10 Minted competitors for unique stationery and cards

While Minted is a popular platform for creating custom stationery items and greeting cards, there are many other exciting alternatives available, too. This blog post explores 10 other platforms in terms of their quality, range of customization options, and creative freedom. 

So, whether you're a well-established artist or a small ecommerce business owner, this post can guide you in selecting the perfect Minted alternative to design beautiful stationery and cards.

• The post explores 10 other sites like Minted that serve as great alternatives for creating customized stationery and cards.

• These alternative platforms are Gelato, Shutterfly, Tiny Prints, Snapfish, VistaPrint, Zazzle, Papier, Moo, Paper Culture, and Paperless Post.

• Each competitor is noted for its specific strengths, such as high-quality printing techniques, quick production times, and extensive customization capabilities, allowing users to tailor their products extensively to meet personal or business needs.

• Gelato offers a comprehensive print on demand platform for creating custom stationery and cards with unique designs, high-quality materials, and a user-friendly interface, supporting local production and environmental sustainability.

In this carefully curated list, we'll see how Minted compares to its top 10 alternatives in terms of creating unique stationery and cards. 

1. Gelato

Gelato tops our list due to its innovative print on demand solution, which allows independent artists and creators to showcase their work on a variety of customizable products, including stationery and greeting cards. The platform offers various sizes and card stock options (gloss or matte card stock), making it easy to tailor the product perfectly to your design.

Gelato uses high-quality printing techniques and eco-friendly materials, ensuring your designs are reproduced responsibly and with stunning clarity and vibrancy. With Gelato, you have complete creative control - you can upload your artwork and personalize every aspect of the product, from layout and text to paper quality and finishing touches.

Gelato leverages a network of local print providers, ensuring fast turnaround times and minimizing environmental impact. The platform features a user-friendly interface with intuitive design tools, making it easy to upload artwork, customize products, and manage orders seamlessly.

Pros:

• Eco-friendly printing approach with localized hubs

• Offers flexible customization options

• Boasts a wide range of products

• User-friendly platform

Cons:

• Minimum order quantities may apply for some products

2. Shutterfly

Started in 1999 as a small business that printed 4″x 6″ photographs from digital cameras, Shutterfly has now become a household name in personalized products. The platform offers stationery and cards alongside photo gifts and art prints. It offers stationery products, such as business cards, personal stationery, and address labels. 

Shutterfly uses reliable printing methods to ensure your designs are replicated accurately. While customization exists, the focus leans toward adding images/photos to templates and text and selecting colors within their pre-designed templates.

Shutterfly uses centralized printing facilities within the US with standard turnaround times. The platform is intuitive and user-friendly for basic personalization.

Pros:

• A range of products

• User-friendly interface

• Established brand reputation

Cons:

• Limited design customization for independent artwork

3. Tiny Prints

Tiny Prints is a great alternative to Minted if you're seeking an online platform with fun, creative, and unique designs. It also offers a comprehensive range of customizable stationery and cards, from personalized invitations to gift tags and stickers. 

Tiny Prints provides premium quality prints on different paper types, ensuring a superior and polished look. The platform's interface is user-friendly, with easy customization options and fast production. Users can play around with different ideas until they find a design that's uniquely them. 

Pros: 

• A wide range of stationery products

• High-quality printing

• Speedy production times

• User-friendly interface

Cons: 

• Pricing can be higher compared to other platforms

• Bulk orders are only available for photo books, not stationery and cards

4. Snapfish

When you're looking for customizable stationery, Snapfish is another platform that sets itself apart. Its product range is vast, offering wedding cards, invites, wall and desk calendars, and other stationery items. 

Snapfish prides itself on its high-quality prints and many customization and photo-editing options, which are accessible via an easy-to-navigate user interface. While its printing and production times can be longer than those of some competitors, many find it worth the wait for its dedicated approach to quality.

Pros: 

• A wide variety of products and customization options

• High-quality print results

• User-friendly interface and browsing experience

• If you choose premium card stock, you get complimentary trim options and free return addressing.

Cons: 

• Longer production and delivery times as compared to other platforms

5. VistaPrint

VistaPrint is a key player in the customized printing world. It's known for its wide array of products, including various stationery, letterheads, notebooks, and visiting cards. This platform allows businesses and individuals to bring their designs to life on high-quality paper. It's a one-stop shop for those wanting to show off their creative side through personalized prints.

To ensure vivid, high-quality results, VistaPrint uses the latest printing and production technology, catering to urgent projects with quick delivery. However, because there are so many product options on the platform other than cards and stationery, users may find it a little overwhelming to navigate the menus.

Pros: 

• A variety of products

• Uses advanced printing technology

• High-quality print products

• Offers fast turnaround times

Cons: 

• The extensive product range can be overwhelming to browse

• Shipping can be expensive

6. Zazzle

Zazzle stands as a notable competitor to Minted, often favored for its wide variety of office and school stationery, card options, and marketing materials that extend beyond seasonal products. Offering an elaborate range of evergreen designs, this online marketplace allows sellers to create and sell products, including home decor items, that continue to generate income over the years. 

The platform offers excellent print quality and wide-ranging customization options. It uses advanced technology to make sure your product is always high-quality and created quickly. The platform's user-friendly interface also makes it easy for creators to upload and redesign their products, enhancing the overall user experience. 

Pros: 

• A wide array of product options and evergreen designs

• High-quality printing and production

• Intuitive site navigation and user interface

Cons: 

• While the product selection is vast, some may find the options overwhelming

• Some users may find the pricing on the higher side for certain products

7. Papier

Papier is a standout brand in the stationery world. It offers a versatile product range, including cards, notebooks, journals, planners, and business stationery, and lets you create premium-quality personalized products with well-crafted, vibrant designs. 

Papier provides customization satisfaction by allowing you to select colors, paper, and card stock types and add a company logo to each item. Their innovative printing technology ensures that your order is produced at high quality and dispatched promptly. 

Pros: 

• A wide array of product options to meet diverse needs

• High-quality print finish enhancing the overall look and feel

• Swift production times bringing efficiency and customer satisfaction

Cons: 

• Options for customization might seem limited compared to other platforms where you can design from scratch

8. Moo

Known for its creative branding and business printing services, Moo suits businesses of all sizes and individuals seeking high-quality print products. They offer not just stationery and cards but also branded merchandise, invitations, and more. Their user-friendly platform allows easy customization with many different design options.

Moo uses the latest printing technology to create high-quality prints. They offer standard and expedited shipping options. However, delivery will depend on the production time and the shipping method selected at checkout. The website is easy to use, and the customer support team is always ready to help.

Pros: 

• Offers high-quality print and paper

• Extensive range of unique designs

• Easy to navigate and customize

• Provides standard and expedited shipping options

Cons: 

• Premium quality comes with a higher price tag

• Production times vary, and shipping can be costly

9. Paper Culture

Paper Culture provides environmentally friendly stationery with designs that range from sleek and modern to whimsically playful. Their products boast top-tier print quality, and with every order, they plant a tree—a testament to their profound commitment to sustainability. 

The company offers a wide range of products, including wedding invitations, graduation cards, holiday cards for the holiday season, kids' and adults' stationery, and even funeral cards. Their user interface is user-friendly, helping you easily navigate through their wide selection of designs. However, the platform also offers professional design assistance free of charge to help with layout, colors, photo editing, and more. 

Paper Culture uses sustainably sourced paper for its products and delivers within a quick timeline, ensuring efficient service.

Pros: 

• High-quality print on sustainable paper

• Wide product range, including kids' stationery

• Excellent user interface

• Efficient delivery timeline

• Dedication to the environmental cause – plant a tree with every order

Cons: 

• Pricing can be higher due to premium materials and sustainable practices

• Limited in the sense that it only provides paper products

10. Paperless Post

Paperless Post is an online platform that caters to a diverse customer base looking for innovative, digital-centric solutions for their stationery needs. Their product range is vast, including party invitations, thank you cards, holiday card greetings, wedding invitations, and more. Each of these can be customized according to the user's preference.

Their top feature is top-notch digital stationery that feels like real paper. They use technology for instant delivery, cutting down the waiting time for printing and delivery. The platform is easy to use, making the design process quick and fun.

Pros: 

• Impressive range of digital products

• High-quality virtual stationery

• Instant delivery

• User-friendly platform

Cons:  

• No physical product

• Some might miss the tangible feel of real stationery

The world of personalized stationery and cards is brimming with possibilities, so forget about creating cookie-cutter designs and take the creative reins in your hands! With Gelato's print on demand platform, you can create truly personalized designs that reflect your unique style or brand. 

Gelato empowers you with a one-stop solution to:

• Unleash your design genius: Upload your artwork and personalize every detail, from layout and text to paper type and finishing touches. Then, print high-quality custom stationery like flyers, brochures, business cards, and letterheads.

• Embrace exceptional quality: Gelato utilizes high-quality printing techniques and eco-friendly materials, ensuring your designs are reproduced with stunning clarity and vibrancy.

• Support local production: Their network of local print shops minimizes environmental impact and fosters a supportive, creative community.

• Experience a seamless workflow: The user-friendly platform makes creating and managing orders a breeze.

Ready to turn your creative vision into beautiful, high-quality stationery and cards? Sign up for Gelato today and choose one of the subscription plans to get started with fully exploring your artistic potential!

What makes Gelato different from other stationery and card printing services?

Gelato distinguishes itself by offering a print on demand service that emphasizes environmental sustainability and local production. Our use of high-quality, eco-friendly materials and localized printing hubs not only reduces environmental impact but also ensures quick delivery. Additionally, our platform provides extensive customization options, allowing for unique personal or brand expressions.

Can I use Gelato for business as well as personal stationery needs?

Yes, Gelato is suitable for both personal and business stationery needs. The platform allows users to upload custom designs, making it ideal for creating business cards, corporate stationery, or personalized greeting cards that reflect professional branding or personal style.

How does Gelato support local production?

Gelato fulfills orders through a network of local print shops worldwide. This approach minimizes shipping distances and carbon footprints, promotes faster delivery times, and supports local economies. Gelato also ensures that products are printed close to the order's destination, enhancing efficiency and sustainability.

What subscription plans does Gelato offer?

Gelato offers four subscription plans tailored to different usage levels and customer needs: the free plan, Gelato+, Gelato+ Gold, and Platinum. These plans typically provide benefits such as discounts on products, access to premium features like Mockup Studio and branded labels and packaging inserts, and priority customer support.

Is there a minimum order quantity for Gelato's products?

Gelato's minimum order quantities vary depending on the product type. For some items like greeting cards and stationery, you can order as few as one piece, making it ideal for personal use or small test batches. Specific details can be found on our product pages or by reaching out to customer support.