Best photo cards online 2020 – for greetings that stand out from the pack

Are you interested in ordering custom photo cards online? From cards for the holiday season to save the date cards and wedding invitations, it has never been easier to personalize your greetings.

With so many great photo card services available it can be difficult to choose. That’s why we have put together a list of our best photo card sites, offering everything from holiday greetings to birthday cards for friends and family.

Top photo card services – what to look for

Ordering photo cards might seem like a straightforward operation, but the sheer number of customization options available can be a little overwhelming. Many photo card sites let you choose everything from the shape of your cards to the envelope design. They also provide editors to help you arrange your pictures and text onto your chosen photo card template.

Be aware that some options, particularly envelope printing, often cost extra. Also, many sites have minimum order amounts and charge less per card on larger orders. While this is great for holiday cards, it’s not always ideal for individual events like birthdays.

Finally, be sure to order your photo cards in plenty of time. Most sites will need 1 to 2 days for creation and card printing, plus shipping time, so it’s a good idea to think ahead. For extra convenience it is sometimes possible to have your cards delivered directly to the recipient. Read on for our best photo cards list.

Best photo cards online – top 6

Here are our best sites and services for photo cards this year. Read below for all the details on each service.

• Simply to Impress
• Mixbook
• Minted
• Mpix
• Shutterfly
• InkCards

Simply to Impress – best custom photo cards

The name says it all – Simply to Impress offer some of the best photo cards online that are sure to delight the people on your holiday card list.

The choice of designs with this photo card service is extensive, so you should easily find something to your taste. Simply to Impress are focused on providing high quality photo card printing and luxe designs. This means you can find cards with extra details, such as raised gold foil patterns. You also have endless options to customize your cards, with different shapes, paper, and envelope types. In particular, you can choose between single-sided and double-sided printing and also have your envelopes adressed (recipient and return address).

Simply to Impress make it easy to fit your photo to the card design. You can zoom in and out, and change the direction of your photo. You can even add a black and white, or sepia effect, and adjust contrast and brightness to make your photos shine. For double-sided cards, you can also personalize the back of the card.

Card designers will check your photo cards before printing and let you know if there are any issues with your photos. They offer free image retouching, and there is an advanced design service available, for when only the most professional photo cards will do!

Pros:

• Great customization options

• Free designer review

Cons:

• Min 15 card order

Mixbook – best for single card orders

If you’re looking for the best photo cards online then Mixbook is another great choice. Their website is easy to use and you can upload photos from your computer or phone. Alternatively, you can add images from Google Photos and social media sites.

The editor gives you lots of options to customize your photo cards with flexible layouts, stickers and text. It is possible to add up to 20 photos to one card, and there are over 200 different text fonts available. You can choose from filters and other editing options for your photos.

You can also select from an array of paper types, including matte, pearl and even cotton. While there aren’t as many envelope options as offered by some services, Mixbook will print addresses on your envelopes, for an additional charge.

Another great point about Mixbook is that it is possible to order a single card, though buying in bulk will save your money.

Pros:

• Easy to use editor

• Single card orders possible

Cons:

• Limited options for envelopes

Minted – best unique photo cards

For some of the best photo cards for originality, take a look at the Minted website. You will find unique holiday photo cards, created by independent designers.

The card editor lets you customize your design and text. It’s also possible to auto-enhance your photos and add a filter for an extra-professional finish. The zoom feature is handy for focusing in on one area of your picture.

For the environmentally conscious card-buyer, there is the option of printing your photo cards on recycled paper.

Minted photo cards are not the cheapest but there are budget-friendly options available in smaller formats and postcards. The all-in-one cards are particularly ingenious and contain a detachable photo. Another bonus is that address printing for your envelopes is included in the price, which is not the case for many photo card sites.

Pros:

• Editing options

• Address printing included

Cons:

• Minimum 25 card order

Mpix – best DIY cards

Would you like to try designing your own photo cards? Then you should check out Mpix. As well as standard holiday cards, this site offers DIY photo cards. Download a photo card template to use in Photoshop, then upload your finished design. Mpix will take care of bringing your photo card to life (and putting it in an envelope).

If you prefer to leave designing to the professionals, then Mpix also offers a wide choice of ready-to-go designs with plenty of customization options. You can add photos from social media and cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive. Then all you have to do is place your photos on the template and select your size and photo paper options: including pearl, recycled and linen. The card editor allows you to enlarge and crop your photos for a perfect fit.

Mpix also has various envelope options for your photo cards, and even offers premium gift-wrapping for an additional charge. All of these things help earn Mpix a solid spot on our best photo cards list.

Pros:

• DIY option

• Envelope options

Cons:

• Min order of 5 cards

Shutterfly – best lazy cards

Many photo card services are geared towards larger orders for things like holiday or wedding cards. If you’re looking for smaller quantities, such as birthday photo cards online, then Shutterfly is a good choice.

Choose from a wide selection of designs and upload photos from your computer, social media or cloud service.

While the editor doesn’t offer as many customization options as some of the other best photo card sites, it does have some convenient features. For example, you can add all the details of your event to the suggestions box and let the editor place everything on the photo card template for you.

Envelope addressing is included in the price, as long as you stick to plain white envelopes. Another big plus of Shutterfly’s service is the option to have your photo cards stamped and mailed for you – useful if you’re in a hurry.

Pros:

• Single-card orders possible

• Direct delivery to recipient available

Cons:

• Fewer customization and editing choices than some sites

Ink Cards – best photo cards app

For those of you looking for a mobile solution, Ink Cards is personalized photo cards app that lets you create and send cards straight from your smartphone.

Compatible with both Android and Apple devices, Ink Cards lets you choose photos directly from your smartphone or tablet library. You also have the possibility of uploading from social media or Google Drive.

Choose from a selection of photo card templates and add your photos and text. There are multiple customization options such as font color, which allow you to give your card a personal touch. It’s easy to order individual photo cards, and have them delivered directly to the recipient. All of this makes the Ink Cards app one of the best photo cards options for convenience.

Pros:

• Mobile-friendly solution

• Direct delivery to recipient available

Cons:

• Fewer customization options than some sites

Choosing photo cards – options and extras

Here’s a quick summary of things to consider when ordering photo cards online.

• Standard photo cards are usually 5×7 folded cards, however there are a whole range of formats available, depending on which site you use. Postcards can also be a nice budget option.

• Card shapes generally come in standard rectangular, round-edged and even scalloped, for those seeking a fancier design.

• Quality cards use thicker paper. You will usually have the option to select the quality and texture of paper for your cards.

• Many photo card services also offer a selection of envelope designs with the option to add an address. Return-addressed cards are also available.

• Some sites, such as Simply to Impress, give you additional editing options to improve the quality or look of your photos. For even more filters and adjustments, why not download our Free Photo Editor.

Ordering your own personalized cards is lots of fun. So whichever photo card service you choose, you’ll enjoy browsing designs and arranging your pictures and greetings. Not to mention that your friends and family will be delighted with the results!