Our 19 Picks for the Best eCards of 2024

For most of the world, paper greeting cards are in the rear view mirror. eCards are here to stay—not to mention chock full of options. Whether you’re sending a card for a work anniversary, birthday, thank you, or just because, there are options for the best eCards to match the occasion.

But, senders have to know where to start. We’ve been in the eCard game for a long time (almost 10 years), so we know a thing or two about the good greetings. We’ll break down the 19 most popular and useful eCard options out there (in no particular order) so you can determine which one’s best for your occasion.

Best Modern Group eCards

These eCard options make signing and sending a modern, shared experience. Instead of the static electronic greeting card with a generic message, group cards bring the magic of media and personality to table—as well as all of your friends, coworkers, or family.

Kudoboard

Kudoboard group cards make celebration a shared experience, replacing the paper card that’s passed around and signed. It’s perfect for remote teams, families, and communities to use for occasions like birthdays, retirements, farewells, get well’s, sympathy’s, and more. 

Users create a board for any occasion, customize the look to match the recipient’s personality, and invite others to sign from anywhere in the world. Contributors can leave well wishes using text, photos, GIFs, memes, and videos to add personality and flair. You can also crowd fund a gift card that’s automatically attached to the custom eCard.

Pros:

• Designed for groups
• Highly personalizable messaging options
• Popular for employee appreciation and employee recognition
• Available online forever

Cons:

• Not made for 1-to-1 eCards (although there are 1-to-1 options)

Best for:

• Bringing groups together
• Employee engagement in the workplace
• Groups looking for fun, personalized messaging options

JibJab

If you’re looking for a wild video option, look no further than JibJab for your eCard needs. To create a unique experience, users customize Jibjab electronic cards by inserting photos of their faces into funny music videos and scenes.

For example, you might upload a Birthday Boy, loved one, or colleague’s face into an animation of MC Hammer and it will dance while singing “Can’t Touch This.” From Britney Spears and Pharrell to Psy (Oppan Gangnam style), there’s an option for everyone. You don’t get that with a regular birthday card.

Pros: 

• Topical and memorable cards
• Plenty of music options

Cons: 

• Poor organization
• Not suited for most occasions
• Slightly older style of humor

Best For: 

• Outrageous video cards

Tribute

If the group’s feeling camera ready, Tribute is a great eCard that brings everyone on screen. The creator invites friends and family to share videos, they stitch them together into a larger celebration post using a Tribute’s video maker, then they send it on the recipient’s big day. 

Tribute leans on the emotional and touching side, and supports joyous events like birthdays, anniversaries, and congrats. We’d recommend this service for very special occasions. 

Pros: 

• Creates personal video content
• Brings groups together asynchronously

Cons: 

• More expensive option
• Slight technology barrier for some

Best For: 

• Making videos for particularly special occasions

Wave.video

Another video group eCard option, Wave is actually more of an editing platform than a card maker. Instead of card options, they use special templates to make greeting cards like Christmas holiday videos.

It’s also customizable. Within one Wave.video account, you can use a recording studio to record yourself using studio layouts and overlays, open it with the video editor to add stickers or captions concerning the particular event, and make it 100% unique. 

Pros: 

• Many pre-made video templates
• Bonus features for live streaming and thumbnails

Cons: 

• Not designed for eCards
• Slight learning curve for video editing

Best For: 

• DIY creators looking for a more unconventional video eCards 

Illume

A more conventional group eCard, illume is a group platform designed to make gifting simple and easy. Perfect for the workplace, users create an illume card and invite contributors—plus choose a gift to crowdfund.

Contributors leave messages and well wishes and can make an optional payment towards the gift or e gift card. On their special day, illume delivers the card and the gift digitally. 

Pros:

• More conventional eCard for a group
• Makes gifting easy
• Great for employees

Cons:

• No 1-1 card options

Best For: 

• Large groups of contributors
• Office gifting

Best Old-School, Classic eCards

If you’re looking for a more traditional eCard that feels like an older paper card, these classic options are your bet. You’ve probably heard of these options before. What they may lack in innovation, they make up for in brand recognition.

American Greetings

American Greetings has been making greeting cards before computers, so they know traditional cards in and out. They rely on a monthly subscription but give access to a huge selection of online greeting cards.

To create an eCard, senders can personalize the name and add a brief message, but they won’t be able to do much more than that. Outside of regular eCards, American Greetings also offers  celebrity videos like the “Martin Short birthday smashup”—consider it Cameo on the cheap! 

Pros: 

• Very traditional eCards
• Variety of celebrity options

Cons: 

• Limited customization

Best For:

• Sending lots of traditional 1-1 eCards for different occasions

Jacquie Lawson

This beautiful eCard brand takes a design-forward approach to their offerings and provides a highly classy experience. The cards are beautiful and unique, and some even feature custom music (now you can serenade them with happy birthday eCards!). 

Jacquie Lawson operates on a subscription basis like other traditional eCards. They also offer gift card support alongside digital delivery.

Pros:

• High-design, beautiful eCards
• Well suited to a variety of situations

Cons: 

• Limited customization
• Dated website

Best For:

• Sending unique, artsy eCards all year

Punchbowl

Punchbowl was one of the first electronic greeting cards on the scene, and they’re still mentionable today. Like other traditional eCards, they offer simple designs but have some branded character options like Disney.

Their site doesn’t mention pricing and looks like a free e card maker, but it’s very limited and designed to push you to the more interesting paid tiers. They also use ads as part of their business model.

Pros: 

• Free for certain eCard types
• Branded designs

Cons: 

• Requires upgrades for ad-free or video options

Best For: 

• “Free-mium” traditional eCards

Best eCards for Invitations-eCard Crossovers

If you’re looking instead for the best eCard to invite others, these digital options are great for bringing people together in person. Many of these options originally started invitation-only offerings that have more recently begun to add eCard offerings to the mix.

Evite

Like others on this best eCards list, Evite has been around for a long time. They made their name with electronic invitations, but they have since expanded into a range of birthday cards, Christmas cards, and more.

Focusing mainly on their invitation market, they have free and premium options for many occasions. We especially like the ability to add an Amazon gift or egift card directly to your birthday ecard (especially handy for a belated birthday wish). 

Pros: 

• Unique and animated invitation options
• East-to-use invitation designer feature

Cons: 

• Few free options

Best For: 

• Premium digital invitations

Paperless Post

Another brand with a focus on invitations, Paperless Post sets itself apart with beautiful designs and co-branded lines (Rifle Paper Co.—swoon!). These invitations (and a few eCards) are much better than other tackier options on the market. 

Visitors purchase cards using their “coins” currency, which can be a little confusing at times. There are also more limited customization options if you have a unique need.

Pros:

• High-quality invitation designs

Cons:

• Limited customizations options
• Confusing pricing structure

Best for: 

• Elegant invitations for your fanciest friend

Greenvelope

Driving sustainability through eCards invitations, Greenvelope seeks to reduce the paper waste caused by the paper greeting card industry. They feature beautiful designs, simulated paper looks, and high levels of customization for your cards or invitations (including the envelope, postage, and more).

They primarily focus on invites for occasions like weddings, birthdays, and more (with a few business options), and track RSVPs. They have single mailing and subscription price points, depending on your need.

Pros:

• Classy, paper-like designs
• Other Invite features
• Focused on sustainability

Cons: 

• Expensive
• Built for invitations

Best for:

• Invites for premium events

Greetings Island

Contrary to the other invitation options on the list, Greetings Island provides more standard-looking designs and features. From 1st birthdays to holiday parties, they have plenty of digital cards to choose from.

They offer free eCards, but lock their best options behind a premium membership. They even allow downloads and printing of their invitations.

Pros:

• Straightforward designs and options
• Some free eCards

Cons: 

• Best options are all premium
• Designed for invitations

Best for:

• Easy digital invitations for events

Best Unique, Specialty eCards

Some situations require non-standard eCard approaches. If you’re looking for the best eCards for a more bespoke or unique experience, these might be options for you. 

Postable

While not a conventional eCard, Postable enables you to select a card online, craft your message, and then have it physically mailed to the recipient. They even have a “real” handwriting font to add another physical touch to the card.

Postable allows you to create your own card using their customizer, or select one of their designs. Just be careful you send it with plenty of time for delivery. 

Pros:

• Digital convenience and a paper product
• Some customization options

Cons: 

• No digital delivery experience
• Send dates can vary

Best for: 

• Sending a paper card with digital convenience

Culture Greetings

CultureGreetings is a Black-owned greeting card maker that provides a more diverse set of images and options. Senders select a design, write a message, and then CultureGreetings prints and mails the physical “eCard” to the recipient. 

Their electronic cards can also use handwritten fonts, plus attach a gift card for the recipient. It’s a great way to sweeten the deal while providing a more custom touch. 

Pros:

• Diverse range of customizable cards
• Optional Gift card 
• Black-owned start-up

Cons: 

• Delivery dates can vary

Best for:

• The physical card lover that appreciates a personal experience.

Dayspring

While they specialize in physical cards and books, Dayspring also offers a wide range of free ecards with religion in mind. You can select any type of card and then download or email it to add a personalized message. 

The cards can’t be edited, and only feature faith-filled images and quotes. They offer plenty of occasions, from birthdays to a variety of holidays.

Pros:

• Free religious cards

Cons: 

• No customization
• Only suited for specific market

Best for: 

• Religious use-cases
• simple “just because” 1-1 occasions

Best Free eCards Options for DIY

These options bring the power of personal touch to a free card from a DIY sender. If you’re a go-getter looking to spend the time to create an eCards with personality and flair, these are the best eCards options for you.

Canva

A free-to-use visual design tool, Canva makes designing an eCard simple for even those with limited technical skills. The platform offers plenty of free templates for a variety of occasions that are highly customizable using their drag and drop editor.

Canva makes it easy to create a simple 1-1 eCard, and offers flexibility in sizing and style. They do lock some of the premium features, photos, and fonts behind the “pro” plans as well as charge for any printing options. 

Pros:

• Simple to use regardless of design skills
• Plenty of free options and templates
• Highly customizable 

Cons: 

• Still requires some design eye for edits
• Printing and premium options require payment
• No group options or technical features

Best for: 

• A DIY eCard designers looking for a simple graphic

Photopea

This free-to-use photoshop alternatives gives DIY designers all the tools they need to create the eCard of their dreams—provided they have the experience. Starting with a blank canvas, someone with design chops can whip up a card for any occasion, then share in whatever format they see fit. 

The only caveat? It can be very challenging unless you have graphic design skills. Even with creative vision, this tool takes some time to learn and perfect.

Pros:

• Unlimited customization options
• Powerful graphic design software for free from a browser

Cons: 

• Heavy learning curve
• Adds on sidebar

Best for: 

• a true DIY’er with graphic design skills

Someecards

Whether you know it or not, you’ve likely seen Someecards graphics floating around the web. These simple free eCards bring bright images and funny text together for a humorous, and typically adult, recognition of an occasion. 

Unfortunately, senders can’t customize the card or attach a personalized message. They simply download the graphic and send it to the recipient via email or text.

Pros:

• Everything is free
• Messages are unique and memorable

Cons: 

• Lack of customization options
• No place for personal messages
• Not well-suited for work

Best for:

• Casual, offbeat occasions

World Wildlife Fund

For the conservationist, the charity World Wildlife Fund offers some free eCard options that spread their love for nature. These slightly-outdated photo cards have plenty of charm and are very easy to send or schedule in advance.

On their eCards page, they offer a few animal-themed eCards for some occasions like friendship and thank you’s. Senders simply choose the card, enter the name and a short message, then send via email.

Pros:

• Simple, no-frills cards
• Totally free

Cons: 

• Limited customization options
• Only supports a few occasions
• Slightly outdated designs

Best for: 

• Simple, no frills environmental eCards

How to Choose the Best eCard Option for You

When it comes to choosing the perfect eCard, it’s essential to find the right fit for your specific occasion. Whether it’s a “happy belated birthday,” work anniversary message, or a simple note of appreciation, selecting the best eCard can make your heartfelt message more impactful for the recipient. Here are some tips to guide you through the process of choosing the ideal eCard for your unique celebration or message:

Consider the Occasion:

Consider if your eCard is for International Women’s Day, a heartfelt condolence, a professional recognition, or a simple “thank you.” While most eCard options offer designs for many occasion, it’s important to choose one that aligns with the tone and sentiment you want to convey.

Decide Group vs Individual:

Take stock of the number of people that would like to get involved in the celebration. If you could bring in a lot of people to leave thoughtful messages on an eCard, choose an option for group cards. If it’s just you looking to recognize the recipient, select a solo, 1-1 option. 

Find Personalization Options:

Look for an eCard platform that offers ample personalization options. The ability to add custom messages, quotes, and media such as photos and videos can enhance the personal touch of your eCard.

Prioritize a User-Friendly Interface:

No matter the event, look for an eCard provider with a user-friendly interface and easy navigation. A simple and intuitive platform can make the eCard creation process smooth and enjoyable. This gives you more time to focus on expressing your message without getting bogged down by technical complexities.

Opt for Flexible Scheduling:

Consider an eCard that provides flexible delivery and scheduling features.Using automations to schedule the delivery of your eCard for a specific date and time can ensure that your greetings reach the recipient at the perfect moment.

Commemorate the Occasion with an eCard

With our best eCard picks and tips, you’re ready to make your recipient’s special day even more magical. Whether you’re celebrating a work anniversary, holiday, or pet birthday, there’s clearly an option for any budget, personality, or need.

Naturally, we think that group eCards are the best way to recognize occasions, and that senders should make the effort to get their communities involved. By sharing memories, photos, memes, GIFs, videos, and more from well wishers, it’ll make for a card experience the lucky recipient will never forget. 

Frequently Asked Questions About eCards

How can I send an ecard from a group?

To send an ecard from a group, you can use an online group card platform like Kudoboard. Simply create a board for the occasion, customize it with background colors and text, and invite contributors to leave messages using email, text, or a communication platform. After everyone has finished uploading their contributions, you can have it automatically sent on a chosen date.

What is the best free ecard site?

When it comes to the best free ecard site, senders will want to choose an option that’s right for their occasion. Each choice has positives and negatives, so they’ll need to gauge their skill level and needs. At Kudoboard, we offer a free group eCards business trial so users can experience the magic of posting options and explore the features.

Where can you find the best ecards with music and sound effects?

For the best ecards with music and sound effects, recipients will need to look at the eCard provider’s selection. Each vendor offers a variety of choices from different artists, so it’s a matter of personal taste. 

What are the best ecard options for expressing sympathy and support?

There are plenty of options for the best eCards for sympathy, and each person may have a different favorite depending on personal preference. To express sympathy and support, Kudoboard is a great option for creating a group sympathy card full of well wishes and condolences from multiple contributors.

What are the best ecard options for sending virtual thank you notes?

Thank you’s are some of the most important uses for eCards, and there’s no winner for the best option. If you’re sending virtual thank you notes from a group, consider a platform like Kudoboard to create a board of messages to express gratitude and appreciation for someone’s help or contribution.

Where can you find the best ecards for anniversaries and special occasions?

Special events like anniversaries deserve something special, so an online greeting card with quality design and lots of room for messages will be best. Kudoboard can be used to create personalized and thoughtful group cards with messages, photos, and videos to celebrate the occasion and honor the individuals.

How do you find the best ecards for professional use and corporate greetings?

ECards have seen lots of use as employee engagement tools in the workplace, and many of the best eCard providers have entered that arena. When it comes to professional use and corporate greetings, Kudoboard offers an enterprise plan with features such as unlimited boards, custom branding, automations, integrations, analytics, user management, bulk creation, and a success manager to ensure that businesses get the most out of the platform.

How do you schedule the best ecards to be sent on a specific date?

To schedule ecards to be sent on a specific date, many of the best eCard platforms can schedule the delivery of the card and set a specific delivery date so it reaches the recipients on time.

Where can you find unique design ideas to make your ecard?

For unique design ideas to make your ecard, you can explore the features and customization options offered by various brands, giving you inspiration to choose the best choice from a template or premade layout. Designers can even adapt their own using graphic design software. 

What are the best ecard options for eco-friendly and sustainable greetings?

For eco-friendly and sustainable greetings, most online group card platforms like Kudoboard offer digital options that reduce the need for paper and physical cards. Some also directly support sustainable initiatives.

How do you customize the best ecards with your own messages and quotes?

We’ve noted many of the best eCards that allow recipients to leave their own messages and quotes. To collect large amounts of best wishes from a group, Kudoboard provides a simple and user-friendly platform where contributors from all over the world can leave well wishes of messages, photos, videos, and more. 

What are the best ecard websites for creating interactive and engaging ecards?

Take a look at our list above and note that many of the best eCard website for interactive cards use music, video, and animations to engage recipients. Platforms like Kudoboard provide the option to add messages, photos, GIFs, videos, and more, making the card creation process fun for contributors and memorable for recipients.