Christmas video cards, compared
For free animated e-cards, Dromadaire and CyberCartes (in French) send by email at no cost, paid for by advertising. For hand-painted cards with music, Jacquie Lawson costs $8 a month or $36 a year. To put your own face in the card, JibJab renews at $6.99 a month or $35.99 a year. For a short video where a reindeer, a snowman or Mrs Claus says the person's name and your message, Cirrela lets you watch the whole video free first, then $4.99 once to send it, with nothing that renews.
Cirrela publishes this page and sells one of the cards in it. We did not test each service ourselves.
The pick for each need
A video that says their name, paid once: Cirrela
A reindeer, a snowman or Mrs Claus wishes them a merry Christmas by name with your words, in 7 languages, in about a minute. Watch the whole video free with our mark; $4.99 once to send it on WhatsApp or by email.
Watch out: Short (a few seconds per message), and the free one carries our mark and doesn't download.
Beautiful hand-painted cards: Jacquie Lawson
Animated, hand-painted cards with composed music, the classic for family abroad.
Watch out: A membership: $8 a month or $36 a year (€7 or €30). The app's subscriptions renew automatically. The app only sends a few cards without one.
Your own face in the card: JibJab
Take a selfie and your face dances in the Christmas card.
Watch out: Renews at $6.99 a month or $35.99 a year, and its terms say payments are non-refundable. English and Spanish only.
Free, in French: Dromadaire
Animated Christmas e-cards sent by email at no cost; a printed card from €4.90 if you want paper.
Watch out: Free because of partners' advertising emails (optional). A photo only shows on some cards, and only on a computer.
Free cards with your own photos: CyberCartes
Image, animated and video e-cards, some built from your own photos, sent free by email.
Watch out: Paid for by advertising; keeping the card costs €1.50 to €1.99 depending on the page, a send to a mobile €2.50.
Design it all yourself: Canva
A full editor: templates, your photos and video, exported as a card or a clip.
Watch out: You do the work. Pro is $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year on the App Store.
What each one is, how personal it gets, and what it costs
| Seller | What it is | How personal | Free | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cirrela | A short AI video: a character says your message out loud | Says the person's name, in 7 languages; no photo needed | The whole video to watch, with our mark | $4.99 once, nothing renews |
| Jacquie Lawson | Hand-painted animated e-cards with music | Your written message; the app can add a photo or video | A few cards in the app | $8 a month, $36 a year, $50 for 2 years (€7, €30, €43); app plans renew |
| JibJab | E-cards and videos with your face on dancing characters | Your face, from a selfie | The GIFs | $6.99 a month or $35.99 a year, renews; non-refundable |
| American Greetings | Animated e-cards, celebrity cards that say a name, Creatacard | Some cards say the name; photos and video in Creatacard | A few cards and a 7-day trial | "From $2.08/month"; charged when the trial ends unless cancelled |
| Canva | A design and video editor | Whatever you make | The app, with 5 GB of storage | Pro $14.99 a month or $119.99 a year (App Store) |
| Dromadaire | Animated e-cards, in French | Your written message; a photo on some cards | Every e-card by email (advertising) | Printed card €4.90; postcard from the app €0.99 plus stamp |
| CyberCartes | Image, animated and video e-cards, in French | Your own photos in the video cards | Sending by email (advertising) | Keep the card €1.50 to €1.99; to a mobile €2.50 |
Prices as each page or store listing showed them, before tax. American Greetings' page gives no full price list, so its own wording is quoted.
Common questions
Can I send a Christmas video card for free?
Yes. Dromadaire and CyberCartes send animated e-cards by email at no cost, paid for by advertising; Jacquie Lawson and American Greetings have a few free cards. On Cirrela you can watch the whole talking video free, with our mark; sending it costs $4.99 once.
Which Christmas e-cards don't need a subscription?
Dromadaire and CyberCartes charge only for extras, one at a time. Cirrela charges $4.99 once per video. Jacquie Lawson, JibJab and American Greetings sell memberships, and the app plans renew until cancelled.
Which Christmas card says the person's name?
On Cirrela the character says the name you type, in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Arabic or Indonesian. American Greetings has celebrity cards that say a name. The others show the name in writing.
Can I put my own face in a Christmas card?
JibJab is built for that, from a selfie, on a membership. CyberCartes video cards and Canva use your own photos. Cirrela's Christmas wishes use its own characters, not your photo.
How do I send it on WhatsApp?
Cirrela gives a link and a video file made for WhatsApp. Most e-card sites send by email; check each one before you rely on WhatsApp.