Does Apple Still Make Photo Books? Your Guide to Printing with Apple & Alternatives
Aug, 2 2025
Once upon a time, you could snap photos on your iPhone or Mac, open Apple Photos, and with just a few taps, turn your family memories or travel snaps into a glossy, hardbound photo book straight from Apple. But if you’re like most people flipping through old memories, you might wonder: does Apple still print photo books in 2025? The short answer is no—they stopped in September 2018. But that’s not the end of your photo book journey. Apple’s move changed how people create keepsakes, but it also pumped up a wave of easy alternatives. Let’s peel back the layers of why Apple halted its service, how you can still use the Photos app to build books, and which new tools get you stunning results with just a bit more effort.
Why Did Apple Stop Printing Photo Books?
For years, Apple’s Print Products were a household name—if you took digital photos and loved keeping physical albums. The company rolled out its photos-to-book service back in 2002. By 2018, Apple quietly announced it was ending direct photo book printing. The Photos app on Mac would soon lose the built-in option to order physical photo books, prints, calendars, or cards directly from Apple. Why stop something so popular? The main reason: Apple’s core focus had shifted. With competition in the print products market heating up and digital platforms booming, Apple wanted to double down on devices and software—leaving printing to the companies that live and breathe it.
But another big driver was the change in user habits. The explosion of specialized photo book companies (think Shutterfly, Blurb, and even smaller boutique brands) made printing more creative and affordable. Apple’s in-house print services couldn’t keep pace with the growing customization and price battles offered elsewhere. Rather than lag behind or jack up prices to keep up, Apple bet users would prefer more choices—so they opened the gates in a way only Apple can. Instead of building the books and taking your order themselves, they built an open plug-in system for third-party printing companies to connect directly to your Photos app.
It wasn’t just about cost, either. Printing physical photo products is a tricky business: logistics, color management, worldwide shipping headaches, and customer support. For a company laser-focused on making the world’s slickest hardware, these operational hassles felt like a detour. So, Apple’s exit wasn’t a failure—it was the starting gun in a new era of photo printing, and actually helped make it easier to create beautiful books, even if Apple’s name isn’t on the last page.
How Do You Print Photo Books from Apple Devices Now?
If you use a Mac, good news: creating photo books is still built into your workflow, even if Apple doesn’t print them directly anymore. The Photos app still lets you curate, edit, and design your album. Here’s the trick—Apple set things up so third-party extensions plug right into Photos. The process goes like this:
- Curate your images in the Photos app. Flag your favorites, make albums, and edit colors, just like always.
- Go to the Mac App Store and look for photo book extensions. These aren’t random plugins; they’re certified by Apple to make sure everything works smoothly.
- Some of the best-known options are Motif (by RR Donnelley, Apple’s original print partner), Mimeo Photos, and WhiteWall. Motif’s plug-in, for example, lets you design right inside Photos, click “order,” and have the finished album shipped to your door.
- Choose your size, paper type, cover, and layout, all from your Mac. What’s cool is that most of these services mimic Apple’s minimal, sleek design—and even use the same print factories Apple relied on for years.
So, while you can’t click “Buy from Apple,” you’re one extension away from almost the same experience you had before. And yes—for those with huge photo archives—these books support all the fancy stuff: panoramic spreads, lay-flat binding, and premium cover materials. If you’re working straight from iOS, things get a bit trickier, as most printing extension support is Mac-only. But plenty of websites and apps (like Chatbooks, Photobox, and Snapfish) let you upload from your phone or tablet.
One tip: Motif is probably the closest you’ll get to the classic Apple book—right down to the font selections and grid layouts. Their software uses AI to pick your best shots and auto-fills an album, so even the chronically busy (or indecisive) can make a polished book in under 15 minutes.
How Do Apple’s Photo Book Alternatives Compare?
The photo book market exploded after Apple left the scene in 2018. Names like Mixbook and Shutterfly became go-to choices in the US, while Cewe and Photobox popped up in the UK and Europe. Here’s the big picture: nearly all of these print services offer more personalization than Apple ever did, and the quality is just as sharp—sometimes even sharper.
- Motif (Mac plug-in): Feels like the Apple Books everyone remembers, same factory, with added layouts.
- Mimeo Photos: More themes, slight learning curve, but great for custom projects.
- Photobox: Super easy for UK orders, countless cover and paper options.
- Cewé: Serious luxury feel if you want thick pages or gigantic coffee-table creations.
- Snapfish: Big focus on deals and discounts—perfect if you print lots of books at once.
Quality? Almost every big-name printing site has scored at least 4 stars on Trustpilot. A few years ago, the biggest complaint was blurry photos or thin paper, but most providers now print at 2400 DPI and use paper from names like Mohawk and Fedrigoni. Here’s a sample comparison of photo book providers (and yes, prices can change, so check promotions):
| Provider | Base Price (A4/20 pages, hardback) | Delivery Time (UK) | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motif | £24.99 | 4-7 days | Integrated with Mac Photos |
| Photobox | £26.99 | 3-5 days | Custom layouts & quick edits |
| Cewé | £28.99 | 5-8 days | Ultra-thick lay-flat pages |
| Snapfish | £21.99 | 4-6 days | Low prices, easy repeat orders |
If you’re someone who loves tactile, premium products, Cewé’s lay-flat binding or Photobox’s glossy covers feel like something you’d find in a high-street bookstore. Want to get fancy? Many services also let you print names in metallic foil, emboss covers, or even add QR codes to videos. That’s way ahead of what Apple offered, and pushes your creative freedom sky-high.
Tips for Designing a Stunning Photo Book in 2025
Printing a photo book isn’t just about picking pictures—it’s about telling your story. Here are some pro tips, whether you’re using a Mac extension or a web-based tool:
- Start with a tight selection. Albums overloaded with similar shots quickly get boring. Pick the moments that matter, and don’t be afraid to add variety—group, candid, landscapes.
- Organize by theme, not just by time. A chapter of “summer holidays,” “dad jokes,” or “lockdown haircuts” can create a stronger pace.
- Leave breathing room. Don’t cram the page—white space gives photos power. Apple’s own photo books were known for their tasteful minimalism, which you can still channel using Motif or similar tools.
- Don’t overlook the cover and spine. Personalise the title and year. If this book sits on a shelf, make it recognizable at a glance!
- Use full-bleed images sparingly. A big, edge-to-edge photo packs a punch, but mix in smaller images to keep things interesting.
- If you like captions, keep them short. One-sentence stories or inside jokes work better than paragraphs.
- Test the print preview! Most apps show you exactly how the book will look. Double-check for awkward crops or low-res warnings before hitting order.
- Order a small first book to check quality if you’re trying a new service.
For the perfectionists: your Mac’s color profile can differ from printed output. If you care about color accuracy (like for skin tones), order a swatch kit or consult the printer’s color guide. Otherwise, trust that reputable services will color-correct as needed. And if you’re picking up on a hobby, most UK print houses offer discounts if you print more than one copy—handy if you’re gifting albums at Christmas.
If you're feeling techy, some services (like Mixbook) now use AI to help lay out pages automatically, grouping similar images or based on smiling faces. It’s smart, but if you’re picky about the story flow, always tweak the layout manually before you order.
The Future of Printing from Apple Photos
Apple’s decision to drop direct printing was a fork in the road that’s actually made photo book making better for most people. Instead of locking you into a single style or price, you now get endless customization and steadily dropping prices, all while still starting in the comfort of your Photos library. The rise of plug-ins, plus heavy hitters like Photobox and Cewé, means there’s a tool for every project—whether it’s your first baby album or a brag-worthy travel diary.
So, does Apple still print photo books? Not in their own factories, but their software remains the launchpad. With plug-ins like Motif, you get an experience that’s Apple photo books in almost every detail except the logo—and more features over time. In the UK, options abound, and delivery’s rarely more than a week out. The nostalgia of the old books is still there, but the doors are open wider than ever. Want to build your own custom album in 2025? Fire up your Mac, hit the App Store for a photo book extension, and start dropping your memories onto the page. For fans of printed photos, the future’s looking brilliantly glossy.