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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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FamilyAlbum

60
Value score / 100 Worth paying? Depends It depends

FamilyAlbum is a good app for private photo sharing with family, but recent updates have introduced significant concerns regarding privacy, ads, and previously free features now being paywalled, making its paid tiers questionable.

Free + in-app purchases seen up to $109.00 4.9★ lifetime (362,547) since 2014

FamilyAlbum is widely praised for its ease of sharing photos and videos privately with family, especially for those who avoid social media. However, recent updates have sparked user backlash due to the introduction of AI integration, increased ads, and previously free features like 'On This Day' slideshows being moved behind a paywall, alongside persistent issues with print orders and iPad compatibility.

Free vs paid

The free version allows users to share photos and videos privately with family, serving as a private social media alternative . Users can also get 11 free prints monthly, though shipping costs may make them more expensive than local printing options R27R56R65R567. The paid version, which can cost around $60-$100 annually, offers features like watching 'memories' R3, unlimited video uploads R25, and removing ads . However, some users report still seeing ads even with a paid subscription R37. Additionally, some features like 'on this day' slideshows and high-quality video uploads have been moved from free to paid R15R16R22R341.

Value complaints

  • Recent updates put previously free features like 'on this day' slideshows and memories behind a paywall, which users view as a 'money grab' and 'selfish'.R3R15R16R22
  • Users complain about an 'insane number of ads' and pop-ups, even for paid subscribers, with some describing them as 'flashing' and 'intrusive'.R3R16R37R95
  • The cost of shipping for the 'free' monthly prints is often more expensive than buying prints locally, making the 'free' offer misleading.R65R174R567
  • Video quality is reportedly reduced unless users pay for a subscription, even for short clips.R25R341
  • The app charges for premium features to delete data, which is seen as a 'scam' given privacy concerns.R72R73

Where it delivers

  • The app is highly valued for its ability to privately share photos and videos with family, especially for those living far apart or avoiding social media.R2R4R6R7
  • Users appreciate the monthly free prints, even with shipping costs, as a way to get physical copies of memories.R14R27R53R56
  • The app is considered user-friendly and easy to use for sharing and organizing photos.R8R18R44R52
  • The app helps keep memories organized and accessible, with some users having used it for many years.R33R43R51R358
Worth paying if

It might be worth paying if you highly value unlimited video uploads and the 'memories' feature, and are willing to overlook the privacy concerns regarding AI and the possibility of continued ads, even with a subscription R3R37.

Skip / stay free if

You should skip paying if you are concerned about privacy due to the app's integration with AI companies like Anthropic R10R67R68R69. Also, skip if you are annoyed by frequent ads and pop-ups, as many users report these persist even with a paid subscription R3R15R16R37. Additionally, if reliable print ordering is important, as many users report issues with receiving orders and customer service R9R12R13R23.

Evidence note: The reviews show a strong negative sentiment shift in recent updates, particularly concerning privacy and monetization of previously free features. While lifetime ratings are high, recent 1-star reviews heavily focus on these new issues.

Frequently asked

Is FamilyAlbum safe and private for sharing photos of children?
Recent updates to FamilyAlbum's privacy policy, which include integration with AI companies like Anthropic for 'descriptive search,' have led many users to believe their private photos, especially of children, are no longer secure and are being shared with AI R10R67R68R69.
Are there many ads in FamilyAlbum?
Yes, many users report a significant increase in ads and pop-ups, even with a paid subscription, with some describing them as constant, annoying, and intrusive R3R16R37R95.
Can I order prints through FamilyAlbum?
Yes, you can order prints, including 11 'free' monthly prints, but many users report issues with orders not arriving, long shipping times (up to 2 months), poor customer service, and shipping costs that make the 'free' prints more expensive than local options R9R12R13R23.
Does FamilyAlbum work well on iPad?
Many users report that FamilyAlbum does not work well on iPad, citing issues with landscape orientation, constant shifting between portrait and landscape, inability to upload photos, and general poor implementation R31R83R173R197.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] 1/5 · US Awful update: Do NOT update!! The newest update won’t allow you to watch the memories anymore unless you pay. There are also ads every few seconds now. This was a beautiful app and now it’s absolute garbage. Very selfish to monetize memories.
  2. [R15] 1/5 · US Money grab: Used to be a great app overall but recent updates have put previously free features behind paywalls. Like the “on this day” recaps. Seems a bit shady to try and make money by putting previously free features behind paywalls instead of adding new features and charging for those. People notice these kind of things. Truly hope they reverse this decision as I will do my part in letting peo
  3. [R16] 3/5 · US Increasingly a Money Grab: When we first started using this app, it was great! It was a wonderful way for us to privately share pictures with family and friends. Over the years, the pop ups and ads for products and paid versions of the app have gotten increasingly annoying. For me, the worst part is when they took away the already limited “on this day” slideshows to give you only one each day. I u
  4. [R22] 3/5 · US Taking away features: I’ve loved this app for the past three years, especially the “on this day” feature. But I updated the app and that feature has been taken away unless I pay, which is ridiculous.
  5. [R37] 2/5 · US Pop ups every use: The main functionality is good. But even with the paid app, every time I open the app they try to upsell something else. It’s beyond aggravating.
  6. [R95] 1/5 · US Fix your ads: I used to love this app. Then I updated it and now I have constant ads on every photo that I can’t close.
  7. [R65] 3/5 · US Like the app but the “free” pictures are more expensive than buying them near you: The app is wonderful! But the price to ship the 11 free pictures you get is actually more expensive than buying bigger sizes of the pictures at Walmart you can buy like three times the amount of photos in a larger size and it still be cheaper than the shipping costs and you have them immediately. So that service is
  8. [R174] 3/5 · US No more free prints?: I love the app and would order the free monthly prints regularly. Now it looks like it’s charging for those same monthly prints???? Is that the case? That would be a real bummer.
  9. [R567] 3/5 · CA It’s better then Facebook: Positives: Sharing is easy. App doesn't take up a bunch of space. Can limit pictures of your children to family members. Negatives: No dark mode available. Have to pay for a subscription to get all the bells and whistles. Cheaper to get prints from your local Walmart then to pay for shipping on the free prints.
  10. [R25] 5/5 · US Exceptional: I have absolutely loved having this app and being able to still share my children with friends and family! We love privacy and this app is wonderful. I do wish you could load videos without paying BUT still a win.
  11. [R341] 3/5 · GB Great app but killed video quality unless you pay: All has been great for sharing pictures and videos of our daughter with family but a recent update has killed the quality of videos unless you pay even for short clips. I’d rather have the video length limited than the quality be destroyed. They look awful now
  12. [R72] 1/5 · US Uploads to AI Company: This app is now integrated with AI company, Anthropic. The whole point of us using this album was to avoid AI accessing our images on social media. What a shame. Oh btw, you have to upgrade to the premium version to delete data. What a scam.
  13. [R73] 1/5 · US They’re using Anthropic!: I use this app solely because it’s supposed to be safe from these dangers we’re facing online. Read the new t&c’s of what this app is doing to us, quietly! It’s one thing to slip this in there but it’s another level of low to make us pay for premium just to remove our data. Be warned!
  14. [R2] 5/5 · US Love the family album: I don’t live near my family so love love love the pictures I get to see of them growing up way to fast. It is wonderful and I’m so grateful Thank You
  15. [R4] 5/5 · US Liam: Perfect way to see that beautiful baby!!!
  16. [R6] 5/5 · US Grandson: I enjoy this cause I get to see my grandson more often and everything he’s doing and everything he enjoys doing
  17. [R7] 5/5 · US From Nana: I love FamilyAlbum! It gives me a chance to see Gianna! She is so beautiful and getting so big. I can’t wait till the next time I see her.. If I was rich, I would see her twice a month maybe once a week.🙂❤️
  18. [R14] 5/5 · US Best Family Album Ever: Great way to share photos and videos with family members and close friends. Love getting to see pictures and videos my grandkids daily. I also love the fact that I can get the 11 pictures every month for $ 3.99. there are usually so many good ones I end up getting more than my 11 every month.
  19. [R27] 5/5 · US Love this app: This is probably hands down my favorite photo sharing app I’ve ever used. So many members can join and comment. There’s setting where the admins can modify whether other members could either comment or download/screenshot the pictures. Oh and I LOOVVE the monthly free pics, shipping is on $4 but every month is so worth it. I have 0 complaints
  20. [R53] 5/5 · US Love!: Honestly it’s my favorite app ever downloaded!!! Makes it so easy to share with as many people as possible mostly when you first have a baby. It takes so much stress away from wondering if everyone got to see that one cute picture. Plus the free prints are a sweet touch added!
  21. [R56] 5/5 · US Amazing app!!: Very easy to order prints, they do take a while for them to come but you do get 11 for free which is great. A great way to store photos and share them easily with family
  22. [R8] 5/5 · US Easy: Easy to use and keeps things private.
  23. [R18] 5/5 · US Best photo sharing app 💯: This has been by far the best photo sharing app. I can share with my family in Italy who have android with ease and they get high quality photos without having to over share on social media. Don’t waste time with other apps, Family Album is endgame.
  24. [R44] 5/5 · US 10/10 recommend!: We have been using FamilyAlbum for over five years now and absolutely love it! It’s a great way to keep out-of-town family up-to-date on our kids lives and I love that you can share other cousins albums too. Incredibly user-friendly & easy to use!
  25. [R52] 5/5 · US Amazing!!: Amazing app!! This app has done so much for me to view photos of my family!! It’s very nice and simple and I like it highly recommended!!
  26. [R33] 5/5 · US ❤️: Great for keeping memories
  27. [R43] 4/5 · US One of my favorite apps: I love just opening up the app and looking through old photos. My sister also has an album and it’s so easy to go back and forth between albums. My one gripe about the app is that it’s not very easy to make a photo order. Please make it easier to save draft orders! I typically order in big batches, usually 3+ months worth of photos at a time, 11 photos per month to fit my
  28. [R51] 5/5 · US Love this app :D: Love this app! I do wish it was a bit cheaper, as I’m 6 years and 5 months into having this app paying full time the whole time. But I do love it for all the creations it makes and a place to go straight to photos of my son and events we have experienced. He loves looking back and seeing his experiences!
  29. [R358] 3/5 · GB Used to be a great app: This app used to work perfectly and it’s a great store of all my daughters photos (since I was pregnant and she’s now starting school!) but now all of a sudden I can’t open the app without it crashing - I can’t upload any photos at all and can’t browse the photos either. I wanted to order a photo book but can’t even upload the pictures let along make the books!
  30. [R10] 1/5 · US added ai into the mix: why can’t we just enjoy sharing photos without the use of ai to protect our children from ai & to have clean WATER for them! AI is not more important than our children. we dont need to search for photos that’s what our eyes are for 😵‍💫
  31. [R67] 1/5 · US Sharing my private photos with AI companies: It is a sick and twisted betrayal to take private, intimate photos intended for family only and sell them to an AI company (Anthropic). The whole selling point of this app was to share baby photos with family exclusively to shelter them from prying eyes. Evil, evil, evil company. Beware
  32. [R68] 1/5 · US Deceptive privacy policy update sends to AI: We used this app for years specifically because they weren’t harvesting/training on *childrens photos*. It was aimed as being private. They recently started sharing - I assume - photos with Anthropic as a footnote in their privacy policy update for “enhanced search”. No thanks.
  33. [R69] 1/5 · US Would rate zero: Added AI under Anthropics in the new privacy policy. Disgusting. Obviously doesn’t understand the majority of their audience or care about protecting children from AI.
  34. [R9] 4/5 · US Still waiting on ordered photos: Enjoy being able to see all the photos. I have had trouble receiving the photos I have ordered the last few months.
  35. [R12] 2/5 · US Worried: I love the app. I truly do but recently my orders have not showed up. My address is correct and yet the photos still say shipped but they never deliver. It scares me because I don't know where my photos are going and they are pictures of my children. I keep getting replacement free photos and they also don't show. I just feel super uncomfortable that I don't know where my personal photos
  36. [R13] 3/5 · US Love the app, but…: I love being able to share photos in the app with family, but I bought photos in April and May and I still have not received them. While sharing photos is awesome, if you want them printed, you’re better off ordering them through your local photo printing place like Walgreens or Walmart.
  37. [R23] 1/5 · US Don’t order pictures: I ordered some pictures and was charged but never received.
  38. [R31] 1/5 · US Garbage: Unusable on an IPad. Impossible to leave a review or comment. Formatting is trash. I like this app and it’s totally garbage on an IPad.
  39. [R83] 3/5 · US Unfortunately doesn’t work on iPad: Good for sharing but and I use it for over 3 years now. During all this time AppStore says it should work on iPad but it must fails to open. This and a few other minor flaws take it down to 3 star
  40. [R173] 1/5 · US Family Album - several important drawbacks: 1) Family album does not play well with my iPad. It constantly shifts from portrait to landscape orientation and back again. This behavior is in spite of the fact that I have the iPad view locked so it can't rotate. What is worse, I can't upload Photos from my iPad because the upload menu goes off the screen when it shifts. 2). The designers of the we
  41. [R197] 3/5 · US Landscape and ads: The landscape orientation does not work well on iPad. It flips back to portrait without warning. It is super annoying. All the notifications of calendars and other ads is intrusive.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store