Mixbook has earned a reputation as one of the best photo book editors available. Its drag-and-drop interface gives you real control over every page, and the print quality is consistently strong. But Mixbook isn't perfect for everyone. The manual upload process is time-consuming, prices can add up quickly for larger books, and not everyone wants to spend hours tweaking layouts.

If you're looking for Mixbook alternatives, you probably want either a faster creation process, a lower price point, or a different approach to photo book design. We tested six alternatives across ease of use, photo import options, customization, print quality, and price to help you find the right fit.

What to look for in a Mixbook alternative

Mixbook sets a high bar for editing. Here's what to consider when evaluating alternatives:

• Creation speed -- Mixbook's detailed editor means hours of work for a big book. Some services auto-generate layouts in seconds, which is a major advantage if you value your time.
• Photo import method -- Mixbook requires manual uploads from your device. Alternatives that connect to social media or cloud storage can save you a significant step.
• Customization depth -- If you're leaving Mixbook, decide how much design control you actually need. Many people discover they'd rather have a good automatic layout than spend time perfecting every page.
• Print and paper quality -- Mixbook's print quality is strong. Make sure any alternative matches or exceeds it, especially if you're making a gift or keepsake.
• Price for your book size -- Compare prices at the page count you actually need. A service that's cheap for 20 pages might be expensive at 200.

Best Mixbook alternatives in 2026

1. My Social Book

Best for: automatic photo books from social media

If your photos are on Facebook, Instagram, or Dropbox, My Social Book is the opposite of Mixbook's approach -- and that's exactly why it works. Instead of uploading and arranging photos yourself, you connect your account and get a complete book in under three minutes. The service pulls your posts chronologically and preserves the original dates, captions, likes, and locations alongside each photo.

Books go up to 450 pages in a 21 cm x 25 cm format with hardcover (glossy or matte) and softcover options. You can preview every page, remove posts you don't want, and edit the cover before ordering. You won't get Mixbook's pixel-level layout control, but you'll save hours of work. With a 4.7 Trustpilot score and over 700,000 books printed across 12 years, it's a well-established service.

My Social Book is the best alternative if you want a beautiful photo book without the manual effort that Mixbook requires.

Pros:

• Book created automatically from Facebook, Instagram, or Dropbox
• Under 3 minutes from start to preview
• Preserves dates, captions, likes, and locations
• Up to 450 pages per book

Cons:

• Less granular layout control than Mixbook
• Best suited for social media content

Create your free preview with My Social Book

2. Shutterfly

Best for: budget-friendly books with frequent discounts

Shutterfly is the largest photo book company in the market. It offers dozens of sizes, cover types, and templates, plus a constant stream of discount codes that can bring prices down dramatically. If you're looking for variety and low prices, Shutterfly delivers on both.

The editor is functional but not as polished as Mixbook's. Navigation can feel cluttered, and the upsells are relentless. But if you're price-sensitive and don't mind a less refined editing experience, Shutterfly's combination of selection and discounts is hard to ignore. All photo uploads are manual.

Pros:

• Huge range of sizes, formats, and templates
• Aggressive discounts (40-60% off is common)
• Well-known brand with reliable shipping

Cons:

• Editor is less intuitive than Mixbook
• Constant upselling
• Manual upload only

3. Artifact Uprising

Best for: luxury quality and minimalist aesthetics

Artifact Uprising competes with Mixbook on quality and actually surpasses it on materials. Their paper is noticeably thicker, the matte finish is gorgeous, and the overall feel is unmistakably premium. Templates lean minimalist with generous white space, which works beautifully for wedding albums, travel books, and special gifts.

The editor is clean but more limited than Mixbook's. You can customize layouts within templates, but you won't have the same freedom to move elements anywhere on the page. The biggest barrier is price. Artifact Uprising books cost roughly 30-50% more than comparable Mixbook options. It's a worthwhile premium for milestone books, but steep for everyday yearbooks.

Pros:

• Best-in-class paper and print quality
• Elegant minimalist design
• Lay-flat binding option

Cons:

• Significantly more expensive
• Less layout flexibility than Mixbook
• Manual upload only

4. Chatbooks

Best for: quick, small-format books on autopilot

Chatbooks takes the simplest possible approach to photo books. Their subscription model automatically creates small books (around 6x6 inches) from your recent photos. You set it up once, and books arrive periodically without any additional effort. It's the "set and forget" option.

Compared to Mixbook, Chatbooks trades customization for convenience. You get minimal editing control, a smaller format, and simpler printing. But the price is right (books start around $10-15), and it's a great way to stay current with everyday photos rather than falling years behind on a big project.

Pros:

• Subscription model keeps you up to date
• Very affordable
• Minimal effort required

Cons:

• Small format only
• Very limited customization
• Print quality is basic

5. Blurb

Best for: professional projects and self-publishing

Blurb is the power-user option. Their desktop app, BookWright, gives you layout control that rivals professional design software. You can create trade-size books, magazines, and even ebooks. Photographers and authors use Blurb to produce portfolio-quality work, and you can sell finished books through Blurb's marketplace or Amazon.

For a standard family photo book, Blurb is probably more tool than you need. The learning curve is steeper than Mixbook, and the process takes longer. But if you're working on a creative project that demands professional output, Blurb gives you the most control of any service on this list.

Pros:

• Professional-grade layout software
• Multiple formats (trade books, magazines, ebooks)
• Option to sell your finished book

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve than Mixbook
• Overkill for personal photo books
• Manual upload only

6. Mpix

Best for: photographer-quality prints at fair prices

Mpix is run by Miller's Professional Imaging, one of the top professional photo labs in the US. Their photo books benefit from that lab heritage with excellent color accuracy and print sharpness. The editor is straightforward, and the results are consistently good.

Mpix doesn't have as many templates or creative options as Mixbook, but the print quality punches above its price point. It's a solid choice if you care more about how your photos look on paper than about having dozens of layout options. Uploads are manual, and the book format selection is more limited than Shutterfly or Mixbook.

Pros:

• Professional lab quality (Miller's Imaging)
• Excellent color accuracy
• Fair pricing for the quality

Cons:

• Fewer templates and layout options
• Smaller format selection
• Manual upload only

Mixbook alternatives comparison table

Frequently asked questions

Is Mixbook worth the price?

Mixbook offers one of the best photo book editors available, and the print quality is strong. It's worth the price if you enjoy designing layouts and want full creative control. But if you'd rather not spend hours arranging photos, a service like My Social Book can produce a great-looking book automatically in minutes.

Which Mixbook alternative has the best print quality?

Artifact Uprising has the highest print quality on this list, with thick paper and a premium matte finish. Mpix also delivers excellent results thanks to their professional lab background. For standard photo book printing, Mixbook, My Social Book, and Blurb are all strong.

Can I make a photo book without uploading photos manually?

Yes. My Social Book connects directly to Facebook, Instagram, and Dropbox. It automatically imports your photos and creates a chronological book with your original dates, captions, likes, and locations. Chatbooks also offers some automatic creation for smaller books.

What's the fastest way to create a photo book?

My Social Book is the fastest by a wide margin. Connect your social media, and you'll have a complete book preview in under three minutes. Chatbooks is also fast for small books. Every other service on this list requires manual uploading and layout work.

Which alternative is best for a wedding photo book?

Artifact Uprising is the top choice for wedding books due to its premium materials and minimalist design. Mixbook is a close second if you want more layout control. If your wedding photos are on social media, My Social Book can create a chronological record of the entire event with dates and captions preserved.

Want to see your social media turned into a book? Try My Social Book free -- your preview is ready in under 3 minutes, no uploading required.