When researching the best digital photo frames, we took all of the above into account, plus looked for options that have excellent sharing capabilities and are user-friendly. Our top pick, the Pix-Star Easy Digital Photo Frame, allows you to securely send photos to family members through a variety of upload options, including email, the compatible app, USB stick, and online photo albums on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. On top of that, it comes with free unlimited cloud storage so you won’t run out of space when saving and selecting which memories to display. Here are the best digital picture frames. This digital photo frame has user-friendly uploading, but it’s not the most grandparent-friendly and can feel a little high-tech to some. Users also note that while you can easily flip through photos with the remote control, it can get a little frustrating—especially when searching for a particular image—as it tends to lag. With the storage features and connectivity, different screen size options, and sharing capabilities, the Pix-Star Easy Digital Photo Frame is still a solid choice for displaying memories with family and friends in your home. Price at time of publish: $220 The main downside to this model (especially if purchasing as a gift) is you can’t share new photos with friends and family, as it doesn’t have Wi-Fi connectivity. However, the upside to no Wi-Fi is better security since your photos don’t exist in the cloud. Additionally, it doesn’t have any built-in storage, so you’ll need to purchase a USB or SD card to share photos. If you’re giving this digital photo frame as a gift, we recommend pre-loading a USB or SD card to give along with the Aluratek photo frame, that way it’s ready for use upon opening. Price at time of publish: $40 While the digital frame displays your memories through the lens of a gorgeous painting or print, some customers note that the compatible app isn’t user-friendly and might require more tech-savviness to get set up. Price at time of publish: $599 While Wi-Fi is required for uploading new photos, grandparents can view the images with or without Wi-Fi, which is not always the case for a digital photo frame. Depending on their comfortability with technology, the photo frame might be a little too advanced for some, as it has a touchscreen they’ll need to learn how to navigate. However, since you can upload photos remotely, they don’t need to worry too much and can instead enjoy the beautiful photos that pop up on the screen. Price at time of publish: $160 In addition to its photo and video capabilities, the digital frame also moonlights as a calendar and alarm clock, making it an excellent choice for bedrooms and offices. And, it comes with a free one-year warranty and lifetime technical support, too. Price at time of publish: $75 Another unique feature is the automatic, light-sensitive timer, which can gauge how dark a room is to determine when it can turn itself off at night. With its photo-sharing abilities, this digital frame is smart and user-friendly, however, it doesn’t have a touchscreen, which might be preferred for the smart device. Price at time of publish: $159 The frame, which comes in four different screen sizes, also allows you to print your favorite photos directly from the compatible app through Fuji Prints. However, the app can be a little tricky to figure out and might require a more tech-savvy family member to order the prints. Another great feature is the built-in proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) which positions photo subjects closer to the center of the screen for improved viewing experiences (and prevention against accidentally cropping loved ones out of the frame). Users note that storage can fill up quickly, forcing you to invest in the Nixplay subscription for more memory space. However, you can avoid this by updating albums and choosing to share your favorite pictures instead of all of your pictures. Price at time of publish: $231 You can upload travel vlogs and other video and photo content to the frame through the compatible app, Google Photos, a USB stick, or a web browser, making it even easier to start sharing. There’s also an option to email photos to the frame—though, you can only send a few photos at a time, so this approach isn’t the best option for bulk uploads. If you’d like to change the look of the frame, you can purchase additional frame borders. This particular PhotoSpring model must be plugged in to work, but if you have a bit more room in your budget, you can opt for a version of the frame with a rechargeable battery. Price at time of publish: $139 “The best thing about digital frames is that the variety of options is limitless as long as the size of your photos ranges between 150-300 dots per inch (DPI),” Monroe explains. He also recommends looking at screens with at least 1080-pixel high-definition (HD) resolutions, especially if you want a larger frame that mounts on the wall.
Storage
Most digital picture frames with built-in storage have capacities of around 4 to 8 gigabytes, however, some companies have upgrade options through either one-time purchasing or a subscription-based format. “Depending on your image quality, that could allow for up to 30,000 images to be stored on the device,” says Jim Costa, a professional photographer with over 33 years of experience. Additionally, many digital picture frames come with cloud storage, so you can store all of your images without worrying about maxing out the built-in capacity. Some options like the Aura Carver Luxe HD Smart Digital Picture Frame come with free unlimited cloud storage while others offer a specific amount of storage with the option to upgrade through subscription plans.
Customization Options
According to Costa, customization options are an added perk to consider when purchasing a digital photo frame—however, they aren’t always necessary. “Some devices allow you to change the slideshow effects, transitions, image screen time, and more,” Costa explains. Some additional customizable features include adjustable screen brightness and automatic on/off timers, which Costa says is a great energy-saving feature when people aren’t home. You can also find some frames—such as the PhotoSpring 10in WiFi Digital Picture Frame—that allow you to easily upgrade the look with add-on border frames to match your decor style.
Privacy Features
When shopping for a digital picture frame—especially ones with cloud storage—Monroe says it’s important to look at options that offer safe and secure storage, as being “able to ensure that your personal photos and data aren’t owned or shared is always a plus.” Look for a company’s security measures on their website or product page, which can help indicate whether they are reputable and can be trusted. Some companies offer security measures like photo encryption as well as stating not to share or sell customer data for advertising. They might also go as far as to only allow access to photos when helping troubleshoot a concern, so long as you authorize it. Other privacy features found in some digital picture frames include facial recognition (similar to a smartphone) as an added layer of security. A company’s security measures should be stated clearly on their website, indicating that they are reputable and can be trusted.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Contributing writer Jessie Quinn is a writer and product researcher for The Spruce. When researching the best digital picture frames, Jessie used her background in journalism to research dozens of models and narrow down her list to include the top picks. She looked at everything from user experience to tech specs, such as resolution and screen size, to curate a list of the best digital photo frames, landing on these top eight picks. Jessie also tapped top photographers J.Monroe and Jim Costa for input on what makes a digital picture frame high-quality and what to consider when shopping for one.
