Amazon Prints vs
Walgreens Photo Local Pickup Review
We're crazy about printed photos!
We ordered the same 10 photos from Amazon Prints and Walgreens Photo, scanned them all in, and created this guide just for you.
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a printed photo of a appy grandpa smiling in front of a birthday cake. The cake has numbered wax numbers in it on the right, facing the grandpa reading, “94.” The cake is square with white and green frosting with 3 other candles on the left (his right) side of the cake. The old man has a grey, well-manicured beard and is wearing glasses (they’re highly magnified with his eyes slightly enlarged) and smiling bright. He’s holding up one hand in celebration. He’s wearing a multicolored flower lei and a blue shirt. Behind him is a woman with a huge smile, actively laughing, wearing a flowered tank top and a man, in his 30s, also smiling and with a beard wearing a grey long sleeve shirt and green pants. They’re all standing in what appears to be a living room and having a wonderful time.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_birthday.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a printed photo of a appy grandpa smiling in front of a birthday cake. The cake has numbered wax numbers in it on the right, facing the grandpa reading, “94.” The cake is square with white and green frosting with 3 other candles on the left (his right) side of the cake. The old man has a grey, well-manicured beard and is wearing glasses (they’re highly magnified with his eyes slightly enlarged) and smiling bright. He’s holding up one hand in celebration. He’s wearing a multicolored flower lei and a blue shirt. Behind him is a woman with a huge smile, actively laughing, wearing a flowered tank top and a man, in his 30s, also smiling and with a beard wearing a grey long sleeve shirt and green pants. They’re all standing in what appears to be a living room and having a wonderful time.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_birthday.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a photo: Beautiful icelandic landscape featuring a couple walking towards the right, centered in the photo. She’s leading him and they’re holding hands and she looks back and gazes into his eyes. She’s wearing black pants, leather boots, and a long navy sweater with a red shirt under it. He’s wearing a leather jacket, grey shirt, blue pants, and casual green leather sneakers. There’s stark contrast between the rocky and green mossy area they’re walking on and the hill behind them which has a white, almost-snowy overlay. The hillside is half covered in snow.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_iceland.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a photo: Beautiful icelandic landscape featuring a couple walking towards the right, centered in the photo. She’s leading him and they’re holding hands and she looks back and gazes into his eyes. She’s wearing black pants, leather boots, and a long navy sweater with a red shirt under it. He’s wearing a leather jacket, grey shirt, blue pants, and casual green leather sneakers. There’s stark contrast between the rocky and green mossy area they’re walking on and the hill behind them which has a white, almost-snowy overlay. The hillside is half covered in snow.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_iceland.jpeg)
Or see the full review
Pricing, shipping, paper quality, and other juicy details
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When we tested | August 2020 | August 2020 |
Summary | Amazon is one of the best deals for photo prints, especially for Prime members who get free shipping with no order minimum. Amazon sent our 10 test photos by UPS 2nd Day Air, the quickest delivery in all our tests. However, the quality isn't as good as some of our other tests like Walmart local and Nations. | While Walgreens pick up is consistently reliable, we recommend ordering online for higher quality prints. Walgreens local labs use DNP Photo Paper and what's known in the industry as "Dye-sublimation" printing. This type of printing is typically used for photo booths and events. While the prints are good quality, you'll get a much higher quality by ordering from Walgreens online as they use Fuju paper and ink for web orders. For online ordering, we suggest Walgreens over CVS. |
Print quality (local pickup) | Online only |
10 Photos: $2.30 $0.23 each |
Print quality (online orders) |
10 Photos: $1.20 $0.12 4x6s + $0.00 to ship 5-6 days for Prime members 7-9 days without Prime |
10 Photos: $4.29 $0.23 4x6s + $1.99 to ship 7-9 days |
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Local pickup available | No | Yes |
Cost per 4x6 print (local pickup) | Online only | $0.23 |
Formats available for pickup | Online only | 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 4x5.3, 4x4, 8x8 |
Finishes available for pickup | Online only | Glossy |
Paper type for pickup orders | Online only |
DNP Premium Digital Paper 0.2399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375 millimeters thick |
Pickup speed | Online only | Same day |
Online only | Order pickup | |
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Online ordering available | Yes | Yes, see review |
Cost per 4x6 print (online) | $0.12 | $0.23 |
Formats available online | 4x5.3, 4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 11x4, x12x18, 16x20, 20x30 |
4x6, 5x7, 8x10, 4x5.3, 4x4, 8x8 |
Finishes available online | Glossy,matte,lustre,pearl | Matte,glossy |
Paper type for online orders |
Fujicolor Crystal Archive 22 millimeters thick |
Fujicolor Crystal Archive 22 millimeters thick |
Cheapest shipping option |
Free shipping for Prime members $4.00 without Prime |
$1.99 To ship 10 photos
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Delivery speed for cheapest shipping option |
5-6 days for Prime members 7-9 days without Prime |
7-9 days |
Order online | Order online |
Amazon Prints vs
Walgreens Photo
print quality comparison
On 2/13/20, we ordered the following photos from Amazon Prints. On 2/13/20, we ordered the same photos from Walgreens Photo.
We scanned in both sets of prints without color correction.
Here's how Amazon Prints compares to Walgreens Photo.
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a printed photo of a appy grandpa smiling in front of a birthday cake. The cake has numbered wax numbers in it on the right, facing the grandpa reading, “94.” The cake is square with white and green frosting with 3 other candles on the left (his right) side of the cake. The old man has a grey, well-manicured beard and is wearing glasses (they’re highly magnified with his eyes slightly enlarged) and smiling bright. He’s holding up one hand in celebration. He’s wearing a multicolored flower lei and a blue shirt. Behind him is a woman with a huge smile, actively laughing, wearing a flowered tank top and a man, in his 30s, also smiling and with a beard wearing a grey long sleeve shirt and green pants. They’re all standing in what appears to be a living room and having a wonderful time.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_birthday.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a printed photo of a appy grandpa smiling in front of a birthday cake. The cake has numbered wax numbers in it on the right, facing the grandpa reading, “94.” The cake is square with white and green frosting with 3 other candles on the left (his right) side of the cake. The old man has a grey, well-manicured beard and is wearing glasses (they’re highly magnified with his eyes slightly enlarged) and smiling bright. He’s holding up one hand in celebration. He’s wearing a multicolored flower lei and a blue shirt. Behind him is a woman with a huge smile, actively laughing, wearing a flowered tank top and a man, in his 30s, also smiling and with a beard wearing a grey long sleeve shirt and green pants. They’re all standing in what appears to be a living room and having a wonderful time.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_birthday.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a photo: Beautiful icelandic landscape featuring a couple walking towards the right, centered in the photo. She’s leading him and they’re holding hands and she looks back and gazes into his eyes. She’s wearing black pants, leather boots, and a long navy sweater with a red shirt under it. He’s wearing a leather jacket, grey shirt, blue pants, and casual green leather sneakers. There’s stark contrast between the rocky and green mossy area they’re walking on and the hill behind them which has a white, almost-snowy overlay. The hillside is half covered in snow.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_iceland.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a photo: Beautiful icelandic landscape featuring a couple walking towards the right, centered in the photo. She’s leading him and they’re holding hands and she looks back and gazes into his eyes. She’s wearing black pants, leather boots, and a long navy sweater with a red shirt under it. He’s wearing a leather jacket, grey shirt, blue pants, and casual green leather sneakers. There’s stark contrast between the rocky and green mossy area they’re walking on and the hill behind them which has a white, almost-snowy overlay. The hillside is half covered in snow.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_iceland.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a photo of adults and two kids in a fun portrait. They’re all wearing winter coats. The
adults are wearing winter hats. On the left is a young, beautiful, brunette woman smiling big, wearing a light brown winter hat with a leather patch. A cute little girl is to her right, they’re all close together, wearing a pink puffy jacket with a white bow in her dirty blonde hair. Next to the girl is a man wearing a blue winter hat and a navy puff jacket, his tongue slightly sticking out and his beard a brown-red. To the man’s right is a boy, a few years older than the girl, wearing a red puffy jacket and a flannel under it, his tongue fully out and his eyes wide. They’re all having a blast.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_crazy.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Scan of a photo of adults and two kids in a fun portrait. They’re all wearing winter coats. The
adults are wearing winter hats. On the left is a young, beautiful, brunette woman smiling big, wearing a light brown winter hat with a leather patch. A cute little girl is to her right, they’re all close together, wearing a pink puffy jacket with a white bow in her dirty blonde hair. Next to the girl is a man wearing a blue winter hat and a navy puff jacket, his tongue slightly sticking out and his beard a brown-red. To the man’s right is a boy, a few years older than the girl, wearing a red puffy jacket and a flannel under it, his tongue fully out and his eyes wide. They’re all having a blast.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_crazy.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Two grandparents and they’re grandkids. The grandfather is sitting on a brown, floral lounge chair with the two kids on his lap. The little girl is on his left, as if she’s trying to escape, wearing a red dress and white tights and red bow in her hair. The boy is wearing a red flannel. The grandmother leans into the photo with her hand on the right side of the chair. The grandfather is wearing blue jeans and a red flannel shirt and glasses with a thick black rim. Behind them is a cream colored living room door and to its right is a window. It appears to be around the holidays as there are two sets of blue, ceramic angels sitting on the window as well as a white, wood star. Through the window outside it’s dark outside and there’s a few white holiday lights illuminating a tree. There’s also a tropical fern just to the right of the image and a mirror and what appears to be the photographer in it.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_family.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Two grandparents and they’re grandkids. The grandfather is sitting on a brown, floral lounge chair with the two kids on his lap. The little girl is on his left, as if she’s trying to escape, wearing a red dress and white tights and red bow in her hair. The boy is wearing a red flannel. The grandmother leans into the photo with her hand on the right side of the chair. The grandfather is wearing blue jeans and a red flannel shirt and glasses with a thick black rim. Behind them is a cream colored living room door and to its right is a window. It appears to be around the holidays as there are two sets of blue, ceramic angels sitting on the window as well as a white, wood star. Through the window outside it’s dark outside and there’s a few white holiday lights illuminating a tree. There’s also a tropical fern just to the right of the image and a mirror and what appears to be the photographer in it.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_family.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Two happy dog owners and their black lab, all three of them with their tongues out. The happy dog is sandwiched between the two owners, his long tongue mostly pink with a couple black spots. On the left is a man with a short, red beard wearing a NASA baseball cap and large sunglasses; a black frame with magenta lenses. He’s wearing a t-shirt and a backpack. The woman on the right is wearing similar glasses except with a blue frame and light blue lenses. Her shirt is multi-colored lines with a slight turtleneck. Her backpack is a light blue. Her hair is tied back with a purple head wrap. The man’s hand is on the dog’s chest, near a brown leather collar and grey tick collar. The three of them are standing in what appears to be a forest and oh-so-happy.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_happy.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Two happy dog owners and their black lab, all three of them with their tongues out. The happy dog is sandwiched between the two owners, his long tongue mostly pink with a couple black spots. On the left is a man with a short, red beard wearing a NASA baseball cap and large sunglasses; a black frame with magenta lenses. He’s wearing a t-shirt and a backpack. The woman on the right is wearing similar glasses except with a blue frame and light blue lenses. Her shirt is multi-colored lines with a slight turtleneck. Her backpack is a light blue. Her hair is tied back with a purple head wrap. The man’s hand is on the dog’s chest, near a brown leather collar and grey tick collar. The three of them are standing in what appears to be a forest and oh-so-happy.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_happy.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![An old man sitting in a brown plastic adirondack chair, on a makeshift deck with green shrubbery behind him. There’s an identical empty adirondack chair behind him with brown flip flops sitting at its base. The old man is wearing a green, baggy striped shirt and baggy slacks. His socks are also long and slightly baggy. He’s wearing a watch of some kind, glasses with a gold frame, and a faded baseball hat. He’s wearing modern athletic running shoes and they’re blue and yellow. A walking cane leans on the chair. He’s smiling and happy to be there.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_nature.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![An old man sitting in a brown plastic adirondack chair, on a makeshift deck with green shrubbery behind him. There’s an identical empty adirondack chair behind him with brown flip flops sitting at its base. The old man is wearing a green, baggy striped shirt and baggy slacks. His socks are also long and slightly baggy. He’s wearing a watch of some kind, glasses with a gold frame, and a faded baseball hat. He’s wearing modern athletic running shoes and they’re blue and yellow. A walking cane leans on the chair. He’s smiling and happy to be there.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_nature.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![A happy black lab. He’s sitting on a rocky beach. The dog is wearing a red collar as well as a grey tick collar below it. He’s also wearing a black and silver body harness. His tongue sticks way out and hangs to the right towards the water. He has big floppy ears. His right eye is pointed directly at the camera, obediently looking at his owner and looking great for the camera. Behind him is lucious grass growing on the edge of the beach. The ocean is in the distance and it’s a calm, low tide.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_yoda.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![A happy black lab. He’s sitting on a rocky beach. The dog is wearing a red collar as well as a grey tick collar below it. He’s also wearing a black and silver body harness. His tongue sticks way out and hangs to the right towards the water. He has big floppy ears. His right eye is pointed directly at the camera, obediently looking at his owner and looking great for the camera. Behind him is lucious grass growing on the edge of the beach. The ocean is in the distance and it’s a calm, low tide.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_yoda.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![A regal red cardinal sitting on a branch. It’s a male cardinal, as female cardinals are a different color. He has handsome, black feathers around his face and a bright orange, triangular beak. He has almost a backward mohawk. His eye is a black, oblong and he’s facing with the right side of his body to the camera. His tail sticks straight backwards. Only the bird and branch are visible in the photo, all else is blurred out.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_cardinal.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![A regal red cardinal sitting on a branch. It’s a male cardinal, as female cardinals are a different color. He has handsome, black feathers around his face and a bright orange, triangular beak. He has almost a backward mohawk. His eye is a black, oblong and he’s facing with the right side of his body to the camera. His tail sticks straight backwards. Only the bird and branch are visible in the photo, all else is blurred out.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_cardinal.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Two Icelandic puffin birds. The bird on the right is most visible. He’s facing to the left. The bird on the left side of the photo is facing right, but he’s tucked down sitting on the ground and looking out towards the ocean in the distance. The photographer is shooting through green and tan grass. The right side bird has a large, orange, yellow, and black beak and a cute whie and black face. His head is mostly black feathers, which wrap around to his back. His chest is white. The birds are unique looking, almost like penguins.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_birds.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Two Icelandic puffin birds. The bird on the right is most visible. He’s facing to the left. The bird on the left side of the photo is facing right, but he’s tucked down sitting on the ground and looking out towards the ocean in the distance. The photographer is shooting through green and tan grass. The right side bird has a large, orange, yellow, and black beak and a cute whie and black face. His head is mostly black feathers, which wrap around to his back. His chest is white. The birds are unique looking, almost like penguins.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_birds.jpeg)
Amazon Prints (Test: Glossy)
![Scanned photo of birthday balloons. The photo is zoomed in with 95% of the photo being balloons. It’s positioned vertically. There are 6 balloons in the photo. Upper-left: Yellow, upper-right: Dark blue/purple, then orange, teal, magenta, and blue. All of the balloons have curly orange ribbons.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/amazon_balloons.jpeg)
Walgreens Photo (Test: Glossy)
![Scanned photo of birthday balloons. The photo is zoomed in with 95% of the photo being balloons. It’s positioned vertically. There are 6 balloons in the photo. Upper-left: Yellow, upper-right: Dark blue/purple, then orange, teal, magenta, and blue. All of the balloons have curly orange ribbons.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/walgreens_balloons.jpeg)
Amazon Prints envelopes
When you order photos from Amazon Prints, here's what you can
expect the envelope to look like.
Amazon's envelope is among the top designs of all photo labs we reviewed. It's made of a rigid yet lightweight carboard. Inside the envelope are two additional carboard inserts designed to prevent your photos from bending, sandwiching your photos inside another white, paper envelope.
![A vertically positioned, brown cardboard envelope with a white shipping label stuck to it. On the shipping label, the top left is Amazon’s return address: “Amazon Fulfillment Services, 8009374686, 1600 Worldwide Blvd, Hebron KY 410488639.” The top center has text that says 1 LBS the top right says: “1 of 1.” Right below the return address is “SHIP TO” then a digitally blurred address under it. There is a faint purple stamp with some letters and numbers. There is a black line under the shipping address that separates it from the portion which contains a digitally blurred out QR code, right next to this are black texts that are bold that reads: “MA 025 9-01.” Right under this is an even thicker demarcation line with a potion that contains block letters saying “UPS 2ND DAY AIR,” under it is a small text that says “Tracking #1” and with a digitally blurred out tracking number. On the other end of this portion is a very large and bold number “2.” A thinner line separates this from another part that has a digitally blurred out bar code. And a thicker line separates this portion from another portion below it with tiny illegible reference numbers. Under the shipping label, on the dark brown envelope is very large black text with the word “photos” and Amazon's arrow traveling from under the “P” to “S.” Under the logo reads a warning in a black text which says “PHOTOS ENCLOSED” in block letter, and warning in black, block, and bold text saying: “PLEASE DO NOT BEND.” Envelope sitting on wood table top.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/envelopes/amazon_envelope_front.jpeg)
![A horizontally positioned, cardboard envelope with flaps on each end. At the center is Amazon's big black logo arrow, traveling from the left to right. A small recycle icon and text saying: “PLEASE RECYCLE” in black ink printed at the center bottom of the envelope. The bottom right has a barcode with numbers 600019873. Envelope sitting on wood table top.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/envelopes/amazon_envelope_back.jpeg)
Compare Amazon Prints and local labs
Compare Amazon Prints and online labs
4x6 photo tips
How to Send 4×6 Photos In the MailHow Big is a 4x6 Photo?
Photo credits
Atlantic puffin photo by @miss_oharaCardinal photo by @drphotomoto
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