Google Photos seems to be serious about its printing service. After relaunching it in 2019 and introducing a test subscription in 2020, Google Photos has now expanded its services even further. You can order as many prints as you like, choose from a bunch of options, and have them all delivered straight to your door.
Let’s start with a bit of a backstory. Google Photos printing service was first introduced in 2017. Then, in 2019, the company added direct printing at CVS and Walmart. A year later, the test subscription allowed you to have 10 prints delivered anywhere in the US each month. I believe the delivery option has been a major plus over the last year and a half. You know, pandemic and all. However, the test subscription relied on Google’s choice of photos for each month, which was pretty limiting. Apparently, Google realized what should be changed and has applied it to the new version of its printing service.
So, what’s new?
First of all, Google Photos now offers additional print sizes. Starting at $0.18 per print (plus shipping), you can choose between the existing 4×6, 5×7, or 8×10 prints, or four additional sizes: 11×14, 12×18, 16×20, and 20×30 standard prints. There are also six additional canvas print sizes: 8×10, 16×16, 20×30, 24×36, 30×40 and 36×36. Therefore, the overall range covers dimensions from 8×8 to 36×36, so you can choose the one that works best for you. The “Premium prints” subscription has changed a bit. You’ll get ten cardstock photo prints delivered to your door every month for $6.99 per month (including shipping and before tax). Google Photos still suggests ten recent photos to print. However, you can edit your photo selection and the photos themselves. You can even print dates on the back or turn your photos into postcards. Finally, choose a matte or glossy finish, add a border if you want, and wait for your photos to ship each month. This option is available in the U.S. only. Picking up your prints at Walmart and CVS is still an option, in case you don’t want to wait for the prints to be delivered. There’s also Walgreens in the US and 7-Eleven in Japan. Of course, just as before, you can order prints straight through the app. Other than prints, you can make a photo book. They start at just $9.99, and you can choose between softcover and hardcover. This feature has been there since the beginning, and it’s available in the U.S., Canada, and some European countries. Since I snap most of my everyday photos and memories with my phone nowadays, this feature would be pretty convenient to have. I think it would help me create a habit of printing my photos again, as I don’t do it remotely as often as I did when I only shot film. But living in Serbia means that a lot of things aren’t available, and Google Photos print service is one of them. But if you live elsewhere, let me know – have you used this service and do you like it? [via Engadget]
