Artkive7 reviews
This score is based on 7 genuine reviews submitted via US-Reviews since 2024.
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photos float in the middle surrounded by big white margins, not the edge-to-edge look in the ads. It makes the whole book feel cheap. Customer help is slow; there's email and a callback calendar but no direct phone line when you need someone in the moment. I spent hours sorting and it still felt wrong. On the plus side the upload and checkout themselves worked without crashing — at least that was smooth. Still, for the price I expected a lot more. I could have shot them myself with a phone, a tripod, and a white sheet and been happier. I won't recommend it outright.
Coffee-table letdown
a simple, tangible way to keep a messy, lovable childhood collection without boxes stacked in the garage. In practice it turned into an exhausting back-and-forth that left us holding onto originals we weren’t ready to lose and feeling… well, duped.
Using the service started out fine on paper: upload, box up the art, send it off. In day-to-day life I imagined the finished book on the coffee table, grabbing it between cereal bowls and bedtime stories. I imagined the texture of the paper, the weight of the spine, hearing the kids laugh at their own drawings. Instead, we got surprise fees and a lot of automated replies. That’s the thing that hurt: we were doing this for sentimental reasons, not to haggle over line items.
What bothered me more than the cost was how rigid everything felt. We were told a price up front and then suddenly there were additional charges we hadn’t been made aware of. When we asked about it, the replies were basically “that’s policy” and an insistence that any discussion had to happen during very narrow phone windows. So instead of getting a keepsake, we spent evenings trying to schedule a call that fit into two people’s work and life, while our kids kept asking when their book would be ready.
I also want to call out how it felt to have our originals held back. There’s an emotional side to this—these are tiny time capsules. Having them effectively used as leverage to force compliance with unexpected terms just felt cold. Not to be dramatic, but there’s a different kind of frustration when the sentimental value of something is treated like a bargaining chip.
On the product side, I still believe the idea is solid and would love to recommend a finished book if it ever materializes. The concept of a well-made, tactile album that becomes part of daily life is great. But the user experience around ordering, communication, and getting your art back needs work. If they actually shipped the book as promised, with clear pricing and straightforward customer care, we’d be first in line to leave a glowing review.
Long story short: the product could be a joy in a household like ours, but the way this order was handled turned it into extra stress. We’re still hoping for a reasonable resolution so the kids can finally have that book—and so this becomes a fond thing on the shelf instead of a source of frustration.Not what I expected, but they fixed it in the end
I sent the originals in, expecting a reasonable quote, and then got hit with an extra charge that made the project unaffordable for us. The policy they quoted meant they had the digital files and I couldn't get the originals back unless I paid a fee. That was rough — I asked for the originals back, explained the money situation, and they held firm for a while. It honestly felt like they were keeping the art to force payment, which is why I was so frustrated.
That said, after some back-and-forth and my reply to their customer service note, they did make it right. They returned the physical artwork and also sent the digital photos. I appreciate that resolution, and I’m glad my daughter has her originals again. The whole process could have been handled better from the start: clearer pricing up front, and a more flexible response when someone says they can’t pay right now. The interaction was a mixed bag — slow empathy at first, then a concrete fix.
Delivery was fine in the end — the art came back intact and the files arrived — so no complaints there. The customer service team eventually did respond and solved the immediate problem, which I value. Price-wise I still think the extra fees are high, especially when you’re in a tight spot. Overall I’m relieved it worked out and grateful they sent everything back, but I’d warn others to read the terms closely and be prepared to push for a reasonable solution if your circumstances are tough. So yeah, glad it ended up okay, but it was unnecessarily stressful for a while.Frustrating keepsake saga
send in a pile of my kids’ crayon masterpieces and get them turned into two little books. I was picturing cozy coffee-table moments, you know? Instead it’s turned into a months-long headache. They photographed every single piece (fine), then sent a bill that ballooned to almost $600 (not fine). The $25-per-book promo? Practically vaporware for me. What bugs me most — and the thing I keep replaying — is that I never got my originals back, and the whole time they were hinting about sending the account to collections. That felt unnecessarily scary for kindergarten drawings. I tried to get a manager on the phone; scheduled a call, nothing. No call back. Emails go unanswered or vague. Meanwhile, the photos sit in their system and my kids’ actual art is out of reach. I’ve dealt with other services before that made returns simple and clear — night and day — so this felt especially sloppy. I’m not angry in a ranty way, just disappointed and tired of the back-and-forth. If there’s any upside, I guess the photos they took look okay, but that’s cold comfort when your originals are MIA. Long story short: be careful, get everything in writing, and don’t assume a promo will mean what it says. I just want the drawings back so we can stop stressing about math on an invoice and hang the sun drawings back on the fridge.
A gift that turned into a headache
a neighbor gave me an Artkive box in 2022 as a gift, and I packed up my daughter’s art and sent it off a few months later. I remember feeling a little nervous about what would happen — like, will they actually make the book? Is there some hidden cost? — but mostly I was just glad to finally do something with the piles of paper. I’ve used other memory-book services before that were pretty clear about pricing and timelines, so I assumed this would be similar. Turns out that assumption was... optimistic.
Photo book printing service
I've been really let down by the customer service from this company. I've been trying to get in touch to talk about my photo book for weeks now, but no one has followed up on the two scheduled calls. It's so frustrating to not hear back, especially when it's something as important as my personal project. I suggest going with Shutterfly or another company that values good customer service and communicates in a timely manner.
Artkive Box Gift
I got a Artkive box as a gift from my neighbor back in 2022. I was really excited to save my daughter's artwork, so I sent it in a few months later. But after waiting six months with no updates from Artkive, I reached out to ask about the book. Turns out they wanted me to pay for a 1st and 2nd payment process that I never heard about before. I was confused and asked to cancel, but they were not very clear in their responses and gave me wrong info. I never got proof that the book was being made and the unexpected high cost was upsetting. It got worse when I got a letter asking for payment for digital editing work and there was no proof that they even took photos of the artwork. The whole thing was a mess, from the long wait to the hidden fees, and the bad customer service.
About Artkive
Celebrating the creativity of children has been said to be a strong encouragement for them to explore and learn more, and be even more creative. To this end, parents and guardians that hope to nurture the creative tendencies of their children have been relying more on technology to not only celebrate but preserve the works of their budding artists. Artkive claims to offer a service that helps in the preservation and sharing of artworks by leveraging technology. For honest independent customer reviews of Artkive, read the comments left for the company by past and existing customers.
About Artkive
Artkive is a company co-founded in 2012 by family members Jedd Gold and Jeff Lipp, to solve the challenge of storing and sharing children’s artwork which usually accumulates over time. The company, which claims to turn the numerous artworks from assignments and projects into a book, offers the options for customers to Do-It-Yourself or allow the company to make the compilation for them. Artkive has a studio based in Los Angeles, from where the compilations and conversions take place.
Products and Services of Artkive
Artkive offers boxes that include Custom Mosaic with 25 Images, 26” X 26” Wood Framed Print, Smooth White Matting, and Gallery Quality Print. The company, which digitizes the artwork and designs it as a book, allows customers to send their artwork through online means or shipping. Artkive also retails keepsakes such as mugs, pillows, phone cases, blankets, puzzles, etc.
Compliments, complaints, and tips for Artkive
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Last update: January 2026
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Review with most votes
Artkive Box Gift
I got a Artkive box as a gift from my neighbor back in 2022. I was really excited to save my daughter's artwork, so I sent it in a few months later. But after waiting six m... Read onBy: Salvatore