Hallmark's ecards are animated GIFs from 2009. CinematicCard is a short film built around the person you love.
Feature-by-feature, against the legacy greeting card platforms
| Feature | CinematicCard Free, then $3.99 |
Hallmark | Paperless Post | American Greetings | Moonpig |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price What it actually costs |
Free, then $3.99 | $4.99/mo | ~$12 min (coins) | $35.99/yr | ~$8.98+ |
| Subscription required Ongoing recurring charges |
No | Yes | Coins expire | Auto-renews | Optional plan |
| Account needed Sign-up to send |
Never | Required | Required | Required | Required |
| First card free Try before you pay |
Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Card format What gets delivered |
Cinematic film | Animated GIF | 2-sec envelope | Pre-made GIF | Paper card |
| Music Soundtrack on the card |
14 tracks + upload | None | None | Pre-set only | None |
| Photos Personal photos in the card |
Up to 20 | 1 photo | Static only | None | 1 photo |
| Animations Real motion, particles, transitions |
Cinematic | GIF only | Minimal | None | Static print |
| Calligraphy closing Animated handwritten message |
Yes | No | No | No | Printed font |
| Cash gift inside card Venmo, PayPal, CashApp — no fees |
Yes — no fees | No | No | No | No |
| Card view dashboard See how many times it was opened |
Yes — live | No | Not for cards | No | No |
| Delivery How it reaches them |
Link · instant | Email only | Email only | Email only | Post, 3–5 days |
| Card lifespan How long it lasts |
Forever | Tied to plan | Saved on account | Tied to plan | Thrown out |
| Event invitations + RSVPs Plan + track guests live |
From $19.99 | No | Core product | No | No |
“My mom watched it four times and cried each time. That's when I knew this needed to exist for everyone.”— Sid, Founder of CinematicCard
Three features that Hallmark will never offer.
Send money directly through Venmo, PayPal, or CashApp — built right into the card. No middleman, no gift card fees, no separate transaction. The recipient taps to claim their gift during the cinematic experience.
Not a static GIF. Particle-based animations, cinematic transitions, and calligraphy that writes itself. The kind of moments that make someone gasp.
The card ends with your message writing itself in flowing calligraphy. "I love you, Mom" appears stroke by stroke. It's the moment that leave them speechless — every single time.
Build a full cinematic card — photos, music, animations, calligraphy — and send your first one completely free. No credit card required, no subscription to start. Try it before you pay a cent.
After you send, you get a personal dashboard showing every card you've ever sent and how many times each one was opened. Know the moment she watched it. Replay it yourself anytime.
CinematicCard is also a full event planning tool. Send cinematic invitations for birthdays, weddings, and celebrations — guests RSVP inside the card, you track responses live. Hallmark can't do any of this.
What you actually pay, and what you actually get.
Your first card is free. Then from $3.99 — pay once, own it forever.
Your first card is FREE · No credit card required · No subscription ever