Confusing subscription, Robotic Customer Service
The subscription is really confusing. I signed up for a initial offer, didn't realise the credits have various expiry dates depending on if they were part of an offer or normal subscription. I don't like how I only get 7 days to edit a book once it's got 30 photos, before it goes to print.Wish I'd never signed up. I don't have that many photos to print, feel trapped. If I cancel my subscription I think I might forfeit credits I've paid for, but to be honest I'm not sure because the system is so confusing.Also, their customer service was like talking to a bot (different issue, advertised offer wasn't available at checkout). I was genuinely shocked when I found out it was actually a person.
Nmg
The only way I actually get my photos…
The only way I actually get my photos printed!I’ve been using this service since 2021, and it is truly the best balance of price, quality, and ease. Like most people, I used to print loose photos hoping I’d eventually find time to scrapbooks them, but with a family and a busy schedule, that was never going to happen.The Monthbook subscription changed everything. It pulls photos directly from my phone library by date, so the "work" is basically done for me. I love that I can customize layouts, add emojis, and color-code the covers by year. Their live chat is incredible, they usually respond and resolve issues within minutes.Pro Tip: I stick an envelope to the back cover for keepsakes and add a blank page in the app before printing so I can tape in birthday or Christmas cards later! It’s turned a box of "someday" memories into a beautiful, organized library our family actually looks at.I plan to use them forever, thanks Chatbooks for a great experience!
Julia Phillips
Im just blown away at the lack of…
Im just blown away at the lack of customer service and satisfaction given by this company, I ordered a book back in November of 2025, I still haven't received the book which was intended to be a gift for a birthday in January, here we are mid February 4 months later they are still debating my account after I've told them not to and are refusing to give me a refund...they are a complete RIPOFF SCAMMERS
Jessica Lynn
I subscribed to get the monthly books…
I subscribed to get the monthly books in a gradient pink color that goes from light to dark, as advertised. When the second book arrived, it looked lighter but I wanted to wait till I receive the third. The shades were really off. I informed them and they advised me to wait to receive a few more books. I got five and the colors aren’t even the same and clearly not in a gradient. Very disappointed as I had a limited budget for this. They also increased their price from $35 to $50 for a mini book, not worth it for the quality.
Zeen
ITS NOT WORTH IT TO GET THE $1 PHOTO BOOK
#1- The pictures were not in the order I sent them in,#2- It's a beautiful book, especially for $1, HOWEVER, the numerous notifications daily are ridiculous#3- I had to delete my account because right before the option to delete it, was where the option to "Cancel Subscription" was- it should not be that difficult to cancel anything#4- I deleted my account about 4-5 days ago BUT they STILL TRIED BILLING MY CARD!!! And of course because I no longer have an account, I can't log in to talk to customer service so I had to block them through my card issuer#5- I was hesitant from the beginning because I knew there was something fishy about the "$1 photo book" promotion #6- I STRONGLY DISCOURAGE USING CHAT BOOKS, INC, was NOT worth the hassle...
Heather “PoohShady” Rivera
Beware
Here’s a **clean, strong, honest review** that keeps your frustration clear without crossing into anything that could get flagged or dismissed. It still hits hard.---I used to genuinely love Chatbooks. I’ve been a loyal customer since **2022**, recommending them to friends and building a growing collection of books that meant a lot to me.Back then, I paid around **$20 per book**. Over time, prices increased, which I understood — until recently. The cost has now jumped to **$45 per book**, a **$15 increase**, which already felt steep. I debated cancelling, but because I’ve been collecting these books for years, I decided to accept the increase and continue my subscription.Then January 1st happened.Instead of being charged $20 or even $45, I was charged **$60 for a single book** — a book that cost me **$24 just one month earlier**.To make things worse, I was charged in **USD**, even though:* I’m a Canadian customer* My account is set to **CAD*** Chatbooks ships free to Canadians* I’ve used the **same PayPal account and payment method since 2022**This exact USD billing issue happened once before (April of last year). At that time, customer service acknowledged it was an error on their end and issued me a free book credit. I didn’t need the credit — I already pay monthly — but it mattered that they took responsibility and didn’t dismiss me.This time was very different.When I contacted support, I was told the issue was **PayPal’s fault**, not theirs. I explained that this had happened before and was previously resolved by Chatbooks. The response I received was argumentative and dismissive, repeatedly insisting PayPal had “just started being accepted,” which is simply untrue — I’ve been paying this way for years.The only way I was told I could get my money back was by **cancelling my entire account** and taking the charge up with my bank, because Chatbooks blamed PayPal and PayPal blamed Chatbooks.The moment I said I would escalate it with my bank, I was suddenly refunded — and my account was immediately closed.That’s how Chatbooks chose to end a **3-year loyal customer relationship**.They didn’t just lose a subscriber — they lost someone who genuinely loved, shared, and promoted their product. Price increases happen, but poor customer service and refusal to take accountability don’t have to.Do better.
Bailey Antonio
Don't subscribe monthly
I signed up for their subscription - little did i know it was for books 4 times the price of the subscription and where you could not edit the cover title. False marketing have cancelled now, but unable to use first month fee. Appear to be considerably more expensive than alternative options in Canada. i ordered a 50% year book, which is nice, but the packaging seemed to be more impressive than the product.
Gail Force
From “family company” to corporate indifference
I was a Chatbooks customer for 9 years. What used to be a reliable archival photo book service has become expensive, inflexible, and opaque.Book prices have nearly tripled since I started printing, while core functionality has gotten worse. Recent system changes altered the formatting of previously purchased books and removed the ability to reliably reorder past volumes. Customer service is technically polite but functionally unhelpful. Responses feel scripted or AI-generated, with repeated apologies but no real solutions, transparency, or accommodation for long-time customers. Requests for basic clarity about remaining credits and timelines are met with vague or evasive answers. No discounts or compensation offered for serious missteps on their behalf. Basic accommodations rather than ignoring customer feedback goes a long way and has been completely ignored. What’s most disappointing is how far Chatbooks has drifted from its original “family company” brand. What once felt personal and customer-centered now feels corporate, extractive, and indifferent. Long-time customers are treated as disposable, while rigid policies and scripted responses take precedence over fairness or common sense. Whatever this company used to be, it isn’t that anymore.
Jane Smith
Unfortunate changes
Nice product, but a bummer that books can no longer be created via Facebook posts. Also just got an email that my subscription is jumping from $28 to $54! Just sent my last book with them to print, unfortunately.
Julie Edwards
62% increase to my subscription? No thanks
Joined Chatbooks and was enjoying my experience until I got a notice a couple of days ago saying the price will jump from $20 to $32! That is wild - over 60% increase. Hike effective last day of JAN 2026, so I ordered all my books that were ready and will cancel my subscription and account once they arrive. Feels like a bait and switch.
Rachel MacNally
Ridiculous price increase
Updated their prices by $10 a month with 2 weeks notice. Have been using Chatbooks for years and to update prices by $10 a month for a single tiny little mini photo book is insane (bringing the price to $25 for a tiny book) Will happily take my business elsewhere!
Michelle
I really would not know...
I really would not know, since the order was never delivered. So no, not a good service. It could not be tracked, apparently they do NOT track their delivery orders.
ellen
I am giving this company two stars
I am giving this company two stars - one for the ease of making the books on line and one for assistance I got one time when making the books. The reason why there are no more stars is because my books were not delivered on time, and they will probably not be delivered on time for Christmas for a gift. Unfortunate and sad. The company does not stick to the delivery time, and will not provide me (or anyone) with an USPS tracking number for minibooks, claiming that the USPS does not provide tracking information for under 18 oz. What company does not track their products? If I knew this, I would not have bought through them and spent hours making 11 books as a gift. DO NOT FALL FOR THE GREAT PROMOTIONAL DISCOUNTS! I would not trust this company to buy a second set of books, but would go with a more reputable company that can track the "shipped" products. Hoping I get them someday - Although, now reading other reviews, it looks like some people never received them.
M. Lynch
Love this company
Love this company ! Ordered a couple of books for Christmas kinda last minute said it wasn’t going to be here until January but they got them too me today ! 🥰❤️ I have there subscription for the mini books and I just love them amazing quality ! 10/10 would recommend
Shelby
I don't understand the 1-star reviews.
I don't understand the 1-star reviews.This is by far the most favored Christmas gift that I send to my parents and grandparents. And the customer service is literally the best I've ever experienced. I had an issue a few years ago that was beyond their control, and yet they not only fixed it but went WAY above and beyond my expectations.I'm a lifelong and loyal customer who will be purchasing from them every year for Christmas. If you're reading this and hesitant because of the 1-star reviews, I ask that you give Chatbooks a shot. I think those 1-star reviews are likely from unreasonable individuals who almost definitely had their issue resolved already and didn't update the review after the fact.I don't think you'll be disappointed.And yes, this is my only review on TrustPilot so far. I created this account to share how awesome my experience with them was, lol.
Leon Moyer
I’ve got a 48 page hardback 10 x 10…
I’ve got a 48 page hardback 10 x 10 album sitting in chatbook’s checkout that will not send. I’ve never had this trouble in the past 6 years or so that I’ve used Chatbooks. My mini monthly albums have managed to send. Their chatbot has been no help & I was meant to be hearing from a “human” but that hasn’t happened. I’m so frustrated & won’t be using this platform anymore once my mini album subscription has expired.
maryanne cotter
Google albums won't load.
Creating a google album of my 60 pics, loading it into a chatbook is so frustrating. Half the time it can't find the album, the other half just won't load it period. Sometimes if I come back the next day it will load. This has happened for almost every book. I have contacted customer service many times. Nothing is fixed.
Concerned Daughter
good idea, poor and worsening product/service
Great idea but terrible service and removing functions from paying customers.The 5x5 mini subscription was a great idea when I first signed up - the ability to make a small, un-daunting photo book once a month with some memories in it. That was it. Now they've removed the ability to change the pre-determined title on each photo book - unless of course you 'upgrade' and pay more - for no apparent reason (well presumably greed?!). When I first started this was great, I could make a small photo book and 'catch up' on some memories from the blur of early parenthood. Suddenly it now won't let me change the title on the books - so they now say 'DEC 2024' or 'JAN 2025' on the cover, and no option to change or just erase - apparently Chatbooks has decided your monthly books have to be one per month and you don't get to decide that anymore. Unless you pay them more of course, despite previously allowing this with no problem.Fine if that's what you want but it isn't what I signed up for - and the cheek of telling me to pay more for something that was originally part of what I subscribed for! For the 'privilege' of naming my own gosh-darn pictures? Of changing a month and year on the cover of my own photos like I was allowed to when I started giving them my money for this product? Of daring to have memories that don't fall easily into just X amount per month - no months where you do or want to print more, no months where nothing happens but you'd love to print something else... Super weird and not great. Weird deterioration in what seemed like a good service when I first started with them.
Rebecca
The quality leaves much to be desired
The quality leaves much to be desired. All photos are dark .
Lyudmyla Ammond
I have the same issues as a few other…
I have the same issues as a few other folks on here. I ordered three books on June 3rd. The first was an 8x8. 60 pages. They charged me $51.00!!! The other two were around $12.00 and $11.00. They were to be sent to two different addresses. Looks like they are now both supposed to come to me. Receive by date was June 19. Today is the 20. I contacted chat and was told I would receive an email. Email simply said to tell them the problem. I’ve requested a call back which I don’t I will receive. I will wait a bit but fully intend to cancel subscription. Not a good first order experience.
Mollye Kaiser
