- May 31, 2023
- by S M Shakil Ahmed
- Store, Marketing
- 0 Comments
Are you searching for the top print-on-demand platforms to sell merchandise on the internet? You’re in luck! In this article, we will be comparing various print-on-demand sites, including POD marketplaces like Zazzle and comprehensive ecommerce solutions like Sellfy.
Additionally, we will address common questions that creators often have when embarking on their first print-on-demand venture.
So, let’s begin!
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Summary of The Best Print-on-Demand Sites –
- Sellfy offers the optimal solution for selling print-on-demand merchandise through your own online store, giving you the advantage of selling your own inventory while maintaining flexibility.
- If you already have your own ecommerce store, Gelato would be the ideal choice as it enables you to sell print-on-demand merchandise directly from your existing store. This includes seamless integration with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce.
- Alternatively, you may consider utilizing a marketplace like Zazzle, which grants you access to their established customer base. However, it’s important to note that you would have limited control over the selling process and your products. By choosing this option, you would be promoting someone else’s brand instead of building your own brand identity.
Review of The Best Print-on-Demand Sites:
1 – Sellfy
Sellfy stands out as our top recommendation for the best overall print-on-demand website. It is a comprehensive eCommerce solution specifically designed for creators and distinguishes itself by being one of the few platforms with built-in print-on-demand functionalities.
The key advantage of Sellfy lies in the level of control it offers. While most print-on-demand services function as marketplaces where you list your products alongside other sellers, relying on the company for order fulfillment, Sellfy takes a different approach. It serves as a standalone eCommerce platform, allowing you to effortlessly create your own online store within minutes, giving you complete autonomy.
Once you have set up your storefront and everything is in place, you can begin designing your products, adding them to your Sellfy store, setting prices, and initiating sales. When a customer places an order, Sellfy handles the fulfillment process on your behalf. They take care of printing and shipping, while you are only charged for the base item cost, taxes, and shipping. You have control over setting the product price and can retain the difference as your profit, enabling you to manage your profit margins effectively.
Sellfy supports a wide range of print-on-demand product categories, including clothing, bags, stickers, mugs, and phone cases, available in various colors and sizes. Additionally, you can incorporate custom labels, embroidery, graphics, and text into clothing items.
A notable feature of Sellfy is its use of the DTG (Direct to Garment) printing method, which ensures high-quality prints with CPSIA-compliant, water-based inks suitable for children’s clothing. If you wish to evaluate the product quality firsthand, you have the option to order a sample, although it should be noted that samples come at a cost.
If you focus solely on selling print-on-demand products, there is no need to manage your own inventory. However, Sellfy provides the flexibility to stock other merchandise as well. You can sell various types of products or digital items alongside your print-on-demand merchandise within the same store, similar to other eCommerce platforms.
Pros
- Complete control and ownership of your online store.
- Flexible eCommerce solution that allows you to sell print-on-demand products and/or your own inventory and digital products.
- Wide range of merchandise categories to choose from.
- Built-in marketing tools for promotion.
Cons
- Customers are unable to return or exchange print-on-demand items.
- No existing audience to tap into; you will need to drive traffic to your store yourself.
Pricing
Sellfy offers paid plans starting from $19 per month. They also provide a 14-day free trial to explore premium features.
Sellfy extends a 30-day money-back guarantee to its users.
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2 – Gelato
Gelato is a prominent print-on-demand solution that operates as a fulfillment service rather than an eCommerce platform. It seamlessly integrates with your existing website, enabling you to sell print-on-demand merchandise through your established store.
The process with Gelato is straightforward: after signing up, you connect it to your online store. It seamlessly integrates with major eCommerce platforms such as Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, WooCommerce, eBay, and more. Once connected, you can browse Gelato’s extensive catalog (with over 48 categories) to select your desired print-on-demand products. You can then upload your designs to these products and add them to your store.
When a customer places an order, Gelato automatically takes care of order fulfillment on your behalf and charges you the base cost of the product. A notable advantage of Gelato is its partnership with 130 printing facilities across 32 countries. This ensures that orders are connected to the customer’s nearest production partner, resulting in approximately 90% of orders being produced and fulfilled locally. Consequently, this leads to faster delivery times, reduced shipping costs, and a lower carbon footprint.
I recently had the opportunity to test Gelato myself, and I must say, I was highly impressed. The experience was seamless, and both the product quality and printing quality were excellent. It’s worth noting that Gelato is the highest-rated print-on-demand platform on Trustpilot, boasting an impressive 4.7-star rating.
Another aspect that sets Gelato apart from other print-on-demand fulfillment services is its offering of subscription plans. While many services operate on a per-order basis, Gelato provides a free tier that allows anyone to start selling print-on-demand merchandise without monthly fees (you only pay for what you sell). Additionally, they offer several paid tiers with added benefits such as shipping discounts, product mockups, stock images, and more.
Pros
- No minimum order requirements
- Rapid shipping times
- Competitive pricing compared to other providers
- Excellent overall quality
- Outstanding customer support
Cons
- Access to stock images requires a paid subscription
- Shipping discounts are only available with a paid subscription
Pricing
Gelato offers a free forever plan. Paid subscriptions start at $14.99 per month and include benefits like 30% off standard shipping and other additional features.
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3 – Printful
Printful is a widely recognized print-on-demand fulfillment service that seamlessly integrates with your store, enabling you to offer a vast range of print-on-demand products to your customers.
Printful is an excellent choice for individuals looking to sell print-on-demand products through their existing website or popular marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay.
What sets Printful apart from the previous print-on-demand sites we discussed is its unique approach. It is neither a marketplace like Redbubble nor an eCommerce platform like Sellfy. Instead, it serves as a print-on-demand solution that equips you with the necessary tools to design and sell products on various platforms, while also handling order fulfillment on your behalf.
With Printful’s built-in Design Maker, even individuals without prior design experience can create intricate and visually appealing designs. The platform also allows you to generate product mockups to showcase your designs effectively.
Printful boasts an extensive product catalog, encompassing diverse items such as eco-friendly and premium clothing, bean bags, pet products, and much more. Additionally, they offer white-label services, enabling you to add your custom branding to the inside labels and packaging of the products you choose to sell.
One standout feature of Printful is the exceptional quality of its fulfillment services. They offer faster shipping, with products typically ready to ship within 2-5 business days, as well as competitive rates and reliable quality. This is made possible through their extensive network of in-house and partner facilities located worldwide.
Pros
- Intuitive design tools for creating appealing designs
- No minimum order requirements
- Seamless integration with various eCommerce platforms and marketplaces
- Extensive and high-quality product catalog
Cons
- Not a marketplace, meaning it won’t provide you with traffic or customers
Pricing
Printful offers a Free plan that includes all the basic features. Discounts may also be available based on order volume. When a customer places an order, you will be charged for fulfillment, shipping, and applicable taxes. Shipping rates depend on the specific product and region. Additionally, you may need to pay separately for the eCommerce platform you integrate Printful with, such as Shopify, Wix, and others.
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4 – Printify
Printify is an excellent provider of print-on-demand services, offering some of the lowest printing prices and highest profit margins in the industry.
As a print-on-demand fulfillment company, Printify offers product printing and shipping services, along with a range of tools to assist you in design creation.
With Printify, you have the freedom to choose where you want to sell your products and can easily connect it to your preferred platform. It seamlessly integrates with major eCommerce platforms and marketplaces such as WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, Shopify, Etsy, and eBay.
One of the standout features of Printify is its extensive network of globally-distributed printing partners. Instead of being limited to in-house printers, you gain access to a variety of printing partners located worldwide.
By selecting the printing partner based on the country where your customers are located, you can benefit from faster and more affordable shipping. This network of partners also enables Printify to offer a wide range of product options.
The cost-effective shipping provided by Printify allows for better profit margins compared to many competitors. With low base costs, you can generate higher profits per sale while keeping your products affordable for your customers.
Pros
- Extensive catalog of products to choose from
- Cost-effective shipping options
- Global network of printing partners
- Seamless integration with various eCommerce platforms
Cons
- Printing quality may vary depending on the selected partner
- Limited branding and customization options
Pricing
Printify offers a Free plan, which is limited to 5 stores per account. You can upgrade to the Premium plan starting from $24.99, which provides additional stores and up to a 20% discount on all products. Custom-priced Enterprise plans are also available for high-volume businesses.
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5 – Zazzle
Zazzle is a well-known print-on-demand company and marketplace. It holds the second-largest existing audience among POD marketplaces, with an estimated 10 million visits per month and a global reach of over 30 million shoppers.
Founded in 2005, Zazzle was one of the pioneers in the print-on-demand marketplace space. It gained popularity early on and continues to receive significant traffic, although its growth has slowed down over time.
Due to its long-standing presence, Zazzle’s marketplace is somewhat oversaturated, making it challenging for new creators to stand out and gain visibility for their products. However, considering the large number of monthly customers on Zazzle, it is still worthwhile to have a presence on the platform.
Zazzle offers a vast selection of items on which creators can add their designs and sell, ranging from business cards and invitations to T-shirts, mugs, luggage tags, and even ping pong paddles.
Once you’ve created your design, you have the freedom to set the royalty rate, and you receive a payout each time a product featuring your design is sold on the marketplace. Zazzle takes care of customer service and product fulfillment on your behalf.
Additionally, Zazzle provides an opportunity to earn money through Zazzle LIVE. As a LIVE designer, customers communicate their design ideas through text, audio, or video chat, and you utilize your design skills to bring their concepts to life, earning income in the process.
Pros
- Extensive catalog of products available for customization
- Large global customer base (30 million shoppers)
- Zazzle LIVE offers additional income opportunities
- Well-suited for selling gifts, stationery, and invitations
Cons
- Design and upload process may be subpar
Pricing
Anyone can sign up as a Zazzle Creator, upload and sell their artwork on products for free. There are no fees, and creators have the flexibility to choose royalty rates ranging from 5% to 99%.
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6 – Redbubble
Redbubble is an excellent print-on-demand website that provides a convenient platform for artists and designers to sell their merchandise with minimal upfront time investment.
Unlike Sellfy, Redbubble functions as a marketplace rather than an ecommerce platform. Similar to Etsy, it is a destination where customers can browse and purchase products created by independent artists.
Redbubble holds the distinction of being the world’s most popular print-on-demand marketplace in terms of traffic, attracting a staggering 34 million monthly visitors, with 9.5 million of those visitors coming organically.
By listing your print-on-demand products on Redbubble, you can tap into this large existing audience of potential customers, gaining greater exposure for your designs. Additionally, Redbubble products often appear in Google search results for related keywords. They even invest their own resources in Google Shopping Ads and retargeting efforts.
This means you don’t have to invest as much time and effort into marketing your products. Unlike Sellfy, where you are responsible for driving traffic and sales, Redbubble brings the sales to you. Your primary focus is creating exceptional products that people desire.
Redbubble also handles fulfillment on your behalf. They will print and ship your orders to customers worldwide using their network of printing partners. While the printing quality is generally good, it may vary depending on the third-party producer they work with at any given time.
The design upload process is straightforward, and Redbubble offers a diverse selection of over 70 product types on which you can print your designs.
With flexible pricing, you have the ability to set your own profit margins and maintain full control over your earnings. Moreover, Redbubble customers are typically willing to pay slightly higher prices compared to other platforms.
However, it’s worth noting that new users and small stores may find Redbubble to be relatively expensive due to account fees deducted directly from their profits on the standard plan.
Pros
- Large customer base and significant traffic
- Flexible profit margins
- Global reach
- Anti-piracy features to protect your artwork
Cons
- Less control and flexibility compared to self-hosted platforms
- Varied product quality
- Additional account fees deducted from profits (unless on a higher-tier plan)
Pricing
Setting up a shop and starting to sell on Redbubble is free. Redbubble deducts their service fees from your product sales as part of the base price, while you have the freedom to set your own profit margins. However, if you are on the standard account (which applies to most users), additional account fees will be deducted directly from your profits.
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7 – SPOD
SPOD is another fulfillment service for print-on-demand, powered by Spreadshirt. It is an excellent choice if you prioritize sustainability or require fast shipping rates.
SPOD operates similarly to other print-on-demand platforms we’ve discussed. After signing up, you can add your designs and products, connect SPOD to your online store or marketplace, and begin selling. SPOD handles the printing and shipping processes for you.
If you’re not a graphic designer, SPOD offers a library of up to 50,000 free designs that you can use to create your artwork. These designs can be applied to a range of over 200 products.
SPOD is known for its speedy production, with 95% of orders being processed in less than 48 hours, resulting in faster delivery. Its printing facilities are located in the EU and US, allowing for worldwide shipping.
A notable feature of SPOD is its offering of discounted samples. If you wish to assess the quality of products before sending them to your customers, you can order them at a discounted rate of up to 20%.
The platform also boasts an intuitive dashboard that enables you to monitor stock levels and track or cancel orders.
However, the most significant advantage of SPOD lies in its commitment to eco-friendliness, a crucial aspect when targeting today’s environmentally conscious consumers. SPOD provides an organic collection made from low-impact cotton sourced from Turkey. They employ a water-saving printing technique using vegan ink certified by OEKO-TEX. Additionally, SPOD promotes paperless production, ships products in plastic-free packaging, and upcycles or donates returned items to minimize waste.
Pros
- Intuitive dashboard
- Fully automated processes
- Sustainable production practices
- Simple shipping procedures
Cons
- No option for custom branding
Pricing
Using SPOD is completely free. You only incur charges when your customers place orders. Additionally, you may need to pay fees to the ecommerce platform you integrate SPOD with.
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8 – TPop
TPop is a print-on-demand site based in Europe that prioritizes eco-responsibility and offers the largest range of high-quality, environmentally-friendly products.
Similar to Printful, TPop serves as a backend solution by providing products and order fulfillment, while leaving the sales aspect to you. It seamlessly integrates with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce. If you don’t have your own website, you can also sell directly through TPop using the Direct Orders feature.
TPop stands out with its exceptional branding features. It offers the most extensive branding options in the market. You can customize each package and delivery note with your logo and brand name, include your brand’s social media links on the packing slip, and even add inserts or send personalized thank-you messages. TPop will even translate the message into the destination country’s language for free.
When it comes to sustainability, TPop excels. They exclusively offer eco-designed products with minimal ecological footprints. All orders are shipped without plastic, and they utilize green printing techniques. Additionally, TPop collaborates with carbon-neutral postal operators for shipping.
Orders are printed in France, and typically take 2-4 days for processing and shipping. Shipping within France and Europe is relatively fast, ranging from 3-7 days. International orders may take slightly longer, averaging 5-10 days.
Pros
- Eco-friendly products and shipping
- Extensive branding options
- Ideal for selling to European customers
- Wide selection of fashion and accessory merchandise
Cons
- International shipping times could be improved
Pricing
Getting started with TPop is free. You will only be charged for the product base cost and fulfillment when you make a sale.
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9 – Fine Art America
Fine Art America is a print-on-demand marketplace that specializes in wall art, posters, and prints. If you are selling this type of merchandise, it’s worth considering Fine Art America.
Although it may not be as popular as Redbubble or Zazzle, Fine Art America still receives a good amount of organic traffic and is gaining popularity. It is also less saturated than other well-known platforms, making it easier to gain visibility and generate sales.
The majority of Fine Art America’s user base consists of individuals looking to purchase original art, prints, and home decor, although they do support other product categories like apparel. The platform is particularly suitable for artists and photographers.
To get started, simply sign up, upload your images, choose the products you want to offer, set your prices, and wait for sales to come in. Fine Art America takes care of the fulfillment process and takes a percentage of the sales, while you keep the remaining profit.
In addition to providing marketplace access and fulfillment services, Fine Art America offers various marketing and sales tools that can be utilized to sell prints on platforms like Facebook and set up newsletters.
Pros
- Ideal for photographers and visual artists
- Wide selection of prints, posters, and wall art
- Growing marketplace
- Offers marketing and sales tools
Cons
- Less traffic compared to some other marketplaces
Pricing
Fine Art America offers a free standard plan. You have the option to upgrade to the Premium plan for $30 per year, which provides additional exposure and sales opportunities.
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10 – Displate
Displate is a print-on-demand marketplace that specializes in metal wall art prints. This platform is experiencing rapid growth, making it an opportune time to join and start selling your designs.
Unlike Fine Art America, which offers a range of wall art prints, Displate focuses exclusively on metal wall art. This specific product category, especially popular among the gaming community, is gaining traction in the market.
To tap into this emerging market, you can sign up and easily upload your designs. Displate simplifies the upload process and then promotes your prints to their substantial audience of 50 million monthly visitors. When your design is sold, you earn royalties, and Displate handles order fulfillment on your behalf.
Additionally, Displate provides the opportunity to earn a 50% total commission on sales referred through your affiliate links.
Pros
- Catering to an emerging product category
- Rapidly growing marketplace
- Potential for high profit margins
- Lower competition compared to other platforms
Cons
- Limited to one type of product
- Some instances of infringing designs
Pricing
Opening a shop on the Displate marketplace is free. However, approval from their team is required, and you must submit your portfolio for consideration before being able to sign up.
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11 – Lulu xPress
Lulu xPress is a leading print-on-demand solution specifically designed for authors and self-publishers. It offers comprehensive global fulfillment services for a variety of written products.
As a branch of Lulu, an online self-publishing platform, Lulu xPress simplifies the process of planning, creating, and selling print-on-demand books, calendars, comics, and magazines.
With over 3,000 format options, layouts, and binding types to choose from, you have extensive customization capabilities. You can personalize everything, from the paper type to the finish. In addition to physical books, Lulu xPress allows you to sell and distribute ebooks to popular marketplaces like Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Pros
- Fast shipping services
- Ideal for authors and self-publishers
- Abundance of customization options for products
- Global distribution reach
Cons
- Limited product range, primarily focused on books
Pricing
Publishing your books on Lulu xPress is free. When an order is placed, you will be charged the printing and fulfillment costs associated with the specific order, which will vary depending on your chosen printing options.
12 – Merch by Amazon
An essential inclusion on any list of top print-on-demand platforms is Merch by Amazon. This exclusive program, operated by Amazon, provides an invitation-only opportunity for creators to sell their print-on-demand merchandise on the renowned Amazon marketplace.
The standout advantage of selling on Merch by Amazon is the unparalleled visibility it offers. With Amazon being the most visited online shopping website globally and a dominant force in the ecommerce industry, your products gain exposure to an enormous number of online shoppers.
One of the notable perks of Merch by Amazon is its swift shipping times. Amazon’s efficient fulfillment process ensures faster product printing and shipping compared to many other print-on-demand services, contributing to higher customer satisfaction. Additionally, Merch by Amazon provides the flexibility to set your own royalty rates, allowing you to control your profit margins.
However, there is a drawback. Access to Merch by Amazon is not readily available to everyone. Interested individuals must request an invitation and await approval before they can commence earning through the platform.
Pros
- Vast customer reach through the Amazon marketplace
- High conversion rate due to the platform’s trustworthiness
- Fast shipping options on a global scale
Cons
- Invitation-only access
- Limited branding opportunities on the platform
Pricing
Signing up for Merch by Amazon is free. When you make a sale, Amazon deducts their fees as part of the base cost of the transaction.
FAQs: Best Print-on-Demand Sites
What is print-on-demand?
Print-on-demand is a business model that shares similarities with dropshipping. In dropshipping, you sell products directly to customers, and a third-party company handles the order fulfillment without you needing to hold any inventory.
Print-on-demand operates in a similar manner, with the distinction that products are printed or customized before being shipped to the customer.
If you’re interested in exploring dropshipping instead, you can refer to our list of the best dropshipping websites.
What is a print-on-demand site?
A print-on-demand site is a platform that assists you throughout the entire process of running a print-on-demand business, including selling, printing, and fulfillment. This encompasses various types of platforms, such as print-on-demand marketplaces like Redbubble, print-on-demand ecommerce platforms like Sellfy, and print-on-demand fulfillment companies like Gelato and Printful.
What all print-on-demand sites have in common is that they enable the sale of white-label products, and they handle the printing and shipping on a per-order basis.
It’s important to note that print-on-demand sites differ from print-on-demand companies. Print-on-demand companies solely handle the printing of merchandise and do not provide assistance with fulfillment, payment processing, or other aspects of the business.
Does Etsy print on demand?
While Etsy allows the sale of print-on-demand products on its marketplace, it does not offer a print-on-demand fulfillment service. If you wish to sell print-on-demand products through Etsy, you will need to sign up with a print-on-demand site like Gelato or Printful and connect it to your Etsy shop.
What is the best POD site?
In our opinion, Sellfy is the top choice for a print-on-demand site. It is highly user-friendly, affordable, powerful, and provides complete control over your product catalog.
As an all-in-one ecommerce solution, Sellfy offers additional tools to help grow your print-on-demand business, including built-in marketing features. Furthermore, Sellfy is not limited to print-on-demand but is also a preferred platform for selling digital products.
That being said, there are many other excellent print-on-demand sites available. If you have an existing store on platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, Gelato and Printful are worth considering as they can integrate with these platforms. Alternatively, if you prefer to list your products on a print-on-demand marketplace, Redbubble is a viable option.
Can you still make money with print on demand?
Certainly! It is still possible to make money with print on demand. The business model remains popular, and while competition has increased in recent years, so has the demand.
The growth of global ecommerce sales, driven by digitalization and changing consumer habits, has created a larger customer base for online products. Last year, global ecommerce sales were estimated to reach a staggering $4.89 billion. This indicates an abundance of potential customers who may purchase your print-on-demand products.
What are the most profitable print-on-demand products?
There isn’t a single “most profitable” print-on-demand product as profitability depends on various factors, such as the quality of your designs, product-market fit, marketing efforts, and where you list your products for sale.
However, there are several print-on-demand products that are known to be bestsellers and have the potential for high profitability. Some examples include sneakers, stickers, and tote bags. These product categories tend to have strong sales and are less saturated compared to popular items like T-shirts and mugs.
Finding The Best Print-on-Demand Sites for Your Business
That concludes our compilation of the top print-on-demand sites. As demonstrated, there are numerous excellent options to choose from. The best selection for your business will depend on its specific requirements and how you intend to sell your products.
To summarize our recommendations:
- Opt for Sellfy if you desire to sell print-on-demand merchandise through your own online store, in addition to digital products or your existing inventory.
- If you already have a website or Shopify store, or if you prefer to sell print-on-demand merchandise on platforms like Etsy or Amazon, Gelato is the ideal choice. Simply integrate it with your preferred sales platform, and they will handle the rest of the process.
- For a more hands-off approach, consider Zazzle. With Zazzle, you won’t need to manage your own store and can instead sell through their marketplace. This grants you access to their built-in customer base, although you will have less control compared to selling on your own site.
It is also important to consider the location of your target audience and identify which print-on-demand sites have local printing facilities. This ensures faster and more cost-effective shipping. Fortunately, platforms like Sellfy and Printful have fulfillment centers located worldwide, including the USA, Europe, Canada, the UK, Australia, and more.
We hope this information has provided you with valuable guidance to steer you in the right direction.