How we reviewed this: this is a research-based review. We did not buy or test the product ourselves. We checked the official website, policies and independent customer feedback, and every fact below links to its source. Facts checked 2026-10-31. How we review · Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Quick verdict
Artkive is a real, long-running service that makes good-looking books, but it is easy to spend far more than you planned. You fill a box with your kids’ artwork, mail it in, and Artkive photographs every piece and turns it into a hardcover book. The company has been around since 2012, and buyers on Trustpilot rate it 4.9 out of 5.
The honest part: the $39 box does not include a book. A typical 100-piece book adds $265, you are billed for every photo before you see a proof, and you cannot remove pieces to lower the bill once they are photographed. Most complaints to the Better Business Bureau are about surprise invoices. If you sort your art first and know the price going in, it is a great keepsake. If you fill the box to the top without counting, expect a big bill.
Pros
- ✓ They do all the work: photographing, cropping and book layout
- ✓ Thick, photo-quality pages and a sturdy hardcover, per hands-on reviewers
- ✓ Real company since 2012 with a Los Angeles studio
- ✓ 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 575 reviews
- ✓ Cheaper than Plum Print for a 100-piece book
Cons
- ✗ Buying the $39 box commits you to at least $75 more
- ✗ You pay the full invoice before seeing a proof
- ✗ Double-sided art and cards count as 2 pieces each
- ✗ Books are final once you approve the proof
- ✗ Takes about 3 to 4 months; free online access to your images lasts only 3 months
Check Artkive’s current offer →
How does Artkive work?
- Order the box ($39). You get a crush-proof box that holds 300 to 400 pieces, an order form, a plastic bag for the art and a prepaid UPS return label (contiguous US only).
- Fill it and mail it back. You note your instructions on the order form, such as one book per child or per year.
- Artkive photographs every piece and emails you an invoice based on how many photos were taken and how many books you ordered.
- You pay, then edit your book online: reorder pages, add captions, pick a cover, remove images.
- You approve the proof and the book is printed and shipped free by ground in the US.
- Your originals are recycled unless you paid $20 for Art Return.
What counts as a piece: every photo. Double-sided art is 2 pieces unless you leave a note, a greeting card is 2 (front and inside), every page of a booklet counts, and big 3D items may need more than one photo. Artkive will not combine small pieces onto one page for you.
How much does Artkive really cost?
The box price is only the first payment. The book price includes photography, editing, printing and US ground shipping:
| Pieces in the book | Book price | With the $39 box |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | $75 | $114 |
| 50 | $160 | $199 |
| 100 | $265 | $304 |
| 200 | $455 | $494 |
| 350 (max) | $740 | $779 |
- Add-ons: Art Return $20, USB of your images $25, shipping protection $9.95, extra book copies 60% off.
- A typical 100-piece order with Art Return and a USB comes to about $349.
- Digitizing only, no book: $45 for the first 25 pieces, then $1.35 each, plus the box.
- Memberships to keep your images online auto-renew and are not refundable. Annual plans start at $33 for the first year.
The fine print you need to know
- The $75 commitment: the Terms say that buying the box means “you are committing to purchase our minimum Artkive Box services for an additional $75.” If Artkive has not received your box within six months, you authorize a $75 prepayment charge, which is non-refundable.
- The box itself: refundable only on the day you buy it or within one business day, minus a $5 fee. Once it ships, the $39 is non-refundable.
- Pay before you see it: the help center says “You can not preview your book before you pay for it.” And “Removing pieces later will not reduce your cost.”
- Unpaid invoices: if you do not pay within 30 days, you are automatically charged for digitizing all your items or the $75 minimum, whichever is greater. Unpaid amounts accrue 10% interest a year plus collection fees.
- Books are final: “Once you approve your proof, your book and/or mosaic can no longer be cancelled and is non refundable.”
- Your images: free online access lasts 3 months under the Terms (some help pages say 6). After that, buy the $25 USB, download them, or pay for a membership.
- Your art in their care: the company’s liability is capped at $50 or the amount you paid, including for its own negligence.
What about privacy?
Artkive’s Terms include a very broad license over content you upload, allowing the company to “commercialize, sell, license” it. The very next section says the company does not “sell, lease, license, or otherwise commercialize User Content or children’s personal information.” The two clauses conflict, and we could not tell which one wins. The privacy policy also says photos of your art may be processed by outside AI providers to run and improve the service. If that bothers you, the DIY options below keep your kids’ art on your own devices.
Is Artkive legit?
Yes, it is a real company that delivers. Artkive is run by The Kive Company, a Delaware corporation with a studio at 15800 Arminta St in Van Nuys, California. Cousins Jedd Gold and Jeff Lipp started it in 2012, and TechCrunch covered its first funding round. We found no lawsuits, FTC actions or data breaches.
But its two ratings tell very different stories. Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 575 reviews, with 93% five-star. Better Business Bureau: a B rating (not accredited), 33 complaints in three years, and customer reviews averaging 1.54 out of 5. Nearly all the BBB complaints are about invoices bigger than expected (several over $1,000), collection emails, and art held until the bill was paid.
What real buyers say
What buyers like: the finished books. Reviewers describe thick, photo-quality pages and a sturdy hardcover, and say packing the box took minutes. An NBC12 reporter and the Dad Fixes Everything blog both tried it (both received it free) and liked the result.
What buyers complain about: surprise invoices, not knowing the total until after the art was photographed, slow turnaround, hard-to-reach support (email only for most people), and images locked behind a membership.
How it compares
| Option | 100-piece book | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Artkive Box | About $304 (with box) | They do everything; 3 months of free image access |
| Plum Print | About $383 | Mail-in; digital files included free |
| Artkive DIY book (you photograph) | About $132 | Same book format; needs a membership over 40 images |
| Shutterfly 8×11 book (DIY) | About $154 to $220 | You scan and lay out the pages; 111-page max |
Who should buy it, and who should skip it
A good fit if: you have a pile of kids’ art, no time to scan it, and you are fine spending a few hundred dollars for a polished keepsake. Count your pieces before you mail the box so the invoice is no surprise.
Skip it if: you need a book in a few weeks, you want to keep costs under $100, or you do not want to give a company a broad license over your family’s photos. Photographing the art yourself and using Artkive’s own DIY book or Shutterfly costs about half as much.
See the current Artkive offer →
FAQ
How much does Artkive cost?
The box is $39. Books start at $75 for 25 pieces, and a 100-piece book is $265, so about $304 total. Add $20 to get your art back and $25 for a USB of the images.
Is the $39 box refundable?
Only on the day you buy it or within one business day, minus $5. Once it ships, it is non-refundable, and buying it commits you to at least $75 more.
Can I remove pieces to lower my bill?
No. Artkive bills for every piece it photographs. Sort your art before you send it.
How long does Artkive take?
Artkive says about 8 to 10 weeks from receiving your art to a proof, then printing and 7 to 10 business days of shipping. August to November is slowest.
Do I get my kids’ art back?
Only if you pay $20 for Art Return. Otherwise it is recycled.
How long can I access my digital images?
Free access lasts 3 months under the Terms. After that you need the $25 USB, a download, or a paid membership.
Is Artkive legit?
Yes. It is a California-based company founded in 2012 with mostly happy buyers, but many complaints about surprise invoices.
Artkive vs Plum Print: which is cheaper?
For a 100-piece book, Artkive is about $304 and Plum Print about $383, but Plum Print includes your digital files.
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Sources
- Artkive pricing
- Artkive box checkout
- Artkive Terms of Use
- Artkive privacy policy
- Artkive help: how the box service works
- Artkive help: pricing
- Artkive help: timeline
- Artkive help: box refunds
- Artkive help: paying before the proof
- Artkive membership plans
- Artkive about page
- BBB profile: The Kive Co.
- BBB complaints: The Kive Co.
- Artkive on Trustpilot
- TechCrunch: Artkive turns kids’ artwork into books
- NBC12: Artkive puts your children’s artwork in a book
- Dad Fixes Everything: Artkive review
- Plum Print pricing
- Shutterfly Familygram photo book