Head-to-Head Comparison • January 2026

Put Me In The Story vs Wonderbly (2026)

Both are great for different reasons: licensed characters vs original storytelling. Plus OnceUponBooks—classic fairy tales with stunning likeness and a full family cast.

Put Me In The Story

putmeinthestory.com

Personalized books with familiar character worlds—typically name personalization, with photo options on some titles.

✓Photo option
✗Include family as characters
✗Include pets as characters
✗Free preview

Price: $25–$40

Wonderbly

wonderbly.com

Premium name-personalized books with beautiful illustrations, avatar options, and full-book previews.

✗Photo option
✗Include family as characters
✗Include pets as characters
✓Free preview

Price: $25–$45

OnceUponBooks

onceuponbooks.com

Premium personalized storybooks with recognizable likeness, famous story‑time classics with meaningful themes, and the ability to include more characters (like family and pets).

✓ Recognizable likeness
✓ Include family as characters
✓ Include pets as characters
✓ Premium, gift-ready hardcover
– Smaller catalog (newer brand)

Price: $10–$40

Quick decision guide

If you're deciding between Put Me In The Story and Wonderbly, start with what matters most: story style, keepsake quality, and how personal the book feels when your child opens it.

Put Me In The Story is best if...

Best for: Kids who love licensed characters and want a personalized book (photo options vary by title).
✓ Licensed characters kids already love (varies by title)
✓ Easy gift pick for character fans

Wonderbly is best if...

Best for: Families who want premium illustrated stories with name + character personalization and lots of choice.
✓ High-quality illustrations
✓ Emotional, original storytelling

OnceUponBooks is best if...

✓ You want recognizable likeness so your child recognizes themselves.
✓ You want family members + pets included as characters.
✓ You want a free preview before you commit.
✓ You want a gift‑ready keepsake (digital or hardcover).

Full Feature Comparison

Feature	Put Me In The Story	Wonderbly	OnceUponBooks
Photo option	✓	✗	✓
Include family as characters	✗	✗	✓
Include pets as characters	✗	✗	✓
Free preview	✗	✓	✓
Digital option	✗	✗	✓
Price range	$25–$40	$25–$45	$10–$40
Delivery time	Varies (often ~1–2 weeks in the U.S.)	Varies (often ~1–3 weeks, depending on destination)	2–14 days

Put Me In The Story

Put Me In The Story specializes in personalized books tied to popular licensed characters and themes. If your child already loves a particular character world, these books can be an easy win—often focused on name personalization, with photo options depending on the title.

👍 Pros

✓ Licensed characters kids already love (varies by title)
✓ Easy gift pick for character fans
✓ Some photo options available

👎 Cons

✗ Limited to licensed properties
✗ Cannot add multiple family members
✗ No pets

Wonderbly

Wonderbly is one of the best-known brands in personalized books, with a large catalog of beautifully illustrated stories. Most titles focus on name personalization plus character/avatar choices (rather than inserting your child's real photo). A big trust builder is the preview flow, which lets you review the book before purchasing.

👍 Pros

✓ High-quality illustrations
✓ Emotional, original storytelling
✓ Large catalog across ages and occasions

👎 Cons

✗ No photo personalization
✗ Most titles are name + avatar-style (not photo-based)
✗ Full-cast family/pet options vary by title

Put Me In The Story vs Wonderbly FAQs

Quick answers to help you choose between Put Me In The Story, Wonderbly, and OnceUponBooks.

Which is better: Put Me In The Story or Wonderbly?+

It depends on what you value most. Put Me In The Story is often chosen for Licensed characters and its overall style, while Wonderbly is often chosen for Original stories. If you want the most custom, gift‑ready keepsake experience, see the OnceUponBooks option in the comparison.

If I want a book that really looks like my child, which should I choose?+

Prioritize recognizable likeness and a preview step. OnceUponBooks is designed for recognizable likeness and offers a free preview so you can confirm the look before buying.

Can I include family members and pets?+

OnceUponBooks supports family members and pets as supporting characters, so the story feels like your child's world. Use the feature table to see whether Put Me In The Story and Wonderbly support the same.

Do I get to see it before I buy?+

OnceUponBooks includes a free preview. Put Me In The Story and Wonderbly vary—check the comparison table for each brand.

Is it digital or hardcover?+

OnceUponBooks offers both: digital ($10) and gift‑ready hardcover ($40, includes digital). Put Me In The Story and Wonderbly vary by brand.

Which is best for gifting?+

For gifting, most parents prioritize keepsake quality (hardcover), confidence (preview before purchase), and personalization depth (family + pets). That combination is where OnceUponBooks is designed to shine.

🏆 The Verdict: Try OnceUponBooks

Put Me In The Story is perfect if your child wants books with licensed characters like Disney or Sesame Street. Wonderbly is loved for premium, beautifully illustrated originals with name personalization. If your priority is recognizable likeness—plus the option to include family members and pets as characters—OnceUponBooks is a strong alternative. You can also start with a free preview before ordering.

Try OnceUponBooks Free →Compare All Brands