Software programs and the internet make it easier for us to take photos and share them. However, the process by which we turn them into printed and framed pictures is the same.
We need to print the pictures, but not all of us have access to printers. The good news is that companies like Mixtiles and PhotoSquared will do this for us.
Typically, we would have to visit a “photography” center in our town, pay for the printout, and then buy the frame. The trouble with that is we also have to carry them back to our home.
In addition, we need to hammer nails or drive screws into our walls. Finally, as you may know, we tend to move picture frames around, leaving holes in the wall.
Mixtiles and PhotoSquared eliminate all these problems. These companies allow us to order framed and printed photographs, and there is no need to nail them to our walls.
In this post, I will compare these two photo-print applications. Ultimately, the information I provide will help you decide which is better for your photo-printing needs.
Let’s check out.
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Introduction
What is Mixtiles?
Mixtiles is a tool that converts digital images into art. Essentially, you can mix and match your photos into a collage and add some designs like borders.
What makes it different from other tools of similar nature is that you can ask the company to print it for you. Then, they will ship you the printed collage, and you can hang it on your wall.
The founders of Mixtiles thought that hanging pictures was such a pain. So, they decided that the best way to address this need was to create the frames and do the printing themselves.
The goal of Mixtiles is to make picture-framing easier than traditional methods. However, they also know that nailing frames can destroy walls, which is why they use adhesives.
The beauty of Mixtiles is that the frames are in one standard size, which is eight inches by eight inches. On top of that, the frames come with double-sided tape. This tape allows you to stick the frame on a wall.
Mixtiles can send physical photos anywhere in the world for free. If you are unhappy with how the photos turn out, you can ask them for a refund.
What is PhotoSquared?
PhotoSquared is similar to Mixtiles, where you can design a collage of your photographs. PhotoSquared will print the images on high-quality photo paper on a board and send the final product to you.
PhotoSquared is available on both iOS and Android platforms. In addition, the company sells framed images, extra adhesives, and gift cards.
With PhotoSquared, you can create photo boards as big as eight inches wide and eight inches long. They use a board that is half-inch in thickness, and the photos are printed directly on these foam boards.
What makes PhotoSquared an optimal choice is that the images are guaranteed not to fade from moisture. The ink they use can also fight sunlight.
In addition, PhotoSquared has stock photos of all sorts of things. So, for example, you can buy four pieces of frames that, when put together, produce a larger image.
PhotoSquared also boasts a special kind of adhesive. At the back of each foam board, there are four square adhesives. So after sticking the board to a wall, you can remove and re-attach it without damaging your wall.
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Ease of Use
Mixtiles
Mixtiles is easy to use. After downloading the app, just tap on “Let’s Go,” and the app will automatically access your photos on your phone.
There are three options for photo sources, and these are All Photos, Camera, and Screenshots. Unfortunately, there is no option to choose from a file folder on the phone, but this option is available on the desktop version.
Once you see your photo on the app, just tap it. With every purchase, the minimum you should get is a set of three tiles.
After that, tap on the button that says “Style Your Photos.” Here, you must choose the frame design of the printout.
There is no option to alter your photos in any way. If you want your photos to have special effects, you must do that on another app and save it on your phone.
PhotoSquared
PhotoSquared is also easy to use. After downloading the app, you will also see the photos available for use on it. However, PhotoSquared has other photo source options.
Here are your photo source choices:
- Photos on your device
- Photos on your Instagram
- Photos on your Google Photos
The last two require an online connection. Like Mixtiles, you cannot access photos in a separate folder. Although PhotoSquared can access online images, the limit is only to Instagram and Google Photos.
What does this mean? It means that if your photos are on Photobucket or Shutterfly, you cannot access them readily. Instead, you must download them to your device first.
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Design Selection
Mixtiles
Mixtiles offer several designs for printing photos when it comes to borders. The simplest one is a clean border where you get a thin, white frame.
Here are the other options:
- Ever – The image has no visible border, but there is a white space between the frame and the edge of the photo. The frame edge is thin, and it is white.
- Bold – The frame is thin and black; there is no white space between the picture’s edge and the frame’s edge.
- Classic – The design is similar to Ever, but the frame is black instead of white.
- Edge – This one has no frame on the sides. It is like an enlarged photograph. The edge of the foam board is the edge of the picture itself.
PhotoSquared
PhotoSquared does not offer edges and framing designs. There is only one style, the same as the Edge design of Mixtiles.
PhotoSquared, however, offers an editing mode. After selecting a photo, you can choose which part of it goes to the printed board.
There are nine boxes in the editing grid. You can move the photo up and up and left and right. You can choose which part of the photo you want in the center.
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Shipping
Mixtiles
Shipping is 100% free for any purchase on Mixtiles. Therefore, the shipping cost is probably already accounted for or added to the product cost.
Mixtiles does not provide a fixed number of days for shipping. They cannot do this because shipping times vary according to the destination.
The good news is that you will see the days it will take for the photos to arrive. For example, in the screenshot below, I placed the order on the first day of December. The expected arrival time is on the 15th of the same month.
PhotoSquared
Shipping is also 100% free with PhotoSquared. However, unlike Mixtiles, PhotoSquared commits to a short shipping period.
The commitment of PhotoSquared is between two and five days from the date of order. So, if you order today, you will get your product two to five days from now.
They can do this because they only ship to the USA and Canada. Since they are located in North America and only ship to the same continent, they can commit to faster shipment.
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Other Services
Mixtiles
Mixtiles does not offer any other kind of services. You can only add photos to the tiles and choose what tile design or border you want.
You cannot buy extra adhesives from Mixtiles. If the glue loses its adhesion, you must look for an after-market variant.
PhotoSquared
PhotoSquared has an extra service where you can buy tiles as a set without using your photos. These are photos that they have in their database. Below are some examples.
In addition, you can also buy extra adhesives from PhotoSquared. Finally, if you want, you can also buy a gift code, which you can send to someone.
The gift code is like an Amazon gift card. Once you send this code to a friend, he has to enter this in a box upon his checkout in PhotoSquared.
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Pricing
Mixtiles
Each set of three tiles costs $58, but this price only applies to the first three tiles. Once you have purchased three, the following tiles you buy will now cost $17 each.
To be clear, this pricing scheme applies to each set. You will not pay $17 per tile just because you already purchased three tiles.
So, to clarify this, let us say that you purchased one picture consisting of six tiles today. You will pay:
- First three tiles = $58
- Second three tiles = $17 each x 3 = $51
The total payment for this purchase is $75. Now, if you make a new purchase next week, the calculation process is the same.
You do not have to purchase four tiles at a time but you also can’t buy one tile only. You must buy at least three. The discounted price is great for people who want a larger collage on their wall.
NOTE: There is no pricing page for Mixtiles. You will only see updated prices on the site’s FAQ pop-up window.
PhotoSquared
The cost of each tile for PhotoSquared is only $9. The shipping is free, but then the app itself is finicky. In addition, the service is not available globally.
What I mean by finicky is that you cannot use the app on any device. Even if it is available on iOS and Android, it does not work on all devices.
The worst thing about it is that it does not even work on a computer. In addition to this, the app requires that you buy a minimum of four tiles.
If you want a discounted price, you will only get it if you are a first-time user. Once you download the app, you will get 30% off on your first six tiles. You will only get this discount if you enter a code, which you will receive upon sign-up.
NOTE: There is no pricing page for PhotoSquared. You will only see updated prices on the app itself.
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Customer Support
Mixtiles
Mixtiles has one customer support channel, which is chat. The chat support is available 24/7, and you can chat with them even if you are not a member.
The other methods of support that Mixtiles offers are as follows:
- Social Media – Mixtiles has a presence on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Use these to voice your concerns about their products and services on those platforms.
- Knowledgebase – Once you click on the “chat” button, there is an option where you can type a query in a search field. This query box will take you to the relevant article or support page, where you can find answers to your questions.
One thing I need to be transparent about is that Mixtiles does not offer immediate customer service. Expect to get an answer within 24 hours. The good news is that they are available any day. So, if you send an inquiry on a Saturday, you may get an answer by Sunday.
PhotoSquared
PhotoSquared has a “Contact Us” page on its website. It is the only method to contact them if you do not have an account.
Sadly, PhotoSquared is not available in all countries. What it means is that you cannot download their app if you are not part of the regions they serve.
PhotoSquared also has a social media presence. However, do not expect much from them. Going through their Facebook page, I noticed many inquiries that PhotoSquared did not respond to.
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Pros and Cons
Mixtiles
Pros
- Has an app for Android and iOS, and it works on Windows
- The service is available globally
- They offer 24/7 chat support
- There is a vast knowledge base of common issues
- Shipping is free
Cons
- The cost is high
- There is no option to expedite shipping
PhotoSquared
Pros
- You can buy ready-made images
- Available on Android, iOS, and Windows
- Shipping is fast and free
- The product is more affordable than Mixtiles
Cons
- The service is only available in the US and Canada
- The website is clunky and may not work all the time
- You have to buy at least four tiles
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Similarities and Differences
| FEATURE | MIXTILES | PHOTOSQUARED |
| Free Shipping | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free Sign Up | ✅ | ✅ |
| Android App | ✅ | ✅ |
| iOS App | ✅ | ✅ |
| Windows Browser | ✅ | ✅ |
| Global Availability | ✅ | ❌ |
| Frame on Photo | ✅ | ❌ |
| Ready-Made Photos | ❌ | ✅ |
| Multiple Sizes | ❌ | ❌ |
| Extra Adhesives | ❌ | ✅ |
| Fast Shipping | ❌ | ✅ |
Mixtiles vs PhotoSquared: Which is Better?
In my opinion, Mixtiles is the better choice between the two. I am saying this because PhotoSquared does not offer its services globally.
What I love about Mixtiles is the accessibility and reliability of its program. You can access it via iOS, Android, or a Windows PC.
The Mixtiles app works without hiccups or failures, and its website is flawless too. Between its website and mobile app, the experience is highly similar, as the browser version has a mobile app interface.
Mixtiles is also a better choice because the product comes with a frame. With PhotoSquared, the printout does not even have a border. It is only a tile.
Finally, Mixtiles offers a three-tile purchase, while PhotoSquared requires that you buy a minimum of four tiles. To me, this is a deal breaker, as not everyone wants a four-tile image hanging on the wall.
