This is a straight comparison of UPrinting vs Instantprint for business cards. Both are reputable online printers that sit in the practical middle of the market.
UPrinting behaves more like a commercial printer with lots of spec control.
Instantprint focuses on budget friendly, fast cards with a user friendly editor, especially for UK buyers.
Quality (Materials and Print)
UPrinting edges Instantprint on pure print and stock feel. In our scoring, UPrinting posts a better Quality score, which lines up with its broader range of standard and premium stocks that tend to look a touch richer on the table. Instantprint quality is fine for everyday networking, just not aimed at heavy specialty stocks.
Price and Value
On our relative price metric, UPrinting rates higher than Instantprint. In practice, Instantprint is still a strong budget play for UK buyers on basic cards, often undercutting big consumer brands on list price and promos. If you are in the US, UPrinting usually offers the better value once you factor in options you may actually want, like matte, soft touch, or a custom size.
Design, Templates, and Customization
If you want to design in the browser and pick from lots of templates, Instantprint wins. Its editor is approachable and template coverage is good for common professions. UPrinting is friendlier to people who upload a finished file and want tighter control of specs, bleeds, and finishes, though its built in design tools are more limited.
Customer Service
Instantprint scores at the top of the set for service, with quick responses and a reputation for fixing problems fast. UPrinting’s support sits in the middle of the pack, with a mix of positive outcomes and some rough patches noted in reviews. If you want the safest bet on handholding, Instantprint has the edge.
Ordering Experience & Tools
Instantprint is geared for non designers. The flow from template to cart is simple. UPrinting feels more like a serious print shop online, with strong file prep resources and proofs that reward people who know their way around Illustrator or Canva exports. If you want a simple editor, Instantprint is easier. If you want granular spec control, UPrinting feels better.
Turnaround Time and Shipping
Instantprint is among the fastest options in our set for UK delivery, including next day print choices. UPrinting is solid on speed, just not quite as aggressive. If your deadline is tight and you are in the UK, Instantprint is the safer pick.
Use Cases / Best For
Pick Instantprint if:
- You are in the UK and want cheap, practical cards quickly
- You like working from templates in a simple online editor
- You care more about speed and support than exotic finishes
Pick UPrinting if:
- You want more formats, finishes, and custom sizes
- You already have a polished design and care about specs and proofs
- You are in the US and want a commercial style printer with fair pricing
Pros and Cons
UPrinting – Pros
- Wider options and specialty finishes for the price
- Solid print quality with pro style file checks
- Good value in the US market
UPrinting – Cons
- Online editor and templates are limited
- Service reputation is mixed compared with leaders
Instantprint – Pros
- Top tier customer service in our set
- Very fast production and shipping in the UK
- Friendly online designer with good template depth
Instantprint – Cons
- Options and exotic stocks are limited
- Quality is fine, just not premium focused
Final Verdict / Conclusion
If your question is UPrinting vs Instantprint, the answer depends on what you need and where you are. For UK buyers who want speed, friendly support, and easy templates, pick Instantprint. For designers and small teams who care about finishes, custom sizes, and upload ready control, pick UPrinting. On overall average these two are basically tied, but they solve different problems, which is really the point.