22 Oct
How to choose a personalised book: a guide with a pre-purchase checklist
Eight criteria for comparing personalised book services, with a checklist you can use in any shop.
There are more and more personalised book services, and the differences between them are not always obvious on the purchase page. This guide gathers the criteria you should compare before paying, explains what each one means and ends with a checklist you can apply to any service, including ours.
1. How personalised it is
There are books where only the name is swapped, and books where the face, the story and the theme change too. Ask what actually changes. The more personalised, the more likely the child is to recognise themselves. At EpicStoriez, the name, the face (in illustrated form), the characters (up to 5), the theme and the text can all be personalised.
2. Can you see it before paying?
A free preview is the best sign of trust: you see the result before deciding. At EpicStoriez, the preview is free and you do not need to create an account.
3. What happens to the photo
This is the most important criterion when children are involved. Confirm whether the photo is deleted, when, and who receives it. At EpicStoriez, it is deleted right after the avatar is created. See the article on photo safety for a full list of questions.
4. Who made the illustrations
Illustrations by an author, by AI or from ready-made templates: there is no right answer, but it should be clear. Ours are generated by artificial intelligence, and we label them as such.
5. Total price and format
| Item | What to check | At EpicStoriez |
|---|---|---|
| Book price | Final price, with taxes | eBook €10 · eBook + physical book €39.99 |
| Shipping | Cost and time to your address | Shown at checkout; 6 to 10 business days in mainland Portugal |
| Discounts | For more than one book | 20% off the 2nd book |
| Format | Hardcover, softcover, digital | 28×21 cm hardcover or PDF eBook |
6. Revisions and return policy
Ask how many corrections are included and what happens if something goes wrong. For made-to-order books there is normally no refund once approved and printed, and that is reasonable. That is why revisions matter. At EpicStoriez, 2 revisions are included.
7. Languages and delivery countries
Check whether the text exists in the language you want and whether they deliver to your address. EpicStoriez generates the text in 14 languages and ships to 12 European countries, with cost and time calculated at checkout.
8. Transparency and contact
Look for the company's identification (name, company number, address) and a real contact. At EpicStoriez, these details are on the About us page and the legal pages.
How to compare two services in practice
Open the two services side by side and run the same test: use the same photo, choose a similar theme and compare the preview. Look at the likeness to the child, the consistency between pages, the quality of the text and what happens when you ask for a change. Then compare the total price, with shipping. A cheaper service with a weak preview ends up costing more.
When it is a gift for someone else
If the book is a gift for a friend's or relative's child, confirm the details in advance: name (with the right spelling), approximate age, tastes and, if possible, a good photo. The eBook is a good option for someone far away. For the physical book, consider the delivery time and whether the person will be home to receive it.
Final checklist
- 1Can I see the result before paying?
- 2Do I know exactly what is personalised?
- 3Is the photo deleted after it is used?
- 4Is it clear who made the illustrations?
- 5Is the total price, including shipping, visible before paying?
- 6Are revisions included?
- 7Are the language and delivery country available?
- 8Is the company identified, with a real contact?
Warning signs
- No preview and no information about what happens to the photo.
- Prices that only appear at the last step of payment.
- No identification of the company.
- Absolute promises ("we guarantee your child will love reading").
Common mistakes
- Choosing on price alone, without seeing the preview.
- Sending a blurry photo or one with the face covered.
- Leaving everything to the last minute, in the case of the physical book.
- Not reading the privacy policy before sending a child's photo.
A note on expectations
Even the best service has limits: the avatar is an illustrated interpretation and not an exact portrait, and the text is a story designed for the age, not a literary classic. Keeping this in mind avoids disappointment. If the preview result pleases you, that is a good sign; if you have doubts, use the revision or choose another option.
In short
Choose the service that lets you see before paying, handles the photo carefully and says clearly what it is selling. Use the checklist in any shop. If you would like to try ours, the preview is free.