Wonderbly vs Hooray Heroes
Two personalised printed books. Wonderbly is known for its writing and illustration; Hooray Heroes lets you design a hero who looks like your child, usually for less.
We make WonderCast, the third option on this page, so read what we say about it as disclosure, not a review. Everything about Wonderbly and Hooray Heroes comes from their own websites and app listings, checked 27 October 2026. Prices change; follow the links for current ones.
Side by side
| Feature | Wonderbly | Hooray Heroes | WonderCast |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Personalised printed books “by bestselling authors and illustrators, never AI” | Personalised printed hardcover picture books with a hero you design | An app that makes storybooks, audiobooks, songs and short movies starring your child, plus a free story library |
| Price | Most books from $34.99, plus delivery | $19.99 to $29.99 for the titles we checked | Free plan; Wondy $3.99 a month for the library; Starter $9.99, Creator $19.99, Studio $29.99 a month, each with a plain monthly count |
| Free to start | No | No | Six complete stories with no account, and the free plan makes and keeps 10 storybooks and 10 audiobooks |
| Your child in the story | By name, chosen details and a dedication, in print | You pick the hero’s name, gender and look from options | Yes, from a photo, as an illustrated character that stays the same on every page |
| Words light up as they are read | No (printed book) | No (printed book) | Yes, every word, and a hard word is one tap from being sounded out |
| Your own voice | No | No | A grown-up can narrate in their own voice (Creator and Studio). Recording a child’s voice is switched off |
| Screen | No: a book that arrives in the post | No: a book that arrives in the post | Yes: phone, tablet or TV |
| Where it works | Web shop; delivered by post | Web shop; delivered by post | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and any web browser. No Android app yet |
| Ages | Varies by title | Mostly 0 to 5 (by title) | About 3 to 8 (App Store 4+) |
“Not stated” means the company’s own pages don’t say, not that it can’t.
Which one to choose
Choose Wonderbly if
you want a keepsake with standout writing and illustration, made by people rather than AI.
Choose Hooray Heroes if
you want the hero to look like your child and a lower price per book.
Consider WonderCast if
you want a new story whenever you like, starring a character made from your child’s photo, read aloud with the words lighting up.
If you want a printed book to wrap as a present, choose Wonderbly or Hooray Heroes: WonderCast doesn’t print books.
Common questions
Is Wonderbly or Hooray Heroes better?
Wonderbly is the pick for writing and illustration; Hooray Heroes for a hero who looks like your child, at $19.99 to $29.99 for the titles we checked against Wonderbly’s “from $34.99”.
Do Wonderbly or Hooray Heroes use my child’s photo?
Not on the pages we checked. Wonderbly personalises the name, chosen details and a dedication. Hooray Heroes builds the hero from options you pick. WonderCast makes the character from a photo, then deletes the photo.
Is there a personalised storybook I can read tonight?
Yes. WonderCast makes a personalised storybook in the app, and six of its stories are free to read now with no account.
More comparisons
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- Readmio vs Novel EffectTwo apps for parents who want to do the reading.
- WunderKind vs Oscar StoriesTwo AI story apps.
- The best bedtime story appsTen apps compared, with a five-minute test to choose.
Try WonderCast tonight: six free stories, no account.
Then make one that stars your child, free.
Start free