With so many options for printing photos these days, it can be tough to decide which company to use. Two popular services are FractureMe and Shutterfly. Both allow you to upload digital photos and turn them into prints, books, cards, and more.
But they have some key differences in their offerings.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | FractureMe | Shutterfly |
| Print Types | Glass prints, photo books, cards | Standard prints, canvas, acrylic, metal, photo books, cards |
| Print Sizes | Small to large prints up to 20″x30″ | Wide range of sizes from wallets to oversized enlargements |
| Specialty Products | Glass coasters, cutting boards, ornaments | Wall décor, blankets, puzzles, phone cases, home decor, apparel |
| Print Quality | Vibrant colors and clarity from glass material | Excellent quality prints in glossy and matte finishes |
| Pricing | Higher base prices, few sales | Lower starting prices, frequent sales and promos |
| Shipping | From $9.99, free over $100 order | Free over $49 order |
| Mobile Apps | iOS and Android app | iOS and Android app |
| Editing Tools | Basic editing capabilities | Robust editing tools |
| Customer Service | Helpful support by phone, chat, email | Responsive customer support |
Overview Of FractureMe
FractureMe is known for its glass photo printing. The company uses a patented process to print your photos directly onto glass. The glass is 0.1 inches thick and has rounded edges.
Some key things to know about FractureMe:
- High-quality glass prints – The glass printing process produces vivid colors and clarity. The finished products have an elegant, modern look.
- Custom sizing – You can customize the size of your glass print from a small 2″x2″ mini print up to a large 20″x30″ print. Panoramic sizes are also available.
- Photo gifts – In addition to glass prints, FractureMe offers glass photo coasters, cutting boards, and ornaments.
- Photo books – You can design a customizable photo book with a glossy or matte cover in soft or hardcover. The lay-flat binding allows pages to lay completely flat.
- Reasonable prices – Considering the high-quality materials, FractureMe’s prices are quite reasonable. For example, an 8″x10″ glass print starts at $39.
- MinimalistFrames options – For an additional cost, you can opt for a MinimaListFrame for your glass print, available in different colors.
- Mobile app – FractureMe has a mobile app so you can order prints and gifts easily on the go.
Overview Of Shutterfly
Shutterfly is one of the most well-known photo printing services. The company offers a wide selection of personalized photo gifts and specialty prints.
Here are some key things about Shutterfly:
- Variety of print options – From standard prints and enlargements to canvas, metal, and acrylic prints. Prints come in matte or glossy finishes.
- Unique specialty prints – You can turn photos into puzzles, blankets, pillows, towels, and more. Shutterfly also offers printed phone cases.
- Designer photo books – The photo books come in different themes with plenty of customization options for the layouts and backgrounds.
- Printed cards – Shutterfly has extensive options for printed greeting cards, thank you cards, announcements, and invitations for all occasions.
- Business printing services – Shutterfly for Business offers promotional products like custom banners, branded merchandise, and event signs.
- Integrations – The service integrates with Facebook, Instagram, Amazon Photos, and Google Photos for easy uploading.
- Coupons – Shutterfly regularly offers discounts and promo codes, so you can often save on your order.
Print Quality
When it comes to print quality, both services produce excellent quality prints from your digital photos. Here’s how they compare:
- Colors – FractureMe may have a slight edge, as the glass material allows for vivid, saturated colors. The glossy and matte paper options from Shutterfly also produce accurate, vibrant colors.
- Sharpness – Again, FractureMe’s glass can make details look incredibly clear and crisp. But Shutterfly’s prints also deliver sharp, high-resolution images.
- Brightness – Thanks to advanced printing techniques, both companies are able to achieve bright, luminous prints. Darker details do not get lost.
- Durability – Obviously, glass prints will better withstand wear and tear. But Shutterfly offers protective finishes like a UV coating for added durability of paper prints.
- Overall – While glass produces stunning effects, you really can’t go wrong with either company if you want bright, accurate, long-lasting prints.
Print Products
Both FractureMe and Shutterfly allow you to turn your photos into not just standard prints, but unique products. Here is how their offerings compare:
FractureMe Products
- Glass prints
- Glass coasters
- Glass cutting boards
- Glass ornaments
- Photo books
- Cards
- Calendars
Shutterfly Products
- Standard photo prints
- Enlargements (oversized prints)
- Canvas prints
- Acrylic prints
- Metal prints
- Photo books
- Cards (all occasions)
- Calendars
- Wall décor (puzzles, blankets, tapestries, etc.)
- Phone cases
- Home décor (pillows, mugs, towels, etc.)
- Apparel (t-shirts, hats, etc.)
As you can see, Shutterfly has a much more extensive assortment of unique photo gift products you can create. FractureMe focuses specifically on printed glassware and more traditional photo gifts like books.
Also Read: Is Zazzle Better Than Shutterfly?
Pricing
FractureMe and Shutterfly have some differences when it comes to their pricing models:
- Base pricing – FractureMe has higher base prices, likely owing to the higher cost of glass and their specialized printing process. Shutterfly has lower starting prices across the board for prints and photo gifts.
- Sales – Shutterfly is more likely to offer sitewide sales, promo codes, and special deals that discount your total order. FractureMe rarely has major sales.
- Volume discounts – Shutterfly gives you discounted pricing as you order higher volumes, such as multiple prints of the same photo. FractureMe’s pricing is flat.
- Shipping – Shutterfly offers free shipping on orders over $49. FractureMe charges for shipping on most orders under $100.
- Memberships – Shutterfly has a yearly membership you can purchase to receive unlimited free prints. FractureMe does not offer a membership program.
Overall, Shutterfly is the more budget-friendly option – especially if you catch a good sale or take advantage of volume print discounts.
Also Read: Choose Between Mixbook And Artifact Uprising.
Ease Of Use
Both services aim to provide user-friendly ordering processes:
- Upload process – Uploading your photos is quick and simple on both sites. They integrate with cloud storage services for easier uploading.
- Editing tools – You can easily rotate, crop, and edit photos after uploading. Shutterfly has more robust editing capabilities.
- Ordering process – The interface for selecting prints and designs is smooth and intuitive for both. You can see previews of products before ordering.
- Personalization options – FractureMe and Shutterfly both make it easy to customize products with text, layouts, and more.
- Mobile apps – Their iOS and Android apps provide great convenience for ordering on your phone.
Overall, Shutterfly may have a slight advantage when it comes to the depth of editing tools and extensive personalization options. But both sites offer user-friendly, streamlined ordering processes.
Delivery
You can expect fast shipping and secure packaging from both brands:
- Delivery time – Standard prints ship within 1-2 business days from most labs. Photo gifts take 2-7 days to produce before shipping.
- Packaging – Your order is carefully packaged to prevent damage. FractureMe ships glass in thick cardboard print boxes, while Shutterfly uses cardboard and paper padding.
- Shipping partners – The companies use major couriers like FedEx and UPS for reliable, trackable shipping.
- International shipping – FractureMe and Shutterfly both ship products internationally to over 100 countries. Shipping costs are higher.
Overall, most customers praise the fast processing and shipping times from both brands. Products arrive securely packaged and undamaged.
Customer Service
You can expect responsive, helpful customer service:
- Customer feedback – Both companies have mostly positive feedback from thousands of reviewers about their customer service when issues arise.
- Support channels – You can get assistance via phone, email, and online chat on both websites.
- Return policy – Shutterfly and FractureMe back their products with hassle-free return policies. If you’re unsatisfied with an order, you can return it for a full refund or replacement.
- Problem resolution – Issues like print defects or damaged products are addressed promptly. The companies reprint and reship orders if needed.
Between their responsive support teams and generous return policies, you can shop with confidence and get help if needed.
Also Read: Choose Between PhotoAffections And Shutterfly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FractureMe glass prints start at around $39 for a small 8″x8″ print, and go up in price depending on the size. For example, an 11″x14″ print is $69. Panoramic glass prints are also available starting at $59. Add-on options like float mounting, etching, and wood frames raise the price.
Yes, as glass prints, Fracture photos can break if dropped or impacted. FractureMe claims the glass is over 5 times stronger than a typical picture frame. But the glass can still crack or shatter. Each print comes with a 1-year warranty in case of breakage, after which you’d need to re-order the print.
Some competitors that offer similar glass photo printing are Glassography, LuciteLux, and Bay Photo. Prinsta also prints directly on glass. But none have gained as much popularity as FractureMe.
Snapfish and Shutterfly offer very similar services – users can create prints, photo books, cards, calendars, and gifts with both brands. Snapfish runs more frequent promotions and sales, making its pricing a little more affordable overall.
But the quality from Shutterfly is superior according to most reviews. Shutterfly also has better design software, editing tools, and a larger assortment of specialty photo gifts. So, while Snapfish wins on cost-savings, Shutterfly is considered a bit better for quality and options.
Also watch the video about Shutterfly!
The Verdict
For its wider range of prints and gifts, lower prices, and stellar quality, Shutterfly is my top pick for most people’s photo printing needs. The variety of unique photo products you can easily make through the site is unmatched. And even with the sales and promos, the print quality still impresses customers.
Shutterfly is ideal for both everyday photo prints as well as making personalized photo gifts for loved ones.
However, for those who want something more exclusive and eye-catching to display images with, FractureMe’s glass prints take the cake. Nothing can quite replicate the brilliant, crisp images under the glass. So, if budget isn’t a concern and you want premium, long-lasting glass photo art, go with FractureMe. Their glass gifts like coasters and ornaments are also ideal if you want something a little more upscale.
At the end of the day, you can’t make a bad choice between these two awesome photo printing services. Both will turn your most precious memories and images into lasting printed treasures.