We store photos in our phones, not just because of how they look, but because they hold memories we treasure most.
What if I told you it’s possible to turn the photos in your phone gallery into beautiful wall tiles anywhere in your home or office?
Well, online photo print companies like MIXPIX and Mixtiles make that possible. These companies have apps that are simple to use; simply open the app on your phone, select your favorite photos, preferred sizes and styles, and place an order.
Next, wait for the photo prints to arrive at your doorstep and stick them on the wall without using nails or a hammer.
Amazing, isn’t it? Well, in this guide, I will compare Mixtiles vs MIXPIX and help you choose the best photo tiles provider.
Let’s jump in.
What Is MIXPIX?
MIXPIX are squared photo tiles containing your printed photos. These tiles are featherlight but strong and designed from a unique light foam material.
The tiles come in one size: 8 in. x 8 in. and are 1.01 cm thick. They are easy to install, stick, and restick.
How Does It Work?
After installing the MIXPIX app on your phone open it, upload your best photos, and order prints. The company will ship the prints to your doorstep. Shipping takes anywhere between four and 16 days; the exact time depends on your location.
After receiving the photo tiles, you can stick them to the wall in your home. The process of placing the tiles onto the wall is effortless; it uses two magnetized strips.
Here’s how it works: One magnetized strip sticks to your picture’s back and the second strip sticks to the wall. To hang the picture, just join the two strips.
What Is Mixtiles?
Mixtiles are top-quality photo tiles created with photos from your camera roll. The tiles have a special adhesive at the back for easy sticking and res-sticking on the walls many times, without damaging the walls.
Plus, Mixtiles are highly customizable, meaning you can select from different frames, sizes, and mats to suit your specific style.
The tiles are lightweight with photos printed on matte photo paper. They come inside a featherlight frame without any plastic or glass.
Mixtiles lets you turn your photos into eye-popping wall art that you can hang wherever you want, without using nails.
How Does It Work?
Using Mixtiles is easy; choose the photos to upload from your device, Instagram, or Facebook, and customize them with filters, frames, or mats. Next, submit the order and wait for its arrival.
You can choose from multiple formats such as large formats, single prints, gallery walls, and vast wall-wide collages.
With that said, let’s look at MIXPIX vs Mixtiles in terms of their unique features.
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Size and Style
MIXPIX
MIXPIX tiles are only available in one size: 8 x 8 inches and 1.01 cm thick. They are made from light foam material to ensure they are featherweight and easy to install. The tiles can be framed or frameless.
The frames include black, white, black and white, and double-white.
Mixtiles
The tiles have varying sizes, allowing you to select what suits your needs. These sizes include:
- 8 x 8 inches – Square frame
- 11 x 8 inches – Landscape frame
- 8 x 11 inches – Portrait frame
- 12 x 12 inches – Square frame
- 16 x 12 inches – Landscape frame
- 12 x 16 inches – Portrait frame
In addition to size variety, Mixtiles have frame style variety. Specifically, they have framed styles in which their frames consist of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). The frames are black, white, and wooden.
The frame styles have various matting widths to select from. Besides, this style lets you decide whether to print your photos in black or white.
They also have the frameless style known as Edge, which has the prints sticking on the lightweight board that’s exposed on the sides.
Note that, if you order multiple sizes of the frameless style, the tiles will be made of MDF. However, if you order only the 8 x 8-inch size, the frames will be made of plastic rather than MDF.
Verdict
Mixtiles is the winner. It has more style and size variety, giving you more choices to select different sizes and styles to personalize your photos.
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Sign Up
MIXPIX
You won’t see the sign-up button on MIXPIX, but you will see a Get Started button that lets you start uploading photos right away.
This encourages everyone to use this platform and only avail personal information at checkout.
Mixtiles
To place orders on Mixtiles, you need to click on the Let’s Go button and at least enter your name and email. From there, you can start uploading pictures without necessarily signing up with an email and password.
However, there’s an option to create an account or sign up. Creating an account on Mixtiles helps you track shipments and save your progress if you can’t complete it in one session.
You can quickly sign up on Mixtiles by following these steps:
- Click the menu button on the screen’s upper left to see the sign-up button.
- Tap on the pink sign-up/sign-in button
- Type in your email and hit Continue. Remember you can also log in with your Google or Facebook account.
- Next, Mixtiles will send a code to your email, which you need to enter for verification.
- After verification, wait for a few seconds for the order page to appear.
- You’re all set! Time to upload your best photos and customize those beautiful tiles.
Verdict
MIXPIX wins here. Not being required to sign up to use the platform saves you from sharing personal details and delays in both uploading photos and placing orders.
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Ease of Setup
After you receive your MIXPIX or Mixtiles prints and remove them from the box, how do you install them on the wall?
MIXPIX
MIXPIX tiles stick on the wall using slimline magnetized strips (Magnofix system). Here’s how it works:
- Identify the wall you want to hang the photos and wipe it dry
- Remove the two magnetized strips from the box
- Stick the first magnetized strip at the back of the picture.
- Stick the other strip to the wall.
- Hang up your picture by bringing the two strips together.
- Align your photo to ensure it’s straight and at an even distance from the rest.
Here’s a video that summarizes these steps:
How to install MIXPIX® with MAGNOFIX
Mixtiles
- Select the wall you would like to stick the tiles to and use a dry cloth to wipe it.
- Decide which section of the wall you would like to hang the tiles on before removing the paper from the sticky part so it doesn’t dry out.
- Peel the paper off and stick your photo to the wall.
- Use a measuring tool to get even spaces between the tiles. Also, keep the tiles straight.
- Apply pressure evenly around the frames for a good grip. To unstick a tile, lift it from the lower end to the top.
- If you need to pack the tiles up, use regular wax kitchen paper between each unit. Don’t stick them together.
Verdict
It’s a tie. Both tiles are easy to stick to the wall.
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Shipping
MIXPIX
MIXPIX offers free shipping on orders costing $56 and above. Orders below $56 attract $7.90 in shipping fees.
Shipping duration varies according to your location. If you reside in North America, expect your order to arrive after six to 10 working days. On the other hand, orders to Europe take four to six working days, and orders to anywhere else in the world take 10 to 16 days.
I love the fact that you can track your order. Visit this page and use the tracking number to check your parcel’s status.
Did you place an order and want to cancel it, for any reason? MIXPIX lets you do that. Simply email them at support@mixpix.freshdesk.com to request the order cancellation.
If the order has already been shipped, you’ll need to wait for its arrival, unpack it and destroy its contents, and then send them photographic evidence for a refund to be processed.
Mixtiles
Mixtiles offers free shipping on all orders worldwide. They pay customs fees, as well. You can see your country on the checkout screen’s add address section.
How long does the shipping take? Generally, it takes approximately 10 days to receive an order after placing it.
The shipping duration depends on where you’re ordering from. You’ll see the estimated delivery date before checking out. Also, after placing the order, you’ll see the estimated date in the confirmation email.
As soon as the order ships, Mixtiles will send you a tracking link so you can keep an eye on it.
Verdict
Both companies offer seamless shipping across the world. However, Mixtiles wins because it offers free shipping on all orders unlike MIXPIX, which only offers free shipping on orders that cost $56 or more.
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Mobile App
MIXPIX
MIXPIX has apps on both Google Play and App Store. Both apps are free.
The Android app has a rating of four stars, 21 reviews, and over 10k downloads.
On the other hand, their App Store application has a five-star rating and one review.
Using either app is easy: Upload photos, drag a photo to find the perfect fit, select more photos and get up to five free ones. Next, place an order and have it shipped to you.
Mixtiles
Mixtiles has an Android and iOS app. The Google Play Store app has a rating of 4.7 with over 1 million downloads and 24.3k reviews.
The iOS rating has a 4.9 rating and 95.3k ratings. Both apps are 100% free; no subscriptions.
The apps are intuitive and easy to use: upload photos from your phone, choose various sizes and resolutions, and place an order.
Verdict
Mixtiles has highly rated and more established mobile apps than MIXPIX.
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Pricing
MIXPIX
I find MIXPIX’s pricing strategy impressive. They give you discounts based on the number of items ordered.
If you order one print tile, you pay for the shipping fees ($7.90) only. When you order four items, you get two free and pay $32 plus the shipping fees ($7.90).
When you order seven, you get five free (12 in total) and pay $56 but no shipping fees. Lastly, order 15 and get 10 free (25 in total), and pay $120 with free shipping.
Remember, MIXPIX only has one size, 8 x 8 inches, so the pricing applies to this size only.
I tried to upload photos and see how much it costs. Surprisingly, MIXPIX charges $5 extra per tile if you select a frame for your photo. The above pricing only applies to their frameless style.
Mixtiles
Mixtiles’ pricing depends on the photo tile size. Here’s the breakdown of different sizes and their prices:
- Square frame (8 x 8 inches) costs 11 USD
- Landscape frame (11 x 8 inches) costs 14 USD
- Portrait frame (8 x 11 inches) costs 14 USD
- Square frame (12 x 12 inches) costs 19 USD
- Landscape frame (16 x 12 inches) costs 25 USD
- Portrait frame (12 x 16 inches) costs 25 USD
I pulled these figures from their page, but the actual pricing (more on that shortly) appears when you upload photos and click checkout.
Please, note that Mixtiles allows you to order three photo tiles and above. I placed an order for three tiles and the cost was $58 with free shipping. However, they gave me an option (promo) to order 12 items at $99, which is a pretty good deal!
On their frequent questions page, they state that each order starts with three photo tiles costing $58 and $17 for an additional tile under that collection.
And as earlier mentioned, Mixtiles offers free shipping on all orders.
Verdict
Mixtiles is the winner because they offer free shipping on all items, which means you can save in the long term. They also don’t charge extra for framed prints like MIXPIX does.
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Checkout
MIXPIX
The checkout is straightforward. After uploading the photos and selecting your preferred frames, you should click on the Cart button right below the total amount.
The next page will display all the uploaded photos with an option to remove some photos or increase the quantity on the left.
On the right, there’s an option to include a coupon code and apply it. Below it, you’ll see the checkout button. Clicking on it prompts you to provide personal details like name, address, phone number, and more. The next page contains payment details.
Mixtiles
Mixtiles has the easiest checkout process. After uploading your photos and being happy about it, you will see a pink checkout button below the page. Click on it to provide payment information.
Verdict
Mixtiles wins for having the simplest and shortest checkout process.
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Customization
MIXPIX
After uploading images on MIXPIX, you are allowed to select the frameless option or any of the other four framed options, which include a black frame, white frame, black and white frame, and double-white frame.
The app has the option to zoom your photo in or out to find a perfect fit. I uploaded five photos and noticed two were duplicates. MIXPIX gave me the option to delete any unwanted photos.
Mixtiles
Mixtiles has great customization options. First, you can select three options under ‘frame’. These include: black, white, and none (frameless).
You can also use various filters to see how your photos look. They have interesting filters, such as Noir, Dramatic, Winter, Vivid, and Silver. Select the frame that pleases you and proceed to place an order.
The other customization is the ‘mat’ option, which has three options: shallow, medium, and deep.
Verdict
Mixtiles wins. It has more customization options, including frames, filters, and mat. MIXPIX has only frames and a zooming feature.
Mixtiles vs MIXPIX: Customer Support
MIXPIX
They have a contact page that you can visit anytime and send them a question regarding the service. The contact form has an attachment option, making it more user-friendly.
MIXPIX is committed to quality and customer satisfaction, which is why they allow returns and reprints. That said, if you aren’t happy with the order, consider returning it within 30 days.
You should send an email to support@mixpix.freshdesk.com and include information, such as the email address used for placing the order, the order number, the reason behind the return, and whether you’d prefer a refund or replacement.
Remember to attach a digital photo of the delivered photo print and you will receive a response after one working day.
MIXPIX also has an FAQ section where you can find commonly asked questions about their services.
What’s more, you can connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Mixtiles
When it comes to customer support, Mixtiles stands out from the pack.
Why? They have live chat support where you can ask questions about order confirmation and anything else.
If you have a question you wish to ask, start by checking their Frequent Questions section where they have addressed a wide array of areas, from pricing and sizes to shipping. They have answered the questions succinctly but accurately.
Mixtiles lets you sign in to track orders and save your progress. You can also connect with them on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Verdict
Both platforms have an elaborate customer support mechanism, but Mixtiles gets more points for their live chat functionality.
MIXPIX and Mixtiles: Pros and Cons
MIXPIX
Pros
- They offer free extra prints on increased purchases. For example, you can order six prints, but pay for four, order 12 and pay for seven prints, etc.
- The prints are easy to place on the wall. You just need to bring two magnetic strips together; one at the back of the print and the other on the wall
- The frames allow for personalization of photos
- You can start using MIXPIX without even signing up or sharing your email
- They offer gift cards, so you can surprise your loved ones
- Free shipping is available
- High-quality picture quality on the prints; the beautiful colors stand out
- You can resize a photo to achieve a good fit before placing an order
Cons
- They don’t have a variety of print sizes; only the 8 x 8-inch size
- The app has limited customizations when uploading photos
- They don’t have live chat or phone support, meaning you have to rely on emails, which may take longer to get a reply
- You pay an extra $5 for each frame you choose
- Free shipping only applies on orders that cost $56 and above
- I didn’t see the option to upload photos from Instagram or Facebook
- The magnetic strips get weak when you pull the prints down to move to another house, but the company can replace them for you
Mixtiles
Pros
- Free shipping on all orders worldwide
- You can select from a variety of sizes, such as 8” x 8”, 8” x 11”, 12” x 12”, etc.
- Lots of customization options to use (filters, frames, and mat) that let you personalize your prints
- Live chat is available to help you get quick answers to questions
- Easy to fix the prints on the wall: simply remove the cover from the adhesive and press the tiles on the wall
- You can rearrange and readjust the tiles without destroying the wall
- You can upload photos from Facebook, Instagram, and your device
- If you are not satisfied with the photo tiles, Mixtiles provides a full refund
Cons
- The Help Center is less comprehensive; the Frequent Questions page lacks detailed answers to crucial questions
- Phone and email support are missing
- It’s difficult to replace photos in a frame before printing
- The foam in the tile interior isn’t durable
- The filters don’t create a big difference in the prints
- Live chat doesn’t have human support 24/7
MIXPIX vs Mixtiles: Similarities and Differences
Similarities
- Both have framing options
- Both ship worldwide
- Both offer quality, customizable prints
- Both have responsive customer support
- Both have Android and iOS apps
Differences
- Mixtiles offers live chat but MIXPIX doesn’t
- MIXPIX offers free shipping on orders costing $56 and above, but Mixtiles offers free shipping on all orders
- Mixtiles has more customization options than MIXPIX
- Mixtiles doesn’t offer email support, but MIXPIX does
- Mixtiles has a simpler checkout process than MIXPIX
- You must provide your name and email to use Mixtiles. This step doesn’t apply to MIXPIX.
Conclusion
I recommend Mixtiles because its features are superior to MIXPIX. For starters, the tiles come in different sizes and styles.
When uploading photos, you will see incredible customizations, including filters, crops, frames, and mats, allowing you to personalize photos.
One of the reasons I believe most people like Mixtiles is the free shipping on all orders regardless of where you are in the world, and there are no hidden costs.
Besides, the checkout process is short and easy. And Mixtiles has robust easy-to-use mobile apps.
