In today’s digital age, while we capture countless photos on our smartphones, the desire to hold a physical print remains strong. Choosing the Best Picture Printing Service can be challenging with numerous online options available, each promising high quality prints. This review dives deep into several popular photo printing services to help you make an informed decision and ensure your precious memories are printed beautifully. We’ve rigorously tested a range of services, evaluating print quality, packaging, shipping, and user experience to bring you a comprehensive guide.
Mpix, a well-known name in photo printing, offers a convenient app for ordering prints directly from your phone. However, in our tests, prints from Mpix were surprisingly ranked as the least favorite by our panelists. A significant drawback was Mpix’s cropping issue when printing smartphone photos. If you meticulously compose your shots, the forced cropping by Mpix could be a major dealbreaker. Unlike services like EZprints and RitzPix, which offer smartphone-friendly 4:3 aspect ratio print sizes, or Printique and Nations Photo Lab, which provide uncropped printing regardless of aspect ratio, Mpix lacks these flexible options.
A close-up of the edge of a rolled-up print from Snapfish that was damaged during transport, showing a crease along the top edge.
Damaged photo print from Snapfish due to inadequate packaging during shipping, illustrating potential risks with some budget services.
Bay Photo presented itself as a reasonable middle-ground option. They offer small print sizes suitable for smartphone photos and use sturdy packaging. However, the print quality was merely average. In blind tests, participants generally placed Bay Photo prints as a satisfactory second choice, rarely as their top or bottom pick when compared side-by-side with competitors.
Snapfish positions itself as a budget-friendly service, boasting the lowest prices among those we tested. Unfortunately, the low cost translated to disappointing print quality. Both 8×10 and 4×6 prints exhibited harsh contrast, losing detail in shadows and highlights. Portrait photos tended to have an undesirable orange skin tone. Packaging was also subpar; smaller prints arrived in a flimsy cardboard envelope with no padding, offering minimal protection. While the 11×14 print was shipped in a tube, the absence of internal padding led to bent edges as the print bumped against the end caps during transit, as shown in the image above.
RitzPix also struggled with packaging issues. Our 11×14 print from RitzPix arrived damaged, shipped flat in a thin envelope with only thin backing boards for support – similar to those found in inexpensive photo frames. The envelope’s snug fit for the 11×14 photo meant that when the package was crushed in transit, the print’s corner was damaged. This damage was easily avoidable with a larger envelope or, preferably, a box – a packaging method employed by several other services. The inadequate packaging was particularly frustrating given RitzPix’s high shipping fee of $14.95, more than double the average of other services we tested.
A close-up of the corner of a photo print from RitzPix that has been damaged, in front of a green background, highlighting shipping damage.
Corner damage on a RitzPix photo print, resulting from insufficient packaging and a crushed envelope during shipping.
EZprints, similar to Snapfish, delivered prints that were noticeably below standard. Every print had a washed-out, hazy appearance, lacking sharpness. Areas of consistent color appeared mottled, indicating less than ideal print processing.
Shutterfly, while being the second most expensive service in our test, only provided average print quality. The primary issue with Shutterfly was packaging. Small prints were sent in a thin, flat envelope, while the 11×14 print arrived curled in a tube, requiring flattening before it could be displayed. Uncurling prints from tubes can be tricky and potentially damage the print. While placing prints under weight for a day or two is a safer method, it adds inconvenience.
A large photo print that was shipped in a shipping tube and now has a very defined curvature, illustrating the inconvenience of tube packaging.
Curled photo print from Shutterfly, a common issue with prints shipped in tubes, necessitating flattening before display.
Zazzle offers photo printing but is more tailored for individual, custom orders with a user interface that isn’t optimized for batch printing. Selecting print sizes involves a cumbersome drag-and-drop process for each image on its own order page, making it inefficient for printing multiple photos. Paper options are also limited with Zazzle.
Two large coffee table books, placed on top of a couple pieces of cardboard that are being used to flatten an unseen photo print, demonstrating a safe print flattening method.
Flattening a curled photo print using heavy books and cardboard, a recommended technique for safely uncurling prints shipped in tubes.
Winkflash is plagued by consistently negative customer reviews. Beyond numerous reports of customers losing access to their hosted photos due to ownership changes, many users have reported issues with customer service, which is only accessible through a web form, lacking phone or email support. These significant drawbacks led to us quickly dismissing Winkflash as a viable option.
FreePrints markets itself with the enticing offer of up to 1,000 free 4×6 prints annually, only charging for shipping. However, their website provides minimal information about the company, print quality, or the ordering process, suggesting reliance solely on their phone app. The lack of transparency and the “too good to be true” nature of the offer raises concerns about the overall quality and service reliability.
Amazon Prints provides 4×6 prints at a competitive price point, especially for Amazon Prime members who already use Prime Photos. The ordering process is streamlined and simple. Print quality was found to be in the mid-range – not exceptional, with skin tones leaning towards orange, but also not the worst. Photos arrived within a reasonable timeframe of six business days. Packaging was a letdown, consisting of a thin flat mailer with minimal cardboard support, resulting in corner damage to one print.
Walmart stands out by offering a 4×5.3-inch print size, accommodating the 4:3 aspect ratio of smartphone photos without cropping. However, their overall selection of print sizes is not as comprehensive as some top-tier services.
Choosing the Best Picture Printing Service
Selecting the best picture printing service ultimately depends on your priorities. If print quality and accurate colors are paramount, consider services known for higher quality output, even if they come at a slightly higher price. For budget-conscious consumers, services like Snapfish and Amazon Prints might seem appealing, but be aware of potential trade-offs in print quality and packaging. Always consider the aspect ratio of your photos, especially if printing directly from a smartphone, and choose a service that offers uncropped printing or appropriate print sizes. Packaging is also a crucial factor to ensure your prints arrive undamaged, especially for larger sizes. Read customer reviews and compare shipping costs before making your final choice to find the best picture printing service that meets your needs and expectations.
