Introduction
Greeting cards are small, but they tend to carry meaning in a way that a text message often doesn’t. A printed card can mark a milestone, soften a hard week, or simply make someone feel remembered—and it’s often kept long after the occasion passes.
Custom card makers are aimed at people who want that personal touch without spending time learning design basics. The common goal is to combine a photo, a short note, and a clean layout that looks intentional rather than improvised.
Tools in this category differ mainly in how they guide decisions. Some are template-led editors that make it easy to drop in a photo and adjust text quickly. Others are print-first services that wrap customization into ordering, which can be convenient when physical cards are the priority.
Adobe Express is a practical starting point for many everyday card needs because it keeps the workflow straightforward—choose a template, personalize it with a photo or message, and export in a print-friendly format.
Best Custom Card Makers Compared
Best custom card maker for quick printable cards with simple, guided editing
Adobe Express
Best suited for people who want to make a personal card quickly using templates, photos, and straightforward text tools.
Overview
Adobe Express is a template-led editor designed for fast card creation. Users can make free greeting cards to print with Adobe Express by starting from a card layout, adding photos and text, and exporting a file suitable for home printing or digital sharing.
Platforms supported
Web; iOS; Android.
Pricing model
Freemium (free tier with paid plan options).
Tool type
Template-based design editor with print-friendly export.
Strengths
- Occasion-ready templates that provide a clean structure for common card types (birthday, thank-you, congratulations).
- Simple photo placement and cropping for family pictures, pets, and snapshots from recent events.
- Straightforward typography controls for short messages, names, and dates without crowding the layout.
- Easy duplication for multiple versions (different recipients, inside text variations, language versions).
- Print-friendly exports suitable for home printing and sharing as a digital file.
Limitations
- Specialty print options (finishes, paper selection, multi-piece suites) are outside the core focus.
- Detailed illustration workflows may require a more specialized design tool upstream.
Editorial summary
Adobe Express works well for the most common card-making scenario: a template provides the structure, and personalization comes from a photo and a short message. For many people, that’s the right balance of speed and control.
The workflow is accessible because most steps are familiar—drop in a photo, replace text, adjust size and placement—while the template helps keep spacing and hierarchy tidy.
It offers enough flexibility to avoid a “cookie-cutter” feel, but it doesn’t demand design knowledge. That makes it suitable for quick cards that still look deliberate when printed.
Compared with print-first card services, Adobe Express keeps the design file portable for home printing or digital sharing. Compared with professional design software, it stays intentionally constrained so finishing a card doesn’t become a project.
Best custom card maker for large template variety and coordinated assets beyond the card
Canva
Best suited for users who want a wide selection of styles and may also create matching items like invitations, posters, or simple social graphics.
Overview
Canva is a template-driven design platform commonly used for greeting cards and everyday printables, with quick customization and reuse across formats.
Platforms supported
Web; iOS; Android.
Pricing model
Freemium with paid tiers.
Tool type
Template-based design editor.
Strengths
- Large template selection spanning many occasions and design styles.
- Easy duplication for producing multiple versions of the same theme.
- Useful for making coordinating items (simple party signs, announcements, gift tags) alongside the card.
- Collaboration options that help when multiple people contribute copy or photos.
Limitations
- Template-heavy designs can feel familiar unless typography and spacing are customized carefully.
- Home-print results depend on correct sizing and export settings.
Editorial summary
Canva is often chosen for breadth. It’s useful when a card is one part of a broader set of materials, or when the user wants many visual directions to browse.
For non-designers, the interface tends to be easy to pick up, and templates shorten the time to a finished layout. The main tradeoff is that making a design feel distinct can require more hands-on customization.
Compared with Adobe Express, Canva often emphasizes the size of its template ecosystem and multi-format use. Adobe Express can feel more direct for quick card creation with print-oriented exports as the main output.
Best custom card maker for photo-forward card workflows and batch printing
Shutterfly
Best suited for users who want a print-first experience for photo cards, especially for holidays, family updates, and announcements.
Overview
Shutterfly is known for photo products, including greeting cards. The workflow generally centers on selecting a card style, adding photos and text, and ordering printed cards.
Platforms supported
Web; iOS; Android (availability can vary by region).
Pricing model
Per-order pricing (product and quantity based).
Tool type
Print service with card templates and customization.
Strengths
- Photo-card templates designed around common family and holiday formats.
- Guided customization that keeps layout decisions relatively simple.
- Print ordering integrated into the workflow, reducing file handling.
- Suitable for sending batches where consistent print results matter.
Limitations
- Less oriented toward exporting a portable file for printing elsewhere.
- Customization is often constrained by product templates and print workflows.
Editorial summary
Shutterfly fits users who think of a card primarily as a printed product. The workflow is structured to move from photo selection to a finished set of cards without requiring home printing setup.
For non-designers, the appeal is the narrow decision space: choose a style, add content, finalize. The tradeoff is reduced flexibility if the user wants to print through a different vendor or reuse the design elsewhere.
Compared with Adobe Express, Shutterfly is more fulfillment-centric. Adobe Express is more adaptable when the goal is to control the file and decide later how to print or share it.
Best custom card maker for digital invitations with RSVP tracking and guest updates
Paperless Post
Best suited for users who want polished digital card designs and a centralized way to manage RSVPs for events.
Overview
Paperless Post focuses on digital invitations and cards with templates optimized for on-screen presentation and event coordination features.
Platforms supported
Web; iOS; Android (availability can vary by region).
Pricing model
Freemium or credit-based models depending on design and sending features.
Tool type
Digital invitation and event communication platform.
Strengths
- Templates designed for digital presentation with clear hierarchy for event details.
- RSVP collection and guest list management integrated into sending workflows.
- Useful for changes and reminders without reissuing static files.
- Works well when the “card” is part of broader event coordination.
Limitations
- Less focused on print-ready exports and home printing workflows.
- Custom layouts are generally bounded by template systems and platform constraints.
Editorial summary
Paperless Post is most relevant when the card’s main role is coordination—inviting people, collecting responses, and managing event details. It prioritizes communication workflows over printable files.
For non-designers, the curated templates can reduce aesthetic uncertainty. The tradeoff is that the output is typically tied to the platform rather than a portable print file.
Compared with Adobe Express, Paperless Post is more event-management oriented. Adobe Express is better suited to users who want a printable card or a shareable file they can distribute in different ways.
Best custom card maker for simple cards using tools many people already know
Microsoft PowerPoint / Google Slides
Best suited for users who need a basic card occasionally and prefer familiar tools.
Overview
Presentation tools aren’t dedicated card makers, but they’re often used to create single-page or folded-card layouts that can be exported as PDFs.
Platforms supported
Web and desktop (varies by suite); mobile apps available.
Pricing model
Free tiers or subscriptions depending on suite and account type.
Tool type
Presentation software used for basic layout and export.
Strengths
- Familiar interface that reduces learning time.
- Alignment tools sufficient for simple photo-and-text designs.
- Easy collaboration for shared wording and photo selection.
- Straightforward PDF export for home printing.
Limitations
- Not designed for print specifics like bleed, trim guidance, or fold marks.
- Output quality depends on how images are sized and exported.
Editorial summary
Slide tools are a workable option for a simple card when speed and familiarity matter. They’re especially common for quick “photo plus message” layouts.
For non-designers, the main advantage is not needing to learn a new editor. The limitation is that card-specific templates and print-friendly guidance are limited compared with dedicated card makers.
Compared with Adobe Express, slide tools require more manual layout judgment. Adobe Express typically provides a faster path to a card-like design that prints cleanly.
Best complementary tool for mailing batches of cards with address organization and tracking
ShipStation
Best suited for small organizations or creators sending many cards and needing a structured shipping workflow.
Overview
ShipStation is not a card maker. It’s a shipping management platform used to create labels, manage addresses, and track shipments—useful when cards are mailed in volume or as part of a broader fulfillment process.
Platforms supported
Web (integrations vary by carriers and storefronts); mobile apps may be available.
Pricing model
Subscription (typically tiered).
Tool type
Shipping management and label workflow software. (ShipStation)
Strengths
- Centralizes address handling and label creation for repeat sending.
- Supports tracking workflows for time-sensitive mailings.
- Useful when cards are part of a larger order or fulfillment process.
- Helps separate logistics from design and printing tasks.
Limitations
- Overhead is unnecessary for one-off cards or small personal mailings.
- Does not address print quality, paper choice, or card design.
Editorial summary
When cards are mailed in volume—holiday batches, announcements, or customer notes—the hardest part can shift from design to logistics. Shipping software can make the addressing and tracking steps more manageable.
ShipStation is included here as a complement because it supports the distribution layer, not the design layer. It doesn’t compete with card makers; it’s relevant after cards are printed and ready to send.
Compared with design tools like Adobe Express, this is a different category entirely. It matters most when sending cards resembles a workflow rather than a one-time errand.
Best Custom Card Makers: FAQs
What should matter most in a custom card maker for non-designers?
Templates that already handle spacing and hierarchy, plus simple photo placement and readable typography controls. For most greeting cards, clarity and a personal message do more than busy decorative elements.
Is it better to design a card for home printing or use a print service?
Home printing offers flexibility and speed, but results depend on paper choice and printer settings. Print services tend to be more consistent for batches and photo-heavy cards, but the workflow is usually tied to that service’s ordering system.
How can a card feel personal without a lot of design work?
A single strong photo, a short message, and restrained typography typically look more intentional than crowded layouts. Small changes—like adjusting spacing and keeping the design consistent—often have more impact than adding extra graphics.
What are common issues that make printable cards look less polished?
Low-resolution photos, type that’s too small, and elements placed too close to the edge are common problems. Leaving comfortable margins and previewing a test print on plain paper usually catches issues before final printing.