Paper Christmas cards are lovely, but they have to be bought, written, stamped and posted, and if your family is in another country they often arrive in January. A digital card with your own photos is the other option: you make it on your phone in a few minutes, and it arrives the moment you send it.
This guide shows how to make one with the free Christmas card maker on this site: which photos to pick, how to write the message, and how to send it on WhatsApp so it opens properly on the other side.
Quick answer
- Design: open the Christmas card maker, add up to three photos, and pick one of the Christmas designs.
- Details: type their name, your name and a short message. Add a few stickers if you like.
- Share: choose whether the card lasts 7 or 14 days, tap "Get My Link", and send the link on WhatsApp.
That's it. There's no app to install and no account to create, for you or for the person you're sending it to.
What you need before you start
- One to three photos. They're optional, but they're what makes the card feel like yours. Good choices are a photo of the two of you, one from last Christmas, or one of the kids or the family together.
- Their name as you'd actually say it: "Nani", "Uncle Joseph", "Sara".
- Two or three sentences you'd say to them if you were in the same room. If you're stuck, our Christmas card messages guide has examples for family, friends, colleagues and clients.
A tip on photos: pick ones with faces that are clear and well lit, and not too small in the frame. They'll be shown on a phone screen, so a close photo works better than a big group shot taken from far away. Large phone photos are fine; the card maker shrinks them before uploading, so you don't need to resize anything.
Step 1: Pick Christmas and a design
Open the Christmas card maker. Christmas is already chosen as the occasion. Under "Add Your Photos", add your photos first. This is worth doing before you pick a design, because then every design in "Templates For This Occasion" shows your photos instead of empty frames, and you can see straight away which one suits them.
There are three designs made for Christmas:
- Christmas Pine: fir sprigs, with your photos hanging like decorations. Warm and traditional.
- Snowy Night: falling snow and string lights. Calm and cosy, nice for parents and grandparents.
- Golden Bells: bells, holly and ribbon. A bit more festive and bright.
Tap the one you like and press "Continue".
Step 2: Write the message
Type their name and yours, then the message. There's room for up to 500 characters, which is about the length of a short paragraph. You don't need all of it. The messages people remember are usually short and specific:
- For parents: "Merry Christmas, Mum and Dad. This is our first one away from home and we miss your kitchen more than we expected. Save us a seat next year."
- For grandparents: "Merry Christmas, Nana! The kids made me promise to send you their photo first thing this morning. We love you and we'll call after lunch."
- For a friend: "Merry Christmas! Same tradition as every year: I send the card, you pretend you were about to send one. Have a wonderful day."
- For a partner: "Merry Christmas to my favourite person. Every photo on this card is from a year I got to spend with you."
- For someone far away: "Merry Christmas from all of us here. It isn't the same without you, but this is the next best thing to a hug."
Mention one real thing: a memory, a plan, something about the photos you chose. That one line is what makes a card feel written for them and not forwarded.
You can also add animated stickers, up to 12. A couple of them are plenty; too many can hide your photos.
Step 3: Get the link and send it
Under "Link Expiry", choose 7 days or 14 days. If you're sending close to Christmas, 7 days is fine. If you're sending early or want them to be able to open it again over the holidays, choose 14. The card is deleted automatically after expiry (7 or 14 days).
Tap "Get My Link". When the card is ready you'll see buttons to send it straight to WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, X or Email, or you can copy the link and paste it into any chat.
On the other side, they tap the link and the card opens in their phone's browser. They tap "Begin" and the card plays: your design, your photos and your message. They don't need to download anything or sign up.
Tips for sending it on Christmas Day
- Make it the day before. Christmas morning is busy. Make the card on the 24th, check it, and just send the link on the day.
- Open it yourself first. Send it to yourself, open it, and check the names are spelled right and the photos look good.
- Send it on its own, with a line of text. Something like "Made you a little Christmas card 🎄" before the link makes it clear it's from you and not spam.
- For a family group, you can send the same card to the group, but close family usually appreciate one of their own, with their name on it.
- Time zones: for family abroad, send it when it's morning where they are, not where you are.
Christmas cards for people who don't celebrate it
If you're sending to colleagues or friends who don't celebrate Christmas, a warm "Season's greetings" or "Happy holidays" card works well, and the same card maker can do that: pick the "Custom Occasion" and write your own greeting. If you're the one who doesn't celebrate but wants to wish a Christian friend, a simple "Merry Christmas to you and your family" is kind and always welcome. The Christmas card messages guide has more on this.
Things to avoid
- Photos of other people without asking. A card is private, but it's still a photo leaving your phone. A family photo is fine; a picture of someone else's children is not.
- Copy-pasting a long forwarded poem. Three honest lines beat twenty borrowed ones.
- Sending it with no text at all. A bare link from a contact can look like spam. Add a line.
- Leaving it to the last minute. Make it early, send it on the day.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes. Making and sending the card is free, and there's no watermark.
Does the person I send it to need an app?
No. The card opens in their phone's browser from the link.
Do I need to create an account?
No. You can make and send a card without signing up.
How many photos can I add?
Up to three. Photos are optional; the card still works without them.
How long does the card last?
You choose 7 or 14 days. The card is deleted automatically after expiry (7 or 14 days).
Can I make one for New Year too?
Yes. The New Year card maker works the same way, and our New Year wishes guide has message ideas.
Final takeaway
A good Christmas card doesn't need to be printed or perfect. Pick two or three photos that mean something, write a few lines in your own words, and send it on the day. It takes a few minutes, and it lands the moment they open their phone.