Updated January 2025
An honest comparison of Custom Heroes, Wonderbly, Hooray Heroes, and Frecklebox. Find the right service for your family.
Best for photo-realistic characters:
Custom Heroes (AI transforms your actual photo)
Best established brand:
Wonderbly (since 2013, gift wrapping available)
Best for family books:
Hooray Heroes (siblings, parents, pets)
Best budget option:
Frecklebox (starting at $20)
Prices range from $20 to $59 depending on service and options
Photo-to-illustration technology
Established brand with beautiful templates
Family-focused cartoon adventures
Affordable name-personalized books
Green highlights indicate each service's strengths
| Feature | Custom Heroes | Wonderbly | Hooray Heroes | Frecklebox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Character resembles your child | Yes (from photo) | No (avatar picker) | No (avatar builder) | No (name only) |
| Custom story text | Yes (custom generated) | No (templates) | No (templates) | No (templates) |
| Edit story wording | Yes | No | No | No |
| Multiple characters | Yes | Limited | Yes (strength) | No |
| Instant digital delivery | Yes (~30 min) | No | No | No |
| Gift wrapping | No | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Established track record | Newer (2024) | Since 2013 | Since 2016 | Since 2007 |
| Starting price | $34 | $35 | $40 | $20 |
Direct comparisons for common matchups
Photo-based AI personalization vs established template brand
| Custom Heroes | Wonderbly | |
|---|---|---|
| Character creation | AI transforms your actual photo | Choose from preset avatar options |
| Story | Unique custom story, editable | Pre-written templates with name insertion |
| Price | Starting at $34 | Starting at $35 |
| Delivery | 30-45 min digital, 5-7 days print | 5-10 business days (print only) |
| Best for | True likeness & custom stories | Brand recognition & gift wrapping |
Verdict: Choose Custom Heroes if you want the character to actually look like your child. Choose Wonderbly for proven quality and gift presentation.
Photo-based AI characters vs family avatar builder
| Custom Heroes | Hooray Heroes | |
|---|---|---|
| Character creation | AI transforms your actual photo | Build cartoon avatar from options |
| Multiple characters | Yes (from multiple photos) | Yes (specialized for families) |
| Price | Starting at $34 | Starting at $40 |
| Delivery | 30-45 min digital, 5-7 days print | 7-14 business days (print only) |
| Best for | Photo-realistic characters | Whole-family stories with pets |
Verdict: Choose Custom Heroes for photo-based character likeness. Choose Hooray Heroes for elaborate family stories with multiple cartoon characters.
Classic personalized books vs family-focused adventures
| Wonderbly | Hooray Heroes | |
|---|---|---|
| Character creation | Avatar picker with limited options | Detailed avatar builder |
| Family books | Limited multi-character options | Specialized for whole families |
| Price | Starting at $35 | Starting at $40 |
| Delivery | 5-10 business days | 7-14 business days |
| Best for | Classic titles & gift-giving | Sibling & family stories |
Verdict: Choose Wonderbly for faster delivery and classic titles. Choose Hooray Heroes if you need multiple family members in the story.
Photo-to-illustration technology
How characters work:
Upload photo → AI creates illustrated character
How stories work:
AI generates unique story from your inputs
Strengths
Limitations
Best for: Parents who want a character that looks like their child and a unique story
30-45 min digital, 5-7 days print
Established brand with beautiful templates
How characters work:
Choose avatar from preset options (hair, skin, etc.)
How stories work:
Pre-written stories with name insertion
Strengths
Limitations
Best for: Quick gifts with professional polish and brand recognition
5-10 business days
Family-focused cartoon adventures
How characters work:
Build cartoon avatar with customization options
How stories work:
Themed story templates
Strengths
Limitations
Best for: Family stories with multiple characters (siblings, parents, pets)
7-14 business days
Affordable name-personalized books
How characters work:
Name appears in illustrations
How stories work:
Letter-based and themed stories
Strengths
Limitations
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers or bulk gifts
3-5 business days
Template-based services (Wonderbly, Hooray Heroes, Frecklebox) use pre-designed stories where your child's name and a customizable avatar are inserted into existing illustrations. Photo-based services like Custom Heroes create a unique story based on your inputs and transform your actual photo into an illustrated character that looks like your child. Template books offer proven, polished designs; photo-based books offer deeper personalization.
Frecklebox is the most affordable option, starting at $20 for basic name-personalized books. Custom Heroes and Wonderbly are similarly priced starting at $34-35. Hooray Heroes is the most expensive, starting around $40. However, 'cheapest' doesn't always mean best value—it depends on how much personalization you want.
Yes, but only certain services offer this. Custom Heroes uses AI to transform your child's actual photo into an illustrated storybook character that maintains their likeness throughout the book. Traditional services like Wonderbly and Hooray Heroes use avatar builders where you select preset features (hair color, skin tone, etc.) that approximate your child's appearance but won't actually look like them.
For digital delivery, Custom Heroes is fastest—your book is ready in about 30-45 minutes. For printed books, Frecklebox ships in 3-5 business days. Wonderbly takes 5-10 business days, and Hooray Heroes takes 7-14 business days. If you need a last-minute gift, Custom Heroes' instant digital option lets you read on any device or print at home immediately.
Creation time varies by service: Custom Heroes takes 30-45 minutes for a complete digital book. Template services like Wonderbly and Hooray Heroes let you customize in about 10-15 minutes, but then require 5-14 business days for printing and shipping. If you're making a last-minute gift, only Custom Heroes offers same-day digital delivery.
It depends on your preference. Wonderbly has beautiful, professionally-designed artwork with a consistent traditional style. Hooray Heroes has charming cartoon illustrations great for families. Custom Heroes uses AI to create illustrations where the character actually resembles your child's photo. Frecklebox has simpler illustrations focused on name integration. Each aesthetic appeals to different families.
AI and traditional illustration offer different strengths. Traditional books (Wonderbly, Hooray Heroes) have polished, consistent artwork created by professional illustrators with years of refinement. AI books (Custom Heroes) offer unique character likeness based on your actual photos and fully custom stories. The technology is newer but improving rapidly. Many families love seeing their child's actual features; others prefer proven traditional styles.
Hooray Heroes specializes in multi-character family stories—it's the best choice if you want Mom, Dad, siblings, grandparents, and even pets all in the same book with their own avatars. Custom Heroes also supports multiple characters from photos. Wonderbly has limited multi-character options. Frecklebox focuses on single-child name personalization only.
For toddlers, choose shorter books (10-12 pages) with simple stories. Frecklebox offers affordable, simple name books perfect for this age. Wonderbly's classic titles like 'Lost My Name' work well. Custom Heroes' 12-page option with simple themes is good if you want the character to look like your child. Hooray Heroes' books tend to be longer, better suited for older kids.
Five-year-olds are the ideal age for personalized books—they understand they're the star and love it! Custom Heroes' 16-page books with adventure themes work great since the character actually looks like them. Wonderbly's 'The Incredible Intergalactic Journey Home' is popular. Hooray Heroes' superhero and princess themes are also hits at this age.
Yes, for most families. Personalized books typically cost $20-60, comparable to quality children's books, but offer a unique keepsake. Children light up seeing themselves as the hero. The books get read repeatedly and often become treasured gifts. The key is matching the service to your needs: Frecklebox for budget gifts, Wonderbly for proven quality, Hooray Heroes for family stories, or Custom Heroes if you want the character to truly look like your child.
Prices range from $20 to $60 depending on the service and options. Frecklebox starts at $20 for basic name books. Custom Heroes ranges $34-59 based on page count and binding. Wonderbly is $35-45. Hooray Heroes is $40-55. Hardcover bindings, extra pages, and gift wrapping add to the cost. Most services include shipping in the price or offer free shipping over certain amounts.
Custom Heroes is better if you want the character to actually look like your child (using photo transformation) and a unique story you can edit. Wonderbly is better if you want an established brand with proven quality, professional illustrations, gift wrapping, and recognizable titles like 'Lost My Name.' Both are similarly priced ($34-35 starting). Choose based on whether photo-likeness or brand recognition matters more.
The main difference is character options. Hooray Heroes excels at multi-character family books—you can include parents, siblings, grandparents, and pets in one story. Wonderbly focuses on single-child stories with broader title selection. Wonderbly is slightly cheaper ($35 vs $40), faster (5-10 vs 7-14 days), and has more book variety. Choose Hooray Heroes for family books, Wonderbly for classic personalized stories.
Reputable services take photo privacy seriously. Custom Heroes uses photos only for character generation and doesn't share them. Always check privacy policies before uploading. Template services like Wonderbly and Hooray Heroes don't require actual photos—you build avatars from preset options, which some parents prefer for privacy reasons. If photo privacy concerns you, avatar-based services may be more comfortable.
For birthdays, consider: Custom Heroes if you want the 'wow factor' of a character that looks like the birthday child. Wonderbly for reliable quality with gift wrapping. Hooray Heroes if you want to include family members in the story. Frecklebox for budget-friendly party favors. Order 2-3 weeks ahead for printed books, or use Custom Heroes' instant digital for last-minute gifts.
Yes, we made this page—so we have a perspective. But we tried to be fair. Every service on this list makes quality products that families love. The "best" choice depends on what matters most to you.
We built Custom Heroes because we wanted something that didn't exist: a book where the character actually looks like the child, not just a cartoon approximation. AI makes that possible now.
If you try us and we're not the right fit, the other services listed here are genuinely good alternatives.
See how your child looks as an illustrated storybook character.