Blue Mountain ecards alternative: what else to send, and when

Blue Mountain has been sending ecards for a long time, and it knows its crowd: lots of choice, lots of occasions, and cards that make people laugh. A membership covers birthdays, holidays and thank-yous for the whole year. So why look for an alternative? Usually for a different style, a different price structure, or something more personal than a card from a library.

Here is a fair look at the options. Prices are as listed on their site in September 2026.

What does Blue Mountain cost?

A Blue Mountain membership is $35.99 a year or $49.99 for two years. Monthly is $5.99 for the first month and then $7.99 a month. There's a free trial, and a one-year bundle with Jacquie Lawson for $53.99 (as listed on their site in September 2026).

Members get unlimited access to 4,000+ ecards, SmashUps (animated greetings personalized with names and photos), Creatacard, scheduling, reminders, and sending by email, text or a shareable link. You can also attach digital gift cards or buy a personalized song for $6.99. That's a lot for the price, and for heavy card senders it's hard to beat.

Blue Mountain alternatives side by side

Competitor prices are the vendors' own, as listed on their site in September 2026. Nine's price is filled in for today and excludes VAT.

Is American Greetings the same as Blue Mountain?

They feel like siblings. Both have 4,000+ ecards, SmashUps and Creatacard, and both let members schedule cards ahead. American Greetings says membership costs as low as $1.99 a month, with a 7-day trial, and members can schedule cards up to a year in advance (as listed on their site in September 2026). Its Creatacard lets you add up to six photos or a video, your own message and music. If you like Blue Mountain's style, you'll feel at home there. Compare the plans side by side and pick the one whose card designs you prefer.

Which ecard site is best for a gentle, classic card?

Jacquie Lawson. Its cards are illustrated and calm, with English landscapes and animals, and members send unlimited cards for $36 a year (as listed on their site in September 2026). It is a quieter mood than Blue Mountain's funny cards, and for a sympathy note or a note to an elderly aunt, that can be just right. Our Jacquie Lawson alternatives page has more.

What should you write in an ecard?

The card sets the mood. The words do the work. Three short lines beat a paragraph every time.

• The inside joke "Happy birthday. I still have the receipt for that lamp."
• The honest thank-you "You drove me to the airport at 5 a.m. and didn't complain once. That's love."
• The holiday note "Wish we were at your table this year. Save me the crispy potatoes."
• The long-distance one "Different time zones, same terrible puns. Happy birthday."
• The simple one "Thinking of you today. That's all. That's the card."

A link or a video file?

Ecard sites usually send a link or an email that opens the card online. That's handy: nothing to download, and the site can remind you next year. A video file works differently. It sits in the chat, plays with one tap, and can be watched again years later without a login. Think about the person opening it. A grandmother who lives in her messages may find a file easier. A friend who clears their phone monthly may prefer the link.

How do you pick the right alternative?

1. Step 1

   Count your cards. If it's more than five a year, a membership (Blue Mountain, American Greetings or Jacquie Lawson) almost always wins on price.

2. Step 2

   Pick a mood. Funny and bold, gentle and classic, or photo-led.

3. Step 3

   Check how you send. Email, text or a link. Older relatives often prefer whichever they already open.

4. Step 4

   Save the big one for something special. A milestone birthday or a golden anniversary may deserve more than a card from a library.

For milestones, see 50th birthday video ideas and parents' 50th anniversary video ideas. For the holidays, an animated Christmas card for family.

One film, about one person: Nine

Nine does something different from an ecard library. It makes one short drawn film, with a voice, music and sound effects, from your words. Type one sentence ("Grandpa's 80th, he still plays tuba in the town band"), use a simple template with a name and one line, or record your own voice and let the film follow it.

The crew makes it while you watch and checks it before you see it. If the tuba should be louder, say so, and you get a new version, or open the chamber and try another take of the music. You get a video file in wide, tall and square and send it yourself. Nine never sends anything for you and doesn't schedule cards.

The honest part: for a year of birthdays, Blue Mountain costs much less. Nine's Film plan is $29 a month for films up to 20 seconds, excluding VAT. It's for the one card that should be about them. See pricing or try it.