Cherished Book vs Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge is one of the oldest pet-loss communities online, known for its weekly candle ceremony and a warm, close-knit membership. Cherished Book takes a different shape: help writing their story, contributions from everyone who loved them, and a memorial you can export and keep. Here is the honest comparison.
Last reviewed July 2026. Prices and features change, so check both sites before deciding.
Which one is right for you?
Choose Cherished Book if…
you want help writing their story, photos and memories from everyone who knew them, and a memorial you can download and keep for good.
Choose Rainbow Bridge if…
you are looking for an established grief community and a shared candle-lighting ritual more than a memorial page you build with others.
Cherished Book and Rainbow Bridge, side by side
| Feature | Cherished Book | Rainbow Bridge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free now. Premium is free while we build it; a one-time $30 is planned, never a subscription. | Free memorial and free Monday candle ceremony; an optional Rainbow Residency is $25/year. |
| AI writing help | Yes. AI obituary draft + guided writing prompts. | No. No writing help. |
| Collaboration | Yes. Unlimited contributors; guests can add tributes with no account. | Partial. Community forum and guestbook, rather than a memorial many people build together. |
| Privacy & control | Yes. Public, private or invite-only; approval queue; no ads. | Partial. Public community focus. |
| Faith & tradition | Yes. 68 faith & secular designs, Faith Gate, secondary calendars. | Not applicable to pets; both are secular here. |
| Events & RSVP | Yes. Yes, with tradition-aware rites (Premium). | No. No event or RSVP tools. |
| Resting place | Yes. Map link and directions, with no coordinates or trackers. | No. No resting-place link. |
| Linked family memorials | Yes. Connect a family's memorials so loved ones remembered together are easy to find. | No. No memorial linking. |
| Fundraising | Partial. Links out to a charity or fundraiser; we take no cut. | No. No tribute-fund link. |
| Photos, video, audio | Partial. Photos and files. No video or audio. | Partial. Photos and virtual gifts. |
| Keepsake & export | Yes. Designed PDF memorial book + free full ZIP export. | No. No keepsake book or free export. |
| Mobile app | Partial. Works in any browser. No native app. | No. Web only. |
| No ads or upsells | Yes. Never. No ads, no visitor upsells. | Partial. Sells virtual gifts and residencies. |
✓ included · ~ partial or limited · — not offered · ? not confirmed at our last review. Comparisons reflect public information and change over time.
Where Rainbow Bridge may suit you better
We would rather you found the right place than the wrong one. Here is where Rainbow Bridge does something we do not.
- A long-established, supportive pet-loss community with a well-loved weekly candle ceremony.
- A sense of shared ritual and company that a brand-new memorial page cannot offer on day one.
- Virtual gifts and tokens for people who find comfort in small symbolic gestures.
Where Cherished Book is different
- We help you write their story: answer a few questions and we draft it, in a voice made for a pet, not a person. Rainbow Bridge has no writing help.
- Everyone who loved them can add photos and memories, with or without an account, so the memorial is built by many people rather than posted by one.
- A designed PDF memorial book and a free full export, so their memory is yours to keep and never tied to one site.
- A modern, gentle design with pet-appropriate themes, including a soft Rainbow Bridge look, chosen to suit your pet and their story.
A note on price
Rainbow Bridge offers a free memorial and a free Monday candle ceremony, with an optional Rainbow Residency at $25 per year at our last review. Prices for other sites change, so please check their current terms.
Cherished Book is free to start, with everything you need to create a pet memorial, and Premium as an optional upgrade. See our pricing page.
Free to start, no card needed. The Rainbow Bridge link opens in a new tab.
Common questions
Is Cherished Book a grief community like Rainbow Bridge?
Not quite. Rainbow Bridge is built around a shared community and its candle ceremony. Cherished Book is a memorial you build with the people who knew your pet, and keep for good. Many families value both.
Can friends and family add memories?
Yes. Anyone you invite can add photos and stories, and guests can contribute without signing up. Every contribution is safety-checked before it appears.
Can I keep the memorial if I stop using the site?
Yes. You can download a full copy of everything at any time, free, so it is never tied to us alone.
Last reviewed July 2026.
More comparisons and features
Preserve their memory, together.
A collaborative memorial lets family and friends share stories, photos, and announcements, all in one place. It’s free to create.
Something not right?
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