CVS Photo Local Pickup vs
parabo Review
We're crazy about printed photos!
We ordered the same 10 photos from CVS Photo and parabo, scanned them all in, and created this guide just for you.
CVS 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/cvs_birthday.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_birthday.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_iceland.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_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 | CVS is convenient and quick for local photo printing. After Walmart, their photos scored the best quality for local pick up. Strangely, the quality for their online photos is slightly lower than ordering locally. For online ordering, we suggest Walgreens over CVS. | Parabo Press produces nice quality prints on a thick cardstock. However, there's a 20-photo minimum with each print being $0.50. The lab for Parabo appears to be the same as Chatbooks, but unlike Chatbooks Parabo prints are 4x6 prints with a full bleed. In addition, the paper seems like a close match to Artifact Uprising and in comparison, Parabo is noticibly less vivid. |
Print quality (local pickup) |
10 Photos: $2.30 $0.23 each |
Online only |
Print quality (online orders) |
10 Photos: $4.78 $0.33 4x6s + $1.48 to ship 5-9 days |
10 Photos: $13.00 $0.50 4x6s + $8.00 to ship 14-17 days |
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Local pickup available | Yes | No |
Cost per 4x6 print (local pickup) | $0.23 | Online only |
Formats available for pickup | 4x6, 5x7, 6x8, 8x10, 5x5, 6x6, 8x8, 4x6 Wallet | Online only |
Finishes available for pickup | Glossy | Online only |
Paper type for pickup orders |
KodakMoments 0.2099999999999999922284388276239042170345783233642578125 millimeters thick |
Online only |
Pickup speed | Same day | Online only |
Order pickup | Online only | |
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Online ordering available | Yes, see review | Yes |
Cost per 4x6 print (online) | $0.33 | $0.50 |
Formats available online |
4x6, 5x7, 6x8, 8x10, 5x5, 6x6, 8x8, 4x6 Wallet |
4x6, 5x7, 4x4, 5.5x5.5 |
Finishes available online | Glossy (Same-day pickup), Matte (5-9 days) | Matte |
Paper type for online orders |
Fujicolor Crystal Archive 22 millimeters thick |
Unbranded, uncoated cardstock 49 millimeters thick |
Cheapest shipping option |
$1.48 To ship 10 photos
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$8.00 To ship 10 photos
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Delivery speed for cheapest shipping option | 5-9 days | 14-17 days |
Order online | Order online |
CVS Photo vs
parabo
print quality comparison
CVS Photo lets you order prints for local pickup and online for delivery to your door.
Check out our review for CVS Photo Online or compare CVS Photo Online vs. Local Pickup.
On 1/23/20, we ordered the following photos from CVS Photo. On 2/14/20, we ordered the same photos from parabo.
We scanned in both sets of prints without color correction.
Here's how CVS Photo compares to parabo.
CVS 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/cvs_birthday.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_birthday.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_iceland.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_iceland.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_crazy.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_crazy.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_family.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_family.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_happy.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_happy.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_nature.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_nature.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_yoda.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_yoda.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_cardinal.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_cardinal.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_birds.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_birds.jpeg)
CVS 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/cvs_balloons.jpeg)
parabo (Test: Matte (cardstock))
![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/parabo_balloons.jpeg)
CVS Photo envelopes
When you order photos from CVS Photo, here's what you can
expect the envelope to look like.
![Orange and white envelope with a white 4x6 receipt stuck on the center. At the top of the receipt is the CVS Photo logo and a red bar. Below that is some blurred text. Below that is red text reading “Online order with pickup and pay at store” followed by black text reading “Order Total: $1.78m, Prices do not include sales tax.” Then, two lines reading “1. IndexPrint 9. Print(s) 4x6 Glossy $1.71” followed by two thumbnail images of a bird and a man sitting on a chair with trees behind him. A blurred out QR code. At the bottom of the envelope in white and red text over the orange reads “CVS.com/photo” in large text followed by smaller text on the lower right: “Envelopes used for: 4x6 prints, 5x7, 6x8, 6x6 Prints, 4x8 Greeting Card, Picture CD, Archive DVD, 4x6 Photo Book.” The envelope is positioned vertically. It’s not a perfect rectangle: The corners are kind of a cut out triangle on the top and missing small squares in the lower corners, likely due to some kind of folding. Envelope sitting on wood table top.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/envelopes/cvs_envelope_front.jpeg)
![White envelope back with an orange flap. In the orange flap in large white text it reads, “Visit Our State-of-the-Art Website at www.cvs.com/photo” followed by smaller text reading “See our expanded product selection and design your favorite products from any device.” There’s a photo of an open laptop with the CVS website on it featuring a woman and her baby. Leaning against the laptop is a smartphone. Below the flap are several bar codes. Each one is used by the clerk to scan a specific product. For example, there’s an Archive DVD bar code and a 4x6 Photo Book barcode. Next to each bar code is a quantity field where someone can write in the quantity with pen or pencil. At the very bottom right of the envelope in tiny font it reads, “Store supply item #901151.” Envelope sitting on wood table top.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/envelopes/cvs_envelope_back.jpeg)
Compare CVS Photo and local labs
Compare CVS Photo 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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