be overwhelming

Shutterfly offers basic photo books at an affordable price. You can choose from a wide selection of themes, like birthday, travel or wedding, or neutral styles, such as modern or rustic. You can also create your own book and choose the book size, cover style and page style, then embellish it with Shutterfly's extensive library of stickers and ribbons to make your book extra special. We appreciate how easily users can edit within their chosen template and the brand's high-quality photo book paper, making Shutterfly a top pick.

You can also opt for one of its 6" x 6" Instant Books, which let you add photos from your phone, tablet or computer in minutes. These mini photo books have only 20 pages, but they're a great place to store goofy candids or Instagram posts you never want to forget. The possibilities are essentially limitless, though the vast array of options could be overwhelming for those getting started.

If you don't want the pressure of deciding on a layout, the brand offers a convenient Make My Book option, in which Shutterfly's professional designers curate your photos and design the book for free. Plus, you'll still have the opportunity to put finishing touches on it before it gets printed. Whether you opt for 50 or 800 photos (the maximum), you'll receive an email notification within 24 hours that your book is complete.

Shipping time5–7 business days
Book sizes6" x 6", 8" x 8", 8" x 11", 10" x 10", 11" x 8", 11" x 14", 12" x 12"
Cover optionsHardcover, softcover, premium leather, linen, acrylic, faux leather
Paper optionsMatte finish, double-thick satin finish, ultra-thick board-mounted
App to create a book from your smartphoneYes
2
Best Value

Walmart Photo Custom Photo Books

Custom Photo Books
Credit: Walmart

Pros

  • Can make a photo book in an hour
  • Variety of styles to choose from

Cons

  • Quality not as high as other custom photo books

Crunched for time? Design your photo book online and pick up select styles at a Walmart store near you in as little as one hour. Photo books picked up in one hour can have 15 single-sided pages and a linen cover, while same-day pickups (ready in a few hours) can have up to 20 double-sided pages and the option of a hardcover.

On top of the speedy turnaround, Walmart has a great selection of styles: You can choose everything from the photo size and layout to the type of cover, including hardcover glossy or matte, linen, leather and lay-flat glossy or matte. If you need help narrowing down the choices, there's also the option to shop by occasion, whether you're looking for a one-year anniversary or 15th-year anniversary gift.

Despite the fast shipping and variety, our tester noted that the quality was not as high as the options offered by other photo book makers on this list — but that may be expected considering the bargain price tag. Regardless, these photo books still make a superb present that can cost under $10 without compromising on sentimentality.

Shipping time3–5 business days (select styles available for same-day pickup in stores)
Book sizes5" x 7", 8" x 6", 8" x 8", 8" x 11", 11" x 14", 12" x 12"
Cover optionsHardcover (glossy or matte), softcover, linen, leather, paper or lay-flat (premium, glossy or matte)
Paper optionsPremium paper
App to create a book from your smartphoneNo (app only lets you order prints)
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3
Most Aesthetic

Artifact Uprising Photo Books

On Sale
Photo Books
Credit: Artifact Uprising

Pros

  • High quality
  • Elegant and simple designs
  • Special books for weddings and new babies

Cons

  • App can be finicky
  • Expensive

No matter the occasion, you can't go wrong with one of Artifact Uprising's high-quality photo books. There are numerous design options, including preset books to celebrate the birth of a new baby or commemorating a marriage.

You can choose from lay-flat albums, books with photo strips and even softcover Instagram Friendly Books for the influencer in your life. The company even has an iPhone app that lets you create a photo book right from your smartphone. However, Rothman found the app to be glitchy at times and noted there's room for improvement with the software. Still, the books come out on top for elegance and simplicity.

One online reviewer wrote, "The fabric cover is beautiful. The photos are amazing quality and look amazing even though the photos were taken on film and therefore are a bit grainy." The overall 4.6-star rating (out of 5) backs up that review. Quality and elevated designs come with a higher price tag, but there are options for $20 or less if you're shopping on a budget.

If you have a special project and a little more money to spend, Artifact Uprising offers Design Services, which allow you to work one-on-one with an expert to bring your special moments to life. Just note that the design fee is rather steep at $119 and requires an additional $100 album deposit.

Shipping time3–10 business days
Book sizesVary depending on cover type
Cover optionsHardcover, softcover, lay-flat
Paper optionsVary depending on cover type
App to create a book from your smartphoneYes
4
Best for Themes

Mixbook Photo Books

Photo Books
Credit: Mixbook

Pros

  • Lots of layout options
  • Good photo editing

Cons

  • Some issues with layout in crease area

When Mixbook says it has "custom photo books for every occasion," it really means it. There are 374 different themed templates to choose from, including everything from travel and sports to weddings and recipes.

But that doesn't mean you have to give up creative control. You can still customize the look to your liking, from fun backgrounds to stickers to text using the Editor tool. Plus, there are plenty of paper varieties, from semigloss to ultra-thick matte.

Our testers appreciated the nice balance between good photo editing and price, but one did experience issues with the lay-flat option, in which the photos bled into the crease. You can also use the iPhone app to organize your photos with a tool that the brand calls "Automagic": Simply choose the images you want and select a theme. The goal of Automagic is to help arrange your camera roll so your photos are in order when it comes time to add them to your photo book.

Shipping time3–5 business days
Book sizes11" x 8.5", 8.6" x 8.5", 8.5" x 11"
Cover optionsHardcover, softcover, lay-flat (all in matte or glossy)
Paper optionsEveryday semigloss, signature matte, premium lustre
App to create a book from your smartphoneYes
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5
Best for Beginners

Printique Photo Books

Photo Books
Credit: Printique

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Predesigned and customizable layouts
  • Offers design tool for professionals

Cons

  • Fewer options for hard- and softcover books

If you're not sure where to start, our pros love Printique because it's super easy to use. You can select one of the many predesigned layouts or create an entire photo book from scratch.

Choose among portrait, landscape and square orientations, as well as hardcover and softcover options. You can even store your memories in a genuine leather or vegan leather book or pick from five different fabric colors. Although you can't choose the color for a hard- or softcover photo book, you can still customize the shape, size and paper type.

Looking for something more advanced? There'sa tool for professional photographers to design and create their own photo books. But if you want to keep things simple, consider starting with one of Printique's 4" x 4" Mini Softcover photo books, which have a maximum of 40 pages and come in three sizes.

Shipping time5 days
Book sizesVary depending on book shape
Cover optionsHardcover, custom leather, fabric, softcover
Paper optionsVary depending on book shape
App to create a book from your smartphoneYes
6
Best for Amazon Prime Members

Amazon Prints

Prints
Credit: Amazon

Pros

  • Free shipping for Prime members
  • Options for specific occasions
  • Large prints, calendars, cards and metal tabletops available

Cons

  • Not as many style options
  • For non-Prime members, order minimum is required to get free shipping

Is Amazon Photos already your preferred destination for uploading photos? Then creating a photo book through its interface is an easy solution.

Similar to other photo book makers, you can create by occasion and size, or choose its 8" x 8" Premium Photo Book for a versatile option that has a laminated cover and lay-flat binding. There's also an option with standard binding at a lower cost, and all Amazon Prime members get free shipping. (Everyone else is eligible for free shipping with a minimum order of $15.)

In addition to photo books, you can shop large prints, calendars, cards and metal tabletops. There are fewer size and style options than most services when it comes to photo books, but the other photo product choices make up for the lack of available styles. After all, sometimes it's easier and quicker to have fewer options to choose from if you need to pull something together last-minute.

RELATED: 37 Best Personalized Gifts You Can Find on Amazon

Shipping time3–5 business days
Book sizes5" x 7", 8" x 8", 8" x 11", 12" x 12"
Cover optionsPremium hardcover, hardcover, softcover
Paper optionsVary depending on cover type
App to create a book from your smartphoneYes
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7
Best for Young Kids

Pinhole Press Photo Books

Photo Books
Credit: Pinhole Press

Pros

  • Personalized photo gifts
  • Itty Bitty Books are great size for tiny hands

Cons

  • Not as much variety for hardcover books

With Pinhole Press, you can choose from various photo book styles ranging from board pages to softcovers to accordion-style setups. Upload your photos and let the system do the work, or manually place the photos into the layout yourself.

One of our testers says her kids love the Custom Board Books, which have themes such as "Count With Me," "Healthy Habits" and "I Can Be Anything." These photo books aren't just visually stimulating, but they can also educate and entertain kids for years to come.

"I got my daughter the 'My First Photo Book' as a toddler and made it all about her — like pictures with family, doing things she likes, her favorite toys, at the playground and beach, etc. — and she still is obsessed with it," says GH Institute Executive Director Lexie Sachs.

We think he custom Photo Puzzle is a fun option for kids, and the Itty Bitty Books are easy to tote around in a work bag for on-hand entertainment. There's less variety in some categories, including Itty Bitty and hardcover books, but with so many additional photo categories other companies lack, there are still plenty of great options for kids.

RELATED: 12 Best Personalized Books for Kids

Shipping time3–4 business days
Book sizesVary depending on cover type
Cover optionsHardcover, softcover
Paper optionsVary depending on cover type
App to create a book from your smartphoneYes (some books require a desktop for personalization)
8
Best for Google Photo Users

Google Photo Books

Photo Books
Credit: Google Photos

Pros

  • Seamless process
  • Can order multiple copies

Cons

  • Not a lot of options; no fancy designs

If you store your snaps in Google Photos, then Google's very own photo book maker might be the most convenient option for you. Even though there are no fancy designs, the process is seamless.

Choose from two options: a 7" x 7" softcover photo book or a 9" x 9" hardcover photo book. You can include between 20 and 140 pages, and you have the option to add a spine title if you hit more than 48 pages for a softcover or any number of pages for a hardcover.

Another hallmark of Google Photos is that you can make one photo book and order multiple copies to give to family members and friends who are also pictured in the photos. Since they come at an affordable price point, you could give everyone on your gift list a copy, whether you decide to create a collection of candid photos for your closest friends or a tangible memento of a fun family trip. Though there may not be as many designs and styles to choose from, that can make the customization process less daunting.

Shipping time6–10 business days
Book sizes7" x 7" (softcover), 9" x 9" (hardcover)
Cover optionsSoftcover, hardcover
Paper optionsPremium materials
App to create a book from your smartphoneYes
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9
Best for Families

Chatbooks Custom Photo Books & Albums

Custom Photo Books & Albums
Credit: Chatbooks

Pros

  • Monthly subscription service
  • Can upload from Instagram, Flickr, Dropbox, Facebook, your computer, etc.
  • 300-plus unique designer covers

Cons

  • Fewer book size options with subscription service

"Set and forget it," one of our testers said about the ease of using Chatbooks, which markets itself as "ridiculously easy." You can upload images from Instagram, Flickr, Dropbox, Facebook or your computer and edit them on your desktop or via the app.

The service's Custom Photo Books & Albums option is great for families looking to personalize a family vacation, as you can choose colors, layouts, cover styles, collages, captions and more. Peruse its vast collection of more than 300 unique book covers, or shop the premium lay-flat and special occasion photo books.

You can also have fun with the Instagram and Facebook series — a 6" x 6" or 8" x 8" book with 60 pages — that lets you store your favorite social media posts in a tangible place to look back on for years to come.

Unique to Chatbooks is its subscription service, which allows you to receive a softcover, hardcover or mini photo book each month. If you and your family love taking photographs of walks in the park, weekend road trips or vacations, this service is ideal for getting your photos in your hands ASAP. One thing to note about the subscription option is that there are only two sizes available (5" x 7" and the monthly mini).

Shipping time5–9 days
Book sizes6" x 6", 8" x 8", 10" x 10", 5" x 7", mini
Cover optionsSoftcover, hardcover, premium lay-flat
Paper optionsVary depending on cover type
App to create a book from your smartphoneYes

How we chose the best photo book makers

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At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our pros in the Media & Tech Lab have been testing photo book makers for more than a decade. For this article, we referenced a robust test of photo book makers we completed in 2009 and ordered a round of new products to test in 2023. We also researched the latest updates and offerings to a variety of apps and services.

When choosing the best photo book makers, our Lab experts consider ease of use, performance and appearance. That means our pros take an in-depth look at a wide range of features, such as how easy it is to navigate the interface and add photos and text to the book; upload and delivery time; the number of styles, covers and templates offered; and the photo, paper and binding quality.

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What to look for when shopping for the best custom photo book maker

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Keep the following features in mind when choosing the right photo book maker website for your needs:

✔️ Size: Whether you're looking for a small photo book for kids or a much larger album to house snapshots from a long family vacation, there are regular, large and miniature photo book sizes available. It's best to think about how many photos you want to include and where you plan to store the album (i.e., will the book be too tall for your bookshelf or just right on top of your coffee table?).

✔️ Shape: Most photo books are rectangular or square in shape, but some companies also offer photo puzzles, calendars and tabletops to choose from too. The shape is really about aesthetic preference and the orientation you prefer for your photos.

✔️ Page count: Are you compiling 20 photos from your daughter's first-birthday party? Or are you putting together an anniversary album of pictures of you and your partner throughout the years? The number of pages determines the number of photos you can include in an album, so you have enough space to include everything.

✔️ Paper quality: This is probably a no-brainer, as the quality of material your photos are printed on is as important as the quality of the photos themselves. Although companies with higher-quality paper, like Artifact Uprising, may have a higher price tag, the extra money goes toward paper that won't lead to photos bleeding into the crease. But there are still services that are affordable and offer good-quality products, like our best value pick, Walmart Photo.

✔️ Binding quality: Some companies, like Google Photo, will add a binding to your photo album. This feature is especially important when considering the durability and longevity of your photo album. Whether it's a softcover, hardcover or lay-flat book, make sure the binding can withstand accidental drops and the wear and tear of passing the family album around at holiday parties.

✔️ Templates: If your photo album will have a certain theme or be centered around a specific occasion — or it's your first time using a photo book maker — choosing a service that has a variety of templates to choose from will let your creativity flow and also help you warm up to the design process.

✔️ Editing capabilities: When looking at beginner-level or more advanced designer tools, consider how robust or simple they are to use. Having lots of control over the interface is fun, but if you're looking for a more straightforward experience, opt for a service that does the majority of the decision-making for you or offers designer help, like Shutterfly.

What is the easiest way to make a custom photo book?

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It really depends upon the service and your preference.

Although some online custom photo book makers also have an app, it can have limited functionality, be buggy or not as easy to use as the desktop equivalent. Often, an app makes it super simple to upload pictures from your phone (a major plus!) but doesn't allow as much flexibility for product assortment or editing once you've selected. That said, designing a photo book on your smartphone or tablet versus a desktop may come down to how many edits you intend to make.

If you plan to do a lot of editing, the non-app version on a larger screen would likely be your best choice. If you want to quickly make a book with limited changes, an app on your mobile device may be the way to go.

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Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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Elizabeth Berry is an updates editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she ensures product reviews reflect accurate information. To update this guide, Elizabeth gathered notes from previous tests and researched the latest updates to our favorite services.

A previous version of this guide was written by Amina Lake Abdelrahman, a product review writer and editor who worked as an editorial assistant at the Good Housekeeping Institute from 2018 to 2020.

Headshot of Elizabeth Berry
Elizabeth Berry
Updates Editor

Elizabeth Berry (she/her) is the Updates Editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Prior to this role, she was an Editorial Assistant for Woman’s Day where she covered everything from gift guides to recipes. She also has experience fact checking commerce articles and holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College.

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