Memoires, the Storyworth® alternative.
No writing, plus their voice forever at your fingertips.
Memoires vs Storyworth
You've probably heard of how Storyworth® turns a loved one's stories into a keepsake book. If so, you might be wondering about the differences between Memoires and Storyworth. Here's an overview to help you decide which of the two products is best for you.
Overview: Comparing Storyworth and Memoires
First, let's compare the core offerings of each service. Storyworth and Memoires are priced comparably and both result in the creation of a keepsake book. The main difference lies in the journey of creating the book itself, plus the final product.
Comparing how storytellers contribute
Storyworth
Storytellers type written responses to a new prompt each week.
Memoires
storytellers record their answers to a new prompt each week - no writing, downloads, or logins required. Plus, recordings can be shared from any internet enabled device, including phones, tablets, and computers. Then, Memoires's Speech-To-Story™ technology automatically transforms these recordings into written stories. Anyone invited can edit the story, or change its writing style (e.g., "cleaned transcript" v. first-person story v. third-person story). You can learn more about how Memoires's Speech-to-Story technology here, or learn directly from real Memoires customers here.
Memoires storytellers record their responses - no writing required.
Update: Storyworth recently launched a basic transcription feature that allows people to dictate their words. Unlike Memoires's Speech-to-Story technology which turns spoken words into polished written stories based on a storyteller's speaking style, Storyworth's tool accommodates simple dictation.
Comparing how storytellers are contacted
Storyworth
storytellers receive an email in their inbox each week with a new writing prompt.
Memoires
storytellers receive their storytelling prompts via either email, SMS text message, or both. These settings can be adjusted at any time.
Memoires storytellers can receive prompts via email, SMS text message, or both.
Comparing prompts
Storyworth
storytellers have access to a bank of questions, or can write their own.
Memoires
has a bank of questions developed by professional storytellers and memory scientists, as well as the ability to write your own questions. Memoires storytellers can also share reflections about photos - which often result in far more vivid memory recall. With this capability, storytellers can offer memories behind childhood photos, share stories of yearbook pictures, and reflect on the meaning of photographed family heirlooms.
Memoires lets you use photos to inspire reflection as well as written prompts.
Comparing the final book
Storyworth
prints 6" x 9" black and white books. Books can be printed in color for an additional fee.
Memoires
books are 8" x 10". They are printed in hardcover and feature a customizable hard cover, plus double-thick paper -designed to last for generations
Storyworth books (left) are 6" x 9". Memoires books (right) are 8" x 10".
Comparing whats inside
Storyworth
books feature written words and photographs printed in black and white. The pages can be printed in color for an additional fee.
With Memoires, each chapter features a QR code that links to the originally recorded content. That means you're never without the voice of the book's author. You can learn more about Memoires books and QR codes here.
Memoires Books are color printed and feature QR codes that link to the original recordings.
Comparing how easy it is to share stories
Most Storyworth storytellers type their stories, either from the Storyworth website or by responding to the weekly email prompts.
Much like Storyworth, Memoires was designed with grandparents in mind. However, unlike Storyworth, most Memoires storytellers speak their stories, which are automatically turned into polished written stories. Unlike other storytelling platforms, Memoires is completely web-based, which means there are no downloads or logins required to share a new recording each week. You can preview the recording experience here, or hear from 89-year old Memoires storyteller Gerald:
Hear about 89-year-old Gerald P's experience using Memoires
Comparing who else can be involved
Storyworth
offers basic features that enable multiple family members to receive updates on newly written stories.
Memoires
was designed from the very start to be a collaborative experience. Memoires makes it easy to invite the entire family to participate in the exploration of a loved one's stories each week. Each time a new story is recorded, all invited family members instantly receive an email with a link to both the recording and also the automatically generated story. After watching, family members are prompted to share a reaction with their storyteller and help pick new prompts. Finally, any family member can initiate a "family poll" - a gamified survey that invites extended family members to vote on what topics they're most interested in learning about.
Memoires makes exploring family stories a family affair.
Comparing what people are saying
Storyworth
customers love that Storyworth makes a great gift for aspiring autobiographers eager to document memories in a structured way. However, many people have shared that they find the weekly writing assignments tedious and wish there were more ways to customize the experience. Also, some Storyworth storytellers wish there were more ways to involve their family in the year-long writing experience. Read more Storyworth reviews here.
Memoires
customers love that Memoires is both a great gift to give and receive. Memoires storytellers enjoy sharing stories without the requirement of writing, and appreciate that they can use any device without any downloads, logins, or passwords. Their families love that Memoires delivers both written stories and also recordings of their loved ones speaking about their memories, and then combines the two into a book full of QR codes that link the two together forever.
Both storytellers and their families admire that Memoires makes the process of documenting family stories a true family activity - anyone can pick questions, add photos, and participate in polls that allow others to "vote" on what stories they're most excited to learn. Then, when a new story is recorded, Memoires sends each person a written summary of the new story as well as a link to watch it for themselves. Read more Memoires reviews here.
Memoires customers describe their experience using Memoires.
What's the overall summary?
Storyworth
is a product best suited for aspiring autobiographers interested in writing a book themselves. If you or your loved one has been waiting for the chance to write a memoir, Storyworth is a great way to structure that process.
Memoires
is for those excited about capturing stories, but less excited about writing them all down. Memoires makes the capture of stories easy and quick, meaning it's perfect for those with a bit less patience. It's also well suited for those eager to collect the stories behind old photos. Plus, by documenting more than just written words, Memoires offers a mixed-media final product designed to feel more like a living collection of stories versus a static book.
The story book that writes itself
Preserve family stories. No writing required.