Shutterfly has been the go-to photo book service for years. It's massive, it runs constant promotions, and it offers just about every print product you can think of. But that size comes with trade-offs. The editor can feel clunky, the upsells are aggressive, and many users find the sheer number of options overwhelming rather than helpful.

If you've been searching for Shutterfly alternatives, you're not alone. Maybe you want something faster, something that pulls photos directly from your social media, or something with a cleaner editing experience. Whatever your reason, there are strong options out there. We tested seven of the best photo book makers available in 2026 and compared them on price, ease of use, photo sources, and final print quality.

What to look for in a Shutterfly alternative

Before jumping into the list, here's what actually matters when picking a photo book service:

• Photo import options -- Can you pull photos from social media, cloud storage, or only upload manually? This makes a huge difference if you have thousands of photos scattered across platforms.
• Ease of use -- How long does it take to go from zero to a finished book? Some services auto-generate layouts. Others require you to drag every photo into place yourself.
• Print quality and format -- Look at paper options (glossy vs. matte), cover types (hardcover vs. softcover), and size. These determine how your book looks and feels in your hands.
• Pricing transparency -- Shutterfly's "50% off" sales happen so often that the regular price is basically fictional. Look for services with straightforward pricing.
• Customization level -- Do you want full creative control, or would you rather have the service handle the layout for you?

7 best Shutterfly alternatives in 2026

1. My Social Book

Best for: turning social media into a photo book without any effort

My Social Book takes a completely different approach to photo books. Instead of uploading photos and arranging them manually, you connect your Facebook, Instagram, or Dropbox account, and the service automatically creates a book from your content. The whole process takes under three minutes. Your photos are organized chronologically with their original dates, captions, likes, and locations preserved -- so you get a genuine timeline of your life, not just a collection of pictures.

Books range from 25 to 450 pages in a 21 cm x 25 cm format, with hardcover and softcover options in glossy or matte finishes. The editor lets you preview every page, add or remove posts, and customize your cover before ordering. You won't get pixel-level layout control like some competitors, but that's the point. My Social Book is built for people who want a beautiful book without spending hours in an editor.

With a 4.7 Trustpilot rating, 12 years in business, and over 700,000 books printed, it's a proven service. If your photos live on social media, this is the fastest way to get them into print.

Pros:

• Automatic book creation from Facebook, Instagram, or Dropbox
• Preserves dates, captions, likes, and locations
• No uploading or manual layout needed
• Books ready to preview in under 3 minutes

Cons:

• Less manual layout control than drag-and-drop editors
• Works best with social media content (not camera roll photos)

Try My Social Book free -- see your book in minutes

2. Mixbook

Best for: full creative control over your layout

Mixbook offers one of the best drag-and-drop editors in the photo book space. You can move, resize, and layer photos exactly where you want them. It's the closest thing to designing a book in a professional layout app, but without the learning curve. Templates are modern and well-designed, and you can tweak every element.

The downside is time. Building a Mixbook requires uploading all your photos manually and placing them page by page. If you have hundreds of photos from a year of family life, expect to spend a few hours. But if design control matters to you, Mixbook delivers.

Pros:

• Best-in-class drag-and-drop editor
• High-quality paper and print
• Modern templates

Cons:

• Manual upload only -- no social media import
• Time-consuming for large books

3. Chatbooks

Best for: small, affordable books on a subscription

Chatbooks was originally built around Instagram and took a "set it and forget it" approach with its subscription model. You connect your account, and Chatbooks automatically sends you a small photo book when you hit a certain number of photos. The format is compact (roughly 6x6 inches), the price is low, and the process is almost entirely hands-off.

It's great for keeping up with everyday moments without falling behind. But the books are small, customization is minimal, and the print quality is good but not premium. If you want a substantial book that covers a full year of memories, you'll outgrow Chatbooks quickly.

Pros:

• Very affordable (books start around $10-15)
• Subscription model keeps you up to date
• Simple, fast process

Cons:

• Small format only
• Minimal customization
• Not ideal for large photo collections

4. Artifact Uprising

Best for: premium quality and minimalist design

Artifact Uprising is the luxury option. Their books use thick, high-quality paper with a matte finish that feels distinctly premium. The design aesthetic is clean and modern with lots of white space. If you're making a wedding album or a special gift book and want it to look and feel expensive, Artifact Uprising is hard to beat.

The trade-off is price. Artifact Uprising books cost significantly more than other options on this list. The editor is decent but not as flexible as Mixbook's, and you'll need to upload all photos manually. It's a great choice for special occasions, but probably not for your yearly family yearbook.

Pros:

• Exceptional print and paper quality
• Beautiful minimalist templates
• Lay-flat binding available

Cons:

• Most expensive option on this list
• Manual upload only
• Fewer templates than competitors

5. Snapfish

Best for: budget-friendly photo books with frequent deals

Snapfish competes directly with Shutterfly on price and selection. You'll find a wide range of sizes, cover types, and templates. The editor is straightforward, and Snapfish runs aggressive discounts that can bring prices down to just a few dollars for a basic book. It's a solid no-frills option when budget is your top priority.

The editing experience is functional but dated compared to newer services. Photo quality is decent for the price, though it doesn't match premium options like Artifact Uprising or Mixbook. Like Shutterfly, Snapfish relies entirely on manual photo uploads.

Pros:

• Very competitive pricing with frequent sales
• Wide range of sizes and formats
• Simple editor

Cons:

• Editor feels outdated
• Print quality is average
• Manual upload only

6. Picaboo

Best for: a straightforward alternative with good templates

Picaboo has been around for a while and offers a clean, no-nonsense photo book experience. Their templates are well-organized by occasion (travel, baby, wedding), and the editor strikes a good balance between simplicity and control. Print quality is solid, and they offer both hardcover and softcover options.

Picaboo doesn't have the name recognition of Shutterfly or Snapfish, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The service is less cluttered with upsells, and the pricing is more transparent. It's a reliable middle-of-the-road choice.

Pros:

• Well-organized templates by occasion
• Clean editing experience
• Transparent pricing

Cons:

• Smaller user community
• Fewer size options than Shutterfly
• Manual upload only

7. Blurb

Best for: professional-grade books and self-publishing

Blurb sits at the intersection of photo books and self-publishing. Their desktop software (BookWright) gives you serious layout control, and they offer formats you won't find elsewhere, including trade books, magazines, and even ebooks. If you want to create something that looks like it came from a publisher, Blurb can do it.

The learning curve is steeper than any other service on this list. Blurb is overkill for a simple family yearbook. But for photographers, travelers writing a coffee table book, or anyone with a creative project that needs professional output, it's an excellent tool.

Pros:

• Professional layout software (BookWright)
• Multiple book formats including trade books
• Sell your book through Blurb's marketplace or Amazon

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Not designed for quick personal photo books
• More expensive for standard photo books

Shutterfly alternatives comparison table

Frequently asked questions

Is Shutterfly still a good option in 2026?

Shutterfly is still a major player with a huge product range and frequent sales. But the editing experience hasn't kept pace with newer competitors, and the constant upselling frustrates many users. Whether it's "good" depends on what you need. For simple, cheap prints with coupons, it works fine. For a better editing experience or social media integration, the alternatives above are worth exploring.

Which Shutterfly alternative is easiest to use?

My Social Book is the fastest option by far. You connect your social media account and get a finished book in under three minutes with no uploading or layout work. Chatbooks is also very simple for small-format books. If you want a traditional editor that's easy to learn, Mixbook has the most intuitive drag-and-drop interface.

Can I make a photo book from my Facebook or Instagram photos?

Yes. My Social Book connects directly to Facebook and Instagram (via a Professional Account) and automatically pulls your photos, dates, captions, likes, and locations into a chronological book. Most other services on this list require you to download photos from social media first and upload them manually.

What's the cheapest Shutterfly alternative?

Chatbooks and Snapfish tend to have the lowest starting prices, especially with ongoing promotions. However, cheap doesn't always mean good value. A $10 Chatbooks book is tiny. For a full-size book with quality printing, My Social Book and Mixbook offer competitive pricing -- especially when you factor in the time you save.

Do any Shutterfly alternatives offer auto-created photo books?

My Social Book and Chatbooks both offer some level of automatic book creation. My Social Book's auto-layout is the most comprehensive. It organizes your entire social media history chronologically and generates a full book with metadata intact. Chatbooks does this on a smaller scale with its subscription model. Every other service on this list requires manual photo selection and layout.

Ready to turn your social media into a real book? Create your free preview with My Social Book and see how your photos look in print -- it takes less than 3 minutes.