From Piles to Pages: Comparing Artkive vs. Doodle Nest for Kids’ Art Books

No matter which side of the pond you’re on - parents everywhere can agree that keeping up with all the art their children produce over the years - or even in just one year - can be a daunting task. As parents, we want to save every squiggle, brush stroke and ball of clay, but oh how quickly it all adds up. Before you know it, those precious pieces become precious piles that eventually only ever see the inside of box. What’s the point of saving all your child’s artwork if you can’t even admire what makes it special? How can parents preserve their children’s drawings, paintings, and crafts, so they become cherished memories rather than endless clutter?

In Artkive vs. Doodle Nest, we are going to compare two brilliant companies who are on a mission to seamlessly turn your child’s artwork into art books by using professional photography and editing to design a high-quality keepsake for your family​. The results are elegant coffee-table art books filled with your kid’s creations. This is a far more sophisticated and joyful way to preserve those precious preschool doodles and school art projects versus saving them in storage bins.

Let's take a look at the product offerings of these two platforms and find out how they measure up when it comes to price, digital access, customization and more. Whether you’re in the UK, the US, or elsewhere - by the end you’ll learn which service is the best choice for turning your kids’ art into a beloved heirloom.

Doodle Nest – A Bespoke Way to Archive Kids Art

Doodle Nest is a UK-based service that specializes in transforming your child’s artwork into uniquely tailored art books for kids, with a focus on design and quality. Doodle Nest is often praised as a “stylish solution” for preserving children’s art. 

Key Features of Doodle Nest (for UK Residents)

• DoodleNest Offers A Full-Service Experience: Much like Artkive, Doodle Nest offers concierge, hands-off service. You simply send them your child’s artwork and they do the rest. Upon purchase, UK residents will be sent a “Doodle Nest” box that you will pack with your original kid's art pieces to send in​. Their team professionally photographs and Photoshops each piece to ensure colors pop and every detail shines. From there, you’ll get a digital proof to review and approve before going to print. Parents can choose to have the kids' art returned (which is included in your box fee), or recycled. That's it!

• High-Quality Art Books: Doodle Nest’s signature product is a premium 30x30cm hardcover art book. Each book is custom-designed and printed on premium matte paper to provide an archival book that you can treasure for years. Duplicates can be ordered at a reduced rate, which is great for gifting copies to grandparents.

• Doodle Nest Makes Custom Wall Art: In addition to books, Doodle Nest can turn your child’s creations into framed art collages. The collage comes in a ready-to-hang custom white box frame. Prices start at £295.00 ($400 USD) and frames start at 12 pieces and go up to 30 pieces. It's an eye-catching way to decorate a playroom or hallway with images of children’s drawings.

• Unique Extras: In addition to children’s drawing books and frames, Doodle Nest can turn your kid’s art pieces into greeting cards or gift tags. A fun way to personalize thank-you cards or gifts. 

• Speaking of Cards…: Doodle Nest also has Card Books for compiling things like all your child’s birthday cards, graduation cards or school certificates into its own book. Card Books start at £195 and while for most parents their primary interest will be in the book or collage, this product could be a nice compliment to mark special occasions in your kid’s life. 

Things to Note if You Are Considering Doodle Nest:

• A Premium Price Point: The convenience and quality of Doodle Nest come at a higher cost. Books start at £195 for 25 pieces of kids art​ (roughly $250 USD). If you have more than 25 pieces, the price increases on a sliding scale every 10 pieces. The price does include the £39 shipping deposit, but for some, this is still a significant investment. 

• Can I Customize My Doodle Nest Book: Doodle Nest’s approach is very hands-on, which is great for busy parents, but it means you can’t directly interact with the book layout. You can consult with the designers about your preferences during the proof stage and are allowed 3 small changes (e.g. image size or image swaps). Captions are not included, but you can request captions to be added to the book at £1 per caption fee. They do, however, allow personalized dedications on the title page for free. 

• Is Doodle Nest Available Internationally: Currently, the Doodle Nest prepaid box Is only available to a UK customer base. If you’re outside the UK, you will have to email them to arrange an international children's artwork book order and manage international shipping on your own. There is also no available pricing or international coverage models to determine if you can receive a Doodle Nest book in your region so all international orders are assessed case-by-case.

• Turnaround Time: Because each book is custom made, expect the process to take about 4–6 weeks from when Doodle Nest receives your box of art. This timeline can increase during busy periods (e.g. just before Christmas) or if you take time to review the proof. Because of Doodle Nest’s bespoke approach, the time spent results in a meticulously crafted memento, but if you need something last-minute, this isn’t it.

• Can I Digitize with Doodle Nest: Unlike Artkive, Doodle Nest does not offer a long-term digital gallery or app for your images. They will send you a digital proof of the book and, of course, you get the physical book. However, there’s no built-in online account where all the high-res images of the artwork are stored for you to access later (beyond the proof stage). If having a digital backup of the images of your children’s drawings is important, this may not be your best option.

Price for Doodle Nest Art Books

Prices start at £195 for a up to 25 pieces of artwork (approx. $258 USD)​. This price includes the initial £39 deposit for the shipping kit, which covers the outbound kit and return postage. If you have more than 25 pieces, the cost increases according to how many images are included – for example, 26–35 pieces is £235 (approx. $311), 36–45 pieces is £275 (approx. $363) and so on up to 200 pages for £915.

Duplicate book copies can be acquired at 50% off the base price​ which is great if you want copies for other family members. Also, captions outside of the title page are not included so adding captions costs £1 per caption if you choose to include them​.

Doodle Nest Reviews in Summary

Overall, Doodle Nest delivers on its promise of a beautiful bespoke art book experience. Doodle Nest reviews from parents in the UK frequently highlight the gorgeous quality and emotional value the books bring. Many customers describe how incredible it is seeing all their children’s artwork skillfully photographed and compiled in one special book. From the refined layout and printing to the adorable packaging in which it arrives, parents are generally pleased with the service Doodle Nest provides to UK families. 

Critiques in Doodle Nest reviews are mostly tied to the high investment cost or the weeks-long time frame needed for Doodle Nest’s concierge service. Despite these detractors, most UK residents ultimately feel that this specialty product merits the price and patience required. 

All-in-all, Doodle Nest is a first-rate solution to archive your kids’ art. You’ll pay a premium, but in return you get a lovely artwork book or collage that delights parents and kids alike. Praised for its premium quality and local convenience, Doodle Nest is the go-to choice if you want a children’s drawing book keepsake built in the UK and value a hands-off, design-forward service with limited room for customization.

Artkive – A Trusted Partner in Preserving Children’s Art. 

Artkive is a pioneer in the children’s art book space. It started as a popular app for digitally saving images of children’s drawings, and later expanded into the preeminent white-glove archival service that creates a physical artwork book or framed mosaic from your child’s artwork. Artkive is often the name that comes up in American parenting circles when discussing the best service for making kids art books. Here, we’ll examine Artkive’s key features and how it compares, locally and abroad.

Key Features of Artkive

• Artkive Delivers On White-Glove Service: At the heart of Artkive’s mission is the desire to come alongside parents and help them archive precious memories. Families located in the UK or otherwise outside the US can ship as many pieces as they'd like in their own parcel. If you’re in the US, the company will send their famous, crush-proof Artkive Box for you to fill with an assortment of your kid’s artwork. The box can hold up to 400 pieces (more than enough for most projects), and comes with a resealable bag - to protect the art - and a prepaid return shipping label. The process incredibly easy for parents: gather all those drawings from your fridge, and paintings off your shelves, and drop them in the box. Upon receipt, their team professionally photographs and edits each piece to ensure accurate, vibrant colors and clean edges​. From awkwardly large posters to the faint pencil squiggles of a developing toddler, all are expertly handled and digitized. And it’s the quality of these images that allow the final book to shine.

• Art Books with Customization: One unique factor that Artkive offers, contrary to Doodle Nest, is a savvy book-building tool to proof and tweak your virtual book pages. Artkive will always create a custom layout for you, but if you decided to change your mind about a cover image, or remembered the name of a special project you want to add as a caption, the Book Editing tool allows parents to reorder pages, choose a custom cover, and add captions or text for each piece. No need to consult with a designer or pay extra for layout changes, Artkive’s parent-friendly service means you get some creative input, if you so desire. Many parents appreciate this blend of professional design and personal touch.

• Artkive Offers Gorgeous Framed Mosaics: Books aren’t the only way parents can turn kids' art into beautiful displays. Artkive creates custom collage-style wall art (Mosaics) that showcases 9 images (in a 14” x 14” frame)​ or 25 images (in a 26” x 26” frame). The Artkive team will choose and arrange the best of your kid’s art to be printed, professionally matted, and framed. The result is a clean, gallery-worthy piece that puts your kid’s art front and center. It can be a great gift for grandparents or a statement piece in a child’s bedroom. Mosaics can be purchased independently or in addition to a book, to which Artkive provides  a discount to help families get to experience both keepsakes. 

• Artkive's Digital Storage Options:  Artkive recognizes that having digital copies of your children’s artwork is equally important nowadays. So, Artkive created a digital gallery that coincides with your book or mosaic purchase. Parents are given 3 months FREE access to this online storage option with the ability to extend digital membership for long-term usage. This effectively creates an accompanying artwork portfolio that allows you to download and share images as well as reorder books you’ve previously created. Artkive also gives you the option to purchase a USB thumb drive with high-resolution copies of all your custom images that can be sent to your home for personal use and storage. Artkive’s inclusion of these digital components means even after having your book in hand, you’ll still have access to virtual backups of every image, effectively turning Artkive into beyond-the-book archival service for your child’s creations. 

• So… Does Artkive Have a Greeting Cards Book Too?: Artkive has the original service for turning cards into books: Cards By Artkive! Similar to their Artkive artwork books, the cards books are sleek, elegant mementos to commemorate special occasions like graduations, milestone birthdays, homemade mother’s day cards and more! And if you're located in Canada, the UK, or the US, the service will send you a box directly! For all other international customers you can visit the International Cards By Artkive page for more information on how to make this another precious keepsake in your home. 

A Few Things to Consider When Choosing Artkive: (for International Customers)

• Send Your Own Box for Artkive International: Artkive is a US company and the Artkive Box system is geared toward U.S. customers. Due to high shipping costs, Artkive unfortunately cannot send out a prepaid box internationally. However, Artkive International is popular with families all around the world, especially the UK. Parents simply pack and ship their art in their own box, with hipping costs for the customer depending on size, weight and local postage. Once the artwork is received, Artkive’s book creation process remains the same and a quality coffee-table book of your child’s art will be shipped directly to you! (Yes, they do ship the final product internationally!)​

• Increased Wait Time for International Orders: Artkive’s standard timeline for US orders is about 6–9 weeks from the time you order the Artkive box to final delivery​. For international orders, you’ll need to factor in additional shipping times and potential customs delays. An International customer might be looking at potentially 8–12 weeks. So, if you’re planning to use Artkive for a holiday gift or a birthday present, you’ll need to plan accordingly in advance. 

• Differences in Design Aesthetic: Artkive produces beautiful books with a clean and polished style designed to highlight each piece of the child’s art. Doodle Nest, by contrast, combines some art pieces on a single page. There are trade-offs to these style choices. On one hand, the styling of Doodle Nest requires a consultation with their book designers, but at the proof stage you are only allotted 3 small changes (i.e. swapping one image for another, or making an image bigger or smaller) - parents are ultimately relegated to what the designer feels looks best. This may also result in groupings of photos that, while creative, don’t allow each piece to shine. On the other hand, Artkive’s clean aesthetic allows the art to be the star of every page. They also include a Book Editing tool where parents have the ability to swap pages, make image tweaks and add titles/captions at no additional charge. For many busy parents, this is preferable to having to discuss paid changes with a designer and wait for additional proofs.

Artkive's Book Price

Artkive's books are less than half the price of Doodle Nest's books. Pricing for International Book Packages begin at £139 for a 50 piece book. Package options are available for 50, 100 (£210) and 200 (£327) pieces and include shipping of your book back to your local address. You can view the other international book packages here.

Pricing for customers shipping within the US starts at $75 for a 25-piece 11” x 8.5” hardcover book (roughly $3 per piece). Additional pages can be purchased from $2-$3 per piece (the additional cost decreases after 50 pieces).

Artkive Reviews in Summary: 

Artkive has garnered glowing reviews from many parents for its quality and service. The books are described as high-quality, one-of-a-kind keepsakes that truly honor a child’s creative journey​. In Artkive reviews, parents frequently mention feelings of relief and joy – relief that they’ve finally transformed all their piles of artwork into a better-preserved children’s art book, and joy at seeing their child’s eyes light up when flipping through a real book of their own artwork. 

Reviewers also praise Artkive’s customer service and the care that goes into the process. The consensus is that Artkive’s team handles the artwork “with exceptional care” and delivers a product that feels luxurious and meaningful​. Many families have made Artkive an annual tradition, creating yearly volumes of their children’s artwork books – which speaks to the satisfaction and trust in the brand.

If a family is moving internationally or has relatives abroad, many appreciate the digital gallery for sharing art with far-flung family members. Some tech-savvy parents also enjoy the Artkive app for casually saving artwork throughout the year – essentially building a digital catalog that can later be turned into a book. 

While price and wait time are factors for Artkive’s American audience as well as Internationally, the service is ultimately highly regarded for delivering beautiful art books and collages that delight families. The process might require patience, but as one review put it, “good things come to those who wait, and Artkive delivers”. 

So… Which Option is Best for Families Outside the US or UK? 

If you are looking to preserve your child's artwork in a keepsake book or framed collage, Artkive takes the lead with a clear advantage over Doodle Nest. While Doodle Nest offers a beautiful, boutique service within the UK, it's high cost and lack of international checkout make it difficult to serve international families efficiently.

Here’s why Artkive is the more accessible choice for customers abroad:

International-Friendly Process

• Artkive offers a simple step-by-step process for international orders that can be found here. While you’ll need to use your own box to send in your artwork, Artkive provides clear guidance, a responsive support team, and reliable shipping to deliver your finished book or mosaic back to you—no guesswork involved. In fact, Artkive has processed tens of thousands of orders across the U.S., Canada, UK and beyond since its launch in 2012, making it one of the most internationally recognized kids' art preservation services.

• By contrast, Doodle Nest is primarily limited to UK residents. Their prepaid art collection kits and return shipping options are UK-only, and international ordering requires custom arrangements via email, often without transparent pricing or timelines.

Built-In Digital Archiving

• Artkive includes three months of free digital access to your child’s scanned artwork, allowing you to view, download, and share high-resolution images from anywhere in the world. You can even opt for a USB drive or extend digital storage with a subscription. Over 70% of Artkive users opt to keep a digital backup with either USB or cloud services.

• Doodle Nest, however, does not offer digital backups as a standard feature. For international families who want to easily share their child’s creations with grandparents abroad or save them in a digital archive, this can be a major limitation.

Ideal for Large Collections

• If you’re a parent with years of artwork stored away, Artkive is built for you. You can send up to 350 pieces in one book, and pricing scales efficiently with volume. Doodle Nest, while elegant, charges based on tiered piece counts and becomes costly if you have more than 25–50 artworks to include. For large collections, Artkive is both more economical and more practical. For example, a 100-piece book with Artkive is £210 ($277 USD). With Doodle Nest, the same book would cost around $687 USD (£520) and that price doesn’t include the shipping of your book.

Transparent Pricing & Proven Service

• With clearly listed prices in USD, optional add-ons, and no hidden fees, Artkive makes budgeting easy. Doodle Nest’s pricing, especially for international customers, can be less transparent, with variable shipping costs, customs concerns, and limited visibility into extra charges. Because Artkive has served tens of thousands of families worldwide since 2012, their reputation for professionalism, care, and stunning results makes them a trusted name in kids’ art preservation with glowing reviews to match. Whether you're archiving preschool masterpieces or curating a decade of doodles, Artkive provides the flexibility and tools to do it beautifully—no matter where in the world you live.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Service for Your Child’s Masterpieces

Both Doodle Nest and Artkive offer ingenious ways to turn kids’ art into lasting treasures. No more feeling guilty about piles of finger paintings or chalk drawings hidden in a closet – these services let you preserve your child’s artwork in a book that you can proudly display and enjoy together for years. Doodle Nest provides a boutique, UK-local experience with gorgeous results, making it a top pick for UK parents who want a children’s artwork book with a DFY (“Done-For-You”) touch. Artkive, meanwhile, brings all this PLUS technological convenience and versatility, arguably making it a better overall value and a favorite in the UK as well as tech-savvy parents globally.

When deciding between Artkive vs Doodle Nest, consider your desired customizations, budget, and how much artwork you have. If you’re not concerned about price and value a hands-off process with bespoke tailoring - Doodle Nest will not disappoint. If you have mountains of art to declutter, prefer a catered white-glove experience and love the idea of a customized book with digital backups Artkive is a brilliant choice. 

In the end, both services help you achieve the same heartwarming goal: a beautiful book of your children’s drawings and artwork that you can flip through, reminisce over, and one day hand to your child as a priceless piece of their childhood. Whichever you choose, you’ll be rescuing those mini Picasso pieces from the attic or recycle bin and giving them the showcase they deserve. And that is truly a fantastic way to celebrate your little one’s creativity. 

Your kiddo’s art display is just one click away! If today feels like the right time to get started with Artkive - get your Artkive International order now.

Located in the US? Get your Artkive Box now.