Choose what fits your family
Tuck vs The Short Years
What do you want to record in the first years?
Choose Tuck if you want a family text line and an annual book that can continue beyond the baby years. (Tuck FAQ; Tuck pricing)
Choose The Short Years if you want guided first-year questions and a baby book that grows as printed chapter batches arrive, as a one-time purchase. (The Short Years baby book; The Short Years purchase model)
United States guide · Tuck prices are in USD. Competitor currencies are labelled separately.
Written by Tuck. This is not an independent review. We checked the linked sources on . Plans and features can change.
Choose a way to record the first years of childhood.
The Short Years pairs app questions and photos with a physical baby book. It prints and sends pages after each three completed chapters. Its first-year book is sold as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. (The Short Years baby book; The Short Years purchase model)
Tuck is an ongoing family text line for the moments you choose to send. Texts, photos, and MMS voice notes can become Sunday chapters and an annual book. The service is not limited to a baby's first year. (Tuck FAQ; Tuck pricing)
The work each service asks of you.
| What matters to you | Tuck | The Short Years |
|---|---|---|
| Record a memory | Send words, photos, or MMS voice notes to a family text line. No app installation is needed. (Tuck FAQ) | Answer questions and add photos in the app. You can edit the text and photos before pages are printed. (The Short Years baby book; The Short Years FAQ) |
| Keep video | Direct video is not supported. Send a screenshot and a note about the video, or send an MMS voice note to keep the story. (Tuck FAQ) | Add videos in the app. QR codes on printed pages let you play the videos later. (The Short Years baby book) |
| Receive printed pages | The annual plan includes one bound book. You review the proof and approve it before printing. (Tuck pricing) | Pages are printed and shipped after each three completed chapters, for you to add to the physical binder. (The Short Years baby book) |
| Years and family | Use the same family text line for chosen moments across childhood, with up to four trusted contributors. (Tuck FAQ) | The baby book has 19 first-year chapters. You can start for an older child and make books for more than one child. A separate toddler add-on extends the record through the fifth birthday. (The Short Years FAQ; The Short Years product and options) |
| Price and payment | A card is required for the trial. After the trial, the chosen annual price is billed unless you cancel. It includes one book and shipping, and renews yearly unless you cancel. (Tuck pricing) | The baby album product page starts at US$129. It is a one-time first-year product, not an annual subscription. Optional products and final costs must be checked separately. (The Short Years product and options; The Short Years purchase model) |
When each service can fit.
Choose The Short Years if…
- You want defined baby-book questions, videos you can play from QR codes, and a physical book that grows as printed chapter batches arrive. (The Short Years baby book; The Short Years FAQ)
- You want a one-time first-year book purchase, with an optional toddler product, rather than an ongoing annual service. (The Short Years purchase model; The Short Years product and options)
Choose Tuck if…
- You want to record the whole family's chosen moments by text, photo, or MMS voice note, without installing an app. (Tuck FAQ)
- You want Sunday chapters and one book for the year, and want to continue the same record beyond the baby years. (Tuck FAQ; Tuck pricing)
Check what the page count includes.
The Short Years lists 119 custom pages and 19 chapter covers, for 138 content pages. These counts describe different parts of the same book. They should not be treated as the same format as Tuck's bound annual book. (The Short Years baby book; Tuck pricing)
Printed chapters arrive in batches, which can suit a parent who wants to build a baby book in stages. Tuck's annual plan includes one book made from the memories your family sends, with a proof you review before printing. (The Short Years baby book; Tuck pricing)
Check these details before you choose.
- The US$129 figure is the product page's starting price in U.S. dollars, not a quote for every option. Check the selected cover, optional products, shipping, tax, and final order total. (The Short Years product and options; The Short Years shipping policy; The Short Years FAQ)
- The Short Years offers a free app trial. This does not mean the printed book is free. Its toddler add-on is a separate product. Check the content and delivery terms of the bundle you choose. (The Short Years FAQ; The Short Years product and options)
We compared the public service descriptions and linked help pages. We did not run a hands-on test of The Short Years. A listed feature does not prove how well it will work for your family.
Sources and check dates.
- Tuck FAQChecked 29 October 2026.
- Tuck pricingChecked 29 October 2026.
- The Short Years baby bookChecked 29 October 2026.
- The Short Years product and optionsChecked 29 October 2026.
- The Short Years purchase modelChecked 29 October 2026.
- The Short Years FAQChecked 29 October 2026.
- The Short Years shipping policyChecked 29 October 2026.
The Tuck terms
A year of memories, with one book.
Every plan includes the same Tuck text line, weekly chapters, and one 80-page book with shipping to the United States. You review the proof and approve the book before it prints.
- Softcover
- US$149 / year
- Hardcover
- US$199 / year
- Layflat Hardcover
- US$299 / year
A card is required for the 14-day trial. Pay $0 today, then your chosen annual price unless you cancel before the trial ends. Renews yearly unless you cancel. Tax may apply.