Customers have shared a balanced mix of opinions about CEWE’s material quality, with roughly equal numbers of positive and negative mentions across 268 reviews. Overall, the sentiment has trended upward over time, particularly from late 2025 through mid-2026, with average ratings climbing from 4.43★ in November 2025 to a peak of 4.8★ in May 2026. Many reviewers praise the durability, print clarity, and tactile feel of CEWE’s products, especially photo books and photo gifts. However, some users report issues with color accuracy, paper texture, and structural integrity, particularly in framed products. A recurring concern is the gap between how materials look on screen versus in physical form, with some noting that colors appear more vibrant digitally than in the final product. Despite these criticisms, the majority of feedback reflects satisfaction with the overall material quality, especially for standard photo books and prints.

What customers praise

Many customers highlight the high-quality feel and visual appeal of CEWE’s printed materials. They consistently mention sharp image reproduction, vibrant colors, and durable finishes, especially in photo books and photo gifts. The tactile quality of materials like fabric-covered book covers and high-gloss paper is frequently praised. Several reviewers note that the final product matches their digital design closely, with one stating the real-life appearance was identical to the online preview. The use of premium materials in items like photo mugs and photo blankets also receives positive feedback for both look and feel.

What customers said:

  • „Digital high-gloss printed albums still smell like chemicals even after years.“ - Trusted Shops · 5★ · · translated · German ·
    „Digital high-gloss printed albums still smell like chemicals even after years.“

    Original„Alben in Digitaldruck Hochglanz riechen , auch nach Jahren, nach Chemie“

  • „The execution in terms of quality and color is outstanding!“ - Trusted Shops · 5★ · · translated · German ·
    „The execution in terms of quality and color is outstanding!“

    Original„Die Ausführung in Qualität und Farbe ist hervorragend!“

  • „Brilliant colors, everything turned out just as created in the app.“ - Trusted Shops · 5★ · · translated · German ·
    „Brilliant colors, everything turned out just as created in the app.“

    Original„Brilliante Farben, alles si geworden wie in der App erstellt wurde“

Common complaints

Some customers report discrepancies between the digital preview and the final printed product, particularly in color accuracy. A few note that skies appear overly blue or colors look washed out compared to the original photo. Others mention physical flaws, such as chipped wood edges in photo frames or weak construction in binding mechanisms. A recurring issue is the lack of customization options in the app, with users missing advanced layout tools, clip art, and the ability to adjust spacing freely. These limitations are especially frustrating for users creating larger or more complex projects like travel albums.

What customers said:

  • „Sometimes, the sky appears overly blue or the colors do not match the original photo at…“ - Trusted Shops · 3★ · · translated · German ·
    „Sometimes, the sky appears overly blue or the colors do not match the original photo at all.“

    Original„Zum Teil ist der Himmel übertrieben blau oder die Farben sehen gar nicht aus wie auf dem orginal Foto.“

  • „The frame's stability should be reinforced here.“ - Trusted Shops · 4★ · · translated · German ·
    „The frame's stability should be reinforced here.“

    Original„Hier sollte die Stabilität des Rahmens nachgebessert werden.“

  • „There's a lack of variety in design options.“ - Apple App Store · 5★ · · translated · German ·
    „There's a lack of variety in design options.“

    Original„Mir fehlt die Abwechslung beim Gestalten.“

How it has changed over time

Customer sentiment toward CEWE’s material quality has improved significantly since late 2025. Ratings rose steadily from 4.43★ in November 2025 to 4.8★ in May 2026, indicating growing satisfaction. This upward trend coincides with reported improvements in print consistency and material durability. However, there were dips in early 2026, with a noticeable drop to 4.29★ in June, which some users linked to app updates that reduced functionality. By August 2026, the rating rebounded to 5★, suggesting that recent changes have addressed earlier concerns. The overall trajectory shows that material quality has become more reliable and consistent over time.

What customers said:

  • „the paper is of higher quality“ - Trusted Shops · 2★ · · translated · German ·
    „the paper is of higher quality“

    Original„das Papier von höherer Qualität“

  • „The cushion fabric could be better“ - Trusted Shops · 4★ · · translated · Portuguese ·
    „The cushion fabric could be better“

    Original„o tecido da almofada poderia ser melhor“

  • „the QR code for uploading photos only worked for a short time“ - Trusted Shops · 4★ · · translated · German ·
    „the QR code for uploading photos only worked for a short time“

    Original„der QUR-Code zum Bilder hochladen nir so kurz funktioniert“

Practical takeaways

For best results, customers should review their designs on screen carefully, as material appearance can differ slightly from digital previews. Using CEWE’s desktop software may offer better control over layout and material choices than the mobile app. Users creating large or complex projects should be aware of limited customization options in the app, such as fixed frame styles and no dynamic page expansion. Despite some flaws, the overall material quality remains strong, especially for standard photo books and gifts. The brand’s improvements over time suggest that current products are more reliable than earlier versions.

What customers said:

  • „I would prefer not to set the number of pages at the beginning, but rather increase it…“ - Apple App Store · 5★ · · translated · German ·
    „I would prefer not to set the number of pages at the beginning, but rather increase it as needed while designing the book.“

    Original„Ich fände es besser, wenn ich die Seitenanzahl nicht am Anfang festlegen, sondern nach Bedarf erhöhen könnte, während ich das Buch gestalte.“

  • „The chosen cover looked more colorful on screen than it actually is.“ - Trusted Shops · 4★ · · translated · German ·
    „The chosen cover looked more colorful on screen than it actually is.“

    Original„Der gewählte Einband kam auf dem Bildschirm "farbenfroher" rüber als er tatsächlich ist.“

  • „Certainly not cheap, but quality is worth a few extra euros.“ - Trusted Shops · 5★ · · translated · German ·
    „Certainly not cheap, but quality is worth a few extra euros.“

    Original„Sicher nicht grad billig, aber Qualität ist ein paar Euro mehr wert“

Over time

Rating trend: 3.0 in 2025-09 to 5.0 in 2026-08.3.03.54.04.55.02025-092026-022026-08
Rating trend: 3.0 in 2025-09 to 5.0 in 2026-08.
Data as table
Monthly average rating
MonthAvg. ratingCount
2025-093.002
2025-104.001
2025-114.437
2025-124.5221
2026-014.339
2026-024.1811
2026-034.508
2026-044.679
2026-054.8010
2026-064.297
2026-074.339
2026-085.001

Sentiment over time

Sentiment over time: positive share from 50% (2025-09) to 100% (2026-08).0%25%50%75%100%2025-092026-022026-08
Sentiment over time: positive share from 50% (2025-09) to 100% (2026-08).
Data as table
Monthly sentiment (shares)
MonthPositiveNeutralNegativeCount
2025-0950%0%50%2
2025-100%0%100%1
2025-1143%43%14%7
2025-1267%10%24%21
2026-0133%22%44%9
2026-0245%18%36%11
2026-0338%38%25%8
2026-0478%0%22%9
2026-0570%20%10%10
2026-0657%14%29%7
2026-0767%11%22%9
2026-08100%0%0%1

Customer voices

Short excerpts - full reviews are available at the original source.

„Looks the same in person as it does on the computer“

★★★★★Trusted ShopsTranslated· GermanOriginal
„Optik in echt wie auf dem Computer“

„super beautiful design ideas“

★★★★★Trusted ShopsTranslated· GermanOriginal
„super schöne gestaltungsideen“

„Uploading images is also cumbersome.“

★★☆☆☆Apple App StoreTranslated· SwedishOriginal
„Uppladdning av bilder är också krånglig.“

„There are too few options for a completely individual design!“

★★★★☆Apple App StoreTranslated· GermanOriginal
„Zu wenige Möglichkeiten für eine völlig individuelle Gestaltung !“

„But I miss all the features from the Windows software.“

★★★★☆Apple App StoreTranslated· GermanOriginal
„Mir fehlen aber die vielen Funktionen aus der Windows Software.“

„High-quality material“

★★★★★Trusted ShopsTranslated· GermanOriginal
„hochwertiges Material“

„The many cliparts available to insert.“

★★★★★Trusted ShopsTranslated· GermanOriginal
„Die vielen Cliparts zum einfügen.“

„The colors are very good.“

★★★★★Apple App StoreTranslated· RomanianOriginal
„Culorile foarte ok.“
Cite this page

Citatio (2026). CEWE Material: customer reviews 2026. Retrieved 18 August 2026 from https://citatio.ai/cewe-reviews/material/

Data verifiable via our public audit log: Methodology · Transparency