For most elementary students, yearbooks aren’t about flipping through pages or collecting signatures, they’re about giving parents something to hold onto. It’s a snapshot of childhood: gap-toothed grins, class plays, messy art projects, and friendships that started on the monkey bars.
But here’s the truth, elementary yearbooks are really for the grown-ups. Parents want something to remember the early years. Grandparents love seeing what their little ones are up to. And the kids? They might not care now, but one day they’ll want to look back.
So why are families still spending $25, $30, even $40 for a printed yearbook that’s handed to a six-year-old and ends up crumpled in a backpack?
In 2025, better options exist. With the rise of digital yearbooks, you can now preserve and share school memories without overpaying, and without worrying about shipping delays, damage, or lost copies. A digital yearbook can be shared with the whole family, saved for years, and accessed when the child is older and ready to relive it themselves.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best yearbook companies for elementary schools, organized into three clear categories:
- Digital Yearbooks – Shareable, affordable, and mobile-friendly
- Printed Yearbooks – Classic keepsakes with modern flexibility
- Yearbook Creation Tools – For schools and teachers that want to build their own
We’ll start with the digital options, because if you’re a parent or teacher looking for the easiest, smartest way to capture classroom memories, that’s where the future is heading.
Digital Yearbooks: Shareable, Affordable, and Built for Today’s Families
When you think about how families actually live today, scrolling through photos on their phones, sharing updates in group chats, and video-calling grandparents, it makes sense that the yearbook experience should match that.
Digital yearbooks are finally catching up to real life. No more shipping delays. No more bent pages. No more scrambling to find $30 for a printed book your first grader barely looks at. Instead, you get a version that’s easy to share, lasts forever, and can be accessed whenever and wherever you want.
For elementary schools, digital yearbooks make even more sense. They’re affordable, easy for teachers to manage, and perfect for young kids who aren’t old enough for a phone, but whose parents definitely are.
Let’s start with the company that’s leading this shift.
1. YearBoxx – The Only Truly Mobile-First Yearbook for Elementary Schools
Price: $6.99 per student
Format: 100% digital, built for smartphones
Most “digital” yearbooks are just print books uploaded online as a PDF or flipbook. They’re clunky, outdated, and not designed for the way families actually view and share memories. YearBoxx changes that.
This is the only platform that’s designed specifically for phones, not for desktops, not for printing. It feels like a modern memory feed, with photos and videos organized by events throughout the year. Think: the classroom pumpkin patch trip, the winter concert, 100th Day of School celebrations, and goofy classroom moments, all added in real time.
Teachers can easily upload content, parents receive a private link, and grandparents can enjoy it without needing to wait for shipping or fight over a single physical copy. And because YearBoxx is built to last, kids can access their yearbooks when they’re older, whether it’s on their first phone or years later as teens.
There’s no software to learn, no minimum order, and no print costs. Just $6.99 per student for a full year’s worth of organized memories.
Why it’s perfect for elementary schools:
- Mobile-first, not just a “digital version” of a print book
- Real-time memory sharing, teachers upload photos and videos throughout the year
- Simple for staff, engaging for parents
- Grandparents and relatives can view from anywhere
- Students can keep it forever and revisit it when they’re older
- No printing, no contracts, no stress
For schools that want something affordable, easy to manage, and loved by families, YearBoxx is the best option available.
2. Treering – Not Quite Digital, Not Quite Print-Free
Price: $16–$22 per student (printed)
Format: Primarily print, with limited digital previews
Treering is often mentioned in conversations about modern yearbooks, and while it offers some digital features, it’s still a print-first company. Schools using Treering create printed books that students or parents can personalize, and a digital preview version is made available, but it’s not mobile-optimized or long-term accessible in the same way YearBoxx is.
The personalization aspect is great, parents can upload photos of their own child and have them printed into their custom yearbook. But the platform is built with print in mind, and the digital experience feels more like a tool for ordering than a full memory-sharing solution.
Key limitations:
- Digital access is limited and tied to print orders
- No mobile app or phone-based interface
- Not built for real-time updates throughout the year
- Still involves shipping, print deadlines, and physical costs
Best for:
Parents who want a printed keepsake with some personalization, but not schools seeking a true digital-first option.
3. Entourage – Digital Add-Ons, but Print Comes First
Price: Varies ($20–$30 per book on average)
Format: Print-focused with digital flipbooks and cloud access
Entourage is another major name in school yearbooks, known for its collaborative tools and print options. It does offer digital flipbooks and online access, but only as a supplement to a printed book. And while it’s technically cloud-based, the experience is still structured around print production.
You can preview the yearbook online, and teams can collaborate remotely during the design phase, but there’s no parent-facing mobile experience, no real-time sharing, and no stand-alone digital yearbook solution.
Why it falls short digitally:
- Flipbooks are desktop-based and not ideal for phones
- No mobile-first interface for students or parents
- Digital access is often temporary or tied to a print purchase
- More useful for yearbook teams than for family-friendly sharing
Best for:
Schools with a design team that wants to collaborate online but still plans to distribute printed books.
Printed Yearbooks: The Classic Format, Reimagined for Simpler School Needs
Printed yearbooks still have their charm. There’s something about flipping through glossy pages, signing names in the back, and placing it on a bookshelf that digital versions just can’t replicate.
But for elementary schools, printed yearbooks come with challenges, high costs, shipping delays, complicated ordering systems, and the reality that most young kids won’t take care of them. More often than not, it’s the parents footing the bill and handling the logistics.
If your school is committed to print, there are still good options out there, especially ones that don’t require bulk orders or lengthy design training. Here are the top printed yearbook providers to consider.
1. Picaboo Yearbooks – Great for Small Schools or Classes
Price: Starting at $18–$25 per book
Minimum Order: None
Picaboo is one of the most flexible yearbook printers on the market, which is why it’s a popular choice for elementary schools with limited staff or small student bodies. There’s no minimum order, meaning you can print 10 books, 100 books, or just enough for one classroom, and nobody’s stuck over-ordering.
The online design platform is easy to use, with templates that are age-appropriate and layouts that don’t require any design experience. You can build a book quickly with photos from throughout the year, and let parents order their own copies directly.
Bonus: every print order includes a free digital flipbook version for online viewing.
Why it works well for elementary schools:
- Simple enough for teachers or PTA leaders to manage
- No waste or leftover inventory
- Printed books plus digital copy
- Great for individual classrooms, grade-level books, or full-school editions
- Fast turnaround and clean, professional finish
2. Mixbook – Ideal for Class Projects or Club Yearbooks
Price: Varies, often $20–$30 per book
Minimum Order: None
Mixbook is technically a photo book company, but it’s a favorite among parent volunteers and teachers because of its stylish templates and no-fuss ordering. It doesn’t offer full school support like some yearbook companies do, but for small projects like a 5th grade graduation book, a kindergarten class memory book, or a PTA-organized keepsake, Mixbook shines.
The editor is modern, clean, and fast. You can create a finished book in a weekend and send parents a direct order link. It’s also a great way to make end-of-year gifts for teachers or highlight special events like school plays or science fairs.
Why it’s great for elementary:
- Easy enough for anyone to use
- No contracts, no commitments
- High-quality printing and premium paper
- Fun, vibrant themes that feel kid-friendly
3. Shutterfly Photo Books – Great for PTA or Parent-Led Yearbooks
Price: Often under $25 with discounts
Minimum Order: None
For schools where the yearbook gets handed off to the PTA or a group of proactive parents, Shutterfly is a simple, accessible option. It’s not built for full-school collaboration, but if one or two people are assembling the book on behalf of a class or grade, Shutterfly’s system is perfect.
You get tons of colorful templates, themed pages, and pre-built photo layouts, so the design process is fast and beginner-friendly. And with regular discounts and promo codes, the cost per book is often cheaper than traditional yearbook services.
Why parents love it:
- Familiar and trusted brand
- Frequent sales and free shipping deals
- Templates made for kids and families
- No learning curve, just upload, design, and print
Yearbook Creation Tools: For Schools That Want to Build Their Own
Some elementary schools don’t want to deal with full-service companies. Whether it’s a small class, a special project, or a school that likes to keep things in-house, DIY creation tools are a powerful way to take control of the yearbook process.
The good news? You don’t need design experience. Today’s tools are built to be fast, user-friendly, and completely online, so teachers, PTAs, or even student helpers can get involved. Let’s start with the easiest and most elementary-friendly platform available.
1. YearBoxx Create – Make a Yearbook in Hours, Not Days
Type: Digital Yearbook Builder
For: YearBoxx platform (digital only)
Most people assume building a yearbook takes weeks of stress and endless back-and-forth editing. But YearBoxx Create flips that narrative on its head.
This is a web-based tool built for speed. You can upload photos, organize content by event or date, and apply a theme in minutes. Whether you’re documenting a single classroom or creating a yearbook for the whole school, you can finish a beautiful digital yearbook in just a few hours.
It’s designed for teachers and real school environments, not professional designers. Everything lives online, so there’s no software to install and no risk of losing progress.
Important note: YearBoxx Create is used to design digital yearbooks only. It does not support print exports, but it’s perfect for classrooms going fully digital.
Why it’s ideal for elementary schools:
- Ridiculously fast and easy
- Clean layouts with no technical skills required
- Great for time-crunched teachers or clubs
- Can be used for full-school or classroom-specific yearbooks
- Seamlessly publishes into the YearBoxx platform
If your school is using YearBoxx, this tool is hands-down the best way to create something everyone can enjoy, without overcomplicating the process.
2. Canva for Education – Free, Flexible, and Familiar
Type: Online design platform (free for schools)
Best for: DIY digital or print yearbooks
Canva has become the go-to design platform for classrooms, and for good reason. With its drag-and-drop interface, thousands of templates, and free access for educators, it’s perfect for designing yearbooks without a budget or a team.
You can start from scratch or use pre-built yearbook layouts. Students and teachers can collaborate on the same file in real time, making it a fun class project or club activity. When it’s ready, you can export it as a PDF for printing or share it digitally.
Pros for elementary schools:
- 100% free with an educator account
- Students can co-design pages with teacher oversight
- Ideal for project-based learning or clubs
- Works well for both print and digital versions
- Endless design freedom, but with training wheels
The only downside? It’s not a dedicated yearbook platform, so everything from page flow to organization is up to you. Still, for the price and creative flexibility, it’s hard to beat.
3. Adobe Express – Clean Layouts with More Structure
Type: Lightweight design platform (formerly Adobe Spark)
Best for: Schools that want simplicity with style
Adobe Express is like Canva’s quieter, more structured cousin. It’s still drag-and-drop, still web-based, and still easy to use, but it’s built with a little more polish. It’s especially useful for teachers looking to add a little professionalism to their projects without getting too deep into design software.
While it doesn’t have yearbook-specific templates, it’s great for clean, modern layouts, collages, and class photo pages. Plus, Adobe offers education access to many of its tools, so if your school is already using Creative Cloud, this slots in nicely.
Why it works for elementary schools:
- Polished, simple designs
- Good for individual class books or memory pages
- Free tier available
- Web-based with mobile support
- Export to PDF or image for digital or print use
If you want to create something special but don’t want to get overwhelmed, Adobe Express gives you a sweet spot between simplicity and quality.
The Smartest Way to Capture Elementary Memories
Elementary yearbooks aren’t just keepsakes, they’re time capsules. But that doesn’t mean they need to be expensive, outdated, or stressful to produce.
Parents don’t need to spend $30 or more for a book their child will lose, bend, or forget. And teachers don’t need to give up weeks of planning time to create something meaningful.
If you’re looking for the best mix of affordability, accessibility, and long-term value, YearBoxx is the clear winner. For just $6.99 per student, families get a private, mobile-friendly yearbook they can access anytime, shareable with grandparents and easy for kids to enjoy when they’re old enough to scroll.
Still want print? Platforms like Picaboo, Mixbook, and Shutterfly give you flexible options without the usual headaches.
Want to create your own? YearBoxx Create, Canva, and Adobe Express make it easier than ever to build something beautiful in hours, not weeks.
Whatever you choose, just remember: it’s not about the format. It’s about the memories. And now, those memories are more accessible, and more affordable, than ever.
