Top Print-on-Demand Companies in 2024
Make your visionary products a reality without breaking the bank.
If you could open your own shop, what kind of goods would you sell? You might be passionate about stationery, wallpaper, apparel, and accessories. Or, perhaps, you specialize in a niche field like jewelry reproduced in the medieval style. The possibilities are endless.
Most entrepreneurs start with an online platform instead of a traditional brick-and-mortar location. Why? They can’t justify the overhead costs. These are the indirect expenses required to keep a business operational. Rent, utilities, insurance, and office supplies are some of the basics.
To run an e-commerce store, all you need is a website, an email address, and a reliable internet connection.
Bonus points are awarded to those who 1) protect themselves and their business with insurance and 2) purchase an accounting software subscription (QuickBooks or Xero) to monitor profits and losses while keeping personal finances separate.
It’s free to start an Etsy shop, but your brand will eventually incur platform fees (outlined here). Aside from creating or manufacturing your products, it costs even more to list and sell them.
In high school, I operated a custom pin shop on Etsy called Modern Musing. It never went viral, but the income stream was a benefit. Between study sessions, I also enjoyed the tedious process of painting, gluing, decorating, and sealing each design. However, I later realized the business model was no longer sustainable when I entered college and factored in the time, labor, materials, advertising, shipping, and platform fees.
So what is a solution? How can you create and share art without breaking the bank? For many, the answer is print-on-demand companies.
The Basics of Print-on-Demand
What is print-on-demand (POD)? It is an order fulfillment method that eliminates printing and shipping responsibilities for artists, helping them to prioritize what they truly love: creating.
If you’re open to learning more, here is one possible path to success:
Design original products that solve problems or meet needs.
Set up an online store. It could exist on an e-commerce platform (Shopify, Square Online, Wix, GoDaddy, Squarespace, etc. ) or an online marketplace (Etsy, Amazon, eBay, etc.).
Connect your compatible* online store to a print-on-demand service.
Upload your collection and add payment information.
Order your first sample. When ready, publish your listings for the world to see!
When a customer places an order, the print-on-demand company receives the request and fulfills it on your behalf. While overseeing the printing and shipping workflows, they utilize a white-label approach. (In other words, you/your brand still receive all the credit.)
If everything goes to plan, your customer should receive their purchase in a few days.
*Not all print-on-demand services integrate with third-party e-commerce platforms.
Before you dive in, it’s essential to consider the pros and cons of this business model.
PROS:
Low initial investment. An entrepreneur is not responsible for maintaining the inventory or purchasing expensive equipment. Fulfillment fees, including printing and shipping, are automatically deducted from an item’s sale price. Merchants only pay when they make a sale. However, as your business scales upward, some companies offer subscription plans with advanced features.
Quick start. Designing is half the battle. Once the concepts are ready, it takes minutes to upload and categorize designs in a virtual inventory list.
Low risk. Without traditional upfront costs, you can experiment with more daring designs. If the results are disappointing, you don’t have to dwell on them! Simply remove the listing and try a different approach.
Wide variety of products. Popular categories include clothing, tote bags, wall art, calendars, cards, photo books, hats, phone cases, mugs, bottles, stationery, and business supplies. What sets your products apart from others? Your unique artistic signature.
CONS:
Higher product cost. Since the costs of printing, packaging, labor, and shipping are built into the item’s price, your profit margins may be lower when compared to buying in bulk.
Less control over quality. You can pick and choose from hundreds of product blanks and printing substrates. However, unless you order samples, it’s difficult to gauge the quality. And suppliers can change, for better or worse.
Longer production and delivery times. Products are made to order, so it can take a while to process and fulfill every request.
Customer service is less transparent. With print-on-demand companies, there may be shipping delays, sizing complaints, or design misprints. However, business owners are still responsible for initiating returns, exchanges, and refunds to ensure customer satisfaction.
Return and exchange complexities. Due to the customized nature of products, it can be difficult to process refunds.
Top Print-on-Demand Companies
Most popular POD companies: Printify + Printful + Gelato
1. Printify
4.8/5 on Shopify (7,100+ reviews) | 4.7/5 on Trustpilot (4,500+ reviews)
Best for: “Individuals with varying levels of experience, from beginners and skilled merchants to those who want to personalize their products.”1
Highlights:
(+) User-friendly interface, global delivery, 80+ print providers, 110+ print facilities or fulfillment centers, 950+ customizable products, direct-to-garment printing (DTG), all-over printing (AOP), direct-to-film (DTF), embroidery, 10 million+ merchants, 2-7 business days to process and ship orders, compatible with 10 major e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Etsy
(-) Slower customer support, higher unit prices, lower profit margins, variable product quality, limited custom branding options, slow shipping times, higher shipping costs, basic product mock-up tool
Free plan: $0
Premium plan: $29/month with up to a 20% discount on every product
Enterprise plan: Tailored pricing with up to a 20% discount on every product
2. Printful
4.7/5 on Shopify (7,200+ reviews) | 4.7/5 stars on Trustpilot (5,600+ reviews)
Best for: Sellers who are willing to pay a premium for quality and custom branding options from a reliable, well-established company.2
Highlights:
(+) Shopify’s #1 POD company pick, trusted by major brands, built-in mock-up generator to visualize products, tons of integrations with e-commerce platforms and marketplaces, 20% discount on sample orders, takes responsibility for misprinted or damaged items, over 93.5 million items delivered since 2013
(-) Higher prices compared to other POD companies, lower profit margins, occasional stock issues, fewer specialty items, higher shipping costs, variable shipping speeds
Free plan: $0
Enterprise plan: Tailored pricing
3. Gelato
4.8/5 on Shopify (1,000+ reviews) | 4.7/5 on Trustpilot (2,000+ reviews)
Best for: Creative entrepreneurs looking for “global reach, quality prints, and seamless integration.”3
Highlights:
(+) 90% of orders are produced locally, 90% of orders arrive within 5 days of ordering, 140+ print providers across 32 countries, offers integrations like Amazon and TikTok Shop, lowering prices on dozens of products by up to 40% due to their global production network, plenty of payment and currency options, local taxes and VAT handling
(-) Limited custom branding, quality inconsistencies, fewer integrations with third-party platforms and marketplaces
Free plan: $0
Gelato+: $24/month
Gelato+ Gold: $119/month
Platinum: Tailored pricing
4. Gooten
4.4/5 on Shopify (510+ reviews) | 4.3/5 on Trustpilot (Under 200 reviews)
Best for: Artists and entrepreneurs who want to create, design, and sell custom apparel, drinkware, wall art, accessories, and more.
Highlights:
(+) 500+ custom products, widest and deepest selection of custom apparel in all of POD, carries 150+ exclusive products not typically found on competitors’ sites, carrying 30+ brands in premium custom apparel and 6 exclusive drinkware brands, integrates with all major e-commerce platforms, global network with 70+ routing locations, 500 product lines, 1.8 average production days, 3.8 average shipping days
(-) Limited custom branding, longer shipping time for some products, requires set-up and integration, slower customer support, occasional quality issues, confusing pricing structure
Pricing: “There are no membership or hidden fees for using Gooten.”4
5. Apliiq
4.8/5 on Shopify (500+ reviews) | No reviews on Trustpilot
Best for: Merchants seeking to launch a streetwear brand, create custom-design products, and enhance brand identity.5
Highlights:
(+) No minimums, orders ship in ~5 business days, rush production/shipping is available, custom high-end labels, offers a few printing options (DTG printing + DTF printing + embroidery), save over 55% when you buy in bulk
(-) Inconsistent quality, stock availability issues, poor customer service, complex return policy, modest profit margins, shipping delays
Free plan: $0/month
Apliiq VIP plan: $29.99/month
Enterprise plan: Tailored pricing
6. Spreadconnect (Spreadshop)
4.1/5 on Shopify (730+ reviews) | 2.3/5 on Trustpilot (10+ reviews)
Best for: Sellers prioritizing fast fulfillment for digital printing, thermo-sublimation, DTF transfer printing, and flex and flock printing.
Highlights:
(+) Fast fulfillment within 48 hours, state-of-the-art printing and low return rates, 7 shop integrations, access to preferred marketplaces
(-) Limited product range, basic design tool, fewer custom branding options, higher shipping costs, limited global reach
Pricing: “Spreadconnect is and always will be free of charge. There are zero costs or fees for setting up and running your shop. Your customers will purchase at your designated price based on the product cost, and for each order you will be invoiced for the product and shipping costs only, keeping your profit margin as your earnings.”6
7. Teelaunch
4.1/5 on Shopify (640+ reviews) | 2.6/5 on Trustpilot (110+ reviews)
Best for: Entrepreneurs and online sellers who want to easily create and market customizable everyday apparel and unique luxury items.
Highlights:
(+) Easy upload process, accurate mock-up generator, great for trends, generates organic traffic, competitive pricing, solid customer service, worldwide production, integration with several popular platforms, family-owned business with 75 years of print-on-demand expertise
(-) Fewer custom branding options, smaller clothing selection, limited global reach, longer set-up process
Pricing: Free to use. There are no subscriptions.
8. CustomCat
4.3/5 on Shopify (550+ reviews) | 3.6/5 on Trustpilot (10 reviews)
Best for: New sellers looking to sell custom products within the US domestic market, especially those in search of fast turnaround times, lower base costs, and higher profit margins.
Highlights:
(+) Easy integrations, full scaleable, 100s of uniquely customizable products, 40K+ units produced and shipped daily, volume discounts, 50K+ partners powering their businesses with CustomCat worldwide, 20+ years in business
(-) Learning curve, limited product range, variable print quality, slower shipping times for orders outside the US, slower customer support, reports of incorrect artwork placement
CustomCat Lite plan: $0/month
CustomCat Pro plan: $30/month
Enterprise plan: Tailored pricing
9. JetPrint
4/5 on Shopify (400+ reviews) | 3.5/5 on Trustpilot (10+ reviews)
Best for: Sellers seeking to produce high-quality custom goods, ranging from watches and tote bags to shoes and rugs.
Highlights:
(+) Based in China, higher profit margins, 450+ products, competitive pricing, standard and fast shipping options, global shipping to over 150 countries, seamless integration with several e-commerce platforms, free mock-up generator, live preview, multiple branding options
(-) Long shipping times for US customers, not the best product quality
Pricing: Free to use. There are no subscriptions.
10. Prodigi
4.4/5 on Trustpilot (110+ reviews)
Best for: Entrepreneurs, invested in eco-friendly production and fulfillment, who require a wide range of customizable products and reliable customer service support.
Highlights:
(+) 500,000+ customizable products, local printing and global drop-shipping, eco-friendly e-commerce, integration with several popular platforms, Fine Art Trade Guild approved printer, museum-quality fine art prints, free mockup generator, operate 24/7, over 80% of custom products are ready for drop-shipping within 24-48 hours, 24-hour email support with live chat options, trusted by big brands
(-) Limited design customization options, variable printing quality, higher per-unit cost, fewer integrations with sales channels
Pricing: “Prodigi is free to use. There are no set-up fees, no monthly subscriptions, no hidden costs.”7
11. TPOP
4.7/5 on Trustpilot (360+ reviews)
Best for: Entrepreneurs passionate about selling sustainable, yet customizable, apparel and accessories.
Highlights:
(+) Europe-based operations, user-friendly interface, several branding options, quality products, reasonable unit prices, dedicated white labeling, eco-friendly manufacturing and packaging practices, clothing manufacturers are members of the Fair Wear Foundation, friendly and responsive customer support
(-) Limited product catalog, single warehouse location (based in France), shipping delays
Free plan: 0 EUR/month
Plus plan: 30 EUR/month
Pro plan: 70 EUR/month
12. Zazzle (Marketplace)
*Very limited integrations with third-party platforms!
4.6/5 on Trustpilot (22,300+ reviews)
Best for: Artists open to monetizing their content or creative services to create passive income opportunities.8
Highlights:
(+) Thousands of product options, quality products, excellent marketing, creators can design up to 100,000 published products, great community of creatives, set the royalty rate for designs, 3 ways to make money (Zazzle Creator Program, Zazzle Maker Platform, and Zazzle Associate Program), good customer support
(-) Lower profit margins, variable product pricing, sales are limited to the Zazzle platform, no packaging customization, not ideal for building a brand, month-long earnings cycle, competitive marketplace
Pricing:
Free to join!
“Once you make a sale, you will get a percentage of that sale, based on the royalty percentage that you set.”9
A product’s price is equal to the base price + the royalty (up to 99%) that you set for the product.
“Zazzle allows you to present your work to a worldwide audience at no cost to you. That's right: you don't have to buy a URL, design a website, or pay inventory and production costs. Zazzle makes it free and easy for you to market your creative work.”10
13. Spoonflower (Marketplace)
*Very limited integrations with third-party platforms!
3.5/5 on Trustpilot (1,300+ reviews)
Best for: Independent artists interested in selling made-to-order fabric, wallpaper, and home decor.
Highlights:
(+) Wide variety of substrates, test swatches, digital proofs, quality materials, Third Party Distribution program, eco-friendly, passive income, licensing opportunities, community-centered
(-) High barrier of entry, steeper learning curve, more competition, lower profit margins
Pricing:
Free plan: $0 upfront cost, but the profits are commission-based. More details here!
Earn 10% commission on every product from fabric and wallpaper to home decor
Earn 11% (1% bonus) if your monthly commissions were $300 to $999
Earn 13% (3% bonus) if your monthly commissions were $1,000 to $1,499
Earn 15% (5% bonus) if your monthly commissions were $1500+
Spoonflower PLUS: $299/year
“PLUS is a premium service offering free shipping, expedited turnaround times, and half-priced rush options.”11
BONUS OPTIONS
14. Society6 (Marketplace)
1.5/5 on Trustpilot (1,000+ reviews)
*Does NOT integrate with third-party platforms!
Best for: Artists seeking to sell to “a global marketplace of art and decor lovers.”12
Highlights:
(+) Full-time support, easy-to-use platform, marketing exposure, global audience of millions, affiliate program for artists, unique and high-quality products, exclusive designs, adjustable pricing options, minimal customer service responsibilities as Society6 handles most aspects of order fulfillment
(-) Low standard commissions (and profit margins), fewer custom branding options, some design limitations, variable shipping times, competitive marketplace
Pricing: Here is how to get started!
Free plan: $0/month
Basic plan: $4.99/month
Pro plan: $12.99/month
15. Redbubble (Marketplace)
3.7/5 on Trustpilot (27,600+ reviews)
*Does NOT integrate with third-party platforms! More on this here.
Best for: Artists interested in selling their designs and illustrations on high-quality products to a global audience.
Highlights:
(+) 70+ unique products, sustainability focus, personal virtual storefront, active community, global reach, user-friendly platform
(-) Lower profit margins, limited branding options, less control over shipping, competitive marketplace, algorithm-driven sales
Pricing: Free account set-up, but memberships are classified based on earnings. More on this here.
16. Teepublic (Marketplace)
*Does NOT integrate with third-party platforms! More on this here. The parent company is Redbubble.
4.5/5 on Trustpilot (447,000+ reviews)
Best for: “Original pop culture t-shirts, posters, merch, and more.”
Highlights:
(+) User-friendly, transparent commission and good rates, partnerships with licensed properties, sustainable, 75+ niches to sell in, 54 default color choices, color dropper tool, affordable pricing
(-) External linking button but no integrations, variable quality, saturated market, some limited design control, occasional customer service issues, copyright infringement reports
Pricing: There are no upfront costs. You earn commissions. Learn how to get started here! “As a merch creator, you earn 11% for every sale you drive to TeePublic! That includes sales of your own designs or sales of other artists' designs. If you sell your own design, you'll receive designer earnings on top of that.”
Starting a business doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. With the knowledge, tools, and opportunities, it’s possible to bring any vision to life.
Which print-on-demand company will you try?