Amazon Prints vs Shutterfly: Cost, Quality, and More

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From above anonymous photographer looking through printed photos placed on white table in living room
Credit: pexels.com, From above anonymous photographer looking through printed photos placed on white table in living room

Amazon Prints and Shutterfly are two popular online services that allow you to create and order custom photo prints, gifts, and other personalized items.

Amazon Prints offers a wide range of printing options, including glossy, matte, and luster finishes.

For a 4x6 inch glossy print, Amazon Prints charges around $0.15 per print, while Shutterfly charges around $0.19 per print.

Both services offer free shipping on orders over $25.

Ordering and Delivery

To order prints from Amazon, you'll want to consider subscribing to Amazon Prime. This will get you free shipping on all orders, and you'll also get three days of processing time, which is added to every print order.

Amazon Photos has an easy-to-use interface that guides you step-by-step through the print purchasing process. You can upload and order prints and photo products from your computer, laptop, or mobile device in just minutes.

The estimated delivery time for Amazon Prints is six to nine days, but in my experience, it arrived in just four days. This was even faster than the estimated time, and it arrived via UPS rather than an Amazon delivery vehicle.

Credit: youtube.com, Amazon vs Shutterfly

You can review your order in the Amazon shopping cart and see delivery options. Prime members don't pay any shipping costs for Amazon Photos orders, while non-Prime members can choose between overnight, expedited, and standard delivery.

Here's a breakdown of the delivery options for Amazon Prints:

Keep in mind that Amazon adds three days of processing time to every print order, so you'll need to factor that in when choosing your delivery option.

Photo Products

Amazon Prints offers a range of photo products, including prints, photo cards, photo books, and gifts. You can get prints starting at 17 cents each for 4-by-6 or 4-by-5.3 sizes.

For photo cards, Amazon has dozens of templates to make card creation easy, and you can also create your own designs on the site. Amazon's photo cards are a wonderful way to keep in touch with loved ones near and far.

You can also turn your photos into enduring keepsakes with Amazon's photo gifts, such as ornaments, fleece blankets, photo mugs, and more. Amazon's photo books start at around $20 and come in various sizes and styles, including soft cover and hardcover options.

Here's a comparison of Amazon's photo products with Shutterfly's:

Photo Books

Credit: youtube.com, Best Photo Book - Shutterfly, Walgreens, Mixbook, Walmart, Costco, Snapfish, SAAL Digital, ...

If you're looking to preserve special memories or pictures, a photo book is a great option. Amazon Photos offers a variety of sizes and styles to choose from.

You can select from soft cover books in a 5×7 landscape format, or opt for a hardcover book in 8×8, 8×11, or 12×12 sizes. Amazon also has premium layflat book styles that lay flat when open to display every photo perfectly.

Prices start at around $20, making photo books an affordable way to commemorate special occasions. You can even design your own book and personalize it with colors, layouts, and text.

Amazon has many templates available, including styles that display one image per page and multiple images per page. You can also select a themed book to commemorate holidays or a momentous year.

Discover more: Photo Printing

Photo Gifts

You can turn your favorite photos into enduring keepsakes with Amazon Photo Gifts. Everyone on your list will love a photo gift from Amazon.

Credit: youtube.com, Affordable Photo Gifts | Product Spotlight | G Photography by G

Amazon has a wide variety of photo gifts, including ornaments to make every holiday season bright. You can also choose fleece blankets adorned with your favorite photos to cuddle up with.

You can even get a photo mug to drink your morning coffee from, or a photo mousepad or wood panel photo to add a personal touch to your workspace. Surround yourself with your favorite images and give yourself a reason to smile every day.

Amazon Photo Gifts are a fun and easy way to share precious memories with friends and family. And don't forget to treat yourself to something special, too!

You can choose from a range of calendar sizes, including 8.5×11 and 11.15×14, to create a custom calendar for a special occasion.

Product Details

Amazon offers a variety of photo book options, including soft cover and hardcover styles in different sizes.

You can choose from a range of templates, including styles that display one image per page and multiple images per page. Amazon also offers themed books for holidays and special occasions.

Credit: youtube.com, Product Photography At Home: Beginner to Intermediate Photography Tips | 3 Quick Tips

The prices for photo books start at around $20, making them a great option for preserving memories.

Here are some key details about Amazon's photo book options:

Amazon's photo book prices are very competitive, especially for Prime members who get free shipping with no order minimum.

For online orders, the cost per 4x6 print is $0.12, with free shipping for Prime members. Without Prime, the cost per 4x6 print is $0.18, with a shipping cost of $4.00.

Broaden your view: Amazon Aurora Cost

Cost and Value

Amazon Prints offers competitive pricing, with 4-by-6 prints starting at 17 cents each, and 8-by-10s costing $2.09. Snapfish undercuts Amazon at all common print sizes, but Amazon still delivers value with free shipping for Prime members.

Amazon's prices for photo prints have risen, but they're still very competitive. Glossy or matte 4-by-6 prints cost 17 cents each, while 5-by-7-inch prints cost 69 cents each.

You can save even more with Amazon Prime, which includes free shipping on orders over $25. Amazon also offers a variety of finishes, including luster and pearl, which cost $0.29 and $0.75 per 4-by-6 print respectively.

Here's a comparison of Amazon's prices with other popular photo printing services:

Overall, Amazon Prints offers great value, especially for Prime members, with quick delivery and competitive pricing.

The Bottom Line

Credit: youtube.com, The Importance of Quality Costs: How Do They Impact Your Bottom Line?

Amazon Photos delivers decent prints quickly at a low price. This is a major advantage for those who need photos printed in a hurry.

The cost of using Amazon Photos is indeed low, making it a great option for budget-conscious consumers. A quick search online will reveal that Amazon Photos offers competitive pricing compared to other photo printing services.

However, the web interface of Amazon Photos could be easier to use. This may be frustrating for some users, especially those who are not tech-savvy.

Despite this minor drawback, the convenience and speed of Amazon Photos make it a valuable service for many.

Value Strikes Again

Amazon's photo printing service is a great value, especially for Prime subscribers who get free shipping. You can get 4-by-6 prints for just 17 cents each, and even larger prints like 8-by-10s are only $2.09.

One of the best things about Amazon Photos is its quick delivery times. If you're a Prime member, you'll get free shipping, which is a huge bonus. As a non-Prime member, you might need to pay for shipping, but you can still get free shipping on orders over $25.

Close-up of a colorful red-eyed tree frog on a tree trunk in the Amazon rainforest.
Credit: pexels.com, Close-up of a colorful red-eyed tree frog on a tree trunk in the Amazon rainforest.

Another advantage of Amazon Photos is its image quality. While Walmart Photo still has the best 4-by-6 print quality, Amazon's prints are still a great value. And with Amazon's updated interface, ordering prints is easier than ever.

Here are the prices for different print sizes from Amazon Photos:

If you're looking for an even better deal, consider using a discount code during checkout. You can search for Amazon Photos promo codes online to see what's available.

Uploading and Storage

Shutterfly has no storage limits on your image library, so you can upload as many photos as you want without worrying about running out of space.

Mpix, on the other hand, will remove your entire image library if you don't place a print order every 60 days, even if it's just one print.

If you're printing photos just to free up space on your computer, you may not need the extra quality that Shutterfly offers, so you can save some money by choosing Mpix.

Uploading Photos

Vibrant green tree frog perched on a branch in the Amazon rainforest.
Credit: pexels.com, Vibrant green tree frog perched on a branch in the Amazon rainforest.

You can create your own designs on Amazon and personalize your photo cards with ease.

Amazon's photo cards come with dozens of templates to make card creation a breeze.

The site's easy-to-use interface makes it simple to add photos and change colors and design elements.

Personalizing your photos cards with your own photos creates a keepsake that recipients will cherish.

You can add photos to your cards and change design elements to make them unique and special.

Amazon's photo cards are perfect for every occasion, from invitations and announcements to holiday and thank you cards.

File Storage Considerations

Shutterfly has no storage limits on your image library and does not delete them.

If you're using Mpix, be aware that they will remove your entire image library if you don't place a print order every 60 days.

Shutterfly's storage policy is a major plus for photographers who like to keep all their images on file.

Mpix's policy, on the other hand, requires you to stay active by ordering prints every 60 days to keep your library intact.

Having a clear understanding of storage policies can help you plan and manage your digital image library more efficiently.

Take a look at this: Amazon Cloud Storage vs Dropbox

Quality and Image

Credit: youtube.com, Photo Printing Comparison | Where is the best place to print your photos

Amazon Prints uses thick Fujicolor Crystal Archive paper, which is quite good, but not as top-quality as the professional-level Kodak Endura paper used by Nations Photo Lab.

The print quality from Amazon Prints is on par with Walmart Photo and better than Shutterfly and Snapfish, which show blotchy distortion on close inspection.

Amazon Prints orders come with a full contact sheet print, which is a nice touch.

The quality from Amazon Prints falls short of the more expensive Nations Photo Lab for sharpness and veracity of colors, but surprisingly beats the costlier Mpix and Printique prints.

The colors in an Amazon Prints photo are generally well-represented, not veering too far toward pink or yellow, but can be somewhat oversaturated.

In terms of value, Walmart Photo has a slight edge in sharpness and lighting, beating Amazon in the value class of printers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a better service than Shutterfly?

There are several alternatives to Shutterfly that offer unique benefits, such as Gelato for product variety and customization options. To find the best service for your needs, consider exploring options like VistaPrint, Moo, and Amazon Photos.

What is the best site for prints?

For high-quality prints, consider Amazon, Mpix, Printique, or Shutterfly, which offer excellent online sharing features and customization options. Shutterfly also allows you to create personalized online photo galleries.

How much does Amazon charge to print photos?

Amazon charges between $6.29 and $17.90 to print photos, depending on the size and finish you choose. Prices start at 11x14 inches and go up to 20x30 inches.

Thomas Goodwin

Lead Writer

Thomas Goodwin is a seasoned writer with a passion for exploring the intersection of technology and business. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying complex concepts, he has established himself as a trusted voice in the tech industry. Thomas's writing portfolio spans a range of topics, including Azure Virtual Desktop and Cloud Computing Costs.

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