I’m a huge fan of PicMonkey, which is how I’ve created everything from fun holiday themed photos to cool photo collages, as well as using it simply to edit some of my favorite photos.
Now, on top of their basic free service, they’ve launched a new monthly membership program for $4.99/month because, hey, what they offer is pretty darn awesome.
As an avid PicMonkey user, I took a closer look at their new Royale service to see whether it’s worth the upgrade, and here’s what I think.
The new PicMonkey Royale service offers members access to all of PicMonkey’s awesome frames, collages, and photo editing features, as well as a completely ad-free experience. So this means that if you don’t want to pay, you will be losing access to a number of the features that you may have come to love.
As far as the editing features go, free users will still have access to lots of cool tools, actually, like their basic edits, fonts and frames; in fact, the only stark difference for Royale members are in regards to the effects (aka filters) and overlays, where you only get a few of the basic offerings. And if you’re looking to touch-up a photo for free, that feature is pretty much now only reserved for Royale members only.
If you tend to use PicMonkey for collages, I found really only a few templates that were off limits for free members, most of which were the more involved ones, like Pinterest-y and Jigsaw. Of course, those also happen to be ones I use often but you might not.
The other benefit is that Royale members will have a completely ad-free experience, which is nice considering the ads are a bit large at the bottom of the screen.
Bottom line: As someone who just uses PicMonkey for quick basic edits and fun collages, it probably isn’t worth it for me to upgrade. However, if it’s a go-to editing tool for you that you use say in lieu of purchasing PhotoShop (pricy!), or to create intricate collages for your website, blog, or Pinterest, then I’d say $4.99/month is a good deal–although it would be nice for a little discount on a prepaid yearly membership.
And hey, a subscription might even make a cool holiday gift for your favorite shutterbug. -Kristen
You can learn more about the new PicMonkey Royale program on their blog.
Editor’s Note: PicMonkey Royale is now $33/year for the annual plan (or $4.99/month if you choose to subscribe monthly).
Thanks Kristen. I’m huge fan of Picmonkey and Canva- thinking about upgrading to try Royale. I appreciate your insight.
I am extremely UNHAPPY with PicMonkey. There is advertisement for a small amount of money per month with it written in very small print that you will be billed annually 39.99 as opposed to 3.33 monthly. My account has been charged for a YEARLY plan that I did not wish to purchase. I do not wish to continue my relationship with this site and it has only been two days and if I attempt to cancel then I have just essentially been tricked out of my $40 payment.There is also no phone number so that I can speak with a human to express my concern. I am MORE than willing to pay for a month, since I am already two days into the “membership” but without being able to speak with someone I am not sure of how to make that happen. I am very unhappy and a DISSATISFIED customer.
Have you contacted customer service Shawn? We’ve found them extremely responsive.
I’ve been a Pic Monkey user for years and added Royale for $4.99 a month several years. I hadnt used it in a while, but I am seeing no access to Royale features. I am however being charged $4.99 per month. What am I missing here?
First, check to be sure your browser is not out of date and update to the latest version. If that doesn’t help, you might write to customer service, Suzanna — my Royale is constantly auto-updating with new features all the time so I’m not sure why that would happen.
I had to renew from monthly 4.99 to yearly 95.00.. what is that all about. and the saving is soooooo slow.. not happy
Hi Neta, looks like there’s a superpremium subscription if you need unlimited hub storage…which it sounds like you don’t. In which case premium is still just $3.99/mo billed annually. https://www.picmonkey.com/pricing
Thinking about canceling the whole damn thing and finding something else. But sounds like that is next to impossible too.. UGH