FreePrints vs
WinkFlash Review
We're crazy about printed photos!
We ordered the same 10 photos from FreePrints and WinkFlash, scanned them all in, and created this guide just for you.
FreePrints (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/freeprints_birthday.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_birthday.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_iceland.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_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 | FreePrints is a solid-quailty photo printer. Be mindful of the shipping costs, though. We found their upsells to be a bit pushy. | Winkflash, Ritzpix, and Mailpix are one and the same. We found their prints to be better than CVS and Walgreens. |
Print quality (local pickup) | Online only | Online only |
Print quality (online orders) |
10 Photos: $2.99 $0.00 4x6s + $2.99 to ship 5-7 days |
10 Photos: $4.39 $0.24 4x6s + $1.99 to ship 10-12 days |
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Local pickup available | No | No |
Cost per 4x6 print (local pickup) | Online only | Online only |
Formats available for pickup | Online only | Online only |
Finishes available for pickup | Online only | Online only |
Paper type for pickup orders | Online only | Online only |
Pickup speed | Online only | Online only |
Online only | Online only | |
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Online ordering available | Yes | Yes |
Cost per 4x6 print (online) | $0.00 | $0.24 |
Formats available online | 4x6, 5x5, 5x7, 8x10, 11x14, 12x18, 16x20 | 4x4, 4x6, 5x5 through 24x36 |
Finishes available online | Glossy,Matte | Glassy,matte,ultra glossy,archival matte |
Paper type for online orders |
Fujicolor Crystal Archive 22 millimeters thick |
Fujicolor Crystal Archive 22 millimeters thick |
Cheapest shipping option |
$2.99 To ship 10 photos
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$1.99 To ship 10 photos
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Delivery speed for cheapest shipping option | 5-7 days | 10-12 days |
Order online | Order online |
FreePrints vs
WinkFlash
print quality comparison
On 2/13/20, we ordered the following photos from FreePrints. On 2/14/20, we ordered the same photos from WinkFlash.
We scanned in both sets of prints without color correction.
Here's how FreePrints compares to WinkFlash.
FreePrints (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/freeprints_birthday.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_birthday.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_iceland.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_iceland.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_crazy.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_crazy.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_family.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_family.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_happy.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_happy.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_nature.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_nature.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_yoda.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_yoda.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_cardinal.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_cardinal.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_birds.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_birds.jpeg)
FreePrints (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/freeprints_balloons.jpeg)
WinkFlash (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/winkflash_balloons.jpeg)
FreePrints envelopes
When you order photos from FreePrints, here's what you can
expect the envelope to look like.
![A teal wallet envelope is placed horizontally on a wooden surface. At the top right corner has text that says “FreePrints,” under this is a thin line, then under the line, a text says “Your photo prints are here, plus a special offer inside!” The text is in white, except “Free” which is in yellow. A large mailing label covers most parts of the envelope. The left side of the shipping label has a return address in black ink that says “FREE PRINTS, 23801 Calabasas Rd. Suite # 2005, CALABASAS, CA 91302.” A text in black the middle reads “Electronic Service Requested.” A postage stamp at the top right corner says, “Presorted First-Class Mail, US POSTAGE PAID. Phoenix, AZ. PERMIT NO 2091,” the text is in a box. The left-hand corner has large text, that is also the logo: “FreePrints” in black print. The middle of the label is where the digitally blurred delivery address sits, right on top of it is a text that states the size of the envelope: “2.6oz.” A black blot is at the left side of the address, its function is not known. The bottom left contains text that reads, “FP1632815447601,” right under this is the number “160.” Envelope sitting on wood table top.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/envelopes/freeprints_envelope_front.jpeg)
![A picturesque wallet envelope is on a wooden surface. Its flap is green with incisions on the side and the “FreePrints” logo in white printed on it. The body is divided into two parts. The left part has a light purplish background and text that reads “—— FreePrints ——” and a larger trademarked text that says “Photobooks,”both in blue text. A small text in black reads, “Get one 5x7 photo book every month for FREE!” There is a dividing blue dividing line, under the line is a call to action that reads “Download now!” Under these are two images. One is the iOS app store logo and the other is the Google Playstore logo. Both are in black rectangular boxes with rounded edges with white text that reads “Download on the App Store,” and “GET IT ON GOOGLE PLAY” are in front of each icon respectively. Below there is a web address: “FreePrintsPhotobooks.com.” There are images of two photo albums at the bottom of the left side. The closed album has a picture of trees and mountains and a text in cursive that reads “The Adventure Begins.” The other album is open and the left part has the picture of a father, mother, and little daughter. Another picture shows the man carrying the daughter in his hands. The right part of the album has a picture of a little girl in a love frame. The right part of the envelope has a bluish purple background. The top begins with red text that says “FreePrints” and larger trademarked text in caps that say “PHOTO TILES.” Right under is a text that says “Get a FREE 8xB premium photo tile month,” under is a thin red dividing line, under the line is a call to action text that reads “Download now!” Below are two black rectangular boxes with rounded edges, and the iOS and Google Play Store logo in each one, there is white text in each box that reads “Download on the App Store” and “GET IT ON GOOGLE PLAY.” Under that is a web address: “FreePhotosTiles.com.” Below is the image of a blonde lady smiling at 4 hung canvases. The canvas on the top left has a picture of a man and woman in an embrace. The canvas on the right shows a little girl smiling at the camera. The bottom left canvas has the picture of a blonde lady hugging a black pup and smiling. The canvas on the bottom right shows a full shot of a couple standing close together. A red circle that looks like it's a stamp is to the corner of the canvas at the top-right. It has white text that reads “CUSTOM WALL ART.” Under it, text that reads, “made affordable.” Envelope sitting on wood table top.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/envelopes/freeprints_envelope_back.jpeg)
Compare FreePrints and local labs
Compare FreePrints 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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