We have photo printing services offering international shipping because even though it’s a digital world, people like to keep their memories within their hands.
Two photo printing services are Chatbooks and Shutterfly. Which is better? The article compares Chatbooks vs. Shutterfly.
What are both
Chatbooks is a printing service focusing mainly on photo books. It can upload photos from your computer, social media, or cloud storage platform to print your favorite images.
Shutterfly is much more than Chatbooks. It allows you to order various products, including photo books, wall art, gifts, calendars, and more. Unlike Chatbooks, it only supports content from your device.
Both come with a mobile app to upload and order photos.
How do both work
Using Chatbooks is relatively easy. All you need to do is select a service. A box will ask you to connect to your social account or upload photos from the computer.
Next, you will see a preview of the product. For example, the photo book screen shows a book-style layout with two images on each page.
Once the photos are added, we click the “add to the cart” button on the top.
Shutterfly also takes a similar approach, but it has a few options to manage photos before you can send them for printing. It offers two modes: Quick and Manual.
The quick lets the website take care of everything, whereas in the Manual mode, you see and modify photos before sending them.
Supported image files
Chatbooks supports common formats, including PNG and JPEG. Shutterfly offers to upload PNG, JPEG, BMP, and WebP.
If you have a vector or RAW file, you must convert it to one of the standard formats to upload.
While you are here: Shutterfly vs. Mpix
Offered services
One of the best things about Chatbooks is that it offers monthly subscriptions to photobooks (Monthbooks or Minibooks).
For $15 per month, you can send the month’s great moments and get them printed on a hardcover ($10 for the softcover).
Other than that, Chatbooks offers:
- Classic Photo books
- Premium Layflat books
- Designer covers
- Yearbooks
- Canvas wall tiles
- Tile accessories
- Instagram and Facebook series
As discussed, Shutterfly offers over 20 services. These include photo books, wedding albums, and more. Here is the list of the standard services:
- Software and Hardcover Photo books
- Instant books
- Book design service
- Graduation announcements
- Graduation invitations
- Wedding albums
- Thank you and celebration cards
- Fleece photo blankets
- Father’s Day cards
- Pride cards
- New Year and Christmas cards
- Home decor services
- Prints
- Gifts
- Wall arts
- Wedding and bridal shower invitations
- Response cards
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Templates
This round of Chatbooks vs. Shutterfly is specific to the latter. Selecting a service shows a wide range of styles.
For example, selecting a photo book shows styles, including modern design, wedding, best dad ever, simply bold, etc. You see the book’s cover image and page colors depending on the selected style.
Shipment
The monthly subscriptions do not cost anything. You can subscribe to the Monthly Minis and pay $5 monthly.
The photo books in the US do not cost any shipment fee, and depending on your chosen service, you get the shipment.
For example, the classic book comes with standard shipping, whereas premium books come with premium free shipping. With wall decor services, you will pay a few bucks for the shipment.
The shipment prices are the same for Canada; however, the service prices differ slightly. Chatbooks also offer international shipping costing a set shipment fee.
On the other hand, Shutterfly does not have a free shipping option. Even in the US, you pay for the shipment cost.
Shutterfly offers international shipping to over 100 countries. The photos can also be picked up from Walgreens and CVS stores.
Prices
So, there are a few differences. The minimum number of photos for Chatbooks is 30, whereas Shutterfly’s minimum requirement is 20.
By default, a 30-photo 8×8 hardcover photo book costs $20 on Chatbooks, including shipment to the US and Canada, whereas you pay $20.98 for a 20-photo book without the shipment cost on Shutterfly.
Which one should you use
In terms of services, Shutterfly is one you need. It offers many benefits with great tools to help you get the best photo book you can imagine. It even has a free photo book design service.
Nevertheless, for photo book printing, Chatbooks is cost-effective. It also supports social media and cloud storage programs, as many people have their photos on social media.
The Chatbooks vs. Shutterfly comparison ends here. Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments, and enjoy the rest of your day.
Chatbooks vs. Shutterfly: Links
Madhsudhan Khemchandani has a bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering (Honours). He has been writing articles on apps and software for over five years. He has also made over 200 videos on his YouTube channel. Read more about him on the about page.