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Whether you run a customized e-commerce website or a dropshipping business to sell printed products, there are no alternatives to print-on-demand services.
Printify and Printful are two of the most reputable print-on-demand services out there. But how do they stack up against each other, and which of them is right for you? Continue reading to learn all about the key differences between the two print-on-demand services in this Printify vs Printful comparison.
Print on Demand (PoD) is a dropshipping model that allows you to brand and design generic products like t-shirts or mugs. This approach eliminates upfront inventory costs, as you only pay for products after they are sold.
It’s ideal for launching a business with minimal investment. PoD providers handle all aspects of fulfillment, from printing to shipping, simplifying the process for you.
They typically integrate with various e-commerce platforms, automating order processing and fulfillment. Key advantages of PoD include:
Risk-Free Product Testing: Test product ideas without the burden of inventory.
Monetizing an Audience: Sell branded merchandise to your audience.
Artistic Expression: Ideal for designers to showcase and sell their art.
Overall, PoD is a low-cost, efficient way to start an online business, offering scalability and flexibility in product offerings.
Print On Demand Vs Importing From China
When weighing the options of Print on Demand (PoD) versus importing from China, it’s a classic case of flexibility versus economy. PoD, like a nimble speedboat, allows you to navigate the unpredictable seas of consumer trends without the burden of inventory. It’s perfect for testing the waters with new designs or catering to niche markets. However, the cost per item is higher, often making your products pricier.
On the flip side, importing from China is like steering a cargo ship. It’s cost-effective for large quantities, with prices per t-shirt potentially as low as 50 cents. But, it requires a significant upfront investment and the confidence that your products will sell.
In essence, if you’re just dipping your toes into the entrepreneurial waters, PoD with services like Printful or Printify is your safety raft. But if you’re ready to sail into the horizon with a best-selling design, bulk manufacturing in China could be your wind in the sails.
How do Print on Demand T Shirt Companies Work?
Print-on-demand (POD) t-shirt companies have become a significant part of the global apparel market, driven by the increasing demand for personalized products and the ease of online retail. This business model allows individuals and businesses to design, sell, and distribute custom t-shirts without maintaining inventory or making substantial upfront investments. Here’s a detailed look at how these companies operate:
Platform and Design Tools: These companies offer online platforms where users can create accounts to design t-shirts. These platforms are equipped with intuitive design tools, enabling users to upload custom graphics or use pre-designed templates.
Product Selection and Design Application: Users select from a range of t-shirt styles and sizes offered by the company. They then apply their designs to these products, creating unique and personalized apparel.
Integration with E-commerce Platforms: Many POD companies provide seamless integration with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, etc. This allows users to list their custom t-shirts on their online stores and manage orders efficiently.
Automated Order Fulfillment: When a customer orders a custom t-shirt from a user’s store, the order is automatically forwarded to the POD company. The company then employs printing techniques like direct-to-garment (DTG) printing to produce the t-shirt.
Direct Shipping: The printed t-shirts are packaged and shipped directly to the customer, with the shipping times and costs varying based on the customer’s location and chosen shipping method.
Pricing and Profit Model: Users set the retail price for their t-shirts. This price is above the base cost charged by the POD company, which covers the product, printing, and fulfillment expenses. The profit for the user is the difference between these two prices.
Customer Service Responsibilities: Users typically handle customer service, including inquiries, returns, and exchanges, although some POD companies may assist with issues related to product quality.
Market Growth and Potential: The global custom t-shirt printing market has seen substantial growth. In 2020, it was valued at 3.96 billion U.S. dollars. This market is anticipated to expand further, reaching an estimated value of 7.57 billion U.S. dollars by 2028. This growth reflects the increasing consumer interest in personalized apparel and the scalability of the POD model.
The print-on-demand t-shirt business model is particularly attractive for entrepreneurs, artists, and small businesses, offering a low-risk entry into the e-commerce sector with significant growth potential.
Print In Deman Statistics (2015-2025)
The print-on-demand (POD) market has shown significant growth and evolution in recent years. The market dynamics, key segments, and future prospects paint a comprehensive picture of this industry.
Market Size and Growth Projections
The global print-on-demand market was valued at USD 6.18 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.8% from 2023 to 2030.
By 2031, the market size is projected to reach USD 45.6 billion, with Asia Pacific emerging as the fastest-growing market and North America being the largest.
Impact of COVID-19
The pandemic had a mixed impact on the POD market. While it led to disruptions in supply chains and production, it also created opportunities by shifting consumer preferences towards customized products like face masks, workout apparel, and home décor.
Market Segmentation
Platform: The market is segmented into software and services. The service segment is anticipated to register the fastest growth, driven by a larger number of service providers offering comprehensive services like drop shipping and creative services. However, the software segment still holds a significant revenue share.
Product: Apparel dominates the product segment, driven by increasing demand for fashion clothing and customization, especially among younger consumers. Home décor is another segment showing rapid growth, attributed to the rise in remote working and the subsequent focus on improving home spaces.
Technological Advancements
The integration of technology, such as Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and design-making tools, plays a crucial role in the growth of the POD software segment. This technology facilitates the integration of online stores with POD platforms, enhancing convenience for merchants.
Regional Insights
North America, holding a significant revenue share, benefits from a strong technological infrastructure and the presence of major POD companies. The Asia Pacific region is anticipated to grow rapidly due to technological advancements and the presence of large textile units.
Market Drivers
The market is driven by expanding internet penetration, growing smartphone adoption, and the rising demand for unique fashion apparel. Additionally, the increasing use of customized T-shirts as a branding tool has been a key factor driving market growth.
Future Trends
Personalized trends in the fashion industry are shaping the market’s growth. The rising disposable income of customers allows them to spend on customized clothes, driving demand for personalized T-shirts and home décor.
Market Restraints and Challenges
Dynamic pricing of raw materials and lack of control and transparency for artists are major challenges in the market. These factors can affect the cost of production and limit the freedom of artists in the creative process.
Sustainability in Print-on-Demand
Leveraging sustainability is emerging as a significant opportunity in the market. Using sustainable materials and energy-efficient technologies aligns with environmental awareness and can enhance corporate growth and brand uniqueness.
Key Players
Major players in the market include Printful Inc., Printify Inc., Canva, VistaPrint (Cimpress), CustomCat, Gelato, Gooten, Printed Mint, Teelaunch, Zazzle Inc., and RedBubble Group.
The print-on-demand market is characterized by rapid growth, driven by technological advancements, shifting consumer preferences, and the rise of e-commerce. The industry faces challenges such as raw material cost variability and issues related to artist autonomy but also presents opportunities in customization, branding, and sustainable practices. The future of the POD market appears promising, with significant potential for expansion in various global regions and product segments.
Google Trends Comparison
Google Trends shows the interest over time in the topic of “Print on Demand” in the United States from 2004 to the present. The graph indicates that interest was higher around the early 2000s, saw a decline plateaued for several years, and began to rise significantly from around 2020 onwards, reaching its peak near the end of 2021.
The upward trend suggests a growing interest or demand for print-on-demand services in recent years, which could be attributed to factors like advancements in digital printing technology, the rise of e-commerce, and changes in consumer behavior.
How Printful Works?
Printful is a print-on-demand (POD) and drop-shipping service that allows individuals and businesses to sell custom-designed products without the need for inventory or large upfront costs. Here’s how Printful typically works:
Product Design and Integration: Users create custom designs for a range of products such as t-shirts, hats, mugs, and posters. These designs are then uploaded to Printful’s platform. Users can integrate their Printful account with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and others, allowing them to seamlessly add these products to their online store.
Order Processing: When a customer places an order for a product from the user’s store, the order is automatically forwarded to Printful. This process is facilitated by the integration between the user’s e-commerce platform and Printful.
Printing and Fulfillment: Printful then prints the product using the design provided. This is done on-demand, meaning that the product is created after the order is placed, eliminating the need for inventory. Printful has multiple fulfillment centers around the world, which helps in speeding up the shipping process and reducing costs.
Shipping and Delivery: Once the product is printed and ready, Printful ships it directly to the customer under the store’s brand. The shipping costs and times vary depending on the destination and the shipping method chosen.
Customer Service and Returns: Printful also handles customer service related to printing and shipping. In case of any issues with the product, such as defects or shipping problems, Printful manages returns and replacements as per its policies.
Profit and Payment: The user sets the retail price of the products in their store. When a product is sold, the user pays Printful the base price for production and shipping, and the remaining profit is the user’s earnings. This profit margin can be adjusted by the user based on their pricing strategy.
Branding Options: Printful offers various branding options like custom packing slips and labels to help users promote their brand.
Overall, Printful simplifies the process of selling custom merchandise by handling production, fulfillment, and shipping, allowing users to focus on design and marketing.
How Printful Works?
Printful is a popular print-on-demand and dropshipping service that streamlines the process of selling custom-designed products online. Here’s a breakdown of how Printful operates:
Product Design and Catalog Selection: Users begin by selecting products from Printful’s extensive catalog, which includes a wide range of items such as apparel, accessories, and home decor. They then use Printful’s design tools or upload their custom designs to these products, creating unique merchandise for their brand.
E-commerce Integration: Printful integrates seamlessly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and others. This integration allows users to easily list their custom-designed products on their online store and automate the sales process. When a customer places an order on the user’s store, the order details are automatically forwarded to Printful.
On-Demand Printing and Fulfillment: Once an order is received, Printful begins the on-demand printing process. This means that products are printed, cut, sewn, or otherwise produced only after an order is placed, eliminating the need for users to hold inventory. Printful uses advanced printing and manufacturing techniques to ensure high-quality product output.
Shipping and Logistics: After the product is created, Printful handles the shipping and logistics, sending the item directly to the customer. This direct-to-customer model helps reduce shipping times and costs. Users can track orders and manage shipping preferences through their Printful dashboard.
Custom Branding Options: Printful offers options for custom branding, such as branded labels, packing slips, and packaging, which helps users in creating a cohesive brand experience for their customers.
Profit and Billing: Users set their retail prices above Printful’s base price for each item. When a sale is made, the user is charged the base price, and the difference between the retail price and the base price is their profit. This model allows for clear and straightforward calculation of earnings.
Customer Service and Returns: While Printful handles the production and shipping, users are responsible for customer service, including handling returns and exchanges. Printful provides support in cases of printing or manufacturing issues.
By handling the production, fulfillment, and shipping aspects, Printful allows entrepreneurs, artists, and small businesses to easily sell custom products online without the need for upfront investment in inventory, thus minimizing risk and overhead costs.
Printful Vs Printify Detailed Comparison: Which Is Better?
Printful
Printify
Overview
Founded
2013
2015
Business model
Owns and operates its own printing and fulfillment centers
Acts as a middleman, connecting you to third-party print providers
Items delivered
70 million+
65 million+
Pricing
Free to sign-up
Yes
Yes
Premium subscription
Launching soon
Yes
Paid plans start from
–
$29/month
Production Techniques
DTG
Yes
Yes
Embroidery
Yes
Yes
Sublimation
Yes
Yes
Cut & sew
Yes
Yes
AOP
Yes
Yes
Print Network
Choose your print provider
No
Yes
Print facilities
15+
100+
Print providers
In-house printing
3rd-party print partners
Fulfillment & Shipping
Average fulfillment time
1-3 business days
2-5 business days
Average shipping time
2-7 business days
4-12 business days
Flat shipping rates
Yes
Yes
Live shipping rates
Yes
Yes
Custom return address
Yes
Yes
Customer Suppport
Live chat
Yes
Yes
Email
Yes
Yes
Phone
No
No
Branding
Product branding
Inside labels, outside labels, sleeve printing, embroidered logo
Offers a wider range of products, including clothing, home decor, accessories, etc.
Print quality
Best
Good
Eco-friendly products
Yes
Yes
Cheapest T-shirt base price
$6.95
$7.26 ($5.89 with Printify Premium)
Warehousing
Warehousing services
Yes
No
24-hour fulfillment
Yes
No
Shopify Reviews
Total reviews
4,500+
1,900+
5 star reviews
3,800+
1,500+
Overall rating
4.6 stars
4.4 stars
In short, many businesses prefer to use Printful over Printify. Printful ships to more locations has a faster order fulfillment process, and supports more integrations than Printify, making it an excellent choice for most printed product business owners.
Printful – Branding Pricing
Type
Price
Product Branding
Inside label
$2.49 per label
Outside label
$2.49 per label
Short sleeve print
$2.49 per sleeve
Long sleeve print
$5.95 per sleeve
Embroidered logo
$2.95 per additional placement
Packaging Branding
Custom packaging
$0.50 per custom packaging used for an order ($25 monthly minimum for storage)
Pack-ins
$0.50 per pack-in added to order ($25 monthly minimum for storage)
Packing slips
$0
Website Branding
White-label tracking page
$0
Printful – Warehousing & Fulfillment Pricing
US
Europe
UK
Canada
Processing & Fulfillment Fees
Product fulfillment fee (per order)
$2.00
€1.75
£1.60
C$2.80
Product picking fee (per product)
$0.95
€0.80
£0.75
C$1.30
Pack-in fulfillment fee (per order with pack-ins)
Free
Free
Free
Free
Pack-in picking fee (per pack-in added to order)
$0.50
€0.45
£0.45
C$0.70
Custom packaging fulfillment fee (per order with packing)
Free
Free
Free
Free
Custom packaging picking fee (per packaging used for order)
$0.50
€0.45
£0.45
C$0.70
Receiving & processing fee
Free
Free
Free
Free
Packaging materials
Fee varies
Fee varies
Fee varies
Fee varies
Stock removal fee
Fee varies
Fee varies
Fee varies
Fee varies
Storage fees (per cu. ft.)
1–25 cu. ft.
$1.60
€1.40
£1.30
C$2.20
25–300 cu. ft.
$1.25
€1.10
£1.05
C$1.70
300+ cu. ft.
$0.80
€0.70
£0.65
C$1.00
Minimum monthly storage fee
Products
$150
€150
£135
C$210
Only branding items (custom packaging and pack-ins)
$25
€22
£20
C$35
Printify – Plans Comparison
Free
Premium
Enterprise
Pricing
$0
$29/month
Custom quote
Number of stores
5
10
Unlimited
Mockup generator
Yes
Yes
Yes
Integrations
Yes
Yes
Yes
Manual order creation
Yes
Yes
Yes
24/7 merchant support
Yes
Yes
Yes
Self-serve help center
Yes
Yes
Yes
Up to 20% discount on all products
No
Yes
Yes
Custom order import
No
Yes
Yes
Early access to new features
No
No
Yes
Custom API integration
No
No
Yes
Dedicated account manager
No
No
Yes
Branded customer support
No
No
Yes
Product Example Comparison (Gildan 5000 Tshirt)
Printful
Printify
Printify Premium
Base Cost
Monthly Price
$0
$0
$29
Gildan 5000 Tshirt Price (US Supplier)
$6.95
$9.28
$7.42
Gildan 5000 Tshirt Price (EU Supplier)
$6.95
$7.79
$6.00
Shipping Cost
Shipping to US (First product)
$4.69
$4.75
$4.75
Shipping to US (Additional product)
$2.20
$2.40
$2.40
Shipping to EU (First product)
$4.79
$3.89
$3.89
Shipping to EU (Additional product)
$1.45
$1.19
$1.19
Total Monthly Cost
Case 1 (50 orders of 1 T-shirt US + 50 orders of 1 T-shirt EU)
$1,169
$1,286
$1,132
Case 2 (150 orders of 1 T-shirt US + 10 orders of 1 T-shirt EU)
$1,863
$2,221
$1,953
Case 3 (10 orders of 1 T-shirt US + 150 orders of 1 T-shirt EU)
$1,877
$1,892
$1,634
Case 4 (50 orders of 2 T-shirts US + 50 orders of 2 T-shirts EU)
$2,047
$2,319
$1,983
Case 5 (150 orders of 2 T-shirts US + 10 orders of 2 T-shirts EU)
$3,320
$4,063
$3,498
Case 6 (10 orders of 2 T-shirts US + 150 orders of 2 T-shirts EU)
$3,229
$3,356
$2,811
Monthly Profit (Selling Price: $25)
Case 1 (50 orders of 1 T-shirt US + 50 orders of 1 T-shirt EU)
$1,331
$1,215
$1,368
Case 2 (150 orders of 1 T-shirt US + 10 orders of 1 T-shirt EU)
$2,137
$1,779
$2,047
Case 3 (10 orders of 1 T-shirt US + 150 orders of 1 T-shirt EU)
$2,123
$2,108
$2,366
Case 4 (50 orders of 2 T-shirts US + 50 orders of 2 T-shirts EU)
$2,954
$2,682
$3,018
Case 5 (150 orders of 2 T-shirts US + 10 orders of 2 T-shirts EU)
$4,680
$3,937
$4,502
Case 6 (10 orders of 2 T-shirts US + 150 orders of 2 T-shirts EU)
$4,771
$4,644
$5,189
Average Shipping Time & Price (Tshirt)
Printify
Printful
Country
Shipping Time
First Product
Additional Product
Shipping Time
First Product
Additional Product
US
2 – 5 business days
$4.75
$2.40
2 – 5 business days
$4.69
$2.20
Canada
10 – 30 business days
$9.39
$4.39
2-6 business days
$8.29
$1.95
Australia
10 – 30 business days
$12.49
$4.99
2-5 business days
$7.19
$1.30
Rest of the World
10 – 30 business days
$10.00
$4.00
8-21 business days
$11.99
$6.00
Product Quality and Choices
When it comes to product design choices, Printify sticks to conventional products like t-shirts, caps, and hoodies. On the other hand, Printful offers printing services for unique, uncommon products.
Printful’s product choices include 336 products, compared to around 300 products for Printify.
Printful prints all of its products in-house, compared to Printify, which outsources the products from third-party providers. Some may argue that Printify’s product quality is more consistent since not all companies that provide for Printify offer the same quality level.
Nevertheless, Printify lets customers pick their preferred printing provider.
Winner: Printful
Pricing and Plans
Both Printify and Printful have free plans, but they’re pretty basic and you’ll probably need to upgrade to a paid plan sooner or later.
Currently, Printify offers 2 plans: a monthly plan priced at $29/month and an annual plan that costs $24.99/month. On the other hand, Printful only has a single monthly plan that costs $49/month.
Both Printful and Printify can integrate with Shopify, Prestashop, Wix, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce platforms. However, Printful has a broader range of supported integrations, which include:
Squarespace
Weebly
Big Cartel
Ecwid
Launch Cart
Gumroad
Magneto
3rdcart
Both print-on-demand services can be integrated with eBay and Etsy, but you can also integrate Printful into Amazon and Storenvy.
Winner: Printful
Shipping
Shipping is definitely a critical factor in deciding on a print-on-demand service. After all, you don’t want to slow down your business with inconvenient shipping. Excessively high shipping rates would also unnecessarily increase your monthly expenses.
With Printful, once a customer places an order, they should expect to receive their products within 2-7 business days, depending on your customer’s location. If the order doesn’t include any apparel products, that period is reduced to 2-5 business days.
Here’s what the Printful shipping structure looks like:
First Product:
USA: $3.99
Europe: $4.39
Canada: $6.49
Australia/ New Zealand: $6.99
Worldwide: $5.99
Additional Product:
USA: $1.25
Europe: $1.09
Canada: $1.25
Australia/ New Zealand: $1.25
Worldwide: $1.25
Printful also gives you the freedom of letting your customers calculate shipping at checkout or include it in the total price. In some cases, the standard rates may change depending on your customer’s location.
Printful works with the following shipping companies:
FedEx
DHL
DPD
USPS
Some local shipping companies support remote locations.
Printify, on the other hand, takes much longer to ship products to your customers since they have a limited number of fulfillment centers. Here are the standard shipping durations for different locations:
USA: 7-15 business days
Canada: 10- 15 business days
International: 10-30 days
However, the company offers faster shipping for Shopify users for a fee.
Printify and Printful take different approaches when it comes to customer support. Printful offers a free onboarding session for new customers, which is quite valuable. Their blog is pretty helpful, too.
On the flip side, Printify has a help center that includes articles about troubleshooting, products, and shipping. And just like Printful, Printfy has a valuable blog that discusses marketing and design trends, printing tips and tricks, and other related topics.
Printful provides 24-hour live support, while Printify doesn’t. Nevertheless, both print-on-demand services offer email and live chat support, but you can’t call any of them on the phone.
Winner: tie
Printify – Pros & Cons:
Pros
Cons
Excellent customer support More affordable Monthly and annual plans Lets you choose your printing provider
Slow shipping A limited number of fulfillment centers
Printful – Pros & Cons:
Pros
Cons
Faster Shipping More integration Better for international orders Good customer support
Products are a bit expensive
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Printify and Printful?
Printful handles its printing and fulfillment in-house, while Printify connects you to a network of printing partners. This can affect control over quality, production times, and product options.
Can you make money from Printify?
Yes, you can make money by selling custom products using Printify’s platform to handle production and shipping.
Does Printful charge a monthly fee?
Printful does not charge a monthly fee. They operate on a per-order basis, charging for the production and shipping of items.
Is selling on Printify worth it?
This depends on your business goals, the profit margins you set, and your marketing effectiveness.
Do I get paid through Etsy or Printify?
If you sell on Etsy using Printify, you get paid through Etsy, not Printify.
How much profit should I make on Printify?
Profit should be set based on your costs and desired earnings; a typical margin can be between 30-50% but adjust based on your market research.
Do I need a business license to sell on Printify?
While not required by Printify, check local business regulations to determine if you need a license to sell online.
Does Printify pay taxes for you?
Printify does not handle your taxes. You are responsible for reporting and paying taxes according to your local laws and regulations.
Printify vs. Printful: Which Print-On-Demand Service Is the Right One for Your Business?
To sum it all up, Printful seems the best print-on-demand service out of the two. It’s fast, convenient, and supports a wide range of integrations. Their customer support team is top-notch, too.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should omit Printify out of the equation. Printify will cost you half as much as what you’d pay for Printful. Not to mention, it gives you the option to pay monthly or annually. Oh, and customers get to choose their preferred printing provider.
