We’re passionate about turning digital photos into tangible prints! To help you choose the best service for your needs, we ordered the same set of 10 photos from both Amazon Prints and Target Photo. We meticulously scanned each print and put together this comprehensive guide to compare the two popular photo printing services, focusing on Target Photo Prints and Amazon Prints.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Smiling grandpa with birthday cake, Amazon print glossy. Alt text: Glossy Amazon photo print of a joyful 94th birthday celebration with grandpa, family, and cake. Good color and detail for a glossy finish.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Smiling grandpa with birthday cake, Target print lustre. Alt text: Lustre Target photo print showcasing a vibrant 94th birthday party with grandpa and family. Lustre finish provides a softer, less reflective look.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Icelandic landscape couple, Amazon print glossy. Alt text: Glossy Amazon photo print of a couple in Iceland, highlighting the contrast between the landscape and their attire. Glossy finish enhances colors.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Icelandic landscape couple, Target print lustre. Alt text: Lustre Target photo print of an Icelandic scene with a couple, demonstrating the finish's ability to handle varied lighting and textures.
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Pricing, Shipping, and Print Quality Deep Dive
| Test Date | August 2020 |
| Local Pickup | Amazon Prints does not offer local pickup. |
| Summary | Amazon Prints stands out for its affordability, especially for Amazon Prime members who benefit from free shipping without minimum order requirements. Delivery was remarkably fast via UPS 2nd Day Air. However, print quality is good for the price but not the absolute best compared to services like Walmart local or Nations Photo Lab. |
| Print Quality (Local Pickup) | Not applicable (Online only) |
| Print Quality (Online Orders) | 70% 10 Photos: $1.20 $0.12 per 4×6 print + $0.00 shipping (Prime members), 5-6 days delivery (Prime), 7-9 days (non-Prime) |
| Local Pickup Available | No |
| Cost per 4×6 Print (Local Pickup) | Not applicable (Online only) |
| Formats Available for Pickup | Not applicable (Online only) |
| Finishes Available for Pickup | Not applicable (Online only) |
| Paper Type for Pickup Orders | Not applicable (Online only) |
| Pickup Speed | Not applicable (Online only) |
| Online Ordering | Yes |
| Online Ordering Available | Yes |
| Cost per 4×6 Print (Online) | $0.12 |
| Formats Available Online | 4×5.3, 4×6, 5×7, 8×10, 11×14, 12×18, 16×20, 20×30 |
| Finishes Available Online | Glossy, Matte, Lustre, Pearl |
| Paper Type for Online Orders | Fujicolor Crystal Archive (22 millimeters thick) |
| Cheapest Shipping Option | Free shipping for Prime members, $4.00 without Prime |
| Delivery Speed for Cheapest Shipping | 5-6 days (Prime members), 7-9 days (non-Prime) |
| Order Amazon Prints Online | Order Target Photo Prints Online |
Side-by-Side Print Quality Comparison: Amazon Prints vs. Target Photo
To provide a clear comparison of print quality, we ordered identical photos from Amazon Prints on February 13, 2020, and from Target Photo on January 23, 2020. We scanned both sets of prints without any color correction to maintain objectivity.
Below is a detailed visual comparison between Amazon Prints and target photo prints from Target Photo.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Smiling grandpa with birthday cake, Amazon print glossy. Alt text: Glossy Amazon photo print of a joyful 94th birthday celebration with grandpa, family, and cake. Good color and detail for a glossy finish.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Smiling grandpa with birthday cake, Target print lustre. Alt text: Lustre Target photo print showcasing a vibrant 94th birthday party with grandpa and family. Lustre finish provides a softer, less reflective look.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Icelandic landscape couple, Amazon print glossy. Alt text: Glossy Amazon photo print of a couple in Iceland, highlighting the contrast between the landscape and their attire. Glossy finish enhances colors.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Icelandic landscape couple, Target print lustre. Alt text: Lustre Target photo print of an Icelandic scene with a couple, demonstrating the finish's ability to handle varied lighting and textures.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Fun family winter portrait, Amazon glossy print. Alt text: Glossy Amazon print of a fun family portrait in winter gear, showcasing good detail in clothing and faces.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Fun family winter portrait, Target lustre print. Alt text: Target lustre print of the same family photo, offering a softer look suitable for portraits.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Grandparents and grandkids, Amazon glossy print. Alt text: Amazon glossy print of grandparents with grandkids, capturing a warm family moment indoors.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Grandparents and grandkids, Target lustre print. Alt text: Target lustre print of the family photo, highlighting the finish's ability to handle indoor lighting.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Dog owners with black lab, Amazon glossy print. Alt text: Amazon glossy print of happy dog owners with their black lab, capturing the joy of pet ownership.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Dog owners with black lab, Target lustre print. Alt text: Target lustre print of the dog and owners, showcasing a more natural skin tone rendition.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Old man in adirondack chair, Amazon glossy print. Alt text: Amazon glossy print of an elderly man relaxing outdoors, with good clarity in natural settings.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Old man in adirondack chair, Target lustre print. Alt text: Target lustre print of the same outdoor scene, providing a less reflective surface for outdoor photos.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Black lab on beach, Amazon glossy print. Alt text: Amazon glossy print of a black lab on a beach, capturing the detail of the dog's fur and beach texture.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Black lab on beach, Target lustre print. Alt text: Target lustre print of the black lab, showing a balanced contrast in the beach scene.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Red cardinal on branch, Amazon glossy print. Alt text: Amazon glossy print of a vibrant red cardinal, highlighting the bird's colors against a blurred background.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Red cardinal on branch, Target lustre print. Alt text: Target lustre print of the cardinal, offering a refined look to wildlife photography.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Two puffin birds, Amazon glossy print. Alt text: Amazon glossy print of two puffins, capturing the details of their unique features and plumage.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Two puffin birds, Target lustre print. Alt text: Target lustre print of the puffins, providing a softer, more natural rendering of the bird's colors.
Amazon Prints (Glossy Finish Test)
Birthday balloons, Amazon glossy print. Alt text: Amazon glossy print of colorful birthday balloons, enhancing the vibrancy of the celebration.
Target Photo (Lustre Finish Test)
Amazon Prints Packaging
When ordering prints from Amazon Prints, expect your photos to arrive in robust packaging. Amazon’s envelope design is one of the best we’ve seen among photo labs. It features a rigid yet lightweight cardboard envelope. Inside, two additional cardboard inserts sandwich your photos within a white paper envelope, providing excellent protection against bending and damage.
Amazon Prints envelope back. Alt text: Back view of Amazon Prints envelope, showing its durable cardboard construction.
Comparing Amazon Prints with Other Photo Labs
93%
10 Photos: $2.50 $0.25 each
90%
10 Photos: $2.30 $0.23 each
75%
10 Photos: $2.30 $0.23 each
30%
10 Photos: $2.90 $0.29 each
Online Photo Lab Alternatives to Amazon Prints
99%
10 Photos: $7.15 $0.32 4×6 prints + $3.95 shipping (5-7 days)
95%
10 Photos: $4.40 $0.25 4×6 prints + $1.90 shipping (9-12 days)
94%
10 Photos: $12.85 $0.29 4×6 prints + $9.95 shipping (7-9 days)
92%
10 Photos: $6.35 $0.24 4×6 prints + $3.95 shipping (10 days)
90%
10 Photos: $4.74 $0.15 4×6 prints + $3.24 shipping (9-12 days)
85%
10 Photos: $4.29 $0.23 4×6 prints + $1.99 shipping (7-9 days)
85%
10 Photos: $4.39 $0.24 4×6 prints + $1.99 shipping (10-12 days)
85%
10 Photos: $4.39 $0.24 4×6 prints + $1.99 shipping (10-12 days)
85%
10 Photos: $4.39 $0.24 4×6 prints + $1.99 shipping (10-12 days)
80%
10 Photos: $2.99 $0.00 4×6 prints + $2.99 shipping (5-7 days)
80%
10 Photos: $20.99 $1.40 4×6 prints + $6.99 shipping (8-12 days)
80%
10 Photos: $4.78 $0.33 4×6 prints + $1.48 shipping (5-9 days)
80%
10 Photos: $4.90 $0.09 4×6 prints + $4.00 shipping (7-9 days)
75%
10 Photos: $4.99 $0.09 4×6 prints + $4.09 shipping (9-12 days)
70%
10 Photos: $13.00 $0.50 4×6 prints + $8.00 shipping (14-17 days)
65%
10 Photos: $2.64 $0.09 4×6 prints + $1.74 shipping (3-10 days)
60%
10 Photos: $6.10 $0.18 4×6 prints + $4.30 shipping (5-7 days)
45%
10 Photos: $6.99 $0.50 4×6 prints + $1.99 shipping (9-12 days)
Tips for 4×6 Photo Prints
How to Send 4×6 Photos In the Mail How Big is a 4×6 Photo?
Photo credits
Atlantic puffin photo by @miss_ohara Cardinal photo by @drphotomoto
