Yearbooks have come a long way since the days of bulky hardcover books and outdated layouts.
In 2025, schools, clubs, and even families have more choices than ever when it comes to capturing and preserving memories.
Whether you’re looking for a modern, mobile-first solution or a beautifully printed keepsake, the right yearbook company can make the difference between a forgettable project and something people actually come back to years later.
In this guide, we’ve broken down the best yearbook companies into three categories:
- Digital Yearbooks – For schools and students that want something mobile, interactive, and accessible anytime.
- Print Yearbooks – For those who love the classic, tangible yearbook experience.
- Yearbook Creation Software – For schools or creative teams who want full control over the layout and publishing process.
Let’s start with the fastest-growing category in the yearbook world—digital yearbooks.
Best Digital Yearbook Companies
1. YearBoxx – The Only Truly Smartphone-Friendly, Photo & Video Yearbook
Most companies that claim to offer a digital yearbook are really just turning a PDF into a flipbook or uploading a static layout online. YearBoxx does it differently—and better.
This is the only yearbook platform built specifically for smartphones, letting students experience their yearbook like they experience everything else in life: through their phone.
With YearBoxx, students and staff can upload both photos and videos as the school year unfolds—creating a dynamic, living memory book.
From graduation day to football highlights, senior trips to backstage play clips, everything can be added in real-time. No waiting. No printing. No limits.
And the best part? Students don’t lose access after the school year ends. YearBoxx is designed to grow with them, letting them continue updating their profile and adding life milestones even after they graduate.
What Makes YearBoxx Stand Out
- Mobile-first design that feels like a modern social app
- Students can upload photos and short videos throughout the year
- Timeline-based memory organization for events like prom, sports, and graduation
- Real-time editing and sharing—no layout software needed
- Affordable flat pricing ($6.99/student) with no contracts
- White-glove support for advisors and schools
- Lifetime access for students after graduation
Best for: Schools looking for a modern, affordable, and mobile-friendly yearbook that feels like it was made for Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
2. Treering (Digital + Print Hybrid)
While not a pure digital platform like YearBoxx, Treering deserves a mention for its blend of printed books and online tools.
Students can customize their own pages and view a digital version online, which makes it a nice hybrid for schools not ready to go 100% digital.
However, it lacks mobile-first design and doesn’t support real-time video or memory-sharing in the same way YearBoxx does.
It’s a good option for schools that still want a printed keepsake but with some light digital features.
Best Print Yearbook Companies
For all the innovation happening in the digital space, there’s still something timeless about holding a yearbook in your hands.
The weight, the smell of the pages, the signatures scribbled in blue pen—it’s a physical reminder of a time in your life you’ll never get back.
If your school or organization prefers a printed keepsake, these companies continue to lead the way in quality, customization, and service.
1. Picaboo Yearbooks – Fast, Flexible, and Professional
Picaboo has long been a top choice for schools looking for high-quality printed yearbooks without the headaches of traditional publishing.
Their online design studio is easy to use, even for beginners, and they offer a wide range of templates and design tools to help bring your vision to life.
One of Picaboo’s biggest selling points is its no minimum order requirement—a rarity in the print yearbook world.
That means small schools, clubs, or teams can still create beautiful yearbooks without being forced to buy in bulk.
They also boast one of the fastest turnaround times in the industry, with print delivery in as little as three weeks.
Why Schools Choose Picaboo
- No minimum orders, perfect for smaller schools or niche programs
- Web-based design platform with drag-and-drop functionality
- 3-week delivery window
- Options for hardcover, softcover, or coil-bound
- Add-on digital flipbook for online sharing
Best for: Schools or organizations that want high-quality printed books quickly, with flexibility in order size.
2. Balfour – A Legacy Name with Full-Service Options
Balfour is one of the most established names in yearbooks, working with thousands of schools across the country.
If your school is looking for a full-service print provider—with in-person representatives, deep editorial support, and professional printing—Balfour has you covered.
They offer everything from custom covers and embossing to supplemental journalism training for student yearbook teams.
Their platform is more traditional and better suited to schools with larger yearbook staffs or programs that treat the yearbook as a student-run publication.
What Sets Balfour Apart
- Full-service experience with print and editorial support
- Professional design guidance and representative access
- Ideal for large schools with experienced yearbook teams
- Offers graduation products, class rings, and senior gear as well
Best for: Larger schools or districts that want professional-grade yearbooks and a long-standing partner with traditional publishing experience.
3. Entourage Yearbooks – Collaboration Meets Customization
Entourage brings together advanced design software with powerful collaboration tools.
Schools can build their yearbooks in the cloud, assign different roles to team members, and even track progress in real time. It’s a great choice for schools with multiple contributors or an editorial team.
What’s more, Entourage supports fundraisers directly through the platform, helping schools cover the costs of their yearbooks without needing a separate strategy.
Why Entourage Stands Out
- Cloud-based collaborative editing tools
- Training and curriculum for advisors and students
- Built-in fundraising options
- Full print customization options (foil, embossing, etc.)
Best for: Schools with dedicated yearbook teams who want to combine cloud technology with high-quality print.
Best Yearbook Creation Software
If you want full creative control or already have your own preferred printing method, yearbook creation software gives you the flexibility to build your book exactly how you want it.
These platforms aren’t tied to specific print providers—instead, they give you the tools to design the yearbook yourself, often with collaborative features, templates, and advanced editing capabilities.
They’re perfect for schools that have a graphic design class, a hands-on yearbook team, or a desire to push the creative boundaries.
1. Canva for Education – Creative Freedom for Every Classroom
Canva has become one of the go-to tools for design across all industries, and it’s no surprise it works well for yearbooks too.
With Canva for Education, teachers and students get free access to premium design features, including collaborative editing, folder sharing, and a huge library of templates made specifically for school projects.
While Canva isn’t a dedicated yearbook platform, it gives you complete creative control.
You can start with a blank canvas or choose from yearbook-style templates, customize every page, and export your project as a print-ready PDF.
For small teams or creative classrooms, it’s hard to beat the flexibility and zero cost.
Highlights:
- Free for verified educators and students
- Drag-and-drop editor with real-time collaboration
- Dozens of pre-made yearbook layouts and themes
- Export options for print or digital
- Easy to use, even for non-designers
Best for: Schools or teachers who want creative control without relying on a yearbook company, and don’t mind managing the printing separately.
2. Adobe InDesign – Professional Power for Advanced Teams
If your yearbook team is experienced—or you’re teaching design as part of the process—Adobe InDesign is the gold standard.
It offers advanced layout control, typography, and design features that pros use in publishing. That also means it comes with a learning curve, but for the right team, the results can be stunning.
You can build your yearbook entirely from scratch, export print-ready files, and send them to the printer of your choice.
You’ll also need to manage collaboration manually, since InDesign isn’t cloud-based in the same way other tools are.
Highlights:
- Ultimate design freedom and layout precision
- Ideal for high school or college-level design teams
- Integrates with Adobe Creative Cloud for photo and vector editing
- No templates—you build everything custom
- Requires an Adobe license (not free)
Best for: Schools with graphic design classes or advanced student teams that want to create a completely custom yearbook from scratch.
Which Type of Yearbook Is Right for You?
Whether you’re going fully digital, sticking with print, or designing everything in-house, there’s never been a better time to rethink what a yearbook can be. The right company or software depends on what you value most:
- Want mobile-first and video-friendly? Go with YearBoxx.
- Prefer a printed keepsake with flexibility? Picaboo or TreeRing are strong options.
- Need advanced collaboration or professional design tools? Entourage, Canva, and InDesign give you the tools to build exactly what you envision.
No matter your choice, today’s tools make it easier than ever to preserve the memories that matter—and actually enjoy the process along the way.
Ella Marcotte
