What Really Happens When You Give Storyworth® as a Gift

Every holiday season, thousands of people turn to Storyworth as a unique and thoughtful present for parents and grandparents. Instead of flowers or another gadget, Storyworth promises something deeper: a way to preserve stories for the next generation.

But what actually happens after you hit “purchase”? What do families love — and where do they stumble? Here’s what we’ve found after looking closely at how Storyworth works in practice.

The First Impression: Excitement and Curiosity

When Storyworth is given, the reaction is often delight. It feels like a personal, meaningful gesture. The recipient sees they’ll be asked questions each week, and the idea of a bound book at the end of the year sets the tone for something lasting.

For gift-givers, this stage is a win. It’s different, thoughtful, and memorable right out of the gate.

The Middle Months: A Year of Homework?

The heart of Storyworth is the weekly prompt. For storytellers who enjoy writing, this rhythm can be energizing — like journaling with a purpose. But for many, the routine quickly feels like homework. Typing out long responses every week, or trying to keep up after missing a few, can create pressure instead of joy.

Storyworth’s dictation tool tries to make this easier, but it has limits. Spoken responses are dropped straight into the book as text. Worse, the recordings aren’t saved as part of the final product— so the voice itself, the laughter and emotion, never makes it into the keepsake. Families get the words, but not the sound.

So while dictation reduces the typing burden, it doesn’t replace the heart of oral storytelling. Instead, it shifts the work: families often need to spend extra time editing those transcripts into something that feels smooth and readable. What begins as a convenience feature can, in practice, become yet another step in the process.

The End Result: A Book That’s Meaningful… But Incomplete

By the end of the year, the promise is fulfilled: a hardcover book arrives, filled with stories and photos. It’s a moment of pride and nostalgia. Families gather to flip through pages, share memories, and celebrate the effort that went into it.

Still, some are surprised by what’s missing. The design is professional but uniform, the stories sometimes read like transcripts, and the book captures only what was typed (or dictated into text). It’s a keepsake, but not always the rich, multi-dimensional record families were hoping for.

Why Some Families Look for Alternatives

Storyworth has real strengths — it’s simple, structured, and delivers a polished product. But it’s ultimately built for those who are comfortable writing or editing text. For families who want more than words on a page — the sound of a parent’s voice, the warmth of laughter, the spontaneity of storytelling — Storyworth falls short.

That’s where Remento offers something different. Instead of text alone, Remento records stories in voice or video, transcribes them into polished writing, and includes QR codes in the book so you can read and hear your loved one’s memories. It’s designed for families who value both convenience and authenticity — capturing not just stories, but the storyteller.

Remento makes the process effortless for everyone involved. There are no logins, downloads, or typing required — just a simple link that opens to record a memory in seconds. Families can listen, react, and even help choose the next topic, turning storytelling into an ongoing shared experience. The result is a beautifully written and spoken family history that feels alive, combining technology and heart to preserve the voices and personalities that matter most.

Learn more: Storyworth v. Remento

Final Thoughts

Giving Storyworth is a gift of intention, and for many, it delivers on its promise. But behind the charm of weekly prompts and a final book is a process that can feel like a year-long writing assignment, ending in a keepsake that’s meaningful but not complete.

If your goal is simply to collect stories in text, Storyworth works. If you want something richer — a keepsake that holds onto the sound and personality of your loved one — alternatives like Remento may be a better fit in 2025.

Next up: Read more Remento reviews

Storyworth FAQ (2025 Edition)

Does Storyworth save audio recordings from dictation?
No. Storyworth’s dictation feature transcribes spoken words directly into text, but the final recording is not incorporated into the printed book. Families receive the written version only, which often reads like a transcript rather than polished storytelling.

Can multiple family members contribute to one Storyworth account?
Not directly. Each Storyworth subscription is tied to one storyteller. If multiple relatives want to participate, you’ll need additional subscriptions.

How many books are included with Storyworth?
The $99 subscription includes one hardcover book. Additional color copies cost $79 each, which can be expensive if you want to share the book widely among family members.

Are Storyworth books in color or black and white?
Storyworth books now include color printing by default. However, customization options are limited — layout, fonts, and design elements are fixed.

How easy is it to add photos to Storyworth?
Photos can be uploaded through the website, but the process is not very intuitive for less tech-savvy users. Placement is rigid, so you don’t have full design control.

What happens if prompts go unanswered?
Storytellers can go back and answer missed questions at any time, but the year-long subscription doesn’t pause. Unanswered prompts simply don’t appear in the final book, which can leave gaps in the storytelling.

Does Storyworth offer international shipping?
Yes, but costs vary depending on location. Delivery outside the U.S. can take longer and may come with additional shipping fees.