# Artkive - Save Kids' Art — user reviews > 176 indexed App Store user reviews of Artkive by The Kive Company, rated 4.70/5 from 1,581 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artkive-save-kids-art/id549980508/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artkive-save-kids-art/id549980508.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,370 · 4★ 119 · 3★ 25 · 2★ 11 · 1★ 56 ## What do users think of Artkive? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to use - 📚 Great way to store and organize kids' artwork - 💻 Convenient digital storage - 📸 Ability to take photos of artwork - 🎨 Captures artwork memories - 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Helpful for families **Cons** - 💰 Expensive subscription and book pricing - 🔒 Holding artwork hostage behind paywall - 🔍 Unclear free vs paid features - 🔄 Difficult to cancel or download artwork - 🇦🇺 No international shipping options - 🐛 Buggy app performance and crashes **Commonly reported bugs** - Crashes and freezes when uploading artwork - Incorrect date/age tagging of artwork - Inability to access previously stored artwork - Syncing issues between app and website **Most requested features** - Ability to view full-size artwork - Option to add multiple artworks per page - Chronological sorting of artwork - Customizable book designs - Bulk download of stored artwork - Support for different school grade levels ## Newest reviews (13 of 176) ### 2/5 — Beware difficult to cancel *2024-09-21, version 4.4.5* Great concept and nice way to keep your kids artwork if you order books. But once you’ve done that and don’t care to keep paying yearly for storage, it’s really hard to cancel. App says go to the website and there all you can do is email customer support. Then an auto message says it might take up to 5 days to even hear back. Not impressed. Making it difficult to manage my subscription on my own is a sure way to lose my business and any recommendations I might give to others. ### 2/5 — Not impressed *2024-06-22, version 4.4.5* I could have absolutely done this myself for the price. I thought the photos would be spread through the pages as much as possible. This was not worth the price at all ### 4/5 — Password sharing is not a good way to share ownership *2023-10-01, version 4.4.5* The app works fine, tags work well, but as many households do ours has two parents. We both want to be able to upload, manage and share our kid’s art. The only way to do this is have a password my partner and I both know. That encourages weak passwords, means only one of us can change the password, among other flaws. An app designed specifically for families should really be mindful of how families might use the app. ### 1/5 — Lack Attention to Detail *2023-05-26, version 4.4.5* Pay $40 to have a box sent to you so you can send them your art work The online estimate for how long it would take said 5-7 weeks. I started this process in January so that it could be a birthday present late March. I didn’t get the box for 2 weeks, sent the art back the next day and didn’t hear anything for another 4-5 weeks. I messaged them several times asking for an update. Finally got an email that I needed to proof my book. Pictures looked good and full on each page, they got my title correct blah blah blah. Paid $70 for them to finalize the book….wait 2 weeks and now I have to pay another $29 to get the book sent to me which will take another 2 weeks. I got the book today and I’m not happy at all. Each piece of artwork had a child’s name on it (from the original piece) I listed the correct spelling of each name on the form you send in the box. They put both names on every single page. So artwork that clearly says “BOB” has “Bob and Sam” printed at the bottom. The title has a white border around it on the front page so it makes the artwork on the cover look cheap. Overall you could do this for much cheaper at Staples. I mean I got a coupon for Mixbooks, it cost me $11 to make a book myself, it would’ve been $40-50 without coupon. I mean I could format each photo how I wanted and add text. Artkive is a complete waste of money I spent $140 on something I could’ve made online myself. $39 shipping for an empty box is insane. Let alone $30 for a thin hardcover book. Again don’t waste the time or money. ### 1/5 — Extremely Disappointed *2023-03-27, version 4.4.5* My friends have shared their beautiful books of art from their children and all have quality worth envying. However, $500 and very lengthy process of waiting later, I am extremely disappointed. Because you cannot see the finished product before paying, I did not realize that I would be paying for the company to “photograph” the backside of my children’s work - the side that has the teacher’s writing and is clearly not art. I didn’t think I would have to spell out that I didn’t need the memory of when my child’s picture was done, what book it was based off of, etc. Appropriate for the caption, sure. But I’m highly irritated that I paid several dollars for these types of errors to be photographed. And as far as the photographing goes, what I received was poor quality. Because the cost of the photographing was so high, I opted to use Chatbooks to print my digital copies. However, saving these resulted in a low resolution file. The “photographs” are actually scans of my child’s work - not this professional photograph advertised. Quite obvious when you look at the shadowing and the transparency of the paper. Further more, each of my friends books has a colorful background behind the art they sent in so it pops in the book. Every single one of our pages were placed on a white background and several were not even oriented straight. The editing and photo enhancement that is advertised? Well, I didn’t get this either. The pictures were dull and flat and took me bringing them into Lightroom to mass color correct them to add a slight saturation boost to make them look lively and vibrant. Finally, I am missing several pieces of my art in digitalized copies. My son made an ABC book with two pages per letter. Their are four pages missing alone from this. I triple checked to ensure all of these were together and alphabetically placed in order before packing into my box. I will never do business with this company again. Looking forward to receiving my artwork back (and praying that the missing photographs are inside still in physical form) and washing my hands of the hope and excitement I had when I first began this process in December. ### 1/5 — Whoa…. *2023-03-02, version 4.4.5* Just saw the prices. No way. ### 1/5 — Terrible app *2022-09-10, version 4.4.5* If you are Canadian DO NOT USE THIS APP. ### 1/5 — Terrible *2022-01-06, version 4.4.4* Found myself in a loop hole of trickery. I was so looking forward to watching Van Gough exhibit. Now I am just going around in circles on the site. Very disappointing ### 1/5 — Bait and switch *2021-10-22, version 4.4.2* When they changed the app, they held my kids artwork for ransom. Disappointed. What this app used to be was a great photo organization app. It’s not any more and i don’t like feeling as though I’m being tricked into paying something that i didn’t sign up to pay for. Best of luck to the app creators i hope you enjoyed selling out. ### 1/5 — Dishonest/ Scammers/ Bait and Switch *2021-10-18* Pick any of the above description! Stay far away from this company. They are trying to make things appear so easy and noncommittal to get you to send in your kids art work. They present it as being all about cherishing your kids memories but in reality they are baiting and switching you. At no point did I commit to purchase anything. I sent in the art work and wanted to then look at different options and view the pricing. Once I realized how costly it would be to order two 30 page photo books I opted not to proceed. They sent an invoice and then hired a collection company!!!! This is after they have purposefully been deceitful and misleading. Mind you I haven’t received anything from them, no disc containing digital photographs, no return of original art work and certainly no photo books. Not sure what they are charging me for. They say it’s for the photographer taking these images. I wouldn’t have had a problem with that but they had stated I could choose which photos to put in the book. Total lies. Complete waste of a business model if you ask me. ### 3/5 — Great, at first… *2021-10-17, version 4.4.2* This app was so great for the last few years, and now it takes like 24 hours to upload 30 photos. Why am I even paying for this anymore? ### 3/5 — Doesn’t work with T-Mobile, otherwise fantastic *2021-10-14, version 4.4.2* The app is great and super convenient. Snap a pic when you empty your kid’s backpack, upload and throw out the actual paper - takes no more than a minute. The books are pricey but totally worth it. However, the app hasn’t worked on the T-Mobile cellular network or 5G home internet in almost a year. I contacted both T-Mobile and Artkive about the problem, neither can (or wants) to do something about it, so I’ll have to look for a different service. I’m actually sad about it because I truly thought Artkive was an amazing solution to “art clutter”. ### 1/5 — You should be ashamed of yourselves *2021-10-04, version 4.4.2* I have used this app for a few years. I had all my kids artwork in it. Just as everyone who made this app good by using it, the company screwed all the moms that made the app by using it, by deleting all our files. I understand a company needs to make money, but you don’t screw the people that helped you make the company. You should have grandfathered your loyal customers. Not deleted us. Do not use this app. You will lose all your kids artwork. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — PMO *2026-06-07, version 5.0.0* Lost all of my kids previous artwork because I refuse to pay for yet another stupid annual subscription. Changed formats from free platform with pay to create book to subscription only with no option to access your prior content unless you pay. Thankfully I have photos of the art on my phone. Shady. Would have been nice to be given the choice before you made this change. ### 1/5 — Can’t update *2026-06-05, version 5.0.0* Just refuses to update. ### 1/5 — Would rate it less that one star if possible *2025-08-12, version 4.4.5* This company has stealthily been deducting $55 a year from my bank without ever sending an email or renew notice FOR TEN YEARS. Shame on me for not noticing earlier, but come on, I haven’t received a single email or notification from them since 2015. They can certainly take your money without providing any service at all, and not even blink an eye. Ridiculous. 0/10 do not recommend. ### 1/5 — Expensive & confusing pricing *2025-03-05, version 4.4.5* I have purchased the greeting card books in the past and I thought they were a little pricey however, I received an offer for the art book and was misconstrued into thinking they were $39 each. Turns out that was just the cost of shipping the photos and artwork back to Artkive I just received an invoice for two art books which had approximately 60 Pieces of art in each My bill was over $500!!!!!!!! I nearly passed out And reached out to the company to see if I can do some type of a payment plan! Archive is a great idea, but only for the wealthy. I will not be able to afford to use their services ever again ### 1/5 — Great app but not worth the fee *2025-01-27, version 4.4.5* This app was great and I loved it when it was free - now I just organize the pics better on my phone. ### 1/5 — Can’t access art work *2024-11-29, version 4.4.5* I have stored my child’s art work on Artkive for years and it had been free. I went to add more art work today and found I must pay for a subscription I don’t want. The problem is, I cannot access all the photos I stored to retrieve them without having to pay. There was no notice as to when free storage would end. ### 1/5 — Scam! *2024-05-31, version 4.4.5* I am livid. I started storing my kids art work for the past 7+ years ago. At that time it was free to store the works. As my kids have gotten older they have made less artsy things but I enjoy occasionally going in and looking at past creations. Well today I've learned that my kids art work is being held for ransom. I now must choose between loosing all that’s been saved or paying. There was no notification that this was going to occur that I am aware of. I get wanted to changed to a subscription but that’s not what I signed up for all those years ago. All I want to do is retrieved the pictures I have saved. Then you can delete my account and I will never use you again. ### 1/5 — Horrible way or forcing me to buy a subscription! *2024-02-19, version 4.4.5* Been using this fornober 2 years now and now I have to download all of my Childs work ald put it somewhere else because I must pay for this app. Goodbye ### 1/5 — Outdated *2024-01-08, version 4.4.5* Camera flow is clunky and doesn't use the modern automatic scanning behaviour. Very US-centric experience. Doesn't have sensible default behaviour like selecting the only child as the artist ### 1/5 — Not impressed *2023-12-31, version 4.4.5* I have two kids and with the first I did a project and it was easy. With the changes in their process and subscription I really felt this wasn’t worth it for my 2nd kiddo. Ended paying a lot of money for a book I could have done on my own on another service and saved 2x-3x the cost. Also their app to modify books was not great. I would not recommend the service. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Simple experience, fantastic customer service, and excellent quality *2026-02-16, version 4.4.5* High-quality books and truly fantastic customer service made the entire experience seamless from order to delivery. They kept me up to date on the status at every stage, which I really appreciated. I also loved having the option at the end to either recycle or keep the originals. ### 5/5 — Totally recommend it *2025-10-30, version 4.4.5* Artkive is sooo good I can put all my drawings on it and then I can throw My drawings in the trash but then I can still look at them on Artkive ### 5/5 — Love my growing collection *2025-06-11, version 4.4.5* Having been a loyal customer of this company since its inception, I am delighted to have my children’s artwork preserved in a book. This practical solution eliminates the need to store the original artwork, saving a significant amount of space. ### 5/5 — Great customer service *2025-03-18, version 4.4.5* It had been a long time since I used this app as I no longer had a need for it. Once I tried to access it again, I couldn’t. Celia from customer service was quick to reply and fixed the problem, allowing me to view the saved pictures again. Few apps offer such prompt and helpful assistance when needed. 5 ⭐️s for a great app and great service! ### 5/5 — Space saver memory keeper *2023-11-04, version 4.4.5* THIS!!!! Totally worth it- all of my memories in a book!! No more boxes of artwork, pictures etc pulling up that just stay in the box. Keep the books out on coffee tables or where ever. People love looking at them when they come over. Best idea ever! ### 5/5 — Awesome! *2023-03-09, version 4.4.5* Artkive has been great! Every step of the process was clearly conveyed and they have given my family such a beautiful final product. Thank you!! ### 5/5 — Amazing company and amazing finished product! *2022-04-05, version 4.4.5* My husband and I are moving (downsizing) and therefore are cleaning out attics and basements. I used Artkive to save holiday artwork…letters to/from Santa and other irreplaceable memories. Artkive was nothing short of AMAZING! They handled my possessions with loving care and photographed each one beautifully. The book created is more than I expected (incredible quality) and hold memories that will last a lifetime. I am now making more books and I highly recommend this service! Thank you Artkive! ### 5/5 — Project completed *2021-05-21, version 4.4* I have been trying to do this myself for years. I cried when I saw the pictures. This service is great. I finally got this done. ### 5/5 — Absolutely wonderful! Highly recommend. *2021-04-26, version 4.4* If you’re a parent, this is the app for you (no matter how old your kids are)! So happy we found Artkive. The app makes it so easy to store and track my kids art as they get older. Over the past two years Artkive’s created two beautiful books of the children’s art work. If you are overrun with art projects, hand it all over to Artkive and you’ll get the most amazing compilation of work back in a beautiful book!! Seriously HIGHLY recommend!! ### 5/5 — customer service *2021-04-06, version 4.4* Each time I have contacted Artkive regarding my account, they h e promptly and kindly replied. Customer service is second to none. 🙌🏼 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*