Storytiles vs Mixtiles in South Africa (2026)
By the Storytiles team in Cape Town · Updated 2 November 2026
Short answer
Both make framed photo tiles that stick to the wall without nails. Mixtiles is the big international brand, ships to South Africa (most orders arrive within 10 days) and shows its price after you upload a photo. Storytiles is made in Cape Town, shows rand prices upfront with free delivery, arrives in about 5-8 business days, and adds AI art sets and designed layouts. Pick Mixtiles if you want the global brand; pick Storytiles for local pricing, delivery and support.
If you've seen a wall of square framed photos on Instagram, it was probably Mixtiles. They popularised stick-on photo tiles, and South Africans ask us all the time how we compare. Here's an honest answer, with facts checked on both sites on 2 November 2026.
How do Storytiles and Mixtiles compare?
| Storytiles | Mixtiles | |
|---|---|---|
| Made in | Cape Town, South Africa | Abroad (international brand) |
| Ships to South Africa | Yes, it's our home market | Yes |
| Price shown | Upfront, in rand | After you upload a photo |
| Example price | Six tiles R2 299,99 | US site: from $15 per tile. SA price shown at checkout |
| Delivery cost | Free, anywhere in SA | Depends on region and order size; free above a minimum order |
| Delivery time | 2-3 days to make + 3-5 business days | "Most orders arrive within 10 days" (mainly UPS) |
| Sizes | 21×21, 31×31, 21×31 and 29×36 cm | 8×8" (20 cm) up to 27×36", plus a 22×44" panorama |
| Frames | Black, white or wood, optional white mat | Black, white, oak, wide black/white/walnut, frameless, canvas |
| Hanging | Peel and stick, repositionable | Magnetic hanging: peel-and-stick base, repositionable |
| Layouts | 2 to 20 tiles: grids, staircase, scattered, mixed shapes | See their site |
| AI art sets | Yes: family, pets, kids, World Cup Hero | Not found on their site |
| Guarantee | Money back if you don't love them | Not checked |
| Support | Local team in Cape Town, live chat on the site | Live chat, 7am-midnight US Eastern time |
| Reviews | Growing in South Africa | 4.9/5 from over 100k App Store ratings |
Sources: Mixtiles' photo tiles page and shipping help page; Storytiles' own pages.
When is Mixtiles the better choice?
- The brand and the app. Mixtiles is the best-known name in photo tiles, with 4.9/5 from over 100k App Store ratings. If someone has asked for Mixtiles by name, buy Mixtiles.
- More sizes and frames. Up to 27×36" and a 22×44" panorama, wide frames and walnut, frameless and canvas options.
- Magnetic hanging. A peel-and-stick base with a magnetic tile, so straightening a wall is easy.
When is Storytiles the better choice in South Africa?
- You know the price before you start. Rand prices are on every collection, and delivery is free. With an international order, check the final total at checkout.
- Faster, local delivery. Made in Cape Town and couriered locally, so most orders arrive within about 5-8 business days.
- More than square grids. Staircase walls, scattered layouts and mixed portrait and landscape sets, all pre-planned so there's no measuring.
Stairway Spectacle
5 tiles in a staircase pattern
R2 179,99
Start styling
Nifty Nine
9 mixed tiles in a scattered arrangement
R3 029,99
Start styling
Quintessential Blend
Mix of small square, portrait, and medium landscape tiles
R2 299,99
Start styling- AI art from your photos. No photo of the whole family together? We combine separate photos into one portrait set: studio, Pixar-style, watercolour or pop art. Pets and kids too.
Family Studio Portrait
Professional studio-quality family portraits — Black & White and Warm Tones
R2 529,99
Create yours
Family Portraits - Pixar Style
Transform your family photos into charming Pixar-inspired 3D animated portraits
R2 399,99
Create yours
Pet Sleepy Time
Your pet in adorable bedtime scenes — teddy bear cuddles, phone scrolling, bedtime reading
R2 259,99
Create yours- A local guarantee. If you don't love your tiles, you get your money back.
What do they have in common?
Both are framed photo tiles that stick to a smooth painted wall without nails and can be moved later. Both work from phone photos. A grid of 6 to 12 works well above a couch, bed or desk. And with both, the same wall rules apply: clean the wall, wait a week after painting, and avoid steamy bathrooms. Our guide to hanging pictures without nails has the details.
Which should you buy?
- Want the most-known brand and don't mind waiting: Mixtiles.
- Want rand pricing upfront, free local delivery, more layouts, or AI art: Storytiles.
- On a tight budget: see our honest list of Mixtiles alternatives in South Africa, which includes cheaper options than both.
Frequently asked questions
Does Mixtiles ship to South Africa?
Yes. South Africa is on Mixtiles' shipping list. Their help centre says most orders arrive within 10 days, mainly with UPS, and that shipping costs depend on your region and order size (checked 2 November 2026).
Is Storytiles cheaper than Mixtiles?
Mixtiles shows its price only after you upload a photo, so we can't compare like for like here. Storytiles prices are shown upfront in rand and include free delivery, for example R2 299,99 for six tiles. Compare the final checkout totals on both sites.
How long does Storytiles take to arrive?
We make your tiles in Cape Town within 2-3 business days, then delivery takes 3-5 business days anywhere in South Africa.
Can I move the tiles after sticking them?
Yes. Storytiles peel off and re-stick on a smooth painted wall. Mixtiles use a magnetic hanging system with a peel-and-stick base, so you can reposition them too.
Does either make AI portraits?
Storytiles makes AI family, pet and kids' sets from your photos - for example a Pixar-style family portrait from separate photos - and prints them as framed tiles. We didn't find AI sets on Mixtiles' site.
Ready to fill your wall?
Peel-and-stick photo tiles, made in Cape Town, with free delivery across South Africa.
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