Choosing the right print-on-demand (POD) platform is crucial for creators looking to expand their brand through custom merchandise.
Printify has long been a popular print-on-demand platform. Known for its wide range of products, competitive pricing, and global network of print providers, the platform has become a convenient choice for creators looking to offer diverse merchandise.
However, compared to other POD companies, Printify falls short in a few areas. Its reliance on multiple third-party print providers can lead to inconsistencies in product quality and shipping times, potentially affecting customer satisfaction.
Although Printify offers a free plan to users, its premium plan, which is necessary to access the best discounts and features, comes at a cost that may not be justifiable for smaller businesses or individual creators with limited budgets.
While Printify has become a staple in creating and selling branded merchandise, it's not the only game in town. Many other platforms offer unique features and benefits, catering to different needs and preferences.
This article aims to provide a detailed comparison of the best Printify alternatives by exploring their key features, pros and cons, and pricing, helping you make an informed decision for your POD needs.
When choosing a print-on-demand (POD) platform, it's essential to consider various factors to ensure you select the best fit for your business. Here are some crucial factors to consider:
A diverse range of products allows you to cater to your audience's different tastes and preferences.
Look for a platform that offers a wide array of items, from clothing and accessories to home decor and more niche products.
Additionally, the ability to customize products extensively, with options for multiple designs, colors, and custom text, can help your merchandise stand out.
Evaluate the base cost of the platform's products. Lower base costs typically result in higher profit margins, allowing you to price your products competitively.
Also, consider any additional fees the platform might charge, such as transaction fees, subscription fees, or premium account costs, as these can affect your overall profitability.
Many consumers are increasingly eco-conscious, preferring to buy sustainably made products.
Check if the platform offers eco-friendly materials and sustainable production practices.
Also, evaluate the platform’s commitment to reducing its ecological footprint, such as minimizing waste, using renewable energy, or supporting environmental causes.
The ability to seamlessly integrate with popular e-commerce platforms (like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce) is vital for streamlining your sales process.
Additionally, integrations with social media platforms (like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube) can help you reach a wider audience and sell directly through your social channels.
Look for platforms that offer reliable customer support, as the availability of 24/7 support can be crucial for resolving issues promptly.
Multiple support channels (like email, chat, and phone) provide flexibility in seeking help.
Also, check if they have a comprehensive knowledge base or community forum for additional assistance.
Fourthwall is a comprehensive, all-in-one e-commerce platform with an extensive product catalog featuring over 295 retail-quality print-on-demand (POD) items and a wide range of customization options and features.
The platform stands out among other POD platforms because of its competitive pricing. It offers the lowest apparel costs, making it an attractive option for creators looking to maximize their profit margins.
Fourthwall offers creators a range of advanced printing options, including direct-to-garment (DTG), embroidery, screen printing, direct-to-film (DTFx), and sublimation printing.
These options allow creators to bring their designs to life with precision and vibrancy, ensuring high-quality outputs for a variety of products, such as t-shirts, hoodies, hats, bags, and more.
With fulfillment centers in the US, EU, and Australia, Fourthwall provides worldwide shipping, ensuring fast and affordable delivery for creators and their communities. This extensive shipping network helps creators reach a broader audience without worrying about long delivery times or high shipping costs.
In addition to its robust product and printing offerings, Fourthwall provides creators with an array of incredible features designed to enhance their selling experience.
These features include personal mobile apps for shops, promo codes for customers, custom domain and social media integration features, and comprehensive analytic tools that provide insights into sales performance, customer behavior, and overall store metrics.
Pricing: Basic plan: Free; 5% transaction fee for all sales.
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Printful offers high-quality printing with no order minimum and an intuitive interface, making it a user-friendly option for print-on-demand (POD) services.
This ease of use extends to its seamless integration with multiple e-commerce and online platforms, including Amazon, Wix, eBay, Shopify, Etsy, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce, which allows creators to choose their preferred marketplace.
One of Printful’s standout features is its mockup generator, which allows creators to visualize their designs on more than 200 available products, including apparel items, accessories, digital products, and home goods.
This tool simplifies the design process by enabling users to see exactly how their products will look before they go live.
Printful's diverse product range enables creators to cater to different customer preferences and expand their offerings without managing inventory or dealing with upfront costs.
Pricing: Free to use, pay per product ordered.
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Sellfy offers a wide range of digital goods and apparel, including e-books, music, T-shirts, hoodies, and hats.
Similar to Fourthwall, which offers tools for building a custom storefront, Sellfy offers creators the same service. It enables them to set up a personalized online store without extensive technical knowledge.
However, while Sellfy’s platform is user-friendly, it offers limited options for site customization compared to more advanced e-commerce platforms. This might be a consideration for creators who want highly tailored storefront designs.
Despite the customization limitations, Sellfy supports integration with various platforms, such as Facebook, Patreon, and Etsy. This provides users with multiple avenues to expand their reach and streamline product sales.
These integrations help creators manage their business operations more efficiently and tap into existing audiences on these platforms.
Pricing: Paid plans start at $22/month.
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Spreadshirt offers over 250 custom-printable items, including t-shirts, hats, mugs, phone cases, and more. This extensive product range provides creators with a diverse array of products to customize and sell, ensuring that they can find the perfect items to suit their brand and audience and cater to various customer preferences and trends.
Spreadshirt functions as both a print-on-demand (POD) website and a marketplace for designed products. This dual functionality allows creators to choose how they want to sell their products.
For those with Shopify stores, Spreadshirt integrates seamlessly, enabling products to be published directly on their storefronts. This integration streamlines the process for Shopify users, allowing them to manage their products and sales in one place.
For creators without their own e-commerce stores, Spreadshirt's marketplace offers a platform to sell custom product designs directly to a broad audience. This marketplace is a vibrant community of designers and buyers, providing creators with an additional channel to reach potential customers.
The platform also supports various printing methods, including digital direct, thermal sublimation, plot printing, and embroidery. These options ensure high-quality and versatile customization, allowing creators to produce detailed and durable designs on their products.
Pricing: Free to use, pay per product ordered.
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For years, Teespring, now known as Spring, has been a dominant force in the print-on-demand industry, providing users with an impressive catalog of products while handling production and shipping at limited cost.
The platform offers a wide range of customizable items, including t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters, and phone cases, allowing creators to cater to diverse audiences and expand their product offerings.
In addition to being a user-friendly platform that simplifies the creative and selling process for creators, the platform has recently added an innovative integration with YouTube.
This integration allows YouTube creators to directly link their merchandise to their videos and channels, enabling viewers to purchase products without leaving the platform.
Furthermore, Spring offers various promotional tools and analytics, such as discount codes, email marketing campaigns, and social media sharing options to help boost sales.
Pricing: Free to sign up.
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CustomCat offers creators over 500 customizable product options, including T-shirts, jerseys, and sweatshirts, as well as backpacks, hats, and phone cases.
This extensive catalog enables creators to offer a wide array of merchandise, catering to various niches and customer preferences.
The platform supports multiple printing methods, including embroidery, dye sublimation, and digital printing. Embroidery offers a classic, high-quality finish ideal for apparel and accessories, while dye sublimation allows for vibrant, full-color designs on items such as mugs, phone cases, and apparel.
Digital printing, also known as Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, ensures detailed and durable prints for a wide range of products. These versatile customization options empower creators to produce high-quality merchandise that meets their specific design requirements and standards.
CustomCat also excels in its integration capabilities. It offers seamless integration with popular e-commerce platforms like Etsy, WooCommerce, and Shopify.
In addition to these platforms, CustomCat supports integration with custom online stores through its API, allowing for a tailored and cohesive shopping experience.
Pricing: Free to sign up.
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Gelato is a global print-on-demand platform that stands out for its commitment to eco-friendly materials and readily available email customer support.
These features make it an attractive option for creators and businesses that prioritize sustainability and seamless operations.
One of Gelato's key advantages is its intuitive mobile app, which allows users to manage their POD business on the go.
The app provides a comprehensive suite of tools for designing products, tracking orders, and monitoring sales. This mobile accessibility ensures that creators can stay connected to their business and respond quickly to customer needs, no matter where they are.
The platform’s dedication to sustainability is another major selling point. The company uses eco-friendly materials and processes to minimize its environmental impact.
By sourcing responsibly and focusing on sustainable production methods, Gelato appeals to environmentally conscious consumers who value green practices.
Pricing: A free plan is available; paid plans start at $25/month.
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Gooten is a powerful print-on-demand platform that offers creators an easy way to expand their product offerings and streamline their e-commerce operations.
With a global network of manufacturing partners, Gooten ensures high-quality products, ranging from apparel and drinkware to unique items like glass cutting boards and acrylic trays.
Its standout features include centralized order management, seamless integration with popular platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce, and a loyalty program that rewards merchants with personalized reports, insights, and discounts.
With its localized production facilities, Gooten optimizes shipping times and costs, making it a top choice for creators looking to scale their businesses efficiently.
Pricing: Free to use, pay per product ordered.
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Teelaunch provides automated profit calculation, branded products, and no subscription fees, making it a cost-effective option for POD services.
One of Teelaunch's standout features is its automated profit calculation tool. This tool allows sellers to set their prices and automatically calculate profits based on production and shipping costs.
Additionally, the platform does not require subscription fees, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious users or those just starting out in the POD industry.
Users only pay for the products they sell, ensuring that there are no upfront costs or financial risks associated with using the platform.
Furthermore, Teelaunch offers a wide range of high-quality, branded products that can be customized to suit various customer needs and preferences.
Pricing: Free to use, pay per product ordered.
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Zazzle allows creators to offer a wide range of products, including apparel, business cards, stationery, home goods, and more.
What sets Zazzle apart is its robust design tools. These tools allow sellers and buyers to personalize products with custom text, images, and designs, making it easy to create one-of-a-kind items.
Sellers earn royalties on each sale, with rates calculated based on the product type and sale price.
It also provides various promotional tools, such as discount codes, sales events, and an integrated affiliate program, enabling creators to increase their visibility and earnings.
Additionally, Zazzle handles all fulfillment aspects, including printing, shipping, and customer service, allowing creators to focus solely on design.
Pricing: Signing up for Zazzle is free, and there are no upfront costs. However, creators can access the Zazzle Plus subscription for $9.95/year, which includes free shipping on select products, enhancing the value proposition for customers.
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Print Aura stands out in the print-on-demand (POD) industry by offering creators a wide range of customizable products, including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, bags, and home decor items.
The platform's commitment to quality is evident in its use of high-quality printing techniques, such as direct-to-garment (DTG) printing.
These techniques ensure that designs are not only vibrant but also durable, meeting the expectations of both creators and their customers for professional-grade merchandise.
Moreover, Print Aura distinguishes itself with its user-friendly business model that requires no paid subscription.
This approach significantly lowers the barrier to entry for small businesses and individual creators, allowing them to access Print Aura's full suite of services and features without any upfront costs.
Creators only pay for the products they sell, which is beneficial for those starting out or operating on a tight budget.
Pricing: Free to use, pay per product ordered.
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With over 450 products available for customization, including unique items like custom shoes, watches, bags, and home décor such as tapestries and shower curtains, JetPrint allows you to design products that align with your brand vision.
The platform provides an intuitive mockup generator to upload your designs and easily customize products, offering real-time previews.
JetPrint also supports integrations with Shopify and WooCommerce, making it simple to sync and manage your store.
Additionally, it offers a no-minimum order policy, which means you can order just one item or bulk quantities without the pressure of stocking inventory.
With competitive pricing, no upfront costs, and worldwide shipping, JetPrint is an excellent choice for creators who want to start selling branded products without significant upfront investment.
Pricing: JetPrint is free to sign up with no monthly charges.
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Ultimately, the best print-on-demand platform for you depends on your unique needs and priorities. Each of the alternatives mentioned has strengths and weaknesses, so it's essential to evaluate them carefully against the factors discussed above.
Take the time to explore each option, considering your specific requirements and goals. Whether it's product variety, profit margins, sustainability, seamless integrations, or robust customer support, choosing the right platform can significantly impact your success in the POD space.
Fourthwall is a compelling choice for creators seeking an all-in-one solution. It offers a comprehensive POD service and integrates website building and community features.
This allows you to manage your entire online presence seamlessly without any coding knowledge, making Fourthwall an excellent option for creators of all technical skill levels.
So, if you're looking for a better alternative to Prinitfy, then consider joining Fourthwall today and take your POD business to the next level!