A favorite photo of your dog, your wedding day, or a family trip can become a painting you finish yourself. Custom paint-by-numbers services turn your image into a numbered canvas and send the paints and brushes to fill it in. We compared six of them for crafters planning a screen-free project or a handmade gift.
This is a desk-researched comparison, not a hands-on test. We did not order kits or paint canvases, and no service here guarantees a likeness or an arrival date.
Key Takeaways
- Most configurable: Paint Me Like, with 96 configurations across eight sizes, portrait or landscape orientation, two framing choices, and three color levels.
- Most palette and mounting options: Canvas by Numbers, with up to 60 colors and a canvas-board format.
- Clearest standard kit: Number Artist, with a 16 × 20-inch painting area and six brushes.
- Best photo guidance: Winnie’s Picks, though its 3–5-week average allowance means planning ahead.
- Mid-project support: Davincified documents replacement paints and components while you paint.
- Largest canvas: Figured’Art USA, up to 32 × 47 inches.
How We Picked
We reviewed public product pages, custom-order policies, and review profiles on October 28, 2026. Our ranking favors documented ordering flexibility, not claims about realism or paint quality.
We checked photo guidance, canvas size and orientation, palette options, mounting formats, included materials, prices, delivery timing, and remedies for personalized orders. Displayed prices are entry configurations; size, colors, mounting, shipping, and promotions change the total.
| Service | Best fit | Entry price displayed | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint Me Like | Configuration flexibility | $29.99 | No returns or monetary refunds |
| Canvas by Numbers | Palette and mounting choices | $39.95 | Custom kits excluded from ordinary returns |
| Number Artist | Standard-size kit | $34.95 (sale) | Custom kits excluded from free returns |
| Winnie’s Picks | Photo-selection guidance | $42.95 | Availability unclear; 3–5-week average |
| Davincified | Replacement-paint support | $39.90 | Returns limited to company errors |
| Figured’Art USA | Large-format canvases | $39.90 (promotional) | No refund for dissatisfaction with the conversion |
1. Paint Me Like
Pros
- Eight canvas sizes, from 12 × 16 to 24 × 32 inches
- Portrait or landscape orientation to match the photo
- Framed or unframed, with 24, 36, or 48 colors
- Photos reviewed before printing
Cons
- Personalized kits cannot be returned or refunded; quality issues must be reported within 72 hours of delivery
- Palette tops out at 48 colors
Why We Picked It
We rank Paint Me Like first for configuration flexibility. Its product page lists 96 configurations across eight sizes, two orientations, two framing choices, and three color levels, so a tall wedding portrait and a wide family photo can each get a layout that fits.
The team reviews every photo and flags problems before printing. Kits include a stretched or rolled canvas, 24–48 extra-large paint pots, three brushes, and instructions, and the product page shows a 4.9/5 rating from 217 customer reviews.
Pricing
The entry kit displayed $29.99, down from $42.99, the lowest starting price here. Orders over $60 ship free, and most kits arrive within 7–14 days of ordering.
2. Canvas by Numbers
Pros
- 24, 36, or 48 colors, plus a Master level of up to 60
- Eight listed canvas sizes
- No-frame, DIY-frame, pre-stretched, or canvas-board formats
- Free pre-order photo check and a cropping and enhancement editor
Cons
- Custom and pre-stretched kits are excluded from ordinary returns
- The FAQ warns that custom kits are not exact photo replicas
Why We Picked It
Canvas by Numbers is our runner-up for palette and mounting choice. Its Master level offers up to 60 colors, the highest here, and canvas board adds a mounting option the others don’t list.
The editor lets buyers crop, rotate, sharpen, or convert a photo to black and white before ordering, and the free photo check adds a separate review. The brand holds 4.6/5 on Trustpilot from 1,473 reviews, a catalog-wide figure.
Pricing
The custom kit was listed from $39.95. Higher palette levels and other mounting formats cost more, so configure your choice before comparing totals.
3. Number Artist
Pros
- Documented 16 × 20-inch painting area
- 24, 36, or 48 colors
- Rolled or stretched canvas
- Six brushes, a color card, reference sheet, and guide
Cons
- One standard painting area rather than a size menu
- Custom kits are excluded from free returns despite generic free-return messaging
Why We Picked It
Number Artist suits buyers who want a clearly specified standard kit. The listing identifies the painting area, brush count, and reference materials, and readers already set on a 16 × 20-inch piece have fewer decisions to make.
Allow up to two business days of processing plus estimated US shipping of 6–14 days. Damaged, defective, or incorrect custom kits get a replacement or other resolution. The brand records 4.6/5 on Trustpilot from 3,825 reviews.
Pricing
The entry kit displayed a $34.95 sale price. Stretched canvas and higher color levels cost more, so confirm the configured total and shipping.
4. Winnie’s Picks
Pros
- Designer check of each picture before production
- 24, 36, or 48 colors
- Four brushes, a reference sheet, and instructions
- Free US shipping stated on the custom page
Cons
- Ships from overseas, with an average 3–5-week production-and-delivery allowance
- The page showed both “Sold out” wording and an add-to-cart button
Why We Picked It
Winnie’s Picks earns its spot with direct photo-selection guidance. Its guide explains that conversion cannot add light, change expressions, or rescue a dark photo, which helps buyers judge a sentimental image before uploading.
With a 3–5-week average and unclear availability, it is not a rush-order option. Uploading the wrong artwork rules out a refund. The brand has 3.0/5 on Trustpilot from just 2 reviews, too few to judge.
Pricing
The custom-photo kit displayed $42.95. Confirm availability and the total for your size and color level before planning a gift around it.
5. Davincified
Pros
- Portrait or landscape orientation
- 16 × 20-inch or 24 × 30-inch canvases
- 24, 36, or 48 colors, on rolled or stretched canvas
- Replacement paints and components while you paint
Cons
- Custom kits are non-returnable unless the company made an error
- A shipping label does not mean the kit has been dispatched
Why We Picked It
Davincified stands out for mid-project support. Its product page offers more paint if you run out, and the warranty covers replacement paints and components while the kit is being painted.
The size menu is shorter than our top two picks, but orientation, palette, and mounting remain selectable. The brand holds 4.6/5 on Trustpilot from 393 reviews.
Pricing
The entry custom kit was listed from $39.90. Stretched canvas, the 24 × 30-inch size, and higher color levels cost more.
6. Figured’Art USA
Pros
- Sizes from 16 × 20 inches to 32 × 47 inches
- Designer check of photo suitability
- Linen canvas and acrylic paints
- No-frame, DIY-frame, or already-stretched formats
Cons
- Source photos should be at least 1000 × 1000 pixels
- No refund for dissatisfaction with the converted result
Why We Picked It
Figured’Art USA is the large-format alternative. Its 32 × 47-inch maximum is the biggest in this comparison, useful when wall space drives the decision.
The resolution guidance and designer check help assess the photo before production. Workshop fulfillment typically takes 1–3 weeks, separate from US-stock shipping claims. The US storefront shows 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from 156 reviews.
Pricing
The entry kit displayed $39.90 with “-50%” promotional wording. The largest canvas and stretched versions cost more.
Choosing Your Custom Kit
Our top pick wins on configuration flexibility, with portrait or landscape orientation, eight sizes, and an entry price of $29.99. Canvas by Numbers is the runner-up for palette and mounting choice, Number Artist suits a straightforward 16 × 20-inch project, and Figured’Art USA is worth comparing when a larger canvas matters most.
Before paying, check your photo’s resolution and composition, the painting dimensions, and the configured total. For a gift, leave room for production, transit, and painting time. If you’d rather make something quicker by hand, this simple vinyl tile Christmas gift is a low-cost alternative.
FAQ
What photo works best for custom paint by numbers?
A clear, well-lit, high-resolution image with the main subject large in the frame. Dark photos and group shots with many small faces tend to lose detail.
Portrait or landscape: which should I choose?
Match the canvas to the photo. A tall portrait suits a portrait canvas, while a wide family or travel shot fits landscape.
How many colors do I need?
Fewer colors make a simpler, quicker project. More colors add shading and detail but take longer to paint.
Can I return a custom kit?
Usually not, since each kit is personalized. Most services instead replace damaged, defective, or incorrect kits if you report the issue promptly.
