A box of 4 by 6 postcards from GotPrint starts at 19.44 dollars, while a single 5 by 7 photo card from Minted costs 3.30 dollars on an order of 50, and that gap is the whole story of this market. The best postcard makers are not separated by design tools, since most of them print whatever file you upload. They are separated by price at your quantity, paper quality, turnaround time, and whether they will mail the cards for you.
This guide compares the best postcard makers on those practical questions, with prices read from vendor pages and independent price checks from October and November 2026, so you can pick the printer that fits your job rather than the one with the loudest sale banner.
The twelve tools below cover every kind of postcard job. Vistaprint and GotPrint lead on price for bulk marketing postcards. MOO leads on premium paper and finishes. NextDayFlyers, UPrinting, PrintPlace, 48HourPrint, and PsPrint lead on fast turnaround and trade pricing for businesses that print often. Zazzle, Shutterfly, Minted, and Canva Print lead on photo postcards, invitations, and small personal orders where design matters more than unit price. No single printer wins every category, and the right answer depends on how many cards you need, how fast you need them, and whether the card is going in the mail or into a hand.
Before you compare printers, decide what the postcard has to do. A marketing postcard needs a bold headline, a clear offer, and a low unit price, because it goes to hundreds of people who may never reply. A thank you postcard needs good paper and a clean print, because the recipient keeps it. A real estate postcard needs fast turnaround and mailing, because the listing changes every week. The printer that is cheapest for 1,000 marketing cards is rarely the best choice for 50 thank you cards, and this guide prices both jobs separately so you can see the difference.
What to Check Before You Order
Paper stock decides how the postcard feels in the hand, and the feel decides whether the recipient keeps it or throws it away. Most printers offer a 14 point stock for budget orders and a 16 point stock for a sturdier card, with premium options at 17 point and above, plus coatings such as gloss, matte, and UV. A gloss coating makes photos pop and resists fingerprints, while a matte coating is easier to write on and suits a card the recipient will keep. MOO and Vistaprint both publish their stock options clearly, while the trade printers offer more stocks at lower prices once you know what to ask for.
Size decides both the price and the postage. The standard postcard is 4 by 6 inches, and it is the cheapest size to print and to mail. Larger sizes such as 5 by 7, 5.5 by 8.5, 6 by 9, and 6 by 11 inches cost more to print and more to mail, but they stand out in a mailbox and give you room for a longer message or a larger photo. Vistaprint lists sizes from 4 by 4 inches up to 6 by 11 inches, with a minimum order of 25 cards. Check the size against your mailing budget before you design, since a card too large for the postcard rate will cost letter rate postage on every piece.
Turnaround time is the third thing to check, and it is where the trade printers earn their keep. A local print shop can often turn a job in a day, while an online printer needs three to seven business days plus shipping. NextDayFlyers and 48HourPrint are built around speed, with same day and next day production on many products, while Vistaprint and MOO typically need longer. If the postcard advertises an event next week, turnaround matters more than unit price, and a printer that ships in two days is worth more than a printer that saves two cents a card and ships in ten.
The 12 Best Postcard Makers in 2026
The table below gives the short version. Read the row that matches your job, then read that printer’s full section for the details, the limits, and the price you will actually pay.
| Printer | Best for | From | Minimum order |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vistaprint | Business postcards | Varies by size | 25 cards |
| MOO | Premium paper | Varies by order | Small runs |
| GotPrint | Bulk marketing print | 19.44 dollars, 4 by 6 | Low |
| NextDayFlyers | Fast turnaround | Varies by order | Low |
| UPrinting | Trade pricing | Varies by order | Low |
| PrintPlace | Bulk orders | Varies by order | Low |
| 48HourPrint | Rush orders | Varies by order | Low |
| Zazzle | Photo and custom designs | Varies by design | One card |
| Canva Print | Design plus print in one place | Varies by order | Low |
| Shutterfly | Photo postcards | 4.15 dollars, 5 by 7 on 50 | Low |
| Minted | Designer photo cards | 3.30 dollars, 5 by 7 on 50 | Low |
| PsPrint | Trade print, many products | Varies by order | Low |
Vistaprint
Vistaprint is the default choice for small business postcards, and the reason is range. It prints postcards in sizes from 4 by 4 inches up to 6 by 11 inches, with a minimum order of 25 cards on standard, rounded corner, and die cut postcards, and it offers design templates, a simple online editor, and direct mail services that print, address, and post the cards for you. For a business that needs 100 postcards for a local promotion, Vistaprint is the easiest order on this list, and the site walks you through size, paper, and quantity without needing a print background.
Pricing varies by size, paper, and quantity, and the site shows the price for your exact order before you pay. One November 2026 price check found a 5 by 7 flat card on Premium Matte at 2.20 dollars a card on an order of 50 and 2.03 dollars on an order of 100, before postage, which puts Vistaprint in the middle of this list on price. The trade printers beat it on large orders, and the photo card sites cost more per card, so Vistaprint sits in the practical middle for a small business that orders a few hundred cards at a time.
MOO
MOO is the premium choice on this list, and the difference is visible the moment you hold the card. The company is known for thick paper stocks, special finishes, and Printfinity, which lets every card in an order carry a different design on the back. That feature suits photographers, artists, and designers who want to show a range of work on a single order, and it is something no other printer here offers in the same form. MOO ships worldwide, and the print quality is consistently rated among the best of any online printer.
Pricing is published per order on the site, and MOO does not compete on unit price with the trade printers. The cost is higher than Vistaprint or GotPrint at the same quantity, and the company makes no secret of that, since the product is positioned as premium rather than cheap. For a small run of cards that represent a brand, such as a photographer handing out postcards at an exhibition, the higher price buys a card that people keep. For a bulk mailing of 1,000 cards, the same price is hard to justify, and a trade printer fits better.
GotPrint
GotPrint is where United States designers and agencies send client work when margin matters. The company offers trade pricing on bulk marketing print, with 4 by 6 postcards listed from 19.44 dollars, business cards from 9.59 dollars, and a reseller programme for agencies that order often. A free sample kit lets you check the paper before a large order. For a bulk order of 500 or 1,000 postcards, GotPrint is one of the cheapest options on this list.
The site is built for people who already know print, so the ordering flow assumes you have a print ready file and know your stock and coating. That is a strength for a designer and a weakness for a first time buyer, who may find the options confusing and the proofing process less guided than Vistaprint. Turnaround is typically several business days plus shipping, so GotPrint suits planned campaigns rather than rush jobs.
NextDayFlyers
NextDayFlyers is built around speed, and the name is the promise. The company offers same day and next day production on many products, including postcards, which makes it the best pick when the event is this week and the design is already finished. The site lists postcard sizes, stocks, and coatings clearly, and the ordering flow is straightforward for a business buyer. For a trade show, a last minute promotion, or a real estate listing that needs cards tomorrow, NextDayFlyers is the printer to check first.
UPrinting
UPrinting is a trade printer with a wide range of sizes, stocks, and finishes, and it is a strong choice for businesses that print postcards as part of a larger marketing order. The site covers postcards, flyers, brochures, and banners in one place, so a business can order the whole campaign from one printer and keep the paper and the colours consistent. Pricing is shown per order and varies by size, quantity, and stock, with bulk orders bringing the unit price down sharply. For a business that orders 500 or more cards at a time, UPrinting is competitive with GotPrint and PrintPlace.
PrintPlace
PrintPlace is another trade printer built for bulk orders, with a large range of paper stocks, coatings, and sizes, and a reputation for consistent quality on marketing print. The site lists postcards alongside flyers, brochures, and business cards, and the ordering flow is clear about quantity breaks, so a buyer can see how the unit price falls as the order grows. Pricing is shown per order on the site and varies by size, stock, and quantity, with the best prices on orders of 500 or more. For a business that mails postcards regularly, PrintPlace is a reliable option.
48HourPrint
48HourPrint is a rush printer, and the name describes the production time rather than the delivery time. The company offers fast turnaround on postcards and other marketing print, with production in 48 hours on many products, plus shipping time on top. That speed makes it the best pick when the design is finished, the event is close, and the standard turnaround of a trade printer is too slow. The site lists postcard sizes, stocks, and coatings, and the ordering flow is straightforward for a business buyer.
Zazzle
Zazzle is a marketplace for custom printed products, and postcards are one of the many products it sells. The strength is design variety, since thousands of independent designers sell postcard designs on the platform, and you can customise the text, the photo, and the colours before you order. You can order a single card, which no trade printer on this list offers at a sensible price, and the site handles printing and shipping for you. For a personal postcard, a holiday card, or a one off design, Zazzle is the easiest order here.
Pricing varies by design, size, and quantity, and the site shows the price for your exact order before you pay. One November 2026 price check found Zazzle among the more expensive options for a standard photo card, which reflects the marketplace model, where the designer takes a share and the unit price is higher than a trade printer. The quality is good for a personal card, but the paper and the print are not in the same class as MOO or Minted for a premium job. Zazzle also runs frequent sales, so the list price is rarely the final price.
Canva Print
Canva Print is the print service built into Canva, and its appeal is that the design and the print live in the same place. You design the postcard in Canva, choose the size and the paper, and order the print without exporting a file or learning a print specification. That workflow suits a small business owner who already designs in Canva and wants a printed postcard without a second tool. The print quality is good for a standard marketing postcard, and the ordering flow is the simplest on this list for a Canva user.
Pricing is shown per order on the site and varies by size, quantity, and paper, with bulk orders bringing the unit price down. Canva does not publish a single starting price for postcards, so check the price for your exact order before you commit. The paper options are narrower than a trade printer, and the turnaround is typically several business days plus shipping, so Canva Print suits planned orders rather than rush jobs. The company also offers delivery to many countries, which is a strength for an international buyer.
Shutterfly
Shutterfly is a photo printing service, and its postcards are photo cards first and marketing cards second. The strength is the photo workflow, since Shutterfly is built around uploading photos, choosing a layout, and ordering prints, and the site makes it easy to turn a family photo into a postcard in minutes. The company also offers mailing services, so a photo postcard can be printed, addressed, and posted without the buyer handling a single card. For a holiday card, a birth announcement, or a thank you card with a photo, Shutterfly is a natural fit.
Pricing is shown per order on the site and varies by size and quantity. One November 2026 price check found a 5 by 7 flat photo card at 4.15 dollars a card on an order of 50 and 3.70 dollars on an order of 100, before postage, which makes Shutterfly one of the more expensive options on this list for a standard card. The price reflects the photo printing model, where each card is printed individually rather than in a bulk run, and the cost does not fall as fast with quantity as it does at a trade printer.
Minted
Minted is a marketplace for independent designers, and its postcards are designer cards first and print products second. The strength is the design catalogue, since the cards come from independent artists and the styles range from minimal to ornate, with foil, letterpress, and shaped options that no trade printer offers. For a wedding, a birth announcement, or a holiday card where the design is the point, Minted produces the most beautiful card on this list. The site also offers addressing and mailing, so a card can be printed, addressed, and posted in one order.
Pricing is shown per order on the site and varies by design, size, and quantity. One November 2026 price check found a standard 5 by 7 photo card at 3.30 dollars a card on an order of 50 and 2.74 dollars on an order of 100, before postage, which makes Minted one of the more expensive options here, though cheaper than Shutterfly at the same quantity. Foil and shaped cards cost more, and the price reflects the designer marketplace model, where the artist takes a share of each sale.
PsPrint
PsPrint is a trade printer with a wide product range, covering postcards, flyers, brochures, business cards, and banners in one place. The strength is range and trade pricing, with bulk orders bringing the unit price down sharply and a large set of paper stocks, coatings, and sizes to choose from. The site lists postcards alongside the rest of the catalogue, and the ordering flow is clear about quantity breaks, so a buyer can see how the price falls as the order grows. For a business that prints many products, PsPrint is a solid single supplier.
Pricing is shown per order on the site and varies by size, stock, and quantity, with the best prices on orders of 500 or more. PsPrint does not publish a single starting price for postcards, so check the price for your exact order before you commit. Turnaround is typically several business days plus shipping, and rush options cost more. The site is built for trade buyers, so a first time customer may find the options detailed, though the ordering flow is clearer than some trade printers.
Best Pick by Job
The table below matches each common job to the best postcard makers pick for that job. Find your job, take the pick, and skip the rest of the comparison.
| Job | Best pick | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday business postcards | Vistaprint | Range, templates, direct mail |
| Premium brand card | MOO | Thick stocks, special finishes |
| Bulk marketing, 500 plus | GotPrint | Trade pricing, low unit cost |
| Rush order, this week | NextDayFlyers | Same day and next day production |
| Bulk order, many products | UPrinting | Trade pricing, wide range |
| Bulk reorders, monthly | PrintPlace | Consistent quality, bulk prices |
| Rush production, 48 hours | 48HourPrint | Fast production time |
| Personal card, one off | Zazzle | Single card orders, many designs |
| Design in Canva, print it | Canva Print | Design and print in one place |
| Photo holiday card | Shutterfly | Photo workflow, mailing service |
| Designer keepsake card | Minted | Independent designer catalogue |
| Trade print, wide range | PsPrint | Bulk pricing, many products |
If your job does not match a row exactly, pick the closest one. A real estate agent mailing 500 just listed cards is closer to a bulk marketing job than to a premium job, so GotPrint fits better than MOO. A photographer handing out cards at an exhibition is closer to a premium job, so MOO fits better than GotPrint. The job decides the printer, and the printer decides the price per card.
What Postcards Cost at Three Quantities
The best postcard makers differ most on price, so comparisons only work when the card is the same. This section prices a 5 by 7 card on an order of 50, an order of 100, and an order of 500, using prices read from vendor pages and independent price checks from October and November 2026. The numbers are list prices with no promo codes, and they cover the printed card only, since postage is extra and varies by size and destination.
At 50 cards, the photo card sites set the price. Minted lists a standard 5 by 7 photo card at 3.30 dollars a card on 50, and Shutterfly lists the same size at 4.15 dollars a card on 50, which makes both of them expensive for a small order, though the price includes photo printing. Vistaprint lists a 5 by 7 flat card on Premium Matte at 2.20 dollars a card on 50, which is cheaper than either photo site and reflects the simpler print. The trade printers do not publish a single price for 50 cards, since their pricing is built around larger orders, and a 50 card order from GotPrint or UPrinting is priced per order.
At 100 cards, the gap narrows but the order stays the same. Minted lists 2.74 dollars a card on 100, Shutterfly lists 3.70 dollars a card on 100, and Vistaprint lists 2.03 dollars a card on 100. The photo sites fall with quantity, but they fall slowly, because each card is printed individually rather than in a bulk run. The trade printers become competitive at this size, and a 100 card order from GotPrint or PrintPlace will often beat the photo sites, though the exact price depends on the stock and the coating you choose.
At 500 cards, the trade printers win by a wide margin. GotPrint lists 4 by 6 postcards from 19.44 dollars for a small run, and the unit price on a 500 card order from GotPrint, UPrinting, PrintPlace, or PsPrint falls to a few cents per card, depending on the stock and the coating. A 500 card order from Minted or Shutterfly would cost more than ten times as much, which is why the photo sites are the wrong choice for a bulk mailing. The lesson is simple. The cheapest printer depends on the quantity, and the quantity should be decided before the printer is chosen.
Paper, Size, and Mailing
Paper is the first decision after quantity, and the choice is between a light stock that mails cheaply and a heavy stock that feels premium. A 14 point stock is the standard for a budget marketing postcard, a 16 point stock is sturdier and suits a card the recipient will keep, and a 17 point stock and above is premium. Coatings change the feel as well. A gloss coating makes photos bright and resists fingerprints, a matte coating is easier to write on, and a UV coating adds shine and protection. Ask for a sample kit before a large order, since the paper is hard to judge from a screen.
Size is the second decision, and it affects both the print price and the postage. The standard 4 by 6 inch postcard is the cheapest to print and to mail, and it suits a short message and a single photo. A 5 by 7 inch card gives more room for text and a larger photo. Larger sizes such as 5.5 by 8.5, 6 by 9, and 6 by 11 inches stand out in a mailbox and suit a real estate listing or a retail promotion, but they cost more to print and more to mail. Check the size against the postage rate before you design, since a card too large for the postcard rate will cost letter rate postage.
Mailing is the third decision, and it is where a printer that offers direct mail earns its fee. Vistaprint, Shutterfly, and Minted all offer mailing services that print, address, and post the cards for you, which saves the work of addressing hundreds of envelopes by hand. The service adds a fee per card plus postage, and the total cost should be compared against the cost of printing the cards yourself and mailing them by hand. For a small order, hand mailing is cheaper. For a large order, a mailing service saves hours of work and reduces addressing errors, which is worth more than the fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best postcard maker for a small business?
Among the best postcard makers, Vistaprint is the best pick for most small businesses, because it covers the full range of sizes, offers design templates and direct mail, and takes a minimum order of 25 cards. GotPrint is the better pick when the order is 500 cards or more and the unit price is the priority. MOO is the better pick when the card is a premium brand piece and the budget allows it. The right choice depends on the quantity and on whether the card is a mailer or a keepsake.
How much does it cost to print postcards?
It depends on the size, the quantity, and the printer. A 4 by 6 postcard from GotPrint starts at 19.44 dollars for a small run, while a 5 by 7 photo card from Minted costs 3.30 dollars a card on an order of 50 and 2.74 dollars on an order of 100. A 5 by 7 flat card from Vistaprint costs 2.20 dollars a card on 50 and 2.03 dollars on 100. On an order of 500 or more, the unit price at a trade printer falls to a few cents per card. Always check the price for your exact size and quantity before you order.
What size should a postcard be?
The standard postcard is 4 by 6 inches, and it is the cheapest size to print and to mail. A 5 by 7 inch card gives more room for text and a larger photo, and it suits a thank you card or an announcement. Larger sizes such as 5.5 by 8.5, 6 by 9, and 6 by 11 inches stand out in a mailbox and suit a real estate listing or a retail promotion, but they cost more to print and more to mail. Check the size against the postage rate before you design, since a card that is too large for the postcard rate costs letter rate postage.
Can postcard makers mail the cards for me?
Yes. Vistaprint, Shutterfly, and Minted all offer mailing services that print, address, and post the cards for you, and several trade printers offer direct mail as well. The service adds a fee per card plus postage, and the total cost should be compared against printing the cards yourself and mailing them by hand. For a large order, a mailing service saves hours of work and reduces addressing errors. For a small order, hand mailing is usually cheaper.
What paper is best for postcards?
A 14 point stock is the standard for a budget marketing postcard, a 16 point stock is sturdier and suits a card the recipient will keep, and a 17 point stock and above is premium. A gloss coating makes photos bright and resists fingerprints, while a matte coating is easier to write on and suits a card the recipient will keep. Ask for a sample kit from the printer before a large order, since the paper is hard to judge from a screen, and the feel of the card decides whether the recipient keeps it.
How long does postcard printing take?
It depends on the printer and the speed you choose. NextDayFlyers and 48HourPrint offer same day and next day production on many products, while Vistaprint and MOO typically need several business days plus shipping. Trade printers such as GotPrint, UPrinting, and PrintPlace also need several business days plus shipping, with rush options costing more. If the postcard advertises an event, order early enough that the cards arrive before the event, and confirm the production time and the shipping time separately, since they are not the same thing.
The Short Version
The best postcard makers are the ones that match the job, not the ones with the lowest starting price. Vistaprint leads for everyday business postcards, MOO leads for premium cards, GotPrint leads for bulk marketing, NextDayFlyers and 48HourPrint lead for rush orders, UPrinting, PrintPlace, and PsPrint lead for bulk trade print, Zazzle leads for single personal cards, Canva Print leads for designs already in Canva, Shutterfly leads for photo cards, and Minted leads for designer keepsakes. Pick the row that matches your job, check the price for your exact quantity, and ask for a sample of the paper before a large order.
A postcard is a small piece of print with a large effect on the person who receives it. The paper, the size, and the print quality decide whether it is kept or thrown away, and the price per card decides whether the mailing is affordable. Get the quantity right, get the paper right, and the printer will do the rest.