Big Year vs Shutterfly photo calendars

Shutterfly and Vistaprint sell photo collage calendars as gifts. Big Year is plan-first: map your year in Sheets, then export PDF to any print shop if you want physical.

Photo calendars lead with pictures. Big Year leads with planning grids, habits, and holidays. Export to PDF when you are ready for print-on-demand.

Competitive notes reviewed 2026-07-21. Verify pricing and features on vendors before purchasing.

At a glance

Category Shutterfly photo calendars Big Year
Primary job Photo gifts and collages. Year planning and habits.
Edit after order Reorder or live with mistakes. Edit anytime before printing.
Cost $20–$50 per printed calendar. Free sheet. You choose print vendor.
Planning grids Limited. Eight layouts including CHECK and SCHOOL.

What Shutterfly photo calendars is built for

Shutterfly, Vistaprint, and Mpix optimize for family photos on each month. Planning grids are secondary.

When Big Year wins

  • You want to plan the year first, print second.
  • You need editable school, holiday, and habit tracking.

When Shutterfly photo calendars wins

  • You want a photo gift calendar for grandparents.
  • Design and collage matter more than habit grids.

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