Walgreens vs CVS Passport Photo: Price, Digital Copy, Service and Printing Compared
Compare Walgreens and CVS passport photo prices, emailed digital copies, USB options and DIY printing before choosing your local store.
Quick Answer: Walgreens and CVS both take US passport photos in store without an appointment, but they differ on the details. Walgreens lists $16.99 for two printed 2×2 photos with a free digital copy emailed to you. CVS lists $17.99 for two prints, with an emailed digital copy for an additional $3.99 or a USB copy for $10.99. Confirm availability at the counter. Neither one accepts passport applications, and neither makes a non-compliant photo compliant. If you need a digital file, Walgreens is usually the better value. Check your own passport photo with PhotoOmni →
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Walgreens | CVS | |
|---|---|---|
| Two printed 2×2 photos | $16.99, per Walgreens | $17.99, per CVS |
| Digital copy | Free, emailed to you | Extra: $3.99 by email, per CVS |
| USB copy | Available for an extra fee at some stores | $10.99 on a Kodak Moments USB drive, per CVS |
| Extra prints | Ask the store | Ask the store for current pricing |
| Appointment | No, walk in | No, walk in |
| Ordering | In store only | Counter or photo kiosk at stores with a photo center |
| Accepts passport applications? | No | No |
| Cheaper DIY route | 4×6 template print | 4×6 template print |
Prices vary by store and date. Before you pay, ask for the total including the digital copy.
Why Sources Disagree
Prices for these two chains have moved around:
- A price site's older CVS page says CVS matched Walgreens at $16.99, and other pages say the same.
- Newer pages say the chain-wide CVS price is $17.99.
- Some older guides quote $5 to $10 for a CVS digital file. CVS now lists $3.99 by email and $10.99 on USB; confirm your store offers the option you need.
- Walgreens is consistently listed at $16.99 with a free emailed digital copy across the sources we read.
The takeaway: Walgreens is about a dollar cheaper for the prints, and the digital copy is where the gap widens if you need one.
What You Get at Each Store
A staff member takes the photo, checks the framing, prints two 2 × 2 inch copies and, at Walgreens, can send the digital copy by email. Both are walk-in services. A pharmacy-store passport photo takes about 10 to 15 minutes, according to a price guide, and not every location has an active photo center, so call before you go.
Neither store is a passport acceptance facility. You still need to submit your application, with your photo attached, at a post office or other acceptance location, or by the process that applies to you.
Do You Need a Digital Copy?
A printed photo is what most in-person applications use. A digital copy is useful if you need a file for an online process or a visa application. Two cautions:
- Don't scan a printed photo to make a digital file. A price guide warns against this, and scans can lose quality or fail requirements.
- Check which format your application accepts on the State Department's current instructions before you pay for extras. State Department passport photo requirements.
What to Ask Before You Pay
- What is the total price including tax, a digital copy and any extras?
- Can I see the photo before printing, and retake it if I blink or tilt?
- What happens if the photo is rejected? Is there a retake or refund?
- Do you give me the digital copy at the same time?
- Is the photo center staffed today?
The Cheaper DIY Route
If you have a compliant photo already, you can print it yourself at either chain. One guide describes creating your own passport photo and printing it on a 4×6 sheet for $0.33, and other guides list similar prices from about $0.12 to $0.50 depending on the store and source. The catch is that you're responsible for the size, head position and background, because a print shop only prints what you give it. Read our Walgreens one-hour photo guide for the template steps.
Photos Rejected? Why It Still Happens
Even a staff-taken photo can be rejected for reasons the staff don't catch, such as shadows, glare, a slight head tilt, an expression that's too broad or a background that isn't plain. Keep your receipt, ask about retakes, and compare your prints with the State Department requirements before you submit. US passport photo requirements guide.
Where PhotoOmni Fits
If you'd rather take the photo at home, PhotoOmni combines AI formatting with a human review that includes an expression check, and its public listings describe a free check before you buy and an acceptance guarantee for eligible photos. You can then print it yourself or at a store. The US passport photo page lists a one-time $5.99 fee including a digital file and print-ready sheet. The refund policy covers photo-related errors caused by PhotoOmni when requested within 30 days; final acceptance rests with the issuing authority.
| Walgreens | CVS | PhotoOmni | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who takes the photo | Staff | Staff | You |
| Compliance check | Staff plus automated photo checks | Staff plus automated photo checks | AI plus human review, free check before purchase |
| Digital copy | Free by email | Extra at many stores | Included digital photo and print-ready sheet |
| Best for | Convenience and a free digital copy | Convenience if CVS is closest | Taking the photo at home and checking it first |
Check your photo with PhotoOmni →
Common Mistakes
- Paying extra for a digital copy you didn't need, or skipping one you did.
- Treating a store’s compliance or refund guarantee as the issuing authority’s approval.
- Not calling ahead to confirm the photo center is open.
- Scanning a printed photo to create a digital file.
- Not checking the print before leaving.
- Using a photo older than the allowed age. Check the rules.
Checklist
- I know whether I need prints, a digital file or both
- I called the store and confirmed it takes passport photos today
- I asked for the total price including add-ons
- I checked the print against the State Department rules
- I kept my receipt and know the retake policy
FAQ
Is Walgreens or CVS cheaper for passport photos? Walgreens is usually cheaper: $16.99 for two prints with a free emailed digital copy, versus about $17.99 at CVS with a digital copy extra at many stores.
Does CVS give a digital copy? CVS lists an emailed copy for $3.99 extra or a USB copy for $10.99. Confirm availability at your store.
Do I need an appointment? No. Both are walk-in services.
Can I apply for a passport at Walgreens or CVS? No. They take the photo only.
Is a Walgreens or CVS passport photo guaranteed to be accepted? Check the store's policy. The photo still has to meet the State Department's rules.
Is there a cheaper way? Print your own compliant photo on a 4×6 sheet for under a dollar, if you're confident it meets the rules.
Bottom Line
For most people, Walgreens is the slightly better deal because the digital copy is included, while CVS makes sense if it's closest and you don't need a file. Whichever you choose, confirm the total, check the print and keep your receipt. If you want to check the photo first, try PhotoOmni →
Official source: State Department passport photo requirements
Retailer sources: Walgreens passport photos · CVS passport photos