- Jigsaw puzzle makers compared
- Nine jigsaw puzzle makers to consider
- Which jigsaw puzzle maker suits your photo
- A puzzle for a toddler is a toy first
- Online puzzle, printed jigsaw or both?
- Six checks before you turn a photo into a puzzle
- Signs your puzzle photo won't work
- My plain advice on photo puzzles people enjoy
- Frequently asked questions
A jigsaw puzzle maker turns your own photo into a puzzle, either online to solve and share or printed and posted as a physical jigsaw. Some are free puzzle sites with a create button, some are puzzle communities and some are photo printers that make custom jigsaws. Nine options follow in no particular order.
A photo jigsaw is a lovely gift and a surprisingly good way to share memories. Grandparents solve the family holiday online, teachers turn a class photo into an end-of-term puzzle and couples print the wedding picture in a thousand pieces.
The nine tools below cover online and printed puzzles. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you'd rather solve than make, my guide to online jigsaw puzzle games for a work break has plenty to try.
Jigsaw puzzle makers compared
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website or store listing, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the page says the tool, or a plan or version of it, is free or open source. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jigidi | Online jigsaw puzzle community | Sharing puzzles with a community | Yes |
| Jigsaw 365 | Online jigsaw puzzle site | Choosing the number of pieces | Yes |
| Jigsaw Explorer | Online custom jigsaw puzzle maker | Custom puzzles to send to family | Not stated |
| Jigsaw Planet | Online jigsaw puzzle maker and library | Making and finding puzzles online | Yes |
| Printerpix | UK photo gift printer | Printed photo puzzles in several sizes | Not stated |
| Puzzle Warehouse | Puzzle retailer with a custom builder | A custom puzzle from a specialist shop | Not stated |
| PuzzleSnap | Online jigsaw puzzle site | Turning any photo into a free puzzle | Yes |
| Snapfish | Online photo printing service | Photo puzzles beside other photo gifts | Not stated |
| Zazzle | Custom products platform | Personalised puzzles from your own design | Not stated |
Nine jigsaw puzzle makers to consider
Jigidi
Best for: Puzzle fans who want to solve, create and share jigsaws and chat with other puzzlers once they've joined.
Jigsaw 365
Best for: Players who want to create a jigsaw and pick how many pieces it has, from a quick challenge to a long one.
Jigsaw Explorer
Best for: Grandparents and friends who want to create an online custom jigsaw and share it with family by link.
Jigsaw Planet
Best for: People who want to create a puzzle, sign up to save it and browse the most played puzzles of the week.
Printerpix
Best for: UK gift buyers who want a personalised jigsaw printed from a photo, with a choice of piece counts and sizes.
Puzzle Warehouse
Best for: US puzzle lovers who want a custom jigsaw from a specialist puzzle shop that also sells hundreds of ready-made ones.
PuzzleSnap
Best for: Families who want to play picture puzzles for free or turn any photo into their own custom online jigsaw.
Snapfish
Best for: Shoppers who already print photos online and want a custom jigsaw ordered alongside cards and other photo gifts.
Zazzle
Best for: Gift givers who want to design a personalised jigsaw from their own artwork or photo and have it made to order.
Which jigsaw puzzle maker suits your photo
- A puzzle community: Jigidi.
- Choosing the number of pieces online: Jigsaw 365 or Jigsaw Explorer.
- Making and saving puzzles online: Jigsaw Planet or PuzzleSnap.
- Printed photo jigsaws in the UK: Printerpix.
- A custom puzzle from a specialist shop: Puzzle Warehouse.
- Puzzles beside other photo gifts: Snapfish or Zazzle.
A puzzle for a toddler is a toy first
The Office for Product Safety and Standards guidance on GOV.UK says toy safety information must take the ability of the users into account, in particular for toys intended for children under 36 months, and that warnings must be marked in English and start with the word Warning.
That's worth remembering when you order a photo puzzle as a gift for a very young child. Small pieces suit adults, not toddlers, so look for a supplier that sells puzzles marked for that age group, with large chunky pieces and clear warnings on the box. The picture matters far less than the age marking.
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Online puzzle, printed jigsaw or both?
An online puzzle is instant and free to share. You upload a photo, choose the number of pieces and send a link to family.
A printed jigsaw takes a few days to arrive, and it's something to keep. Pick a sharp photo with plenty of detail across the whole image, because big areas of plain sky make the puzzle frustrating.
Doing both works well for gifts. Send the online version as a teaser, then post the printed one.
Six checks before you turn a photo into a puzzle
- Is the photo sharp enough at a large size?
- Is there detail across the whole picture?
- How many pieces suit the person solving it?
- Is it for a young child, and is the age marking right?
- Do you have permission to use the photo?
- Will it be solved online, on paper or both?
Signs your puzzle photo won't work
- Half the picture is sky. Crop tighter.
- The photo is blurry. Use a sharper one.
- The pieces are tiny for a child. Pick fewer, bigger pieces.
- It's a professional photo. Check you can print it.
Do you make a jigsaw puzzle maker? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on photo puzzles people enjoy
Match the piece count to the person, not the photo. A beautiful image in a thousand pieces can sit unfinished in a box for months, while the same picture in a few hundred pieces gets finished in an evening and talked about. If you're not sure, go easier: nobody complains that a gift puzzle was too much fun.
For a calmer kind of puzzle time, my guide to daily jigsaw puzzle games explains why they help people unwind.
Frequently asked questions
What is a jigsaw puzzle maker?
It's a tool that turns your own photo into a jigsaw, either online to solve and share or printed and posted.
Can I make a jigsaw puzzle online for free?
Yes. Several sites let you upload a photo and make a free online puzzle. Check the free plan column above.
How many pieces should a photo puzzle have?
It depends on the person. Fewer pieces suit children and casual solvers, while keen puzzlers enjoy more.
Are photo puzzles safe for toddlers?
Only if they're made for that age. Toy rules take extra care with toys for children under 36 months, so check the age marking.
What makes a good photo for a jigsaw?
A sharp image with detail and colour across the whole picture, without large plain areas.
Can I share an online jigsaw with family?
Yes. Most online makers give you a link so others can solve your puzzle.
