Mosaic Journal

Mosaic Journal is a printed photo journal with a monthly print subscription behind it. You buy a linen journal with 365 pockets, choose one photo a day in the free app, and Mosaic posts the prints to you every month, up to 31 a month, ready to slot into the pockets without glue or stickers. The One a Day plan costs £12.99 a month, or £9.99 a month if you pay for the year up front, and delivery is free. It is a London-founded business that pitched on BBC Dragons’ Den, and it is one of the nicest ideas we have seen for getting photos off a phone and into something you will actually keep. Our news story on Mosaic Journal’s £9.99 plan works out what each print costs.

Mosaic Journal price and plans

The headline “£9.99 a month” is the yearly rate, so read it as £119.88 paid up front. If you pay month by month it is £12.99. On the yearly plan a full month of 31 prints works out at about 32p a print, and at 30 prints a month the monthly plan is about 42p, which is roughly what Freestyle charges for small orders anyway. The journal itself is a one-off purchase: you only keep paying if you want the monthly prints. Personalising the cover costs from £20 extra. Mosaic’s terms say it will give at least 30 days’ notice before raising subscription fees.

How it works

• Pick a journal on the website. It is undated, so you can start on any day of the year.
• Choose a mode in the app. One a Day takes one photo a day and ships monthly; Freestyle lets you print as many as you like whenever you like.
• Receive your prints. They are 4x4in squares on thick 250gsm card. One a Day envelopes are based on your sign-up date, so if you join on the 5th, each batch runs from the 5th to the 4th of the next month. Late uploads roll into the next envelope.
• Backdate if you like. You can set a start date up to 365 days in the past, and your first envelope catches up on everything since then.

The app also lets you tag where you were and who you were with, send daily reminders, and share a journal with someone else. Prints can go to a different address, even in another country, which makes it work well for grandparents.

Who is behind Mosaic Journal

Mosaic Journal Ltd is a small UK company founded in London by Murad Huseynov, who pitched the business on BBC Dragons’ Den. It says it has members in 21 countries, and its reviews average 4.98 out of 5 from more than 600 reviews on its own site. Questions go to [email protected], and the brand promises that a human answers within 24 hours.

Delivery, cancelling and returns

Delivery is free on the journal and on every envelope of prints, with taxes and duties included. The journal ships as soon as you order. UK delivery takes one to three working days, and elsewhere two to twelve. Mosaic ships to the UK, Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Freestyle orders arrive in about two to five days.

There is no contract on the monthly prints, and Mosaic says you can cancel in two taps in the app. If you choose the yearly rate you have paid for the year, so only take it once you are sure the daily habit will stick.

Every journal comes with a 30 day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty. The First Envelope Promise lets you ask for a full refund within 30 days of receiving your first photos if you are not happy, and you keep the photos. One catch: the refund policy says sale items cannot be returned, and the journal is often sold at a promotional price, so keep the order confirmation and check what applies to your order before relying on a return.

Mosaic Journal against the alternatives

Our verdict on Mosaic Journal

We like Mosaic Journal a lot. The idea is simple and well thought out: the journal comes first, so the prints have somewhere to go, and the monthly envelope turns a year of phone photos into a book you can hand down. Free delivery, a backdate option and a genuine money-back promise make it easy to try. The things to watch are the price wording and the commitment. £9.99 is the yearly rate, not the monthly one, and the daily habit is what makes it worthwhile. If you are not sure you will keep it up, start on the monthly plan or Freestyle and move to yearly once the first few spreads are full.

Pros

• A lovely, practical way to print your year, with pockets so there is no glue
• Free delivery on the journal and every envelope, taxes included
• Backdate up to 365 days, and late uploads roll over
• 30 day money-back promise and a one-year warranty
• No contract on the monthly plan

Cons

• The £9.99 rate needs a year paid up front; monthly is £12.99
• 4x4in prints only, so it is not for large photos
• Sale items are excluded in the refund policy, which sits awkwardly with the promise
• Only good value if you keep the daily habit going

Best alternatives to Mosaic Journal

• Famileo: a printed family newspaper made from photos shared by relatives, ideal for grandparents.
• Bookishly: a book subscription for readers who love a parcel of paper.
• Craftpod: four seasonal embroidery and craft kits a year, if you would rather make something by hand.

For more options, browse all our lifestyle subscription boxes.

Mosaic Journal FAQ

How much is Mosaic Journal a month?

One a Day prints cost £12.99 a month, or £9.99 a month when you pay yearly (£119.88). The journal is a one-off purchase from £29.99 and includes the first month of photos.

Is the official site mosaicjournal.co.uk?

No. The brand’s site is mosaicjournal.com, which sells in pounds and ships from the UK.

How many photos do you get each month?

Up to 31 a month on One a Day, one for each day, as 4x4in prints on 250gsm card. Freestyle has no limit and you pay per photo.

Is delivery free?

Yes. Delivery is free on the journal and on every envelope, with taxes and duties included.

How do I cancel Mosaic Journal?

The monthly plan has no contract and can be cancelled in the app in two taps. The yearly rate is paid up front.

Can I add old photos?

Yes. You can backdate One a Day up to 365 days, or print anything from any date in Freestyle.

Does Mosaic Journal make a good gift?

Yes. The gift bundle includes the journal and 12 months of prints, and its activation code never expires, so the recipient can start when they are ready.

Does Mosaic Journal ship outside the UK?

Yes, to Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and prints can be sent to a different address from yours.