I’m a staff writer on Wirecutter’s home design team, and I focus most of my working hours on ways to make your home beautiful and functional. I’ve covered everything from scented candles to small-bedroom storage to makeup mirrors.

For this guide:

• I visited the sites of dozens of online framing companies, comparing their offerings, the navigation experience, and ease of ordering.
• I spoke with a professional framer for insight on what to look for in an online framing service. He then helped me dissect the frames I ordered online, to analyze how they were put together.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

An online framing service falls somewhere in between buying a ready-made frame that you put your own photo in and going to an in-person framing shop to have it do everything for you.

This service is ideal for people who are short on time. Instead of schlepping to a framer to consult and drop off a photo (or artwork) and then returning later to pick it up, all you need to do when using a photo service is tap on your phone or laptop for a few minutes.

Online framing is also a good option for digital images that you haven’t yet printed.

But you probably shouldn’t use an online framing service for valuable art or heirlooms, said Gina Canter, a professional framer and owner of Allan Jeffries Framing in Los Angeles. For one thing, mailing your art to an online framing service puts them at risk of being lost or damaged en route. In addition, even though the online framers we recommend use acid-free paper and backing, when we dissected some of the frames, we found some did not use acid-free tape; this is not a big deal for photos you have digital copies of, but it’s something that could cause staining or fading over many years.

Online framing is convenient, however, and a service often provides several customization options and some personalized assistance.

And using an online framing service is usually less expensive than going to a local frame shop. But you do lose out on the expertise and personal touch that an in-person professional can offer while handling your art.

For example, Canter (who, granted, runs a local framing store and has a clearly vested interest in arguing for the benefits of in-person handling) said a pro framer can recommend different glazing (the “glass” part of a frame) based on whether you’re framing a pastel, a watercolor, or a signed poster, and all of those materials respond differently to light, humidity, and even static electricity. Most of the online services I researched don’t offer this variety of glazing options, and even with those that do, the task of identifying which one you need still falls on your shoulders.

The majority of the online frames I received looked professional and felt sturdy, but the materials often aren’t as high quality as those of a custom frame. And only a few of the online services I tried offered glazing for more-comprehensive sun protection.

Online services usually offer less customization—fewer frame styles, dimension options, and mat colors—so if you have a specific look in mind or an unusually sized piece, you may want to go to an in-person professional.

And if you don’t have a specific look in mind, a framer can help you figure out an aesthetic particular to your space and style better than a website can. Some online retailers, like Framebridge, have started offering customized online design services and in-person shopping, but we haven’t tried those yet.

I mainly focused on full-service companies that printed and framed photos (you digitally upload the files or mail them in), and I skipped those that ship empty frames for self-assembly.

I used the following criteria to determine the best overall service:

• Well-made frames and high-quality prints: I looked for solid, sturdy frames that arrived without damage (either from shipping or assembly), with well-glued dust covers (the backing) and properly aligned mounting hardware. I also examined each photo print to see how the color and clarity compared.
• A straightforward ordering process: I noted each service’s customization options, including the glazing, mat size and color, frame style, dust cover, and mounting hardware. I took note of which services made it clear what I was ordering and when it would arrive.
• Great customer support: Any online business, especially a creative one, should have excellent customer service. It was critical that the companies were easy to reach and helpful in assisting us.

I tested eight services, selecting approximately the same option each time: a slim, black wooden gallery frame with a 1.5-inch white mat around an 8-by-10-inch print of my editor’s cute pup, Mia.

Each service had different customization options, including mat width and color, glaze upgrades (UV blocking or antiglare), backing type, and hanging style (sawtooth or wire). By keeping our orders as simple as possible—making no adjustments to the recommended options—I was able to see how tasteful the default styles looked.

Every service delivered a well-wrapped frame (none of them were damaged on arrival), and all were decent digital prints.

To check frame quality, I looked to see whether anything was chipped, the corner seams were especially visible, the image lay flat against the mat, or the plexiglass was scratched. Finally, I examined the back to see whether the mounting hardware was placed correctly.

To my surprise, every single framing company that I tested delivered a product I’d be happy to hang—within the promised timeline of six to 10 days.

Some had very minor flaws (Frameology had slight gapping between the print and the mat; Simply Framed was colored a bit off in tone compared to other photos). But these were noticeable only because I was able to compare them side by side.

Any online framing service I tested would likely make a good choice.

Since we first recommended this service, in 2019, we remain confident that Framebridge will send you a beautiful frame—on time—and will make things right if it fails.

Framebridge has a vast catalog of frame styles to pick from. From its classic wood and metal frames to colorful lacquered models and standing frames, Framebridge was among the services offering the most styles and variety while still being easy to navigate. It currently offers around 30 to 40 different frame styles (90 if you count the color variations), 22 classic mat colors, and a variety of other unique mat or mounting options, like clear float and accent mats. With all of these options, we think most people will be able to find something that matches their home decor.

Framebridge has proved to be trustworthy over the years. Since Framebridge first became our top pick, in 2019, several Wirecutter journalists have used it to frame their own photos, as well as to send framed photos to loved ones as gifts.

Everyone reported a positive ordering experience, with on-time delivery (and no mishaps) of their desired photos.

It’s customizable yet not confusing. Thanks to straightforward language and great website design, Framebridge’s interface is easy to navigate, even for those who aren’t tech-savvy (like me). All too often, online framing websites have clunky embedded menus or overly designed framing tools, which make them hard to use. But with Framebridge’s website, it’s easy to see everything it offers so you can start framing.

It gives clear guidance on both the size of your print and the size of your frame, so you’re certain of exactly what you’re ordering. You can select from among several mat colors or mounting styles. And you can pay extra for details like a brass plate or a thick, eight-ply mat, but even these options are limited, so the selection process remains simple.

It’s easy to visualize your frame in context. Framebridge places your print in a virtual room so you can see how it will look in real life, which is helpful for visual learners. And if you choose Framebridge’s gallery-wall-planning function, you can upload over a dozen images at once into its layout tool, to see how they’ll look all together.

Framebridge has genuinely great customer service. When I used the site’s chat function, within seconds I was greeted by either a real person or a very convincing AI, giving me clear answers to my questions.

Likewise, using the text-support function, I received prompt, humanlike help.

This service answers its emails in under 24 hours and takes phone calls Monday through Friday. When I called, I had a wait time of under 3 minutes before being connected with a real (and friendly) human, who was knowledgeable and helpful in answering my questions. Framebridge also has 28 stores scattered around the country, if you want to visit in person.

Framebridge’s “100% happiness guarantee” covers one year of design dissatisfaction. You may not need it: In my experience, the website is straightforward enough that it’s hard to mess up what you want, and it produces a high-quality product.

Only one Wirecutter staffer has had an issue with Framebridge, and the company resolved it readily: Her ornament photos had faded over two years; after she reported this complaint via email, Framebridge mailed her a replacement along with an apology.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Framebridge accepts all image file types except for TIFF. Most smartphones save photos as JPG or HEICC, so you should be all set. But if you plan to use Framebridge for some digital art, you may have to convert the file type.
• Framebridge’s acrylic glazing comes with standard 92% UV protection, but it doesn’t offer advanced UV protection as an add-on, like Level Frames or American Frames do. For those hanging photos on sunny walls or for delicate artwork, I’d recommend using a service that has more UV protection options, like our runner-up pick.
• Framebridge’s warranty could be more straightforward and easier to access because it’s not posted officially anywhere on the site. The frames come with a one-year warranty, but we had to reach out via email to Framebridge’s support to get that information. The rep also told us it “may be considered a lifetime if any issues arise as a result of the framing process.” Though our staffer had luck getting her frames replaced two years after purchase, we wish this were an inked guarantee instead of the “case by case basis” the rep told us it operates under.

Key specs

• Hanging style: sawtooth with felt pads for small frames; hanging wire for medium and large frames; corner brackets for extra-large frames
• Photo paper: lustre (standard) or matte (by request)
• Standard mat colors: 22
• Other options: linen mat, float mount, clear float, accent mat
• Mat depth: four-ply standard (or eight-ply for $25 extra)
• Mat width: customizable in quarter-inch increments
• Glaze type: UV-protected acrylic
• Frame dimensions: 5 by 5 inches frame to 32 by 40 inches
• Acceptable file types: JPG, GIF, HEIC, PNG
• Estimated cost for an 8-by-10-inch image in a 12-by-14-inch frame: $95
• Shipping: free
• Return policy: one-year warranty, lifetime guarantee against structural problems

Level Frames has plenty of customizations and add-ons to make your perfect frame, and it offers no-nonsense explanations, so you can decide what that frame should be.

It explains its customization options. Level Frames offers some additional customizations, like acrylic glaze with higher UV protection. This could have made ordering confusing, but instead the company offers helpful definitions for terms that lay people may not be familiar with.

For example, while selecting between its two paper-type options, if you use your mouse to hover over the word lustre, the site helpfully offers a definition (“slightly glossy with a subtle, pearl-like texture; great for portraits, and images with vibrant colors and crisp images”); this helps distinguish the lustre option from the other option, “matte” (“flat, texturized finish with little to no glare; it can produce a more artistic look, and works very well for black and white photos.”)

And while Level Frames offers only eight frame styles (in 19 different colors), it does give you a few width options for each one. You can also buy profile samples for $5, so you can see your frame material before you order.

It offers extra sun protection. Most online framing services offer glaze with partial UV protection, but in direct sunlight, or with enough time, some photos will still fade. Professional frame shops have several glazes available to combat this, depending on the material of your art and where you’ll be hanging it.

Level Frames does not offer quite the same sophistication as a brick-and-mortar shop, but it does at least offer three additional glazes for an additional cost (depending on the size of your frame): UV protection (99% filtration); non-glare UV protection (99% filtration, plus a matte finish); and optium museum (extra-clear viewing, anti-scratch, and anti-static, plus 99% filtration).

It comes with a tree (kind of). Level Frames maintains a partnership with the National Forest Foundation and plants a tree for every frame purchased. I just think that’s nice.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• Level Frames’ customer service is better than that of some other services, but it’s decidedly inferior to Framebridge’s customer service. When I messaged Level Frames’ on-site bot during off-hours, it promised to send us the response via email but never did (though when I messaged it during business hours, it responded promptly). When I called Level Frames’ phone number, I got only voicemail.
• Though this company’s 60-day “happiness guarantee” is generous, it’s nowhere near Framebridge’s one-year policy.
• The first writer of this guide was disappointed by Level Frames when she tested it in 2019; her image of a beach arrived upside down in the frame, and there was slight scratching on the glaze. But we believe this company’s service has improved since then. My frame arrived in good shape, and recent buyer reviews have been positive.

Key specs

• Hanging style: hanging wire and rubber pads
• Paper: lustre or matte
• Standard mat colors: six
• Other options: sandwich float mount, elevated float mount
• Mat depth: four-ply (or eight-ply, for an extra charge)
• Mat width: customizable in half-inch increments
• Glaze type: standard glaze, UV protective, non-glare UV, optium museum
• Frame dimensions: 5 by 5 inches to 36 by 56 inches
• Acceptable file types: JPG, PNG, TIFF
• Customer service: on-site chat, phone, email
• Estimated cost for an 8-by-10-inch image in a 14-by16-inch frame: $92
• Shipping: varies
• Return policy: 60-day refund or replacement for any product issue

If you want a very specific frame, and you aren’t easily overwhelmed: You might like AmericanFrame. It was by far the most customizable frame service that I tried.

AmericanFrame is geared toward more-advanced users, so if you’re an artist or a collector, it’s a great one to try. It has near-endless options for mat color and material, frame styles, and paper type, and it’s also one of the few companies that offers multiple glaze options for different UV protections and reflective qualities. You can also order your frame unjoined, if you want to save money and put it together yourself.

This is also the only online framing service I tested that offers non-rectangular mat board cut-out shapes and several types of mounting boards.

However, some people may find the website confusing to navigate. There’s a function to highlight over some unfamiliar terms (like “Hahnemuhle Photo Rag”), but the definition that popped up onscreen appeared cut off on my screen (after some fiddling I was able to zoom out and make the text appear, but it’s still clunky to use).

If you want lots of customization in an easy-to-use website: Simply Framed probably has the most customization options after AmericanFrame, but its website is much easier to use. It offers 10 types of photo paper, two mounting methods, and five different types of UV-protected acrylic. It’s also the only site that gives you a choice of hanging hardware type.

The only minor flaws are that it was a little pricier. Also, the photo print I received was a bit off in tone compared with the other images I received. If I hadn’t had the original photo, seven other identical printouts, and a firm knowledge of the color of darling Mia’s fur, I probably would be recommending it as a pick. It also doesn’t come with hooks/anchors for the wall, which both of our picks came with.

If you want a cheap frame and you don’t need anything too specific: Consider Keepsake Frames. This was the least expensive of any service I tested (it came to just $62 for our 8-by-10-inch image, compared with $90 to $120 for the others).

But it still offers a decent variety of frame styles, looks great, and comes with a sturdy, rubber coated hanging wire and felt pads. However, it’s also among the most limited in customization, with only white-mat and pre-set frame sizes. Beyond the frame size, there are no more custom options once you upload your photo, so this service is best suited for someone who wants a very simple, straightforward design. Keepsake also has an app, which it seems to encourage using instead of the site, but we haven’t tested it yet.

Framed & Matted is an excellent service. It has an easy-to-use website and I received a well-crafted frame with a high-quality photo of Mia, our dog model, inside. My main complaint was its price: The total cost for a basic frame came to $119—the most expensive among those I tested—for a frame that looked as good as the rest.

Frameology has an easy-to-navigate website, and, similar to Keepsake, it has only pre-set frame sizes and white mat—with little customization beyond the frame size and some basic mat-width options. It was a nearly perfect product except for some slight gapping between the photo and the mat. I likely wouldn’t have noticed this if it weren’t my job to maniacally scrutinize everything, but it is, and I did.

Artifact Uprising, a previous pick, delivers a sturdy, beautiful, and true-to-color frame. Yet its site was more confusing to navigate than most, and it was the second-priciest service, despite delivering a product that was nearly indistinguishable from our picks. It has very few customization options for the price, with only pre-set frame sizes to choose from, limited styles, and a handful of mat widths (only in white). It was also the only service I tested that requires you to login in order to customize a frame.

This article was edited by Daniela Gorny and Ben Frumin.