In the digital age, while we capture countless photos on our smartphones, the desire to hold physical prints remains strong. But with numerous online photo printing services available, deciding where to print your precious memories can be overwhelming. This guide analyzes some of the most popular online photo printing services, helping you choose the best option for your needs based on print quality, convenience, and overall experience.
Several services offer user-friendly apps and websites to order prints directly from your devices. However, not all services are created equal. Mpix, for example, despite its popularity and convenient app, received low rankings in print quality tests. A significant drawback noted was its forced cropping of smartphone photos, which can be a major issue for those who carefully compose their shots. If maintaining the original aspect ratio of your smartphone photos is crucial, services like EZprints and RitzPix offer smartphone-friendly print sizes at a 4:3 aspect ratio. Alternatively, Printique and Nations Photo Lab provide the option to print images uncropped, regardless of aspect ratio mismatches, giving you full control over your prints.
A close-up of the edge of a rolled-up print from Snapfish that was damaged during transport.
Damaged photo print from Snapfish due to insufficient packaging during shipping.
Bay Photo stands out for its small print sizes optimized for smartphone photos and robust packaging, ensuring your prints arrive safely. However, print quality tests placed Bay Photo in the middle range, a decent but not exceptional choice. Participants in blind tests often ranked it as a reasonable second option, indicating reliable but not outstanding performance.
For budget-conscious consumers, Snapfish is often touted for its low prices. Yet, this affordability comes at a cost to print quality. Tests revealed harsh contrast in Snapfish prints, leading to loss of detail in shadows and highlights, and portrait photos exhibited undesirable orangish skin tones. Packaging was also a concern, with smaller prints shipped in flimsy envelopes lacking adequate protection. Even larger prints, though sent in tubes, lacked internal padding, resulting in damage during transit, as seen in the image above.
RitzPix also encountered packaging issues. An 11×14 print arrived damaged due to being shipped in an insufficiently sized flat envelope with minimal backing board. This inadequate packaging is particularly disappointing considering RitzPix charged a high shipping fee, significantly above the average of other tested services.
A close-up of the corner of a photo print from RitzPix that has been damaged, in front of a green background.
Corner damage to a RitzPix photo print caused by inadequate shipping envelope.
EZprints shared Snapfish’s issue of subpar print quality. Prints from EZprints consistently appeared hazy and washed-out, lacking sharpness and exhibiting a mottled appearance in areas of solid color. These prints were considered among the least impressive in quality comparisons.
Shutterfly, while offering average print quality, presented concerns with packaging similar to Snapfish. Smaller prints were shipped in thin envelopes, and larger 11×14 prints arrived curled from being shipped in tubes. While curling can be addressed by flattening, it adds an extra step and potential risk of damage.
A large photo print that was shipped in a shipping tube and now has a very defined curvature, resting on a table.
Curled photo print from Shutterfly after being shipped in a tube.
Zazzle offers photo printing services, but its interface is geared towards individual, small-batch orders and lacks extensive paper choices. The ordering process, requiring dragging each image onto a print size template, is cumbersome for larger orders.
Winkflash faces significant customer service and reliability issues. Numerous negative reviews cite lost photo access due to ownership changes and poor customer support, with only a web form available for contact. These issues make Winkflash a less reliable choice for photo printing.
FreePrints attracts users with its offer of free 4×6 prints (up to 1,000 per year, excluding shipping costs). However, the service provides minimal online information, operating primarily through a phone app. The lack of transparency and limited information online raises concerns about the service’s reliability and quality.
Amazon Prints provides 4×6 prints at a competitive price and offers seamless integration for Amazon Prime members already using Prime Photos. Print quality is decent, falling in the mid-range, though skin tones may lean towards orange. However, packaging is basic, with prints shipped in flat mailers with thin cardboard, increasing the risk of damage during shipping.
Walmart offers a 4×5.3-inch print size, accommodating the 4:3 aspect ratio of smartphone photos without cropping. However, its overall selection of print sizes is less comprehensive compared to other services.
Two large coffee table books, placed on top of a couple pieces of cardboard that are being used to flatten an unseen photo print.
Flattening a curled photo print using cardboard and heavy books.
Choosing Where To Print Photos online involves balancing various factors such as print quality, price, convenience, and packaging. While some services offer attractive prices or features, it’s essential to consider potential trade-offs in quality and service. By carefully evaluating your priorities, you can select the best online photo printing service to bring your digital memories to life in print.
