Instapainting vs. Paint Your Life: Which Custom Art Service is Right for You?
Compare the Y Combinator-backed speed of Instapainting with the traditional portrait focus of Paint Your Life.
Instapainting Team
Founder, Instapainting
Instapainting is built for speed and accessibility, turning digital photos into real oil paintings in under two weeks for a $45 starting price. Paint Your Life is a premium alternative that focuses on connecting customers with professional artists for highly customized portrait commissions.
Where Instapainting is strong
- Rapid delivery: Get a hand-painted oil painting on canvas in less than 14 days.
- Competitive entry pricing: Real oil paintings starting at $45 for 10"x10" sizes.
- Seamless photo imports: Directly pull images from your phone, Instagram, or Facebook.
- Institutional backing: Supported by Y Combinator and SV Angel, with high-profile tech founder customers.
Where Paint Your Life is strong
- Wide network of professional artists specializing in various portrait styles.
- Strong focus on the collaborative process between the customer and the artist.
Side-by-side comparison
| Category | Instapainting | Paint Your Life | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $45 (10"x10") | Varies by artist/size | Stronger |
| Turnaround Time | Less than 2 weeks | Typically 3-4 weeks | Stronger |
| Photo Sources | Phone, FB, Instagram, DSLR | Manual upload | Stronger |
| Medium | Oil on real canvas |
Which one should you pick?
Choose Instapainting if you need a fast turnaround, want to spend under $50 for a real oil painting, or want to order directly from your social media feed.
Choose Paint Your Life if you are looking for a specific artist's hand-style or require a high-touch experience for a complex portrait commission.
Frequently asked questions
Is Instapainting better than Paint Your Life?
It depends on your priority. Instapainting is better for speed and price, while Paint Your Life is better for those seeking a specific artist-led portrait experience.
How is Instapainting different from Paint Your Life?
Instapainting uses a tech-forward approach to deliver hand-painted art in under two weeks, whereas Paint Your Life follows a more traditional, slower commission model.
When should I use Instapainting over Paint Your Life?
Use Instapainting when you have a digital photo on your phone or Instagram and want it turned into an oil painting quickly and affordably.
Does Instapainting use real oil paint?
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