My Mixbook Review

Last Updated: March 29th, 2017

Mixbook is an online business that allows users to upload their photos to create photo books for a variety of uses. Similar to print on demand services (POD) the key to successfully creating a personalized book is in choosing the photos for your publication and being able to adjust the design of the book to suit your photos and imagination. It also allows you the opportunity to work with friends and relatives in creating the perfect publication for a variety of uses.

Customers can select from a host of designs for their publications or use the optional online program to start with nothing and create their own designs for the covers and the inside pages. Customize layouts, rotate, flip and zoom on photos make each customer’s design truly unique. Collaboration allows more than one person to help in the project’s creation. They can sign onto the project from their own computer and add their photos and other information to help complete a personalized project.

Is Mixbook Worth It? Key Features and Benefits

The site is perfect for:
• Photo Books: completely customizable that offers professional designs enabling you to create photo books for weddings, vacations, new babies, school activities and sports teams;
• Calendars: Adding your own personal events and photographs is easy with Mixbook’s calendar creator;
• Stationery and invitations: One of the first online sites that allows customers to create professionally designed stationery;
• Yearbooks: Just like many schools use annual publications to highlight achievements, families, businesses and organizations can create their own annual yearbooks;
• Keepsake gifts: Books to commemorate birthdays, anniversaries or retirements can be quickly and easily created on one place.

Mixbook boasts that over 90 percent of its customers come from referrals, mainly due to its customer service. The powerful and user friendly editor gives the user complete control over the project and how it will be put together along with a preview of the finished project before it is printed.

Cons – Disadvantages

While Mixbook focuses on quality printing, once you have uploaded and completed a project, you will have two hours to make any changes or edits. After that time the project will go to the printing department. You do have the option to preview your project once it is complete before printing, but if you have any questions about it your only contact is through online live chat. Before submitting your final project you will need to double-check everything to ensure it is how you want it.
There are very few brick and mortar publishers that can meet the demands of individuals in creating their own photo books, mainly due to many being set up for print books. Additionally most of in-store book publishers are interested in printing in multiples of hundreds if not thousands of books instead of one or a few for personalized use.

How Does Mixbook Compare to Similar Merchants?

One of Mixbook’s key competitors is Snapfish that also provides POD services. Snapfish books are available in many sizes with the most popular being its 8” x 11” photo book. It is better known as a photo sharing site where people can upload their photos to the site and share the address with friends and family who can look at your collection online. From there you, or those with whom you shared the site’s address can order prints, or other offerings and have them delivered directly to their home. Snapfish offers print on demand services for photo books, postcards and calendars as well as home decorative items such as framed prints and mugs that include the customer’s choice of photos.
Additionally, since Snapfish is most often used for photo sharing and printing, the price of their photo books typically run between 15% and 20% higher, although it does offer more cover choices. Cover materials include custom hardcover, linen hardcover, leather hardcover and hardcovers with a dust jacket.

What is the Cost?

Prices for Mixbook photo books vary by size. A classic square book, 8.5” x 8.5” start at $12.99. Landscape photo books are available in three sizes: 8” x 6”; 11” by 8.5” and 14” x 11” beginning at $11.99. Portrait size books, 8.5” x 11” start at $19.99 and 6” x 4” mini books begin at $6.99.

Book production will take between three and five days not counting shipping time which will depend on your choice of service. Shipping costs will also depend on the type and number of boos ordered. For example, mini landscape softcover books will cost $4.99 shipping for the first book and $1.49 for each additional book for budget shipping. Ground shipping will cost $8.99 for the first book and $1.99 for each additional book. For priority service the first book will cost $12.99 and for express service will be $24.99.

What Others Are Saying

Many users have nothing but good things to say about the service, such as the comments by:
Linda R. who stated “Mixbook is the BEST photo book program I’ve tried and I tried several. I’ve already told everyone I know about Mixbook.”

Megan K. added “Mixbook was very user friendly and it let me do a lot of things other sites wouldn’t. There were a lot of options. I am very pleased with my book and the delivery was fast. Thank you!”
Sources: Mixbook.com and Snapfish.com.