I started a project a little while ago. I wanted to take photos of our whole family and have them printed for everyone.
Little did I know that corralling toddlers, kids, grandparents and adults would be the easy part of the project.
Because after I’d taken the photos, I went to have them printed… and realized I had NO IDEA where the best place to print photos was!
The Photo Print Criteria
I knew I wanted a few things from the prints:
- The ability to order online and have them shipped to my door
- Good value (reasonable price for the quality)
- Matte finish
- Enlargement options (beyond just the standard 4×6)
Top to Bottom: Costco, Blacks, Pikto
The Photo Prints We Ordered
I ordered from three different places to compare the cost and thee quality:
All three options above shipped directly to our home, offered matte finish, and had both 4×6 and enlargement options.
Photo Print Comparison
So, now down to the good stuff: which offered the best price and quality?
Top to Bottom: Costco, Blacks, Pikto
The Best Price: Costco
Not a huge surprise here, but Costco was the clear winner when it came to Cost. Their 4×6 prints start at just $0.19 each, which is the same as the Blacks print cost. However, they generally ship for free, and if you’re interested in enlargements they are significantly less expensive than the other print services.
Hot Tip: did you know you don’t have to be a Costco member to use their photo service? Anyone can!
The Best Quality: Pikto
When it comes to quality, Pikto was the clear winner. Their prints are printed on higher quality paper (thicker and fade resistant), the matte finish was a true matte with absolutely no glare, and the colours were more accurate to the original photos. They looked like professional prints!
The Best Overall Value: Costco
When it comes to printing everyday 4×6 prints of your kids playing in the lake or building a snowman, Costco is the clear winner for me. The prints are printed on Fujifilm photo paper (which FYI is the exact same paper Blacks uses), the price is the best, and the quality is completely reasonable. I’m giving these prints out to my family as gifts, and feel totally comfortable doing it!
However, if you’re looking to print art-quality images that you plan to have displayed in your house for years to come, then I would recommend spending the extra to print with Pikto. The fade-resistance and super fancy print quality are definitely worth it if you’re looking to invest in art for your home.
I hope that helps, and if you have experience with other photo print companies, drop your comments below or send me an email! I’d love to hear from you.
