Blue Mountain Alternatives for Sending Cards Online: Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Ecard Service
When you're looking to send a thoughtful message online, Blue Mountain has long been a familiar name. But with so many options available today, you might be wondering what else is out there. Whether you're seeking more unique designs, different features, or a better value, exploring alternatives can help you find the perfect fit for your digital greetings. Let's dive into some of the top contenders and see how they stack up, including how you can send a card on InviteDrop.
Jacquie Lawson: Artistic Animation and Elegant Touches
If you appreciate artistry and detailed animation, Jacquie Lawson stands out. Their genuine strength lies in their hand-drawn animated card "films," often roughly a minute long, accompanied by commissioned music. These are truly artful creations, offering a sophisticated and unique experience for recipients. Many find these animated cards to be a delightful differentiator, elevating the digital greeting to a small cinematic moment.
A Jacquie Lawson membership costs $36 per year, or $8 per month, and provides unlimited sends. While there isn't a free tier on the web, the subscription unlocks their entire collection. It's worth noting that their classic cards generally don't offer font, color, or photo customization. Photos are supported in their newer Postbox line, allowing you to include up to six photos or one video. However, widespread customer complaints about auto-renewal are something to be aware of. Also, if you're looking for a card that multiple people can sign, Jacquie Lawson does not offer group signing.
Blue Mountain and American Greetings: Vast Catalogs and Familiar Choices
Blue Mountain and American Greetings, both under the same ownership, are known for their immense card catalogs. Each platform boasts over 4,000 cards, providing a vast selection for nearly any occasion. This sheer volume is their genuine strength, ensuring you'll likely find a design that fits your needs.
Both services are priced at $7.99 per month, $35.99 per year, or $49.99 for two years. They also offer a seven-day free trial and a limited selection of free cards to get you started. Their Creatacard maker allows for personalization with up to six photos or one video, and you can add typed or drawn signatures. They also support print-at-home options, which can be convenient. However, if you like to know when your card has been opened, neither Blue Mountain nor American Greetings provides open or view notifications to senders. Like Jacquie Lawson, they do not offer group signing functionality.
Hallmark eCards: The Brand You Trust, Digitally
Hallmark is synonymous with greeting cards, and their eCards bring that familiar brand recognition to the digital realm. Their genuine strengths include the trusted Hallmark brand itself, along with the convenient option of their paper-card mail service if you prefer a physical touch. With Hallmark eCards, you can send one free ecard per month if you're a member of their free Crown Rewards program. For unlimited sends, you'll need a Hallmark+ subscription, which costs $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year.
While Hallmark's digital cards carry the weight of their brand, they generally lack opening animations. The platform also doesn't have documented features for scheduling or open tracking, which some users find valuable for digital greetings. Similar to the other major players discussed so far, Hallmark eCards do not support group signing.
Other Notable Ecard Services
Beyond the big names, several other services cater to various needs:
- Evite cards: Known for event invitations, Evite also offers cards. You can send cards for $1.99 per recipient, or opt for a $49.99 per year cards subscription.
- Punchbowl cards: This service offers subscription tiers, starting from $2.99 per month for 10 cards, up to $5.99 per month for 500 cards.
- Paperless Post: Paperless Post uses a "Coins" system where you pay per recipient. Coin packs begin at $12 for 25 coins.
Group-Card Platforms: When Many Voices Make One Message
Sometimes, a single message isn't enough, and you need multiple people to contribute to a card. This is where dedicated group-card services shine. Platforms like GroupGreeting, Kudoboard, Thankbox, and SendWishOnline are established group-card platforms where a team or group of people can add their individual messages to one shared card or board. These services are invaluable for office celebrations, farewells, or collective well wishes, offering a collaborative way to send a heartfelt greeting.
InviteDrop: Group Signing, Animated Reveals, and Open Tracking
If you're looking for a modern ecard experience that combines several sought-after features, InviteDrop offers a compelling alternative, especially when you need a group to sign. InviteDrop's genuine strengths include:
- Group-signed cards: Multiple people can sign one card via a share link, a feature notably absent from Jacquie Lawson, Blue Mountain, American Greetings, and Hallmark. This is perfect for team birthdays, thank you notes, or any occasion where collective well wishes are desired. For instance, if you're planning a birthday card for a colleague, everyone can easily add their personal touch.
- Animated envelope reveal: Your card opens with an elegant animated envelope reveal, complete with a wax seal, adding a touch of anticipation and delight for the recipient.
- Inside reveal: The card opens to reveal your personal message, along with up to two photos and your signature, creating a visually engaging experience.
- Open tracking: You can see exactly when a recipient opens the card, giving you peace of mind and insight into delivery.
- Personalization and scheduling: Send per-recipient personal messages and schedule your cards for future delivery.
- Flexible delivery: Cards can be delivered by email, SMS text, or a shareable link, and no app download is needed for recipients.
- Interactive elements: Recipients can react with emojis and reply directly to the sender.
- Customization: Personalize the envelope, liner, and stamp to match your message and style.
- Free for small groups: InviteDrop is free for up to five recipients per card, making it an excellent choice for smaller groups or individual sends with advanced features.
Finding Your Best Blue Mountain Alternative
Choosing the right ecard service depends entirely on your priorities. If you value exquisite animation and artistic presentation, Jacquie Lawson is a top contender. For a vast selection of traditional designs, Blue Mountain and American Greetings offer extensive catalogs. If brand recognition and the option for physical mail appeal to you, Hallmark eCards might be your preference.
However, if you're seeking a service that combines modern features like group signing, an engaging animated opening, open tracking, and per-recipient personalization, all while being free for up to five recipients, InviteDrop stands out. It provides a comprehensive solution for sending thoughtful, interactive, and trackable digital greetings.
Ultimately, the best alternative is the one that meets your specific needs and brings a smile to your recipient's face. We encourage you to explore these options and send a card on InviteDrop to experience its unique features firsthand.
