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Free vs Paid Ecards

Pros and Cons

Woman with flying cards, choosing the right ecard

Marco Wolfsheimer

Updated: 24th March, 2024

Ecards are electronic greeting cards that can be sent online to express your feelings and celebrate various occasions. They are convenient, eco-friendly, and often cheaper than paper cards. However, not all ecards are created equal. There are different types of ecards available, ranging from free to paid, from simple to elaborate, from static to animated. In this blog post, we will compare the pros and cons of free vs paid ecards, and help you decide which one is best for you.

What are free ecards?

Free ecards are ecards that you can send without paying any money. They are usually offered by websites that generate revenue from advertising or donations. Some examples of free ecard websites are:

  1. Happy Tree Cards

    Happy Tree Cards is a website that allows you to create and send free ecards, ad free for various occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and more. You can choose from hundreds of cards, schedule your delivery, and use their AI powered message generator to create personalised messages.

  2. 123Greetings

    This website has a large collection of free ecards for various occasions and categories, such as birthday, anniversary, thank you, love, friendship, etc. You can also create your own ecard with your photos and text.

  3. Open Me

    This website allows you to create and send free ecards with beautiful designs and personal messages. You can also collaborate with others to sign a group ecard.

What are paid ecards?

Paid ecards are ecards that require a fee to send. They are usually offered by websites that provide premium features and services, such as high-quality graphics, animations, music, video, customization, etc. Some examples of paid ecard websites are:

  1. Moonpig

    This website allows you to personalize high street store greeting cards with your photos and text. You can also add gifts and flowers to your order.

  2. JibJab

    This website lets you create hilarious video ecards with your face and voice. You can choose from a variety of topical and memorable themes, such as MC Hammer, Star Wars, Frozen, etc.

  3. Tribute

    This website enables you to make touching video tributes for your loved ones. You can invite others to submit their video messages and then compile them into a beautiful montage.

Pros and cons of free vs paid ecards

Both free and paid ecards have their advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the main pros and cons of each type:

Free ecards

  1. They are free. You don’t have to spend any money to send them.

  2. They are easy. You don’t have to register or subscribe to use them.

  3. They are fast. You can send them instantly or schedule them for later.

  4. They may have ads. You may have to deal with annoying pop-ups or banners on the website or the ecard itself.

  5. They may have limited options. You may not have much choice in terms of design, style, animation, music, etc.

  6. They may have low quality. You may not get the best resolution, sound, or performance.

Paid ecards

  1. They have no ads. You can enjoy a clean and ad-free experience.

  2. They have more options. You can access a wider range of features and functions, such as video, audio, customization, etc.

  3. They have high quality. You can get the best quality in terms of graphics, sound, and performance.

  4. They are not free. You have to pay a fee to use them.

  5. They may be complicated. You may have to register or subscribe to use them.

Conclusion

Free vs paid ecards both have their pros and cons. The best choice depends on your preferences, needs, and budget. If you want a simple and quick way to send a greeting without spending any money, then free ecards may be suitable for you. If you want a more elaborate and personalized way to express your feelings with high-quality features and services, then paid ecards may be worth the cost.

Whatever type of ecard you choose, make sure that it reflects your genuine emotions and intentions. Ecards are a great way to connect with your friends and family online, but they should not replace the real human interaction and communication that is essential for any relationship.

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