Pixum

Overview

Pixum turns personal photographs into printed photo books and other keepsakes, with creation tools for web, mobile and desktop. It suits people who want to shape a book themselves or start with an automated layout and refine it. Its strongest case is the range of ways to design; the main caveat is that ordering rules and page limits depend on the product and delivery country.

Key features

Manual design or a head start

Pixum Photo World desktop software is the most feature-rich route: it includes templates, layouts, maps, GPS routes, video links through QR codes and photo-editing tools. That breadth will appeal to users who want to arrange a travel or event book with more than basic image placement. In the app, MagicBooks builds a proposed book from selected photos, and users can adjust the suggestions. Drag-and-drop layouts, text, clipart, background colours and stickers offer further customisation. The automatic start is useful for getting a first draft quickly, but those who want detailed controls are better served by Photo World.

Books come in landscape, portrait and square formats, with booklet, softcover and hardcover options. Pixum supports print ordering as well as PDF export, giving customers a digital output in addition to a physical book. Page ceilings vary: classic binding supports up to 202 pages, layflat binding up to 130, and the small square book up to 74. A long album therefore needs a format and binding that can accommodate it.

Pixum says inside pages across its photo books use FSC-certified paper. Uploaded images remain in a private online gallery for 28 days; saved projects can remain for up to 36 months, and production data is deleted within 12 weeks after delivery. Diginet GmbH & Co. KG is identified as the brand owner and GDPR data controller. Email support is available Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM at [email protected].

Pricing

Pixum is freemium, with photo books priced as one-time purchases rather than recurring subscriptions. The listed prices cover 26 pages; extra pages are charged in four-page increments, so the final cost rises with longer books.

• Small square, 15×15 cm booklet, premium matt paper: £9.95 per once. The lowest-priced listed book, for a compact keepsake; it allows up to 74 pages.
• Small landscape, 19×15 cm hardcover, premium matt paper: £22.95 per once. A small hardback option; four extra pages cost £2.10.
• Large landscape, 28×21 cm hardcover, premium matt paper: £34.95 per once. A larger standard-format book; four extra pages cost £2.90.
• XL square, 30×30 cm hardcover, premium matt paper: £49.95 per once. A larger square presentation, with four extra pages at £4.50.
• XXL landscape, 38×29 cm hardcover, premium matt paper: £69.95 per once. The largest listed format, with four extra pages at £5.70.

The cheaper booklet gives up the hardcover format, while larger sizes cost more both at the base price and for added pages. These are product prices, not a free software tier that includes a printed book; choose by the physical format and page count you need.

Platforms

Pixum supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows. The web editor, mobile app and desktop software give users different ways to create a book, though Photo World’s additional layout and editing tools make desktop the better fit for more involved designs.

Who it's for

Check the page ceiling before committing to a format, particularly for a large collection of photos. Orders must use the software version for the delivery country, and billing and shipping addresses must be in that same country; that makes it a less convenient choice for cross-border gifting.

Pros and cons

• Several creation routes: Web, app and desktop support different working styles, while Photo World adds maps, GPS routes and QR-linked video features.
• Automatic first draft with room to edit: MagicBooks arranges selected photos, and app layouts and decorative tools let users customise the result.
• Clear low-cost entry point: The small square booklet starts at £9.95 per once, though extra pages and format upgrades raise the price.
• Product-dependent page limits: The 202-page classic-binding maximum does not apply to every format; layflat and small square books have lower ceilings.
• Country-specific ordering constraint: The software version and matching billing and shipping country requirements can complicate orders for recipients abroad.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Photo Book Software, Photo Calendar Software or Photo Printing Software.

• CEWE is worth comparing if a small square photo book is the priority: its listed price is £8.99 per once for 26–202 pages, below Pixum’s £9.95 booklet price.
• Hofmann is another paid photo-book option, with a listed 13 × 10 cm hard-cover landscape album priced at €13.99, paid once.
• Saal Digital may suit users looking beyond printed books: its free plan includes 10 GB storage, a 12% commission on download revenue and no commission on photo products.
• Blurb BookWright is an alternative for desktop book design, with templates, layout suggestions and offline editing; its software price is custom pricing.
• Journi offers free Journi Print and Journi Blog apps for users considering a different photo-product workflow.
• Mixbook is an iOS and web alternative; its listed softcover book costs $14.99, paid once, while Mixbook+ is a US-only iOS subscription at $9.99 a month.
• Popsa is another freemium photo-printing option for web, iOS and Android.
• AlbumForge may appeal to users who want offline desktop album creation: its free DISCOVERED plan allows 40 photos per album, five templates and standard PDF export without a watermark.

Verdict

Choose Pixum for a personal photo book when you want flexible design options, a useful automatic starting point and a choice of print sizes. Its desktop tools and PDF export broaden its appeal, but page caps and country-matched ordering rules deserve attention before you begin. Look elsewhere if your preferred book format, longer page count or delivery arrangements do not fit those constraints.