Printful vs Society6: Which is Better in 2023?

With a multitude of software platforms available for print-on-demand services, choosing the right one can be challenging. In this review, we will compare two popular options: Printful and Society6.

We aim to provide you with all the essential information so that by the end of this review, you can determine which platform, if any, suits your needs.

Let’s dive into the details!

Printful vs Society6: An Overview

Printful, established in 2013, offers a wide range of 286 customizable merchandise items for you to sell. These include home decor, accessories, and clothing, among others. Printful claims to simplify the process of starting an online print-on-demand store with no setup costs, following these four straightforward steps:

1. Create and connect your Shopify store (or any other eCommerce platform you prefer).
2. Design your products.
3. Add your products to your store.
4. Start selling.

It sounds simple, doesn’t it?

By adopting the dropshipping model, Printful takes care of the printing, packaging, and shipping processes while you focus on marketing and targeting potential customers. If you already have an existing online store, you can seamlessly integrate it with Printful to start designing your own products.

With Printful’s mockup generator, you have the option to create designs directly on their platform. However, if you prefer working offline or find yourself in situations without reliable internet access, you can design offline and upload your finished work later when you regain connectivity. Rest assured, you can review your design before it goes to print or before you start selling it.

If design isn’t your strong suit but you excel in marketing, Printful offers a graphic design service that connects you with professional designers who can bring your creative vision to life.

Additionally, if you wish to build a stock of specific designs beforehand, Printful provides the option to print, store, and fulfill your orders, including handling shipping, on your behalf.

Related: Best Ecommerce Platforms (Comparison + Top Picks)

How Society6 Works

Established in 2009, Society6 positions itself as a platform that promotes the work of 300,000 independent artists across 160 countries, emphasizing that every purchase made on its platform directly supports an artist.

Society6 operates as an open platform where artists can showcase their work by paying a $1 sign-up fee. Artists have the opportunity to sell their original designs on a wide range of mediums, including posters, clothing, canvases, furniture, and more.

To utilize Society6 as a marketplace, artists simply need to scan and upload their designs. Moreover, Society6 allows artists to customize their designs to ensure they fit perfectly on different products, from cups to canvases. Artists can also link their Society6 account to their social media profiles, such as Instagram, Facebook, and their own websites, to expand their selling channels.

However, it’s worth noting that Society6 determines the pricing for artists’ products, which may be a concern for some. Nonetheless, the Society6 blog offers valuable resources for artists on how to market their products and generate a profitable income.

Society6 also operates its own wholesale brand called Deny Designs, where artists can apply to have their designs featured by retailers selling various home goods, furniture, clothing, and more, both on a small and large scale.

Lastly, Society6 offers the Society6 Trade Program, catering to hotels, interior designers, and high-volume stores, providing a more curated experience. Participants in this program enjoy benefits such as discounts, personalized service, and larger-scale manufacturing options.

Before delving further into the details, let’s examine the pros and cons of each platform.

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Printful’s Pros and Cons:

Printful’s Advantages:

• The setup process is straightforward, requiring no specialized knowledge to get started.
• There are numerous integrations available.
• There are no monthly or setup fees, reducing financial risks for users.
• You have the ability to customize your products, including branding options for labels and packaging.
• Printful provides an all-in-one service that includes warehousing and order fulfillment.
• Mobile apps for Android and iOS are available, allowing convenient access to Printful while on the go.
• The mockup generator is user-friendly, making the design process less demanding.
• There is a wide selection of nearly 300 customizable products to choose from.
• Customers appreciate the prompt customer service response times and effective solutions provided by Printful.

Related: How Much Does The Average Shopify Store Make Per Month

Printful’s Disadvantages:

Certain products, such as prints and canvases, may have shipping limitations to certain regions.
Only one product design can be edited at a time, which may slow down the customization process for multiple items.
Comparatively, Printful’s prices tend to be slightly higher than other platforms.
Printful does not offer built-in analytics for tracking and analyzing performance data.

Related: How Much Does Shopify SEO Services Cost?

Society6’s Pros and Cons:

Society6’s Advantages:

• The sign-up fee is minimal, costing only $1.
• The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
• Society6 is ideal for individuals who are starting out and wish to test their designs in the market.
• You are not responsible for order fulfillment; Society6 handles all the logistical aspects for you.
• Customers have access to a wide range of exceptional and unique designs.
• Artists can upload an unlimited number of images to showcase their work.
• Artists have the ability to set a markup royalty fee specifically for wall art items such as canvas prints and framed art prints.

Society6’s Disadvantages:

• Artists only receive 10% of the sale price, as Society6 retains the majority of the revenue, making it challenging to generate substantial profits on this platform.
• Analytics tools are not available, preventing artists from gaining insights into their traffic sources and performance metrics.
• Society6 determines the pricing of products, giving artists limited control over the pricing strategy.

Related: Is Shopify Safe and Secure?

Printful vs Society6: Pricing

Before diving into any print-on-demand solution, it’s crucial to assess the costs involved and determine whether the potential profit margins will meet your expectations. Let’s break down the pricing structures of Printful and Society6:

Printful

To calculate Printful’s prices, it’s best to refer to their product catalog, which features a wide range of items such as clothing, accessories, hats, and homeware. Clothing items are categorized into women’s, men’s, and kids’ sections.

The prices listed in the catalog include the cost of each product along with the printing expenses. Shipping costs and taxes are separate and should be considered separately.

In general, larger items with thicker fabric tend to be more expensive. For example, joggers are priced higher than t-shirts (starting at $22.50 for unisex joggers compared to $12.95 for men’s t-shirts).

Here are a few sample prices of Printful’s items to give you an idea:

• Pom-pom beanie: $13.25
• Women’s cropped hoodie: $29.95
• Pillowcase: $13.95
• Water bottle: $19.95
• Notebook: $11.95
• Phone cases: $10.95
• Stickers: $2.20
• Tote bags: $14.95
• Leggings: $29.95

Please note that product prices may vary based on your fulfillment location, such as Japan, Europe, the US, or Australia.

Additionally, it’s important to consider the cost of branded labeling if you choose to incorporate your business logo on the packaging. This incurs an additional expense, such as $2.49 per inside label, $2.49 per outside label, $0.50 per custom packaging, and so on.

Related: Why Is Shopify So Expensive?

Society6

Since Society6 operates differently from Printful, its pricing structure follows a distinct approach. As mentioned earlier, Society6 handles order fulfillment and shipping, which means it retains a significant portion of the sale, leaving the artist with only 10% paid via PayPal. Therefore, having a PayPal account is necessary if you wish to sell through Society6. Additionally, there is a nominal $1 sign-up fee.

Society6 pays artists on the 1st of each month, following a 30-day purchase grace period. Hence, it’s important to consider this timeline as payouts won’t be immediate.

After uploading your artwork to the site, you can adjust pricing by adding a royalty markup to products indicated with a $ symbol. Society6 sets a base price, and you can increase it accordingly. However, this feature is only available for art prints, framed art prints, and canvas prints.

Society6 provides information on potential earnings from selling your designs on other products, but accessing this data requires signing up, paying the $1 fee, and creating an account.

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Printful vs Society6: Integrations

Anyone involved in running an ecommerce business understands the importance of integrating their chosen platform with their website builder, digital shopping cart, or online marketplace. In the case of Printful, it boasts an extensive and diverse list of native integrations.

Here is the comprehensive list of Printful’s native integrations:

• 3dCart
• Amazon
• BigCartel
• BigCommerce
• Bonanza
• eBay
• Ecwid
• Etsy
• Launch Cart
• Magento
• PrestaShop
• Shopify
• Squarespace
• Storenvy
• Webflow
• Weebly
• Wish
• Wix
• WooCommerce and WordPress

Related: Best Shopify Apps & Plugins Even if You Use WordPress

On the other hand, Society6 takes a different approach.

Society6 operates as an online marketplace specifically designed for artists to showcase and sell their designs. As of now, there is no evidence on Society6’s website or elsewhere indicating that they offer native integrations with platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, or other ecommerce platforms. From Society6’s perspective, there is no inherent incentive for them to integrate with their competitors, given their existing marketplace model.

Related: Top Luxury Brands and Shopify Retailers

Printful vs Society6: Shipping and Fulfillment

Customers have high expectations when it comes to shipping and order fulfillment, as they prefer fast and reliable service. Let’s take a closer look at how Printful and Society6 compare in these areas.

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Printful

The fulfillment and shipping times for Printful vary depending on the types of products being sold. Clothing orders typically take between two to seven days for fulfillment, while non-apparel items have a shorter fulfillment time of up to five working days.

Shipping times vary based on the destination. For instance, shipping within the United States typically takes three to four days. In the United Kingdom, it ranges from two to five days, and in other regions like Europe, Asia, and South America, it can take around six to 14 days.

Printful provides a shipping price guide that sellers should consider when budgeting. Shipping costs are determined by factors such as product weight, destination, and the chosen shipping method. Processing and fulfillment fees also vary depending on the specifics of the order and its destination.

Related: How To Avoid The Negative Effects Of A Shopify Store Rebrand

Society6

In the case of Society6, production times for most items are typically three to four working days, although Credenzas may require slightly longer at five to seven working days.

Shipping times are influenced by the location of customers. For standard delivery within the United States, Society6 estimates a delivery time of approximately five to ten working days. Expedited delivery shortens this to two to three working days, while rush delivery takes one to two days. Customers in Australia can expect to receive their orders within five to ten working days, while international destinations may take 10 to 15 working days or longer.

Society6 provides order tracking options for customers to stay informed about the fulfillment and delivery progress. This feature allows buyers to monitor the status of their orders, enhancing their overall shopping experience.

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Printful vs Society6: Customer Support

Let’s examine how Printful and Society6 handle customer queries and support, which is an essential aspect to consider.

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Printful

Printful offers multiple channels for customer support. You can reach their customer support team via email at support@printful.com or through their 24/7 live chatbox. Email inquiries typically receive a response within 24 hours. However, it’s important to note that the live chat option may have reduced hours due to COVID-19, although Printful aims to resume its 24/7 service soon.

Another option is to create and submit a support ticket through their Contacts page. Printful also provides an online help center with articles, video tutorials, and FAQs to assist users. If you prefer to connect through social media, Printful maintains a presence on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, where you can find valuable information and updates.

Related: Shopify Stores For Sale: How And Where To Buy

Society6

Society6’s customer service operates from 10 am to 6 pm (PST) every day of the week, and they offer a 60-day money-back guarantee to customers.

However, it’s worth noting that Society6 has received mixed reviews on platforms like Trustpilot and Reddit, and at the time of writing, there were 65 complaints registered with the Better Business Bureau. Complaints commonly relate to issues such as product quality, long shipping times, poor customer service, and complicated return processes.

For artists using Society6, there are self-help guides available that cover topics like converting social media followers into customers, effective promotion strategies, identifying popular designs, and monetizing through social media. Additionally, Society6 provides guidance on the appropriate pixel dimensions for uploading artwork to their platform.

Related: Why is Shopify so Hard to Use?

Printful vs Society6: Packaging and Branding

If you’re planning to establish a comprehensive online brand that offers a range of products, including clothing and homewares, packaging and branding play a crucial role. However, even as an artist, you may still find this section relevant, as you might want to sell your designs on various items, either presently or in the future.

Related: How to Sell CBD Products on Shopify

Printful

When using Printful, your customers won’t see the Printful logo prominently displayed on your packaging. Printful operates as a white-label business, allowing you to customize the packaging to promote your own brand effectively.

For instance, you have the option to print your logo on the packaging and packing slips. Additionally, you can include personalized items such as handwritten thank you notes, flyers, or business cards with your orders. If you sell fragile items, Printful ensures they are packaged in corrugated boxes to provide extra protection against breakages.

It’s worth mentioning that Printful’s poly bags are made from recyclable, low-density polyethylene, contributing to environmental sustainability.

Society6

Unfortunately, at the time of writing, there was no available information regarding whether artists on Society6 can supply or create their own branded packaging. Similarly, details about the packaging methods employed by Society6 were not provided.

Related: Shopee vs Shopify

Printful vs Society6: Which is The Best Print on Demand Service?

So, to summarize our Printful vs Society6 review, we believe that Printful comes out on top for several reasons.

Firstly, Printful allows artists to customize their own designs and sell them on their own websites and social media profiles. In contrast, Society6 lacks integrations and restricts artists to selling only on their marketplace. Moreover, Society6 takes a significant portion of artists’ earnings, making it challenging to generate substantial profits.

Additionally, Printful’s website offers greater transparency, providing easy access to product costs and the pricing of branding options for packaging, which is a notable advantage.

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We hope that after reading this review, you now have a more comprehensive understanding of both Printful and Society6. This knowledge should help you make an informed decision about which print-on-demand platform best suits your potential startup. Please let us know in the comments box below whether you choose Printful or Society6, or if you opt for other platforms like Redbubble, Zazzle, Teespring, Spreadshirt, or Printify. We’d love to hear your decision!