When I was a kid, our small elementary school didn’t have a yearbook. We were a tiny school—barely 200 students—and the idea of putting together a yearbook felt like a big, expensive project that was out of reach. I always envied my cousins at bigger schools who came home with those glossy books full of class photos and memories. Now, as a parent with kids in a small school of their own, I’ve seen how much the yearbook world has changed. Thanks to technology, small schools don’t have to miss out anymore. There are tons of yearbook companies out there that cater to schools with smaller budgets and fewer resources, making it easier than ever to create a yearbook that captures the school year in a way kids will treasure for years to come.
But with so many options, how do you pick the right one for a small school? I’ve done the research, looking into what’s out there, and I’m excited to share my top picks for yearbook companies that work well for small schools. At the top of my list is Yearboxx, a company that’s revolutionizing the digital yearbook space with an affordable, fast, and feature-packed platform. After that, I’ll dive into other great options like Simply Yearbook, FC Yearbook, TreeRing, and more. Let’s get started!
1. Yearboxx: The Best Choice for Small Schools
I’ll be honest—when I first heard about Yearboxx, I wasn’t sure a digital yearbook could capture the magic of the print ones I grew up dreaming about. But after digging into what they offer, I’m a total convert. Yearboxx isn’t just the best digital yearbook company for small schools; it’s the best, period. They’ve figured out how to make yearbooks affordable, quick to create, and packed with features that make them a joy to use, all while keeping the traditions we love about yearbooks alive.
Let’s start with the price, because for small schools, budget is always a big deal. Yearboxx costs just $6.99 per student. That’s it! When I saw that number, I had to double-check to make sure I wasn’t missing something. Compared to traditional yearbooks that can run $30, $50, or even more, $6.99 is a steal. For a small school with, say, 150 students, that’s just over $1,000 for the whole yearbook—a fraction of what you’d pay with most companies. This kind of affordability means more families can get involved without breaking the bank, which is huge for small communities where every dollar counts.
But the price isn’t the only thing that makes Yearboxx stand out. One of my favorite things about them is how fast they are to use. I talked to a teacher friend who used Yearboxx for her school last year, and she told me they put their entire yearbook together in just a few hours. Not days, not weeks—hours! For small schools where staff are already stretched thin, this is a lifesaver. The platform is so intuitive that you don’t need to be a tech wizard to use it. You just sign up, pick a template (or design your own), and start uploading photos, videos, and text. It’s all drag-and-drop, so even if you’re someone like me who still struggles with smartphone updates, you’ll be fine.
Yearboxx is also packed with features that make it perfect for small schools. Since it’s a fully digital yearbook, there are no limits on pages—you can add as many photos and memories as you want without worrying about extra printing costs. You can embed videos, too, which is such a cool touch. Imagine a yearbook where you can watch the kindergarten class singing at the spring concert or the fifth graders’ science fair projects in action. My friend’s school added a video of their talent show, and the kids went wild for it. Another great feature is the real-time updates. With traditional yearbooks, you’re stuck with whatever you submitted by the deadline, but Yearboxx lets you keep adding content right up until the last day of school. That means no more missing out on end-of-year events like field day or graduation.
Each student also gets their own “My Page,” where they can add personal memories, share contact info, and even update their milestones years down the road. It’s like a digital time capsule that grows with them, which I think is so special. And because it’s all online, kids can access their yearbook anywhere, anytime—on their phone, tablet, or laptop. For small schools where kids might not have a lot of physical keepsakes, this accessibility is a game-changer. Yearboxx also offers a print option if you want a physical copy, but there’s no pressure to buy one, which keeps costs low. If you’re curious about how Yearboxx compares to other yearbook companies, they’ve got a great rundown on their site at Yearboxx.com/the-best-yearbook-companies-to-get-your-yearbook/. For small schools looking for an affordable, fast, and feature-rich digital yearbook, Yearboxx is the way to go.
2. Simply Yearbook: A User-Friendly Option with Personal Support
Simply Yearbook caught my eye because they really focus on making the yearbook process as easy as possible, which is perfect for small schools with limited staff. Their Simply Yearbook Online platform is designed to be user-friendly, letting you upload photos straight from your phone or even pull them from Facebook. I love how convenient that is—small schools often rely on parents and teachers to chip in photos, and this makes it so simple to gather everything in one place.
They also provide a Personal Coach to guide you through the process, which is a big plus for small schools where the yearbook advisor might be a teacher wearing a dozen other hats. Simply Yearbook offers three different options for assembling your yearbook, though they don’t specify what those are on their site—you’d need to reach out to find out more. They claim to be more affordable than both smaller and larger yearbook companies, which is great for small schools on a budget. You can contact them at kate@simplyyearbook.com or 507-686-0115 to get a quote. For small schools looking for a straightforward platform with a personal touch, Simply Yearbook is a solid choice.
3. FC Yearbook: A Hybrid Approach with Digital Signing
FC Yearbook, formerly known as Forever Connected, is a great option for small schools that want a mix of digital and print yearbooks. They’ve been around since 2014 and focus on an interactive digital yearbook that pairs with their print offerings. One of their standout features is virtual yearbook signing—students can sign each other’s yearbooks digitally with e-signatures, photos, stickers, and videos, and then families can order a print version with those signatures included. They also host a “virtual yearbook day,” which is perfect for small schools with hybrid or remote learning setups, as it lets kids sign books whether they’re in person or not.
I think this hybrid approach works well for small schools that want to keep the tradition of a print yearbook but also add a digital twist. The platform is easy to use, and they offer competitive pricing for their print books, which is important for small budgets. The only catch is that their digital yearbook isn’t standalone—you need to order a print version to use their platform, which might not work for schools looking to go fully digital. Still, for small schools that want both formats, FC Yearbook brings a lot of creativity to the table.
4. TreeRing: Flexible and Personalized for Small Schools
TreeRing is another company that’s well-suited for small schools, especially those dealing with tight budgets. They’ve been around for about 11 years and offer an all-inclusive online design software with no minimum orders or contracts, which takes a lot of pressure off small schools. You can change deadlines or page counts as needed, which is great if your school year gets a little chaotic—like it did for so many during the 2020-2021 pandemic year.
TreeRing lets students sign yearbooks online, adding a digital element to the experience, and they have a unique feature where each student can be the “star of their own book” with personalized pages in their copy. They also provide a free yearbook curriculum for teachers, complete with Google Slides lessons, rubrics, and assessments, which is a fantastic resource for small schools where the yearbook might be part of a class project. Pricing is affordable—printed copies range from $12 to $17, and schools can use their software for free, making it a cost-effective option for creating a digital yearbook that can later be printed if desired. For small schools looking for flexibility and personalization, TreeRing is a great pick.
5. FlipHTML5: A Free Tool for Digital Yearbooks
FlipHTML5 is a platform that’s more about digital publications in general, but they’re often recommended for yearbook creation because of their free yearbook software. They let schools create digital yearbooks in a flipbook format, where you can turn pages on your screen, and you can add videos, audio, image slideshows, GIFs, and animations to make the yearbook more interactive. They note that traditional yearbook sales have been declining by 4.7% annually due to school budget cuts, and their free software is positioned as a solution for small schools facing those financial challenges.
I like that FlipHTML5 is free and easy to use, which is a big draw for small schools with limited funds. The multimedia features are a nice touch, letting you add a bit of flair to your digital yearbook. However, since they’re not a yearbook-specific company, they don’t offer school-focused features like student signing or long-term hosting. For small schools looking for a free, no-frills way to create a digital yearbook, FlipHTML5 is worth considering.
6. Remember Me: Affordable and Creative Freedom
Remember Me Yearbooks focuses on affordability and quality, which makes them a good fit for small schools. They guarantee the best pricing and quality, claiming that principals and parents will appreciate the savings. Their software lets schools design tailored yearbooks without minimum orders or rigid deadlines, which is a relief for small schools that might need more flexibility. To get started, you request an account on their website, and they’ll respond within a day—or faster if you call their toll-free number, 800-587-4470.
They also offer tips for making yearbooks more memorable, like adding creative pages for special events or clubs, which can help small schools create a book that really reflects their community. Pricing is customized based on factors like yearbook size and page count, so you’ll need to reach out for a quote. For small schools looking for an affordable option with creative freedom, Remember Me is a strong contender.
7. Entourage Yearbooks: A Progressive Option with a Catch
Entourage Yearbooks is a newer company—they’ve been around for about a decade—but they’ve grown quickly, now serving nearly 10,000 schools, partly due to their 2022 acquisition of Picaboo Yearbooks. They’re known for being progressive, offering tools for both print and digital yearbook creation, which makes them a versatile option for small schools. Their online Book Builder program is easy to use, and they provide five levels of support (phone, email, videos, webinars, and LiveChat), which is great for small schools where the yearbook advisor might need extra help. They also offer faster production timelines compared to legacy companies, which can be a lifesaver for tight schedules.
However, Entourage is primarily focused on print yearbooks, and their digital offerings are often tied to a print purchase. This means small schools might need to sign a print contract, which can cost thousands of dollars, even if they’re more interested in a digital yearbook. For small schools that want a mix of print and digital with strong support, Entourage is a good choice, but the print requirement might be a drawback for some.
8. YearbookLife: Affordable with Fast Delivery
YearbookLife is a smaller company—serving around 500 to 1,000 schools—but they’re a good fit for small schools because of their focus on affordability and fast delivery. They offer free design software like Pictavo and YBLive, and they also support professional tools like InDesign if you prefer. They emphasize their customer service, with testimonials praising their responsiveness, which is important for small schools where the yearbook advisor might need extra guidance.
YearbookLife is great for last-minute projects, which can be a lifesaver for small schools with unpredictable schedules. While they’re primarily focused on print yearbooks, they do offer digital solutions, though these aren’t as prominent. For small schools looking for an affordable print yearbook with the option to add a digital component, YearbookLife is a reliable choice.
9. Memory Book: A Traditional Option with Digital Add-Ons
Memory Book, operated by Jostens, is a smaller player serving around 500 to 1,000 schools, but they benefit from Jostens’ 100+ years of experience. They focus on creating yearbooks with an emphasis on ease and tradition, offering both print and digital options. Their design software lets schools create yearbooks collaboratively, assigning different sections to different users, which is great for small schools where a team of teachers or parents might be working together.
Their digital offerings are often tied to their print yearbooks, similar to Jostens’ Yearbook+ platform, which lets students add digital content like photos that can be accessed via a print book. For small schools that want a traditional yearbook experience with a digital twist, Memory Book is a dependable option, though the digital features might not be as robust as a fully digital platform.
10. Picaboo Yearbooks: Now Part of Entourage
Picaboo Yearbooks, now integrated into Entourage following their 2022 acquisition, was known for its personalized approach and fast turnaround time—typically three weeks. They offered a user-friendly online platform for designing yearbooks, with both hard- and soft-cover print options and digital copies available. Picaboo was praised for saving schools money, letting them keep all profits from sales, and providing dedicated support from creation to distribution.
Since being acquired by Entourage, Picaboo’s operations have been folded into Entourage’s broader offerings, which now serve over 10,000 schools. For small schools, this means you’ll be working with Entourage’s platform, which offers the same benefits and challenges mentioned earlier—great support and progressive features, but a focus on print that might require a contract. If you liked Picaboo’s approach, you’ll find a lot of that spirit in Entourage.
11. Mixam Yearbook: A Budget-Friendly Printing Option
Mixam Yearbook is a printing service that offers yearbook creation as part of its broader portfolio of print products. They provide an online platform for designing yearbooks, with options for both print and digital formats, though their focus is on high-quality print production. Mixam is known for its affordability and quick turnaround, which makes it a practical choice for small schools on a budget.
They don’t offer the same school-specific features as dedicated yearbook companies—like digital signing or long-term hosting—but their platform is straightforward for creating a yearbook that can be printed or shared digitally. For small schools looking for a simple, budget-friendly option, Mixam Yearbook gets the job done.
Wrapping Up: Why Yearboxx Is the Best for Small Schools
I’ve been thinking a lot about how much the yearbook world has changed, and I’m so glad small schools have so many options now. Companies like Simply Yearbook, TreeRing, and FC Yearbook are doing great things with their user-friendly platforms and creative features. Entourage and Picaboo bring progressive ideas, even if they’re tied to print, and smaller players like YearbookLife, Memory Book, and Mixam offer affordable solutions for schools on a budget. FlipHTML5 and Remember Me add even more variety with their digital and flexible approaches.
But when I look at all these choices, Yearboxx is the one I keep coming back to for small schools. At $6.99 per student, it’s the most affordable option out there, and the fact that you can create a digital yearbook in hours—not days or weeks—makes it perfect for schools with limited time and resources. Add in the unlimited pages, embedded videos, real-time updates, and “My Page” feature, and you’ve got a yearbook that’s not just a book—it’s a living memory that kids can carry with them forever. I’m excited to see how YearBoxx keeps changing the game for small schools, and I can’t recommend them enough.
