Are your photos collecting digital dust in a forgotten folder on your computer? Instead, why not use an online photo printing service to print them out?
After all, who doesn’t love to see their work displayed on a wall or mantle?
But with so many online services available, which is the right one to choose?
Sites vary widely in terms of cost, quality, processing times, and delivery.
In this post, we will guide you through the top 10 online photo printing services available today.
1. Walgreens
Easy-to-use boasts simple photo editing features
Walgreens Print Quality and Editing
Their site offers simple online editing tools, for example, brightness and contrast sliders, auto-correct buttons for red-eye, color-correction and fill flash. Your image can also be cropped, however, there are no border options, filters, or advanced image effects.
Walgreens uses DNP paper which delivers good picture quality, although, this is rarely used among other online photo printing services.
Print quality and color are not bad; the prints contain bright colors without over-saturation while still retaining some detail. For the best quality prints, Walgreens recommends saving files with 200-300 dots per inch (or DPI).
Delivery Options
Walgreens Photo is the place to go if you want your prints quickly. They offer a range of delivery options:
- Same-day printing services; or
- Home delivery within 3-5 business days after production.
How to Upload Photos to Walgreens
You can upload to Walgreens photo site or via a variety of methods:
- Direct from your computer;
- From social media (Facebook, Instagram, or Google Photos); or
- Walgreens print app.
However, they only accept JPEG files.
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: 4×6, 5×7, 8×10, 4×5.3, 4×4, or 8×8 inch.
- Finishes: Glossy and matte.
- Lowest Price: $0.33 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $3.99.
They are a bit pricey compared to other online photo printing services, however, you can create giftware, albums, or wall decor with your images.
2. Snapfish
Affordable & quality prints
Snapfish Print Quality and Editing
Snapfish offers superior paper quality with a same-day pick-up. It boasts simple online editing tools including brightness and contrast sliders, auto-correct buttons for color-correction and fill-flash.
In addition, there are a few monochromatic filters, however, there is no option to crop or add borders to your images.
Snapfish uses Fujicolor Crystal Archive paper for prints; a quality paper loved by professional photographers. As a result, prints perform well in brightness, color, and clarity. Snapfish preserves detail and does not over-saturate. For the best quality prints, Snapfish recommends uploading files with 300 DPI.
Snapfish Delivery Options
Snapfish boasts flexibility when it comes to delivery:
- Same-day pick up from a variety of stores (Walgreens, CVS or Walmart); and
- Delivered to your home with 4 delivery tiers; from the lowest cost (up to 8 business days) to the more costly (up to 4 business days).
How to Upload Photos to Snapfish
There are several ways to upload to Snapfish:
- Direct from your computer;
- Social media (Facebook, Flickr, Instagram or Google Photos); and
- Send photos via an app.
However, Snapfish only accepts JPEG and PNG files, not TIFFs.
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: 4×6, 5×7, 8×10, 4×5.3, 4×4, or 8×8, 11×14, 12×18, 16×20, and 20×30 inch .
- Finishes: Glossy and matte.
- Lowest Price: $0.09 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $2.99.
They also offer the option of printing your images on to giftware, photo books, and wall decor.
Snapfish is a great option if you want superior, inexpensive prints and flexible delivery options.
3. AdoramaPix
Superior quality paper and many finishes to choose from
AdormaPix Print Quality and Editing
AdoramaPix prints on high-quality Kodak Endura professional paper which we found to be superior to any other service we used.
In addition, prints enhance the natural texture of your images without over-saturating color, performing better than Amazon Prints or Nation Labs.
There are only a few editing options, limited to cropping, rotation and fixing red-eye. However, texture, border and mounting options are available, as well as output filters and color-correction.
For the best print quality, save your files with 300 DPI.
Delivery Options
Take your pick from the following delivery options:
- Free in-store pick up from its shops in Brooklyn and Manhattan, NY
- Free economy shipping on orders worth $49 or over; and
- Expedited shipping at extra cost.
However, there is no international shipping; they only ship to the US and Canada.
How to Upload Photos to AdoramaPix
Choose from the following upload options:
- Direct from your computer;
- Social media (Facebook, Flickr, Instagram or Dropbox);
- Direct from iOS devices to AdoramaPix gallery for later use. However, the app is not available on Android and you can’t order prints through it.
Adorama accepts JPEG files and is one of the few services to accept uncompressed TIFF files, with a maximum file size of 200MB.
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: A range of 36 different sizes, including wallet size and extra-large prints.
- Finishes: Gloss, luster, silk, metallic or matte photo paper.
- Lowest Price: $0.31 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $1.59.
Their 4×6 inch print costs are higher than other online photo printing services. However, we felt the quality is worth the price. Plus, they offer other print options including photo books, wall decor, and giftware.
4. Nations Photo Lab
High-quality prints in a range of 60 different sizes
Print Quality and Editing
Nations Photo Lab does not offer many options when it comes to image editing, but they do use high-quality paper.
They offer cropping capabilities, which cannot be undone. You can add borders, however, please note these are not shown in previews before you order your prints.
They use high-quality Kodak Endura professional paper; which enhances detail in darker areas of images.
Nations Photo Lab recommends you save files to 300 DPI for the best print quality.
Delivery Options
Choose from a range of delivery options:
- Free in-store pick up from its Maryland location;
- First-class US Postal Shipping costs only $3.95, second-class costs $15, UPS Ground service costs $7 and the overnight service costs $30.
How to Upload Photos
Take your pick from the following upload options:
- Direct from your computer;
- Social media (Facebook or Dropbox); and
- Drag and drop from Windows Explorer.
Unfortunately, there is no app support. They accept JPEG and TIFF files, but no PNG files. The maximum file size accepted is 40MB.
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: More than 60 different sizes, including wallet size, extra-large prints, giftware, photo books, and wall decor
- Finishes: Gloss, luster or metallic photo paper
- Lowest Price: $0.32 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $1.90.
Prices for both 4×6 and 8×10 are much higher than other online photo printing services. However, they are a great option if you want high-quality prints in sizes that are not offered by others on this list.
5. Walmart Photo
Decent quality images at a low price
Walmart Photo Print Quality and Editing Options
Walmart Photo offers good quality prints along with basic image editing capabilities. Edit options include brightness adjustment, cropping and image filters. However, there are no options to add borders or decorative effects.
Walmart uses Fuji Crystal Archive paper; colors are never washed out or over-saturated, and images retain a large amount of detail. Prints from Walmart perform almost as well as other online photo printing services, and they are also cost-effective. It is recommended to upload files in 300 DPI for the best print quality.
Walmart Photo Delivery Options
There are 3 delivery options:
- Home delivery: standard (3-5 business days), or expedited delivery (2-3 business days);
- Free site to store delivery, from 3-5 business days; and
- Same-day, 1-hour pick up from stores with selected items.
How to Upload Photos to Walmart Photo
There are 4 options to upload images to Walmart Photo:
- Direct from your computer;
- Social Media (Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, etc);
- Drag-and-drop from Windows explorer; and
- Walmart shopping app: upload, order and perform basic photo edits.
However, Walmart Photo only accepts JPEG and PNG files.
May you love: The Best Portable Photo Printers
Walmart Photo Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: 8 different sizes, including wallet size.
- Finishes: Gloss and matte
- Lowest Price: $0.09 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $1.79.
Walmart’s 4×6 inch print costs are one of the cheapest (same as Snapfish) but Walmart still maintains a decent quality print. Plus, they offer a range of other printing options, including giftware, photo albums, and wall decor.
If you want decent image quality images at an affordable price, Walmart Photo is a great option.
6. Amazon Prints
Low-cost, no fuss printing option
Print Quality and Editing
Amazon Prints offer a simple printing option with no editing capabilities.
They offer good quality Fuji Crystal Archive paper, ensuring high-quality color and sharpness. However, some of our images came out a bit over-saturated. Again, the recommended print density for best quality is 300 DPI.
Amazon Prints Delivery Options
Prime shipping in 2 weeks, or just 1-week if you pay $7 more. Pay $14 and receive your prints in just 4 business days. As you can see, the delivery costs are expensive compared to other online photo printing services.
How to Upload Photos to Amazon Prints
Choose from the following 2 options:
- Direct from your computer; and
- From an app compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Amazon Prints only accept JPEG and PNG files. Plus, there is no option to upload from social media
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: 8 Regular and large prints are available in 7 sizes.
- Finishes: Gloss, matte, luster, or pearl finishes
- Lowest Price: $0.12 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $1.79.
Amazon is a low-cost printing service with good-quality images. Their 4×6 inch print costs are only slightly higher than some competitors.
They also offer a range of other printing options including giftware, photo albums, and wall decor.
Amazon Prime comes with unlimited photo storage. So if you are already an Amazon Prime member it makes sense to use Amazon Prints.
7. Shutterfly
Unique print sizes for mid-range pricing
Print Quality and Editing
Shutterfly offers limited editing features (crop and rotate) but they shine on the large availability of merchandise that you can print your photos on.
Despite their use of Fuji Crystal Archive paper, we noticed the colors lost saturation a bit and prints lacked sharpness.
Shutterfly recommends uploading 300 DPI files for the best quality prints.
Shutterfly Delivery Options
They offer the following shipping options:
- Economy shipping (6-10 days) costs $9.23; standard shipping (5-7 days) costs $16.73; faster deliveries cost more.
- In-store pick-up at Walgreens, CVS, and Target.
Delivery costs are far more expensive than competitors.
How to Upload Photos to Shutterfly
There are various ways to upload your image:
- Direct from your computer;
- Social media (Facebook, Instagram, or Google Photos); and
- From their app for both iOS and Android devices. You can order giftware via the app too.
Please note you cannot edit your images via the app. Plus, Shutterfly only accepts JPEG files.
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: Shutterfly offers a variety of print sizes including some rarer, more unique sizing options
- Finishes: Gloss, Matte, pearl, and cardstock print finishes
- Lowest Price: $0.15 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $3.99.
Choose Shutterfly if you want to print your photos on a variety of merchandise such as mugs, aprons, pillows, or blankets.
8. CVS Photo
Good prints with filter edit options
CVS Photo Print Quality and Editing
CVS Photo boasts sharp prints with filter edit options. They also allow basic edits such as color correction, contrast, crop, rotation, and brightness adjustments.
The service obtains acceptable print quality using Kodak Moments photo paper. Our test order came out sharp and with lots of detail, but the colors seem to be just a bit over-saturated. Again, they recommend uploading files of 300 DPI for the best quality prints.
Delivery Options
There are 3 options for delivery from CVS Photo:
- Same-day pick up at local stores;
- Free to pick up in-store; and
- Home delivery charges apply.
How to Upload Photos
Choose from the following upload methods:
- Direct from your computer;
- Social media (Facebook and Instagram); and
- Via their app for both iOS and Android devices.
However, please note you can’t edit photos or order giftware via the app.
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: Many sizes are available
- Finishes: Gloss, Matte, pearl, and cardstock print finishes
- Lowest Price: $0.33 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $3.99.
They are quite expensive compared to the others we tested. The buyers pay primarily for the convenience of same-day pick-up.
CVS Photo also offers the option of creating home and giftware, albums, and wall decor from your images.
9. RitzPix
Decent quality images with advanced photo edit options
Print Quality and Editing
RitzPix offers decent-quality images at an average cost. There are a wide variety of image editing options thanks to its use of the photo editor PicMonkey. Editing highlights include lighting and color fixes, layer effects, cropping, and rotation.
RitzPix uses good quality Fuji Crystal Archive paper, offering good color rendition plus plenty of detail. Final images also boast good texture and detail in darker areas.
RitzPix Delivery Options
There are 2 main delivery options:
- Ground delivery: This takes 10-12 business days and prices start at $1.99; and
- Express delivery: This takes 5-7 business days with a flat rate of $19.99. If you order ultra-matte prints, certain canvases, or banners, the price increases.
How to Upload Photos to RitzPix
Choose from the following upload options:
- Direct from your computer;
- Social media (Facebook and Instagram); and
- Direct from their app for iOS.
RitzPix only accepts JPEG and PNG files, with maximum file sizes of 10MB.
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: Regular and large prints in 16 different sizes
- Finishes: Gloss, matte, ultra-gloss, and ultra-matte print finishes
- Lowest Price: $0.24 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $3.99.
RitzPix also offers a range of other image printing options including giftware, photo books, and wall decor.
10. MPix
High-quality prints contain superb colors and detail
Mpix Print Quality and Editing
MPix boasts high-quality prints with extra editing options including cropping, filter effects, zoom in, and rotation. In addition, you can add mount options, red-eye removal or glasses glare reduction on the final order page.
They use high-quality Kodak Endura photo paper; which produces evenly-balanced color and well-preserved detail. MPix recommends you upload 300 DPI files to produce the best quality prints.
Delivery Options
There are 4 delivery tiers available:
- Economy: 10+ days for $3.95;
- Standard: 2-5 days for $7.95;
- Expedited: 1 business day for $13.95; and
- Expedited signature: 1 business day for $15.95.
How to Upload Photos to Mpix
Choose from a range of upload options:
- Direct from your computer;
- Social media and other services (Amazon, Dropbox, Facebook, One Drive, Google, and Instagram); and
- Their app for both iOS and Android devices allows you to upload, edit and order prints.
MPix only accepts JPEG files, no TIFFs or PNGs.
Print Sizes and Cost
- Print Sizes: More than 36 sizes
- Finishes: Metallic, true black & white paper, lustre coating, and finelinen texture.
- Lowest Price: $0.29 cents for 4×6 prints. The cost of 8×10 inch prints is $2.79.
MPix also offers a range of other image printing options, including giftware, photo books, and wall decor.
How to Choose the Best Online Photo Printing Services
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing between online photo printing services. Take a look as we advise you on what to consider.
Edit Your Photos Before You Print Them
Online photo printing services are not a magical ‘fix-it’ tool.
Despite the editing features offered, these won’t improve dark, low-quality, or out-of-focus photos.
It is vital you ensure your image files are of the highest possible quality (usually 300 DPI), so you’ll receive the best prints.
Also, don’t forget to check the file types they accept, so you know your images are compatible.
Price vs Quality
It sounds odd but some of the best-quality prints come from the online photo printing services that charge the least.
Services like Snapfish are able to offer quality prints at an affordable price because they specialize in just printing photos. Whereas services like Walmart Photos are able to do the same by taking advantage of their distribution network.
Do not use high prices as an indication of higher quality.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you’ll now have a better idea about which printing service is right for you. Are any of these your favorite? Or have we missed any? Let us know in the comments below.
Now that you’ve finished this article, you’re a better photographer.