Hallmark eCards 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.
Hallmark offers eCards and customized printed cards it mails for you. Both start with a Hallmark design that you make your own.
Preview For FREEYour first CinematicCard is free · No account needed
See how each one is made
How a customized Hallmark card is made
Hallmark’s customized cards start with a card design. You add a photo and your words, and Hallmark prints and mails it.
Screenshots of hallmark.com captured in spring 2026; Hallmark’s site may have changed since. Hallmark eCards follow a similar start: choose a design, then add photos and a message.
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 a Hallmark design
- Add a photo and your message
- Hallmark mails it, or you send the eCard
The memories come first
- Choose your memories
- Add your words, music or voice
- Create your CinematicCard
- Relive them together
A Hallmark card can be very personal. You can add a photo, your own words, even your handwriting. But it starts with a card: a Hallmark design you choose, then make your own.
A CinematicCard starts somewhere else — with the moments already on your phone. You choose the ones that matter, and those memories become the card.
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
Hallmark and CinematicCard, side by side
| CinematicCard | Hallmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Your own memories: the photos on your phone, your music or voice, your message | A Hallmark design you personalize with photos and a message |
| Your photos | Up to 20, played as a cinematic slideshow | Upload photos to an eCard design; customized printed cards have photo spaces |
| Sound | A soundtrack, or your own audio file (WAV, MP3 or MP4) — a song or a voice message | Not described in the help articles we checked |
| Pricing | First card free, then from $3.99 per card; no subscription | One free eCard a month with free Crown Rewards; unlimited eCards with Hallmark+ ($8.99/month or $79.99/year plus tax, 7-day free trial) |
| Account | No account needed | Join Crown Rewards or sign in to send eCards |
| Delivery | A link by text or any messaging app, or email; scheduled email +$1.00 | eCards by email; printed cards mailed to US addresses |
Hallmark 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 a Hallmark eCard and a CinematicCard?
How much do Hallmark eCards cost compared with CinematicCard?
Can I use my own photos?
Can I add my own song or a voice message to a CinematicCard?
Do I need an account?
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