The digitization of all of our content from news to music hasn’t necessarily “destroyed” physical media as much as it’s made us a bit more precious about it. We reserve space for physical copies for those things that really, truly matter to us. And that’s especially true of photographs, which are one of the most time-honored ways to memorialize special moments.
Digital advancements have improved our relationship with physical media: You can now take advantage of your smartphone’s hi-res photo capabilities to see in real time which moments will definitely find their way onto your mantlepiece. Digital Wi-Fi picture frames are an alternative option to printing, and with improved HD screens, they are worthy of showcasing.
Not only has the technology advanced, but you have multiple options at your disposal when it comes to getting high-quality photo prints quickly and inexpensively. Simply put, click and upload photos, and you can get prints for literal pennies from vendors as big as Target and Costco to smaller, boutique online outlets that give you great-looking photos without charging ridiculous fees.
If you are looking for cheap photo prints, the world is your oyster. Here are some of the best places to go to ensure your treasured memories are treated appropriately.
Snapfish Photo Prints
Snapfish is one of our favorite digital photo printing services, letting you easily print pictures along with offering a huge variety of customized printing options, including canvases, photo books, mugs, greeting cards, puzzles, invitations and so much more! Whether you’re decorating your home, creating family keepsakes or looking for the perfect holiday gift, Snapfish offers an affordable and unique way to bring your favorite memories to life.
Lowest price per print: Their 4×6 photos are 10 cents each.
What else you need to know: Snapfish is one of the bigger names among the more boutique online photo printing services, having been around since 1999. They offer a broad range of creative options and home décor with a helpful Ideas section, where you can find themed gift suggestions, such as graduation gifts or gifts for kids.
Savings tip: Snapfish offers many coupons, deals and discounts throughout the year and around major holidays. Check out the DEALS tab on their website to see what promotions are available now.
Shutterfly Photo Prints
Lowest price per print: 19 cents for 4×6 prints, and we’ve seen prices as low as 14 cents per print during promotions.
What else you need to know: Founded in 1999, Shutterfly has quickly established itself as a leader in turning digital photography not only into prints, but into wall art, books, mugs, calendars and just about anything else. Although you are required to create an account to make purchases (you only need to submit an email address and create a password, or log in using your Facebook account), it’s actually helpful, as Shutterfly lets you manage your projects and orders via your own personal dashboard. It makes reordering much less of a headache. Their prices are extremely good, even before discounting, with 4×6 and 5×7 prints available for less than a dollar a print, and even large-size (20×30) prints only around $24.
Savings tip: Shutterfly is constantly offering deals, usually involving free shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount. Another common promotion is percentage-off sales that can be sitewide or specific to certain item categories. Most promotions come in the form of discount codes.
Costco Photo Prints
Lowest price per print: Costco and Shutterfly have partnered to offer a special discount for Costco members: 51% off Shutterfly regular-priced orders. For example, 4×6 prints cost 18 cents per print, so your cost would be about 9 cents per photo.
What else you need to know: The enormous chain of members-only big-box stores is well known as the place where you can find anything and everything, but you may not know that they also partner with Shutterfly to offer discount photo prints. While the 51% discount is impressive, you should know that other Shutterfly sales and promotions will not be applied on top of the Costco discount. Your discount is taken off before the cost of tax and shipping (if applicable).
Savings Tip: You must be a Costco member to use the Costco Shutterfly discount. Costco members will receive 51% off regular-priced Shutterfly orders, plus free shipping on orders over $49. You will need to create a Shutterfly account and under account settings link your Costco membership number account to receive your reduced cost for services.
Walmart Photo Prints
Lowest price per print: A single 4×6 print is 14 cents.
What else you need to know: Walmart is one of America’s favorite big-box stores because of their selection and everyday low prices. They also offer a competitively priced photo printing service. You can pick your order up in-store in one hour, pick up same-day or have your prints shipped to your home within three to five days. Walmart Photo offers a wide range of fun printing variations, from canvas prints to photo mugs to even socks or wrapping paper.
Savings tip: One-hour photo prints can cost more depending on print size. If you are looking for 4×6, the cost is the same, but for non-standard sizes you will pay more per print for the one-hour service. In addition, you can get free shipping if your order is over $35. Walmart also offers discounts and coupons (save those receipts), so be sure to check what promotions they are currently offering to help save.
CVS Photo Prints
Lowest price per print: CVS offers 4×6 prints for 42 cents a print.
What else you need to know: CVS has been in the photo printing game since the days when you had to drop off rolls of film and make a wish that your vacation photos would eventually come out. They offer an array of printing options as well as fun, creative expressions such as photo books and wall tiles. CVS also allows for both in-store pickup and delivery of items.
Savings tip: Like its competitor, Walmart, CVS is constantly offering discounts on printing and products. CVS even has a Shop Deals section in their top nav to make it easy, and they have free, same-day pickup on most basic orders.
Amazon Prints
Lowest price per print: For as little as 17 cents, you can get a glossy or matte 4×6 print.
What else you need to know: It’s probably not surprising that Amazon has integrated its Amazon Photo digital image storage service into Amazon Prints, which offers standard prints, large-size prints, photo cards, calendars and more. Easy to upload and even edit photos before you place your order, Amazon has tried to make the process as seamless as possible.
Savings tip: If you’re an Amazon Prime member, not only do you get free delivery on your order, but you get 5 GB of free image storage on Amazon Photo.
Sam’s Club
Lowest price per print: A basic 4×6 matte print is a mere 10 cents.
What else you need to know: Like Costco, Sam’s Club is also a membership-based big box that offers a wide range of products from groceries to electronics. And, like Costco, they also have a photo printing service that requires you to be a member to take advantage of. Membership options are either $45 a year (which does not come with perks like free shipping or cash rewards) to $100 a year (which comes with all the perks). Sam’s Club does let you edit photos (you can even make them black and white or sepia toned) and select reasonably priced frames starting at around $27.
Savings tip: Check out the Offers section of their top nav bar to access a rotating page of deals and special offers. This March they offered 15% off all canvas prints.
EZ Prints (formerly Target Photo)
Lowest price per print: EZ Print offers 4×6 glossy or matte at $0.39 a print. However, you can frequently find EZ promo codes to reduce the cost of your order.
What else you need to know: As of Jan. 31, 2023, Target no longer offers Target Photo printing — they have partnered with EZ Print and will allow you to merge your old Target photo account and photos.
Savings tip: When you register with EZ Print, you will receive a 70% off coupon in your inbox to apply to your first order and a coupon for a FREE 11 oz. photo mug (just pay shipping). EZ Print offers great deals and promotions. Be sure to check deals in their top nav bar for promo codes.
Walgreens
Lowest price per print: Their smaller-sized prints (as small as 4×4) start at 44 cents.
What else you need to know: From free same-day pickup to a near-constant stream of seasonal and everyday deals (like some others, they gather their special offers under an easy-to-navigate Deals menu), Walgreens is also one of those stores that has been in the photo printing game for a long time and has successfully made the pivot to digital.
Savings tip: If you live near a Walgreens (and odds are, you do), having items like photo mugs and other custom gifts shipped to the store for pickup will save you money, as they don’t charge you for the shipping.
Kulapix
Lowest price per print: Kulapix offers FujiFilm prints for just 8 cents a print.
What else you need to know: A smaller boutique photo printing service, Kulapix is aimed at those looking to do more artistic, creative things with their photography beyond just holiday snaps. They offer affordable FujiFilm prints, calendars, canvas printing, photo books, posters and blankets.
Savings tip: Check Kulapix website top nav bar to access a rotating page of deals and special offers.
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