Lulu is a print-on-demand and self-publishing platform that also prints photo books. The catch is the workflow. Lulu's photo book guide asks for a print-ready PDF of your interior, plus a cover file. You design the pages yourself in a tool like Canva, Affinity Publisher, or InDesign, then upload.

That suits designers and authors. It's a lot of work if you just want a book of last year's photos. This page covers seven alternatives that skip the PDF step, and it says plainly when Lulu is still the better pick.

What Lulu offers for photo books

Lulu prints photo books in wide, tall, and square formats. Its blog lists examples such as an 8.5 x 8.5 inch square hardcover and a 9 x 7 inch wide format. Interiors default to Premium Ink on 80# paper, in color or black and white. Lulu says it prices printing at cost, with no minimum order.

We couldn't find a current photo book price list in public sources. Lulu points buyers to its pricing calculator, which takes size, page count, and binding. Use that for a real number. Lulu's own pages also say you can build the cover with its BookWright tool or upload a cover PDF.

What to look for in a Lulu photo book alternative

• Design effort, Lulu expects a finished PDF. Check whether the alternative gives you templates, auto-layout, or a full editor.
• Photo sources, Where do your photos live? Phone, Facebook, Instagram, Dropbox? Importing straight from the source saves hours.
• Print quality and binding, Look for layflat pages, paper weight, and cover options if the book is a gift or keepsake.
• Price after deals, Most photo book sites run constant sales. Compare the cart total, not the sticker price.
• Selling or distribution, If you want to sell copies, that's a different need, and Lulu is built for it.

7 best Lulu photo book alternatives in 2026

1. My Social Book

Best for: a family photo book from photos already on Facebook, Instagram, or Dropbox

My Social Book is the opposite of the PDF route. You connect one source, and it builds the whole book for you. Posts run in chronological order, like a journal of the year, with dates, captions, likes, and locations kept. You see a full preview in minutes.

Books run from 25 to 500 pages, in a 21 x 25 cm format (about 8.3 x 9.8 inches), with a hard or soft cover. Before ordering you can preview every page, add or remove content, delete a post, and change the cover. You can't reorder sections or edit captions, because they come from the social network. Each book uses one source. Want both Facebook and Instagram? Make two books.

It's affordable, with frequent discounts of 40% or more, and shipping is extra. A PDF copy is an option. The service has 12 years in business and 700,000+ books printed. Trustpilot TrustScore 4.7 / 5 (2,716 reviews, October 2026). It isn't the right tool if your photos only sit on your phone, or if you want to sell the book.

Pros:

• No PDF, no layout work
• Imports from Facebook, Instagram (professional account), or Dropbox
• Keeps dates, captions, likes, and locations

Cons:

• One source per book
• No section reordering or caption editing
• Not built for selling books

See your book in minutes -- start from Facebook, Instagram, or Dropbox

2. Blurb

Best for: Lulu-style control with more photo-focused tools

Blurb is the closest match to Lulu. It's a print-on-demand platform with free BookWright design software, plus Adobe InDesign and Lightroom integrations. It prints photo books, magazines, and trade books, and it offers layflat photo books.

Blurb doesn't publish a simple starting price, and reviewers call it pricey next to the big retail sites. If you're a photographer who wants real layout control and a polished result, it's a fair step up from Lulu's photo line. If you hate layout work, it won't help.

Pros:

• Free BookWright software
• Layflat options
• Strong for portfolios and art books

Cons:

• Pricing varies and runs high
• Still a manual build

3. Mixbook

Best for: a designed look without writing a PDF

Mixbook has one of the most flexible online editors. You drag photos, add stickers and themes, and invite family to edit together. There's no file export to manage, because the editor sends the book straight to print.

Mixbook runs frequent sales, and one 2026 promotion we saw listed books from about $9.99. Treat that as a deal price, not the norm. Expect roughly $25 to $50 for a typical book. Building a long book by hand still takes hours.

Pros:

• Browser editor with themes
• Frequent discounts
• Shared editing

Cons:

• Manual upload
• Time-consuming for hundreds of photos

4. Shutterfly

Best for: quick gifts with lots of formats

Shutterfly's own pricing guide puts softcover books at around $25, with premium layflat and leather albums going past $150. It has auto-arrange options and many sizes. The editor pushes upsells, and sale pricing makes the real cost hard to read.

Pros:

• Many sizes and covers
• Auto-layout available
• Deals most weeks

Cons:

• Upsells in the editor
• Photos must be uploaded by hand

5. Chatbooks

Best for: small, automatic books from your phone

Chatbooks builds books from your phone photos and Instagram. Its Monthbooks subscription sends a small book on a schedule. A product page we found listed a 5x5 inch softcover at $10, a 5x7 softcover at $15, and a 5x7 hardcover at $24. The books are small, and customization is limited.

Pros:

• Very little effort
• Predictable pricing

Cons:

• Small formats
• Subscriptions can pile up

6. Mpix

Best for: photo-lab print quality

Mpix comes from a photo lab and shows it. Its Premium Softcover Photo Book starts at $24.99 and has layflat pages. Mpix has its own design tool, which one customer described as reasonably easy. Like Mixbook, it needs manual uploads. It's a good pick if print quality matters more than speed.

Pros:

• Layflat softcover
• Lab-grade printing

Cons:

• Manual build
• No social import

7. Artifact Uprising

Best for: premium gift books

Artifact Uprising uses thick matte paper and a clean, minimal design. Hardcovers start around $59 at list price. The editor is simple on purpose. Expect to pay more than at the mass-market sites, and expect to upload photos yourself.

Pros:

• Premium paper and finish
• Simple editor

Cons:

• Higher price
• Fewer templates

When Lulu is still the better choice

Stay with Lulu if you plan to sell your book. It supports global distribution to retailers, and printing is priced at cost with no minimum. It's also the right call if you already have a finished PDF from InDesign or Canva, or if you're printing a photography zine or a family history in a custom trim size. Retail photo sites can't match that. For a plain family album, though, a PDF is extra work you don't need.

Lulu photo book alternatives comparison table

Related photo book comparisons

• Blurb alternatives
• Mixbook alternatives
• Shutterfly alternatives
• Chatbooks alternatives
• Mpix alternatives
• Artifact Uprising alternatives
• Best photo book from Instagram

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a photo book on Lulu without designing it myself?

Lulu expects a print-ready PDF for the interior. You can build the cover with its BookWright tool or upload a cover PDF. If you don't want to design pages, a service with templates or auto-layout is easier.

Is Lulu good for photo books?

Yes, for the right job. It offers square, wide, and tall formats on 80# paper, with no minimum order. It's strongest for authors and photographers who design their own files or want to sell copies.

What's the easiest alternative to Lulu for family photos?

If your photos are on Facebook, Instagram, or Dropbox, My Social Book builds the book automatically. If they're on your phone, Chatbooks is the simplest. For hands-on design, try Mixbook.

How much does a Lulu photo book cost?

It depends on size, page count, and binding. We found no current public price list, so use Lulu's pricing calculator for an exact figure. Shipping is extra.

Can I sell a photo book through Lulu?

Yes. Lulu's calculator can price global distribution to retailers. That's the main reason to stay with Lulu over a family photo book site.

Facts about competitors checked on October 19, 2026. Prices and features change; confirm on each company's site before ordering.

Create your book from Facebook, Instagram, or Dropbox