Choosing the right online photo printing service can be the key to transforming your digital memories into cherished physical prints. With numerous options available, each promising the best results, it’s crucial to understand what truly sets the top services apart. We’ve rigorously tested a range of popular picture printing sites to bring you an in-depth comparison focusing on print quality, user experience, and overall value. Whether you’re printing photos from your smartphone or high-resolution images from a professional camera, finding a service that meets your specific needs is essential. Let’s dive into our findings and help you discover the Best Picture Printing Sites for your precious memories.
While Mpix is a widely recognized name in photo printing, particularly known for its user-friendly app, our tests revealed some significant drawbacks. Panelists consistently ranked Mpix prints as their least favorite due to issues with cropping smartphone photos. This forced cropping is a major concern for anyone meticulous about image composition. Unlike services like EZprints and RitzPix that offer smartphone-friendly 4:3 aspect ratio prints, or Printique and Nations Photo Lab which allow uncropped printing regardless of aspect ratio, Mpix lacks these flexible options. If preserving your original image composition is a priority, Mpix might not be the ideal choice.
Bay Photo presents itself as a solid option with small print sizes optimized for smartphone photos and robust packaging. However, our tests indicated that its print quality is merely average. In blind comparisons, participants often placed Bay Photo prints in the middle, neither a top pick nor the least favored. While Bay Photo provides reliable packaging, the print quality didn’t consistently stand out compared to competitors, making it a reasonable but not exceptional choice among picture printing sites.
For budget-conscious consumers, Snapfish is often appealing due to its low prices. However, our tests revealed significant compromises in print quality. Both 8-by-10 and 4-by-6 prints exhibited harsh contrast, leading to loss of detail in shadows and highlights. Portrait photos showed noticeably orange skin tones. Packaging was also a concern; smaller prints arrived in flimsy cardboard envelopes without adequate padding, while the 11-by-14 print, though shipped in a tube, lacked internal padding, resulting in damage during transit.
Damaged print edge from Snapfish due to insufficient packaging during shipping.
Snapfish’s attempt to protect an 11×14 print with a tube failed due to the absence of internal padding, leading to creasing from the end cap during shipment. Photo: Amadou Diallo
RitzPix also encountered packaging issues, resulting in damaged prints. An 11-by-14 print was shipped in a flat envelope with thin backing boards, which proved insufficient protection. The print arrived with corner damage due to package crushing during shipping. This is particularly disappointing considering RitzPix charged a high shipping fee of $14.95, more than double the average of other services tested. Better packaging, such as a larger envelope or a box, could have easily prevented this damage.
Corner damage on a RitzPix photo print caused by inadequate shipping envelope.
This 11×14 print from RitzPix sustained damage when its undersized envelope was crushed at the corner during shipment. Photo: Amadou Diallo
Similar to Snapfish, EZprints also delivered prints that were notably subpar in quality. Every print had a washed-out, hazy appearance, lacking sharpness and clarity. Tonal areas appeared mottled, making EZprints one of the least impressive services in terms of print quality among those we tested.
Shutterfly was among the more expensive options we tested, yet the print quality was only average. Packaging was a primary concern. Small prints were shipped in a thin, flat envelope, and the 11-by-14 print arrived curled in a tube, requiring flattening before display. While shipping tubes offer protection, they often result in curled prints. Flattening a curled print requires careful handling to avoid creases or ripples. A safer method involves placing the prints under weight for a day or two.
Curled photo print from Shutterfly due to tube shipping.
Despite the protective nature of shipping tubes, prints from Shutterfly often arrive with significant curl. Photo: Amadou Diallo
Zazzle offers photo printing but is primarily designed for single-item orders with limited paper choices. Its user interface is not optimized for ordering multiple prints efficiently. Selecting print sizes involves a cumbersome drag-and-drop process for each image on individual order pages, making it impractical for larger orders.
Flattening a print with heavy books after shipping from Zazzle.
The safest method to flatten curled prints from services like Zazzle is to use weight, such as heavy books, for 24-48 hours. Photo: Amadou Diallo
Winkflash is plagued by negative customer reviews, citing issues such as lost photo access due to ownership changes and poor customer service. Customer support is limited to a web form, lacking phone or email contact options. These issues make Winkflash a service to avoid when seeking reliable picture printing sites.
FreePrints attracts users with its offer of up to 1,000 free 4-by-6 prints annually (excluding shipping costs). However, information about the company, print quality, and ordering process is scarce on its single-page website, primarily directing users to a phone app. The lack of transparency and overly good-to-be-true offer raise concerns about the reliability and quality of FreePrints.
Amazon Prints offers 4-by-6 prints at a competitive price. Amazon Prime members who use Prime Photos can directly order prints of stored images, simplifying the process. Print quality is decent, falling in the middle range – not exceptional, with slightly orange skin tones, but not the worst either. Photos arrived within six business days. However, packaging was underwhelming, using a flat mailer with thin cardboard, leading to corner damage on one print.
Walmart provides a 4-by-5.3-inch print size, accommodating smartphone 4:3 aspect ratio images without cropping. However, its overall print size selection is less comprehensive than top-rated services.
Conclusion
Navigating the landscape of online picture printing sites requires careful consideration of print quality, convenience, and value. While services like Mpix and Snapfish are popular, our tests highlighted significant drawbacks in print quality and packaging. Services like RitzPix and Shutterfly also presented issues, particularly with shipping and handling. For those prioritizing uncropped smartphone prints, Walmart offers a suitable size option, while Amazon Prints provides a middle-ground option in terms of quality and convenience for Prime members. Ultimately, the best picture printing site for you will depend on your specific needs and priorities, whether it’s top-tier quality, budget-friendliness, or specific print size options. Carefully weigh these factors to ensure your precious memories are printed beautifully and preserved for years to come.
