When making a photo book, sometimes we’re in a rush and need the quickest and most convenient thing we can get; other times we’re aiming for quality and are willing to invest the time and money to get an exceptional product. If the latter is your case, you’ve narrowed down your search to two good options. MILK Books and Artifact Uprising are two companies known for producing beautiful, high-end products that stand out (and that of course, comes at a price), with their unique cover design and material options.
Being that they’re both members of the top-notch quality category, and therefore have similar, higher-range price points, deciding between the two is tricky, but there are a few other criteria that separate them. The main aspect that differentiates these two platforms is the book creation process itself, including both the editor and the support available to guide you.
Main Features |
MILK Books |
Artifact Uprising |
Logo | ||
Rating | ||
Reviews | Reviews | Reviews |
Visit | Visit Site | |
Coupons | Coupons | Coupons |
Online Editor | ||
Downloadable Software | ||
Mobile-Friendly Editor | ||
iOS App | ||
Android App | ||
Windows App |
Book Editor Features |
MILK Books |
Artifact Uprising |
# Designs | n/a | 15 |
# Pages | 24-200 pages | 15-150 pages |
Autofill | ||
Layout Personalization | ||
Collaboration | ||
Online Storage | ||
Album Sharing | ||
Social Media Import |
Book Sizes, Covers, Shapes |
MILK Books |
Artifact Uprising |
# Sizes | 11 | 5 |
5x5 | ||
8x8 | ||
8.5x11 | ||
10x10 | 11x11 | |
12x12 | ||
11x15 | ||
# Cover Types | 5 | 6 |
Softcovers | ||
Hardcovers | ||
Leather Covers | ||
Fabric Covers | ||
Layflat Covers | ||
Linen Covers | ||
Square Shapes | ||
Landscape Shapes | ||
Portrait Shapes | ||
Flyleaf |
Shipping Time & Options |
MILK Books |
Artifact Uprising |
Processing Time | 7-21 days | 2-8 days |
Overnight Shipping | ||
International Shipping | ||
Store Pickup |
Pricing & Discounts |
MILK Books |
Artifact Uprising |
8x8 Softcover Price | $39 | $28.00 |
Standard Shipping Cost | $4,99 | $7.99 |
Extra Page Cost | $1,20 | $0.50-$1.00 |
Money Back Guarantee | 14 days | n/a |
Bulk Discounts | Upon request | |
Gift Certificates | ||
Refer a Friend Rewards |
Available Payment Methods |
MILK Books |
Artifact Uprising |
Visa | ||
PayPal | ||
Mastercard | ||
American Express | ||
Discover |
Customer Support |
MILK Books |
Artifact Uprising |
Live Chat | ||
Phone | ||
Community | ||
Videos |
About |
MILK Books |
Artifact Uprising |
Headquarters | New Zealand | U.S. |
Founded | 2012 | 2012 |
Languages | EN | EN |
MILK Books
With MILK Books, you only have the option to create your project from the website, meaning no app is available. While there is plenty of online documentation available to help (including video tutorials), if you don’t take the time to go through these, you may find yourself struggling to use the editor to make your book. Instead of this editor making for an enjoyable experience (as creating a photo book should be), you’ll discover a rather boring, unappealing tool that is somewhat frustrating to use, especially for those who have never done this before. However, while some may find the tool difficult to navigate, others will just be thankful to have something to work with that’s in their own language – MILK Books’ platform is translated into an impressive six languages which we don’t see often in photo book services.
Luckily, thorough support is readily available to help anyone out who’s experiencing difficulties with the platform – available every day via phone, live chat, and email, this is much more comprehensive support than some other companies (ahem, Artifact Uprising) offer.
On another note, there is one stand-out aspect about MILK Books that many people choose to use it for, despite some of its shortcomings, which is its exclusive Moleskine book. We have yet to find another service that offers such a classy, elegant product, so if that’s your main goal, it would be reasonable to choose MILK Books for this reason alone.
Artifact Uprising
We have to say that the Artifact Uprising editor is much nicer to use – it’s simple, intuitive, and most of all, attractive. You also have the option to make your photo book with its mobile app, although it’s only available on iOS. Our only complaint about the editor is that you can’t modify photos inside it (no filters, brightening, etc.), but then again, this isn’t possible with MILK Books either.
Artifact Uprising does have pretty thorough online documentation to help you out, but unfortunately no video tutorials. Its support team is only available via email and takes up to 48 hours to respond, which is a bummer if you have an immediate question that you need to be answered. However, as the editor is so easy to use, you can probably expect to have fewer questions, and therefore a lesser need for immediate support.
One little known fact about Artifact Uprising that may affect your decision is the company’s eco-friendly stance. It’s committed to using recycled paper and wood in all its products, so if environmental concerns are important to you as a consumer, you know you can count on this company for its aligned business values. While Artifact Uprising doesn’t have one specific product that stands out in the market like the one mentioned earlier from MILK Books, all books it makes respect very high-quality standards and its satisfaction guarantee ensures that you’ll end up with results that live up to your expectations.
The Editor
Artifact Uprising Design Page Layout
An Artifact Uprising Photo Book Preview
Artifact Uprising Cover Types (One)
Artifact Uprising Cover Types (Two)
Conclusion
Basically, the choice between Artifact Uprising and MILK Books can be made based on a few differentiating factors, namely the UX of the editor, customer support, and the product itself. If a very quick and intuitive book-making experience is what you’re looking for, Artifact Uprising’s editor can deliver that, however, if you feel that you’ll need constant, instant support throughout the process regardless of how easy it is, MILK Books may be a better choice.
Finally, if ending up with a very unique book that no other service offers is important to you, or if you’ve just fallen in love with the Moleskine book and nothing else lives up to it, MILK Books is the one. Both companies offer top-of-the-line products and satisfaction guarantees, so regardless of which one you choose, you won’t be disappointed with the end result.
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Ray says
I recently had a disappointing experience with MILK Books that I think is important to share, especially for those considering them versus Artifact Uprising for high-quality photo albums.
After purchasing two albums from MILK Books for over a thousand dollars, I encountered unexpected issues. The most concerning was a request from MILK, via a FedEx attachment, to fill out a form requiring sensitive personal information, including my Social Security number, to register as an importer. This process was not only inconvenient but also poorly communicated by MILK’s customer service.
FedEx eventually provided a DocuSign solution, which was more straightforward than MILK’s vague instructions. However, MILK’s customer service was less than helpful throughout, offering responses that felt dismissive and unapologetic, especially when I was later billed an additional $120 for ‘FedEx Express Services.’
What’s more, MILK’s email cited their Terms of Use regarding import duties and taxes, which, frankly, most customers don’t scrutinize during checkout. This was frustrating as I’ve never had to deal with such complications when ordering online products before, and the cost was not transparent at the point of sale.