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Shutterfly Christmas Cards Alternatives

By Christmas Cards  路  6 min read  路  Last updated October 2, 2026

Looking for Shutterfly Christmas cards alternatives usually means one of two things: the price per card, or the wait for something to arrive in the post. Christmas Cards skips both. A photo or a festive scene becomes a finished card in about 20 seconds, delivered as a sealed envelope at its own link.

Six options below, starting with the digital one and then running through Shutterfly itself and four other places people buy Christmas cards. Each entry says who it actually suits.

1

Christmas Cards

Best overall
Purpose-built digital Christmas card builder

Best for: Anyone who wants a card that looks beautiful and arrives instantly, with no printing or posting.

Built only for Christmas cards: photo mode, illustrated scenes, twelve styles
Ready in about 20 seconds, no design skills needed
One-time price from $9.97, free to build and preview
Opens as a sealed envelope at its own link, downloadable too
No subscription option, so there is no plan to join if that is what you prefer
馃巺Create Free Card
2

Shutterfly

Mass-market photo cards and gifts

Best for: A big family print run with plenty of templates.

Very large template library
Frequent discounts on volume orders
Print only
Constant upsells
3

CVS

Same-day photo cards in store

Best for: A card you need in your hand this afternoon.

Same-day collection
A store on most high streets
Print only
Limited designs
4

Staples

Print services and boxed cards

Best for: An office card run alongside other printing.

Handles large print jobs well
Collection from a local branch
Print only
Business-oriented
5

Target

Boxed and photo cards

Best for: Picking up boxed cards on a normal shop.

Decent boxed sets at a fair price
Photo cards printed in store
Print only
In-store trip
6

Etsy

Independent card designers

Best for: A design nobody else on your list will send.

Original work from independent makers
Many sellers offer a digital file
Print or file delivery
No experience layer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best alternative to Shutterfly Christmas cards?
Christmas Cards ranks first here. A photo or a festive scene becomes a finished card in about 20 seconds, delivered as a link that opens like a sealed envelope, with nothing printed or posted.
Do digital Christmas cards cost less than printed ones?
Usually yes, because there is no paper, no postage and no minimum order. Christmas Cards is free to build and preview, and a card is paid for once rather than on a plan.
Does the person receiving the card need an app?
No. The card opens in any browser from a single link, with no app to install and no account to create on their side.
How quickly can a card on this list be sent?
Printed options on this list need a delivery window, so they depend on the postal deadline. A Christmas Cards card is ready in about 20 seconds and sends immediately, which is what keeps it usable late in December.

Ready to make your own card?

馃巺 Create Free Card

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