parabo vs
Mailpix Review
We're crazy about printed photos!
We ordered the same 10 photos from parabo and Mailpix, scanned them all in, and created this guide just for you.
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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_birthday.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_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 | 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. | Mailpix, Rtizpix, and Winkflash 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: $13.00 $0.50 4x6s + $8.00 to ship 14-17 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) | $0.50 | $0.24 |
Formats available online | 4x6, 5x7, 4x4, 5.5x5.5 | 4x4, 4x6, 5x5 through 24x36 |
Finishes available online | Matte | Glassy,matte,ultra glossy,archival matte |
Paper type for online orders |
Unbranded, uncoated cardstock 49 millimeters thick |
Fujicolor Crystal Archive 22 millimeters thick |
Cheapest shipping option |
$8.00 To ship 10 photos
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$1.99 To ship 10 photos
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Delivery speed for cheapest shipping option | 14-17 days | 10-12 days |
Order online | Order online |
parabo vs
Mailpix
print quality comparison
On 2/14/20, we ordered the following photos from parabo. On 2/14/20, we ordered the same photos from Mailpix.
We scanned in both sets of prints without color correction.
Here's how parabo compares to Mailpix.
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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_birthday.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_iceland.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_crazy.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_family.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_happy.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_nature.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_yoda.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_cardinal.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_birds.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)
Mailpix (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/mailpix_balloons.jpeg)
parabo envelopes
When you order photos from parabo, here's what you can
expect the envelope to look like.
![A horizontally positioned aesthetically pleasing catalog envelope. The flap on the right is ripped open and where the flap was stuck on is peeled. The corners of the envelope have large drawn parts of different plants in white ink at the four corners of the envelope. At the bottom—right side of the envelope if positioned vertically—is a white ring and white text—the web address—in it: “www.parabo.com” with the “Parabo” in cursive. A tilted shipping label stuck on it, and a smaller print stuck above the shipping label with all its content digitally blurred. On the shipping label, the top left corner has a return address: “ParaboPress, 245 S 1060 W, Lindon, UT 84042, REF: PL-19674988.” in black ink, something digitally blurred is under the address, it is hard to say if it is a text or barcode. At the bottom of the shipping label has a blurred delivery address, and two small drawn leaves at the left-hand side of the blur. The top right shows some part of a barcode that has the other part torn away when the envelope was opened. Envelope sitting on wood table top.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/envelopes/parabo_envelope_front.jpeg)
![An aesthetically pleasing open brown catalog envelope vertically positioned on a wooden surface. The envelope was designed with drawn images of some plants largely printed in white ink at the four corners of the envelope. At the center of the envelope is a white ring with text in it. It mentions a web address “www.parabo.press” printed vertically in the ring and the “Parabo” in cursive. The text is in white. Envelope sitting on wood table top.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/herman-cat/photoprintingnearme/scans/envelopes/parabo_envelope_back.jpeg)
Compare parabo and local labs
Compare parabo 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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