American Greetings vs. CinematicCard
What’s the difference?
A CinematicCard is a greeting card made from your own memories.
A regular card is something you pick.
A CinematicCard is made from your memories.
American Greetings offers a large library of animated ecards with a membership, plus Creatacard and SmashUps for adding photos.
Preview For FREEYour first CinematicCard is free · No account needed
See how each one is made
How an American Greetings ecard is made
You choose one of its animated ecards, add your message, preview the animation, then create an account and choose a membership to send.
Screenshots of americangreetings.com captured in spring 2026; the site may have changed since.
And a CinematicCard
How a CinematicCard is made
It starts on your phone, with the moments you already have. The hardest part is choosing them — after that, creating the card takes less than a minute.
The fundamental difference
What is the card made from?
The card comes first
- Choose an animated ecard
- Add your message or photos
- Send it with a membership
The memories come first
- Choose your memories
- Add your words, music or voice
- Create your CinematicCard
- Relive them together
American Greetings ecards can be personal. You write the message, and Creatacard lets you add photos and music. But the card starts with one of its designs, which you then make your own.
A CinematicCard starts with the moments already on your phone. You choose the ones that matter, and those memories become the card — with your words, your music or your own voice.
Why it matters
Don’t let your memories get lost in your phone.
We take thousands of photos because the moments matter. Then most of them disappear into the camera roll. A CinematicCard gives the ones that mean the most a reason to come back.
Those memories aren’t just added to the card. They are the card.
Relive your most precious memories with the people who matter most — and be the one who made someone feel remembered.
What you can create
What goes into a CinematicCard
- Up to 20 momentsThe photos on your phone that bring a memory back.
- Your wordsTheir name, your message, your sign-off.
- Your musicA soundtrack for the occasion, or your own song.
- Your own voiceA voice message you recorded on your phone.
- An optional giftCash inside the card, with the Signature card.
- A cinematic presentationYour memories play one by one, as the card.
Send it to one person, a group, or many people at once. Your first CinematicCard is free.
Real reactions
What happens when the memories come back
Thank-you notes from people who received a CinematicCard, shared with us and quoted as written.
“Your Father’s Day Cinematic Card was so unique, special and beautiful. It meant so much to me; personal, touching, heartfelt and emotional. Yes, I did cry seeing photos of me with you and your sister as kids! As you grow older, it’s all about memories, and the animated Cinematic Card captured them exquisitely. Thank you!”
“I feel so loved and grateful to be the mum to such a big hearted and sweet sweet guy. Those photos are so special reminding me of how I have loved nothing more than being with you and watching you grow. You are an amazing son and I love you very much and am super proud of you. Thank you angel boy for everything xx”
The details
American Greetings and CinematicCard, side by side
| CinematicCard | American Greetings | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Your own memories: the photos on your phone, your music or voice, your message | An American Greetings ecard, SmashUp or Creatacard design |
| Your photos | Up to 20, played as a cinematic slideshow | Up to six photos (or one video) in a Creatacard; a selfie in Selfie SmashUps |
| Sound | A soundtrack, or your own audio file (WAV, MP3 or MP4) — a song or a voice message | Ecards with motion and sound; music or a custom song in Creatacard |
| Pricing | First card free, then from $3.99 per card; no subscription | $7.99/month, $35.99/year or $49.99/2 years; 7-day free trial; limited free ecards |
| Delivery | A link by text or any messaging app, or email; scheduling available | Email, text (US/Canada), copy link or Facebook; scheduling for members |
American Greetings details checked against their own websites and help centers in September 2026. Features and prices can change.
Sources
CinematicCard details are from CinematicCard.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between American Greetings and CinematicCard?
How much does American Greetings cost compared with CinematicCard?
Can I use my own photos?
Can I add my own song or a voice message to a CinematicCard?
Do they need an app to open it?
Your memories are already on your phone.
Choose the ones that matter and turn them into a card. Your first CinematicCard is free.
Preview For FREE