Chorus or Newlywords for a birthday message book?
A book of messages from friends and family is a gorgeous thing to make for a big birthday!
On Chorus Niamh's friends and family each open one link and talk, film, write or add a photo. Niamh reads every message in a printed book and hears each person say theirs in a podcast. Newlywords prints letters and photos in a hardcover book.
Start collecting, freeWe make Chorus. We read Newlywords' site on 10 November 2026. Prices change, so check both before you buy.
In short
- Choose Chorus if you'd love her to hear her friends as well as read them.
- Choose Chorus if you want to know the price of the book before the messages come in.
- Choose Chorus if the book is going abroad and you want postage in the price.
- Choose Newlywords if you want a big square book of letters and photos with collages, lists and memes, and you enjoy laying it out yourself.
Where Chorus goes further
The birthday girl hears her friends
A birthday message is twice as good in your best friend's own voice! People can talk, film a video or write, and every voice plays in one podcast. Newlywords takes written messages and photos.
Talking is easier than writing
People tap the link and talk, and we write out what each person said. It goes in the book under their name.
You know the price from the start
The printed hardcover is $115 whether twelve people join in or sixty. A Newlywords book is $50 plus $1 a page at 8 by 8 inches, and its site says most come to $80 to $120.
Postage is in the price
We post the book to 35 countries and nothing is added at the checkout. Newlywords charges postage for each book, from $6 in the United States and $34 to Ireland, the UK, Canada, Australia and Germany.
Everyone can chip in
With chip-in on, each friend can put a little towards the book when they add their message, and that money comes off your price.
A book to open online too
The book opens on her phone as well, and each message plays from its own page. Newlywords sends a PDF of the book.
Here's how Niamh's 40th birthday book was made.
What people say
I am so glad I took the time to do this, my mum loved it so much and said it was the best present she has ever gotten. Just a super gift!!
Chorus, thanks so much! I'm not technical and found this just so easy!! The book is now a family heirloom, we are just delighted!
How Chorus and Newlywords compare
Newlywords' facts come from its own site, read on 10 November 2026.
| Chorus | Newlywords | |
|---|---|---|
| What it costs | Nothing to pay until the book is ready. $45 for the podcast of every voice, $99 for the book online, $115 for the printed hardcover with postage. | $50 plus $1 a page for an 8 x 8 inch hardcover, up to $199. $80 plus $1.50 a page for 12 x 12 inches, up to $299. Postage is extra. |
| When you pay | When the book is ready. Gathering is free for any number of people. | When you order the book. Collecting is free for any number of people. |
| How people answer | A voice note, a video or writing, with photos | Writing and photos, through templates such as a short note, a list, a collage or a meme |
| Hearing the voices | One podcast link plays every voice in turn, and each voice plays from its page online. | Its templates take no voice or video. |
| The printed book | One hardcover at one price. A linen binding with a foil title is $29 more. | A square colour hardcover, 8 x 8 or 12 x 12 inches, up to 300 pages |
| Postage | Included, to 35 countries | $6, $22 or $49 a book in the United States, and $34 a book to Ireland, the UK, Canada, Australia and Germany |
| A digital copy | The book opens online with every message playable, and each recording downloads for free. | A free PDF with a watermark, or $30 for one with no watermark. A hardcover comes with the clean PDF. |
Where Newlywords suits better
Newlywords gives you more ways to design a page. Friends can make a top 5 list, a meme or a photo collage, and you can add backgrounds, borders and a word cloud.
Its books are big and square, up to 12 by 12 inches and 300 pages. The watermarked PDF of the finished book is free, and you can see it before you decide to print.
Questions people ask
Is Chorus an alternative to Newlywords?
Yes. Newlywords and Chorus both collect messages from friends and family with one link and print them in a hardcover book. Newlywords takes letters and photos. Chorus takes voice notes and videos as well, writes them out for the book and plays every voice in a podcast.
How do the prices compare?
Collecting is free on both. The Chorus hardcover is $115 with postage, whatever the number of pages. A Newlywords 8 x 8 inch book is $50 plus $1 a page, which its site says usually comes to $80 to $120, and postage is added for each book.
Can friends record a voice or video message for the book?
On Chorus they can. They tap the link and talk or film, and the words are written out and printed on their page. Newlywords' templates take writing and photos.
Do people need an account to add a message?
No, on both. On Chorus people tap the link and say who they are. On Newlywords a contributor gives an email address and gets a link to edit their page.
How long does the printed book take?
Allow three weeks for a Chorus book. Newlywords gives 10 to 14 days in the United States and 10 to 21 days to other countries.
Sources: Chorus prices, Newlywords, Newlywords pricing, Newlywords FAQ, Newlywords timeline
Other alternatives to Newlywords
We've read each of these on its own site too.