Print-on-demand companies offer a convenient solution for producing custom products. By utilizing print-on-demand (POD) apps and websites, you can effortlessly expand your product line, create merchandise, or attract a new audience without the burdensome task of managing inventory.
To select the appropriate print-on-demand service for your business, consider the varying product catalogs, shipping policies, and pricing structures of each company. Take a moment to explore these 11 print-on-demand websites, both free and paid options available.
Can You Make Money with a Print on Demand Business?
The demand for personalization from consumers has fueled the growth of print-on-demand sites. Consumer trends show that people are seeking more than just functionality and are looking to purchase items that align with their identities. This customization extends to a variety of products, including literature, audio, food, cellphone covers, long sleeve t-shirts, and even the information we consume.
Currently, there is an increasing demand from consumers for a personalized online shopping experience. They are looking for products that reflect their individuality rather than generic mass-produced items, and print-on-demand sites are working towards meeting this demand.
In this modern era of limitless possibilities, where customization is king and the world is at your fingertips, POD emerges as a golden gateway to turbocharge your business with the unstoppable force of economy and dropshipping. Bid farewell to the bygone era of brick-and-mortar stores, for success now has a new name!
By curating a selection of personalized products that cater to your customers’ unique tastes – from books to cellphone covers, clothing, and other must-have merch – you’ll carve out your own exclusive niche. The cherry on top? Say goodbye to excess expenses thanks to the made-to-order magic that slashes inventory and production costs.
With an abundance of platforms at your fingertips, managing orders, payments, and shipping becomes a thing of the past. Your focus can be solely on crafting products that are flying off the shelves!
How print-on-demand companies work
Print-on-demand companies provide print-after-ordering services to artists, creatives, or businesses involved in merchandising. They take orders for your product designs and handle the production and fulfillment aspects of the business.
To start selling your products, simply design and list them, and then promote them. When a customer makes a purchase, the copy is printed and shipped directly to them. The products are only produced once they are ordered.
The print-on-demand model is a convenient marketing strategy for businesses, allowing them to avoid inventory concerns, minimize print runs, and reduce costs. This approach is particularly beneficial for creatives and small businesses as it enables them to produce high-quality products quickly and cost-effectively, while also providing the flexibility to adjust production volume as necessary.
The POD system enables businesses to offer customers personalized and unique products that can be printed and delivered efficiently. This system allows for customization and creation of a diverse range of products, including clothing and drinkware, which simplifies the process of starting an e-commerce business or bringing side business ideas to fruition.
We have developed a set of criteria to analyze and assess print-on-demand companies, so that we can recommend options that meet the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Our methodology is transparent and takes into account the important factors for a reliable, cost-effective, and high-quality print-on-demand service.
The 11 best print on demand companies
- Printful
- Printify
- Gooten
- Apliiq
- Gelato
- SPOD
- Teelaunch
- CustomCat
- T-Pop
- JetPrint
- AOP+
1. Printful
Printful offers a diverse selection of print-on-demand products and features to assist you in getting started. They provide design tools such as a T-shirt mockup generator and logo maker. Whether you are interested in selling apparel, prints, home décor, or accessories, Printful’s product catalog offers ample choices.
Printful offers additional branding options for products and packaging, including inside labels and packaging inserts, for an added cost. They also provide a range of services such as graphic design and marketing videos, along with bulk discounts of up to 30%.
Printful features
SHIPPING
Printful products are typically ready to ship within two to five business days from various locations, including the US, Mexico, and Europe. About 50% of orders are even ready in under three days. Standard shipping to the US begins at $3.99 and usually takes three to four business days. Shipping prices vary depending on the item, and there are discounted rates for additional items in the same order.
PRINTING OPTIONS
Printful offers a variety of printing options, including direct-to-garment, embroidery, cut and sew, and sublimation printing, depending on the specific product. Additionally, they provide options for adding tear-away tags to garments and incorporating inserts and stickers into packaging to enhance the branded customer experience.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Printful offers a built-in mockup generator that allows you to visualize products and create custom designs. Additionally, Printful has the highest number of integrations with marketplaces and commerce platforms, including Shopify. They also provide a 20% discount on sample orders.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- T-shirts
- The clothing options include sweatpants, leggings, and joggers.
- Tote bags and backpacks are commonly used for carrying belongings.
- Mugs
- Phone cases
- Bean bag chairs
- Framed posters
- Prints
Printful is recommended for
Both beginners and experienced entrepreneurs can benefit from using Printful, as it offers a flexible solution that can easily scale with your business. Additionally, numerous merchants rely on Printful for selling phone cases.
2. Printify
Printify offers a wide variety of custom products and provides access to a global network of printing partners. This allows merchants to find the perfect products and choose local producers for quicker and more affordable shipping.
The user is responsible for ensuring product quality and selecting a printing service that is compatible with their location, although margins on many Printify products can be significant.
Printify features
SHIPPING
Printify is a vendor network that sources and prints products from partners around the world. As a result, there will be variations in products, shipping costs, location, packaging, and production times, depending on the print provider.
PRINTING OPTIONS
Printify offers various printing options, including direct-to-garment, sublimation, cut and sew, embroidery, and others, which are dependent on the provider and product.
UNIQUE FEATURES
If you’re looking to expand your business, consider switching to a monthly premium plan. This will give you a 20% discount on all orders and improve your profit margins.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- T-shirts and hoodies are available.
- Backpacks
- Canvas wraps and framed prints are available.
- Fridge magnets
- Stickers
- Swimwear
- Skirts
- Blankets
- Sneakers
- High heels
Printify is recommended for
Those seeking a versatile and budget-friendly print-on-demand solution can utilize a platform that allows them to connect with printing partners in specific regions of the world.
3. Gooten
Gooten offers over 280 customizable products, including apparel, wall art, home decor items, drinkware, and accessories. The majority of these products are produced within 3-4 business days and are shipped at a flat rate.
Gooten’s fulfillment network supports the scaling of print-on-demand businesses with over 50 manufacturers in more than 70 global locations.
Gooten features
SHIPPING
Gooten manages order fulfillment and provides flat-rate shipping costs, with discounted rates for additional items in the same order. To view shipping costs and delivery times for specific items and customer locations, please choose the desired shipping region on the individual product pages.
For assistance with setting up shipping when using Gooten with Shopify, please refer to this page.
PRINTING OPTIONS
Gooten provides various printing options, including direct-to-garment, direct-to-film, dye-sublimation printing, cut & sew all over print, inkjet digital printing, UV printing, woven and embroidery decoration.
UNIQUE FEATURES
In addition to the aforementioned POD companies, Gooten is recognized as a Shopify Certified App Partner. Certified apps are capable of providing high-quality products, reliable service, and excellent performance levels for even the largest Shopify merchants.
The mockup generator from Gooten allows you to visualize your products before submitting them.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- T-shirts
- Sweatshirts
- Hoodies
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Shower curtains
- Tumblers
- Water bottles
- Wall art
- Phone cases
- Stationery
Gooten is recommended for
Companies of various sizes have the ability to sell customized home decor, lifestyle, and accessory products in both the US and internationally.
4. Apliiq
Apliiq is a print-on-demand app based in downtown LA that offers a variety of customization options for creating private label apparel products, making it a relevant choice for starting a clothing brand with a focus on custom designs.
Merchants have the option to upgrade to a plan that offers 100 custom woven labels that can be sewn onto their products. Apliiq also provides quality assurance services, where one of their in-house production artists will review the merchant’s products. This ensures that when the merchant is ready to dropship or purchase in bulk, they can have confidence that their customers will receive high-quality custom goods.
Apliiq features
SHIPPING
Orders can take up to seven days to be produced. Apliiq offers weight-based shipping. Bulk orders over $100 ship for free in the US. Apliiq also ships internationally to over 150 countries worldwide. International shipping rates can be found on their international shipping page. If you want faster fulfillment, you have the option to pay a 10% rush order fee or choose expedited shipping.
PRINTING OPTIONS
Apliiq provides various customization options such as branded labels, clothing tags, embroidered patches, digital print, screen print for bulk orders, cut and sew, appliqué, and embroidery.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Apliiq provides extensive customization options, allowing you to personalize items such as hoodies by designing the interior lining, adding pockets, patches, and more.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- Pocket tees typically have designs on the chest pocket.
- Joggers of high quality.
- Hoodies with printed interiors.
- Hoodies with kangaroo designs.
- Snapback hats are a type of hat.
- Denim jackets are a type of clothing.
- Clothing made from sustainable materials.
Apliiq is a recommended option.
If you are planning to start a clothing line with high-quality clothes at a higher price point, especially if you want to order in bulk for inventory.
5. Gelato
Gelato is a global print-on-demand company that collaborates with over 100 print partners across more than 200 countries to provide its products. Unlike Printify, Gelato employs an algorithm to determine the most suitable print provider according to your delivery location, and offers 72-hour delivery for certain orders.
The platform started by providing custom paper products, but it now offers the option to design apparel, wall art, and stationery.
Gelato features
SHIPPING
The global shipping optimization of Gelato involves local printers in over 30 countries. For estimating shipping times, Gelato provides a shipping and delivery calculator. Customers ordering basic products like a crew neck T-shirt and having it delivered to a US address can anticipate receiving their package within seven to 10 days, or four to seven days with express shipping.
PRINTING OPTIONS
Gelato offers printing options on the front, back, and sleeves of most apparel items, as well as a variety of paper types and stationery products.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Gelato’s premium plans offer the option to include personalized pack-in cards and branded labels in your packaging. These can include a discount code or a thank you note.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- Apparel
- Wall art
- Homeware
- Stationery
- Tote bags
Gelato is recommended for
International stores with paper goods.
6. SPOD
SPOD, which is owned by Spreadshirt, has a fast fulfillment time compared to others in the industry, as the majority of orders, approximately 95%, are shipped within 48 hours.
When compared with other POD companies on this list, SPOD has a more limited range of white label products. However, it provides competitive pricing and a straightforward shipping model based on the product’s value. As a result, SPOD is a suitable POD partner for merchants aiming to establish shipping rules for upselling and cross-selling purposes.
SPOD features
SHIPPING
Products are shipped within 48 hours from the US, starting at $3.65 for domestic shipping. The estimated arrival time is three to eight business days. The costs are based on the total order value, not individual products or quantity. For more details, please refer to SPOD’s shipping calculator.
PRINTING OPTIONS
There are various printing methods available, including digital direct, thermal sublimation, digital transfer/laser transfer, and special flex, which can be used depending on the desired product.
UNIQUE FEATURES
With a product customization tool, customers have the option to personalize their purchase using their own images or choose from over 50 thousand free designs. Additionally, SPOD provides a 20% discount on sample orders.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- T-shirts made from premium organic materials.
- Aprons that can be adjusted.
- Baseball caps are a type of headwear.
- There are camper mugs.
- Crew socks are a type of sock.
SPOD is recommended for
Individuals who are new to print-on-demand companies may be interested in the benefits of speedy fulfillment, simplified shipping, and competitive prices.
7. Teelaunch
Teelaunch features
SHIPPING
The production period for orders is typically three to six business days, after which they will be shipped from facilities located in the US, Canada, or the UK. Shipping costs may vary depending on the product and destination. For more information, please refer to Teelaunch’s comprehensive breakdown of product costs.
PRINTING OPTIONS
Direct-to-garment and cut-and-sewing techniques are used for printing on apparel, while laser etching is employed for products such tumblers and cooking boards.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Teelaunch provides a product personalization tool where customers have the option to add their name or even upload a photo to customize a product. Additionally, the platform generates professional and high-quality product mockups, including lifestyle photos.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- T-shirts
- There are three-piece canvas sets available.
- Mugs that change color.
- There are monogram handbags available.
- Balloons
- Penryn backpacks
- Running shoes
- Bluetooth speakers
- Dog bowls
- Jewelry
- iPhone cases
- Phone chargers
- Journals
Teelaunch is recommended for
Individuals seeking a comprehensive solution for producing high-quality goods.
8. CustomCat
CustomCat features
SHIPPING
Orders are made in the US and are ready to ship in 2 to 3 business days. Domestic shipping takes 1 to 7 business days, while international shipping takes 4 to 15 days. For shipping within the US, the first item costs $4.99 and each additional item costs $1.50. For more information, refer to CustomCat’s Shipping policy.
PRINTING OPTIONS
The printing methods include direct-to-garment, sublimation, 3D dye diffusion, and embroidery.
UNIQUE FEATURES
There is an optional paid plan that grants you access to affordably-priced apparel and homeware products.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- T-shirts
- Sweatpants
- Laptop sleeves
- Pet accessories
- Jewelry
- Drinkware
- Windbreaker jackets and pants are suitable for outdoor activities and provide protection against the wind.
- Jerseys
9. T-Pop
T-Pop is a European print-on-demand company that specializes in apparel and accessories. When customers receive their order, all aspects, from the packaging to the packing slip, will feature your brand. After reaching a monthly sales volume of 100, you can also include your brand on the inside labels of your products.
T-Pop utilizes environmentally friendly shipping practices, such as zero-plastic packaging and 100% recycled paper packing slips. The platform’s main supplier is affiliated with the Fair Wear Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting adherence to labor laws in the production of clothing items.
T-Pop features
SHIPPING
Orders are printed in France. It takes two to four days for them to be ready to ship. Within France, orders arrive in two to three working days. To the rest of Europe, they arrive in three to seven days. International orders arrive in five to 10 days. The shipping rates are weight-based and can be found on T-Pop’s shipping page.
PRINTING OPTIONS
Direct-to-garment printing is commonly used for cotton apparel, while sublimation dyeing is popular for polyester and accessories.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Our customer experience includes white label options, customizable packing slips, eco-friendly products, printing, and packaging without the use of plastic.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- T-shirts
- Hoodie dress
- Aluminum bottle
- Tank tops
- Tote bags
- Sweatshirts
- Metal and ceramic mugs are available.
- Both cushion and cushion covers are available.
- Baby bibs and onesies are commonly used items for infants.
10. JetPrint
JetPrint specializes in a variety of product categories including shoes, watches, and jewelry. Shipping options are available for both free and express delivery with international coverage, allowing you to offer free international shipping to your customers.
After designing your product, JetPrint will generate a collection of product photos showcasing your creation from multiple angles.
JetPrint features
SHIPPING
The average production time for JetPrint is three to five business days, and they offer free global shipping with an average arrival time of 14 to 20 business days. For shipping details, please refer to their FAQ page.
PRINTING OPTIONS
JetPrint specializes in watches and jewelry, offering customers the option to customize watch faces with their own designs.
UNIQUE FEATURES
JetPrint processes orders automatically and provides a timeframe for making changes or corrections, as well as generating high-quality mockups and detailed specs for your product page.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- Watches with genuine leather straps.
- Steel strap watches are a type of timepiece that feature a metal band.
- Watches with magnetic steel straps are available.
- Perpetual calendar watches are a type of timepiece.
- Hard phone cases
- T-shirts
- Wall tapestries
- And more
11. AOP+
AOP+ features
SHIPPING
AOP+ offers shipping services from fulfillment centers located in the US, Europe, and the UK. The shipping costs vary based on the product, and there are discounts available for additional items in the same order. For specific details on AOP+’s current shipping rates, please refer to their latest information.
PRINTING OPTIONS
AOP+ is the ultimate master of color and beauty, specializing in the mesmerizing and vibrant world of dye sublimation all-over-print and direct-to-garment printing.
UNIQUE FEATURES
With AOP+’s paid plan, customers have the option to include a custom packing slip in their orders. Upgrading also grants discounts of up to 10% off, as well as access to other custom branding options such as packaging stickers and private labeling features.
PRODUCT CATALOG INCLUDES
- T-shirts
- Mugs
- Throw pillows
- Leggings
- Organic tote bags
- Hard phone cases
- Hoodie dresses
- Flip-flops
- Doormats
- Flags
Choosing the best print-on-demand company
Print-on-demand companies are popular because they offer a low-risk option for starting an online store. If the POD partner is trustworthy and the customers are satisfied with the products, it can contribute to the development of a successful retail brand.
When selecting a print-on-demand service, it is crucial to consider the level of customer service that will best cater to your audience. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision.
- Shipping: Could you please provide information on the estimated time for printing and shipping, as well as the method used to calculate shipping costs?
- Printing: Which printing techniques and customizations are currently offered?
- Unique features: What distinguishes this print-on-demand company from others?
- Who would benefit most from using this print-on-demand solution?
- Product catalog: Which print-on-demand products are available through this service?
Best Print on Demand Services FAQ
Can you start print on demand with no money?
It is possible to start print-on-demand without any funds by building an online store using a free platform like Shopify or utilizing the free tools provided by print-on-demand service companies to assist with order fulfillment. Additionally, print-on-demand companies offer free mock-up generators and a variety of templates and designs online for product customization.
Creative designers have the opportunity to offer designs as digital products, receiving royalties in return. Additionally, some print-on-demand sites can assist with calculating business costs and determining prices, ensuring a comfortable profit margin.
Which print on demand service is most profitable?
There are multiple print-on-demand service options available in the market, with each having its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. The most profitable print-on-demand service for your business will ultimately be the one that best aligns with your specific requirements.
Printful and Zazzle are popular print-on-demand services that offer a range of custom products and customization options. Printful is known for its ease of use and quick service, while Zazzle offers a wider selection of products.
Is Print-on-Demand Still a Good Business?
Print-on-demand (POD) is a method that has effectively opened up new markets for creatives, artists, and small businesses involved in merchandising. It provides a convenient, efficient, and cost-effective solution for printing and distributing books, artwork, merchandise, and other products on a global level.
Print-on-demand (POD) is a viable option for creatives seeking to distribute custom products to fans without the expenses associated with traditional printing, storage, and distribution. Its primary advantage is the flexibility it offers entrepreneurs in manufacturing, as production occurs when there is demand for the product.
What Are the Best Quality T-Shirts for Printing?
When looking for high-quality T-shirts for printing, it is important to consider various factors. The first aspect to consider is the type of printing method you plan to use.
If you want to screen print, a material made of a thicker substance should be used to prevent pigment from bleeding through the blouse. On the other hand, for digital printing, a T-shirt made from a thinner material is ideal to ensure clear printing of the ink on the garment.
Is dropshipping better than print on demand?
While dropshipping and print-on-demand have similarities, print on demand has a slight advantage. Dropshipping companies or eCommerce suppliers provide products and services to online merchants, focusing on marketing, fulfillment, and transportation. The dropshipping industry is highly competitive, with limited differentiation among the products being sold.
Print-on-demand offers a unique product that is designed by specific artists, creatives, or small businesses. It can be a good option for building a lasting and consistent image with customers and creating a niche for yourself.
