CVS Photo offers convenient same-day photo printing, but how much does it cost? Let’s break down the pricing and compare it to competitors. You’ll find that CVS Photo’s prices are generally higher than other options, both online and in-store.
CVS Photo Printing Prices: A Breakdown
A standard 4×6 print at CVS costs 42 cents each. This is significantly higher than online services like Snapfish (9 cents) and Amazon Prints (17 cents). Even other local pickup options like Walgreens Photo (39 cents) and Walmart Photo (14 cents) offer lower prices. While CVS frequently runs discounts and offers coupons, its base prices remain higher. Keep in mind that CVS, like Walgreens, no longer offers mail delivery for standard prints; in-store pickup is your only option.
Larger print sizes also come at a premium. A 5×7 print at CVS is $2.99, compared to $1.75 at Nations Photo Lab and 69 cents at Shutterfly. An 8×10 print costs $4.49 at CVS, exceeding even professional printing services like Printique ($2.65). While you save on shipping costs with local pickup, the higher print prices might negate that advantage. CVS offers prints up to a substantial 24×36 inches.
Beyond Standard Prints: CVS Photo Products
CVS Photo offers more than just standard prints. You can create personalized photo gifts and keepsakes such as greeting cards, calendars, photo books, mugs, T-shirts, and canvas prints. They also offer less common items like blankets, potholders, and mouse pads. While not as extensive as Shutterfly’s offerings, CVS provides a wide selection for most needs.
Ordering Your CVS Photo Prints
Ordering prints through the CVS website is straightforward. Create an account, upload your photos, select sizes and quantities, and choose your local store for pickup. The website interface is user-friendly and resembles Snapfish. You can upload images from your computer or connect your Google account to access Google Photos. However, direct imports from Facebook or Instagram are not supported. CVS accepts JPG and PNG files but not TIFF, GIF, or HEIC/HEIF files. There’s also a 100-megapixel file size limit.
Editing Your Photos at CVS
CVS Photo provides basic editing tools. You can adjust brightness, contrast, and color correction. A few filter effects (black and white, sepia) and cropping/rotation tools are also available. These features are comparable to Walgreens Photo and Snapfish. You can also create and share photo albums online via email or a web link.
CVS Photo Mobile App for Easy Ordering
The CVS Pharmacy mobile app (available for Android and iOS) simplifies photo printing. Order directly from your phone’s photo library or your CVS account. While lacking editing features, the app offers a quick and easy way to order prints and personalized gifts.
CVS Photo Print Quality: A Closer Look
While convenient, CVS Photo’s print quality can be inconsistent. In our tests, 4×6 prints exhibited streaking and oversaturated colors. Larger prints (5×7 and 8×10) were sharper but still had color accuracy issues. While a second test order showed some improvement, the results still lagged behind competitors like Walgreens Photo, which delivered more natural colors and consistent quality.
Final Verdict: Convenience at a Cost
CVS Photo provides convenient one-hour photo printing, but its higher prices and inconsistent quality may make you consider alternatives. For budget-conscious consumers, Walmart Photo and online services offer significant savings. If quality is paramount, Nations Photo Lab excels. For the best combination of speed, convenience, and quality in one-hour printing, Walgreens Photo remains our top recommendation.
