Printful vs Printify: Which Print-On-Demand Platform Triumphs in 2024?

In this article, we will conduct an in-depth comparison of the prominent print-on-demand platforms, Printify and Printful, aiding you in selecting the ideal fit for your business goals.

Key Takeaways

• Printful: Best for entrepreneurs who emphasize superior product quality and are dedicated to using premium materials and advanced printing techniques.
• Printify: Best for budget-conscious entrepreneurs seeking cost-effective print-on-demand solutions while maintaining higher profit margins and offering a variety of customizable products.

What is Print on Demand?

Print on Demand (POD) is a modern e-commerce method where sellers collaborate with suppliers to create custom-printed products as orders are received. 

Suppliers, often print-on-demand services, personalize white-label items under the seller’s brand or a customer’s design, covering a range of products like T-shirts, bags, and more. 

Like drop shipping, POD eliminates inventory management and upfront costs, making it an efficient way to test business ideas and monetize content. 

Let’s compare Printify and Printful to find the best fit for newcomers.

How Printful works

At the core of Printful’s approach lies a dynamic print-on-demand (POD) business model. 

This model sets the stage for establishing your online store, a space where you can showcase and sell merchandise uniquely embellished with your original designs. When your customers place orders, Printful takes the helm, seamlessly executing the technical intricacies that include printing, packaging, and shipping these products directly to your customer base. 

This ingenious process eliminates the need for you to grapple with the complexities associated with managing the technical aspects of running an online store, allowing you to dedicate your energy to your venture’s creative and promotional facets.

How Printify works

The way Printify works is pretty similar to how Printful works. Printify operates through a concise four-phase methodology, facilitating a seamless entry into print-on-demand commerce. The operational process can be encapsulated in the following manner:

1. Product Selection: Commence by opting for the merchandise you intend to offer, such as mugs, phone cases, or t-shirts. These raw items will serve as the foundation for your design endeavors.
2. Design Implementation: Utilize Printify’s suite of design tools to create and embed your designs onto the chosen products. Leverage these tools to upload images, designs, logos, and more. This procedure essentially entails placing your design onto the product canvas and adjusting parameters like size and the presence of design elements on the product’s reverse side.
3. Supplier Determination: Select a suitable supplier from the range of options presented. Printify typically provides you with multiple suppliers for your chosen products. It’s even possible to request product samples before initiating your sales.
4. Integration with Your Platform: Seamlessly incorporate your designed products into your online platform, utilizing integrations with platforms like WooCommerce, Shopify, and Etsy. These integrations expedite the process of displaying your products to potential customers.
5. Sales Execution: Printify takes on the complete fulfillment process as your sales commence through your platform. This comprehensive undertaking encompasses order fulfillment, manufacturing requisitions, billing, and shipping logistics.

The financial dynamics are straightforward: you might procure a customized t-shirt for $12. Subsequently, you list the same t-shirt on your website for $30. With Printify overseeing the fulfillment process, no additional charges come into play. Upon selling the t-shirt at the retail price of $30, you get the difference of $18 as your profit.

Printify vs Printful: Pricing

Both Printify and Printful offer transparent pricing without hidden fees, ensuring you can trust this aspect. Signing up is free for new users on both platforms.

Printful’s pricing plans

Printful has a unique way of pricing its services and is relatively straightforward. Instead of asking you for subscription fees like other platforms, Printful charges a fixed margin on each product sold. This means you won’t have to worry about monthly fees eating into your profits as you start your Print-On-Demand (POD) business.

The amount you pay for each product depends on what it is – whether it’s a t-shirt, hoodie, mug, or phone case. You can easily find the exact pricing details for each item on the Printful website, making it easy to plan your pricing strategy.

While Printful keeps its pricing simple, remember that the price you see doesn’t include shipping costs or taxes. So, when you’re figuring out how much to sell your products for, consider these extra expenses. Also, if you decide to use Printful with a platform like Shopify for your online store, there might be additional fees related to that integration. It’s a good idea to know these potential costs before you start.

Printify’s pricing plans

Printify offers three distinct plans, each granting drop shippers access to these key features:

• Advanced mockup generator
• Integration with prominent selling channels like Shopify, eBay, Etsy, WooCommerce, and other e-commerce cart solutions
• 24/7 live support
• Manual order creation

Free plan

Ideal for new dropshipping ventures, Printify’s free plan has no restrictions on the number of product designs you can upload to your online store.

However, this plan only permits integration with up to 5 POD dropshipping stores. This is indeed a budget-friendly option for beginners.

Premium plan

The Premium plan is the optimal choice for those aiming to expand their operations. Designed for merchants with multiple stores, this package accommodates up to 10 stores at a monthly cost of $29.

Renowned for its popularity, the Premium plan offers an attractive 20% discount on all ordered products, making it a cost-effective solution.

Furthermore, this plan grants access to sell personalized products in your store, a valuable perk not available in the free plan.

Enterprise plan

The Enterprise plan is the solution for businesses processing over 10,000 orders daily. This package provides a custom API integration, allowing unlimited store syncing.

With a dedicated customer support team, merchants receive assistance to overcome challenges. Printify proactively updates enterprise plan users about platform enhancements.

The Verdict: 

Printify is the winner in terms of pricing as it is more cost-effective in the long term.

Best Selling Products

Printful 

Both Printful and Printify offer extensive product selections for your sales endeavors. These top print-on-demand companies consistently expand their offerings, enabling you to curate an impressive product portfolio.

Printful’s range includes tech accessories like iPhone covers, earbud cases, home and living products, accessories, and apparel. To kick-start your selection process, utilize the “Bestsellers” tab to explore trending items.

The “Bestsellers” feature allows you to filter products by category. For instance, premium t-shirts and hoodies enjoy high demand within the apparel category. Other popular choices include:

• Wall art (canvases, posters, and prints)
• Blankets and throws
• Drinkware (cups and reusable bottles)
• Accessories such as patches and hats
• Phone cases and laptop stickers
• Notebooks, greeting cards, and stickers
• Premium t-shirts with all-over print and superior materials
• Hoodies and sweatpants for loungewear
• Sporting wear, including shoes

Each option is customizable to meet your needs and can be effortlessly integrated into your e-commerce store. Before sending items to your target audience, consider crafting custom packaging to elevate your Shopify store’s branding.

Printify 

Like Printful, Printify offers a fantastic range of products across various categories. Navigate to the “Catalogue” section and choose “Bestsellers” for trending options with customizable features.

Many top choices for your online business are cost-effective to produce, though consider potential additional expenses when budgeting. Prioritize your desired outcomes from fulfillment services and delivery times for customer satisfaction.

Printify’s popular products include:

• T-shirts, unisex cotton tees
• Heavy blend hooded sweatshirts and crewneck sweatshirts
• Tote bags and backpacks
• Die-cut stickers
• Polyester square pillows
• Sublimation socks
• Homeware like notebooks and posters
• Premium pin buttons
• Extra-tough phone cases

You can explore all Printify options beyond bestsellers to align items with your target audience and brand. From drinkware to technology accessories, various choices are available, including custom seasonal decorations and eco-friendly clothing. Additionally, opt for USA-assembled products to enhance potential shipping speed.

The Verdict: 

Printify emerges as the versatile victor, ready to accommodate a wide range of preferences and tastes in the realm of bestselling products.

Printify vs Printful: Integrations

Both Printful and Printify offer built-in APIs for seamless integration with major e-commerce platforms.

Printful’s Integration

Printful showcases its prowess by offering various integrations, ensuring your Print-On-Demand (POD) venture seamlessly connects with various e-commerce powerhouses. While Printful and Printify find common ground in integrating with Shopify and WooCommerce, Printful extends its reach further. It seamlessly syncs with an additional range of channels, including but not limited to:

• Shopify
• Squarespace
• BigCommerce
• Weebly
• Ecwid
• PrestaShop
• Big Cartel
• Gumroad
• Magento
• 3dcart
• Launch Cart
• Wix

Printful recommends platforms like Shopify, Etsy, Ecwid, and BigCommerce for swift setup, offering automated order fulfillment through their APIs and plugins. While these options provide streamlined functionality, if your POD ambitions stretch towards enterprise-focused platforms like Magento, seeking the assistance of a developer could be a strategic move to ensure a smooth and effective launch.

Printify’s Integration

While Printful extends its reach to Amazon, Storenvy, Inktale, Wish, and Bonanza, Printify’s premium plan connects solely with Etsy and eBay. This is called a slightly more focused approach while offering various integration options. This tailored connection caters to creators with a penchant for these platforms, offering seamless order fulfillment and product integration.

The Verdict: 

Printful is the winner in this aspect as it offers a wider range of integrations with ecommerce platforms.

Printify vs Printful: Fulfillment and Shipping costs

Printful: Shipping and Fulfillment Process

Printful provides a comprehensive explanation of its fulfillment process, which is crucial for maintaining efficient sales. Once an order is placed, the process commences, with estimated production times of 2-7 business days for apparel products and 2-5 business days for non-apparel items.

Shipping durations vary based on the destination. On average, Printful suggests a 4-business day timeframe, achieved through partnerships with global carrier companies like FedEx, DHL, USPS.com, and DPD. Detailed guidance on shipping rate calculation is available.

For print products such as T-shirts and tank tops, shipping costs are as follows:

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

Customers can calculate shipping at checkout or include it in the retail price. Customs fees may apply based on the customer’s location.

Printful offers transparent real-time shipping rate updates during checkout, ensuring clarity for customers.

Printify: Shipping and Fulfillment Process

Printify also utilizes top carrier companies for order fulfillment and collaborates with local fulfillment partners to support global drop shippers. However, shipping solutions on Printify may have longer delivery times for international orders due to fewer fulfillment centers.

Shipping times for various locations are as follows:

• USA: 7-15 business days
• Canada: 10-15 business days
• International: 10-30 days

Printify doesn’t provide extensive information on manufacturing time, unlike Printful. Moreover, Printful is optimized for international orders, providing a dedicated page disclosing the entire shipping and fulfillment process.

In terms of optimization and transparency, Printful holds an advantage, particularly for international orders. Printify’s faster solution is suitable for merchants using the Advanced Shopify plan.

The Verdict: 

Printful emerges as the frontrunner. Its meticulous process, strategic partnerships, and transparent cost structure exhibit a commitment to efficiency and customer satisfaction.

While Printify offers its own strengths, Printful’s comprehensive approach and international optimization secure its position as the fulfillment champion.

Printify vs Printful: Customer support

Printful: Customer Engagement and Support

• Support Channels: Printful offers multiple communication channels for prompt customer interaction, including calls, chat, and email.
• Support Time: Printful demonstrates a dedicated approach to customer engagement, providing a complimentary onboarding session for new users. Their informative blog section offers valuable insights into running a successful print-on-demand business.

Printify: Customer Engagement and Support

• Support Channels: Printify features a comprehensive help center as blog, contact form, and 24/7 Chat. There is no phone assistance.
• Support Time: Printify does offer 24/7 support, but this only applies to chat. It lacks 24/7 live phone calls. 

The Verdict: 

Printful emerges as the winner in the realm of customer support.

Printify vs Printful: Overall features

Printful

Printful boasts an organized service structure, offering concise categorization. 

One standout feature, the Printful ecommerce photography service, sets it apart from other print-on-demand platforms. This unique service provides high-resolution images to enhance your brand’s identity. 

Bulk order discounts, including a 20% reduction for photographed and fulfilled products, contribute to an attractive package. With readily available pre-made samples, obtaining product images becomes a seamless process. 

Furthermore, Printful ensures swift same-day fulfillment for orders placed before noon through its automated order processing solution. Notably, their pricing calculator aids users in setting competitive retail prices.

Printify

While Printify offers an extensive product catalog, its focus on design services falls short. In contrast, Printful excels by offering graphic design options for business branding, promotions, and accessories. 

On their official page, Printful showcases design work and introduces an in-house team of skilled graphic designers. This additional feature enhances Printful’s offering, particularly for businesses seeking comprehensive design solutions.

The Verdict: 

Printful is the winner as it is more feature-rich.

Printify vs Printful: Product designs and quality

Printify

Printify’s strategy tends to gravitate toward a more traditional selection of print-on-demand items, emphasizing established products like T-shirts and hoodies. While this approach has its merits, there exists an opportunity for Printify to broaden its horizons by introducing a diverse array of cutting-edge and trendsetting products. 

By diversifying its product range, Printify could enhance its appeal and cater to broader customer preferences.

Printful

Conversely, Printful takes a proactive and forward-thinking stance when sourcing successful product designs. This dedication to offering trendsetting and innovative products is pivotal in instilling customer confidence regarding the brand’s offerings. 

The crux of the distinction between the two platforms lies in their operational approaches. Unlike Printify, Printful has made substantial investments in crucial aspects such as cutting-edge printing technology, expansive warehousing infrastructure, and a proficient team of graphic designers. This robust foundation empowers Printful to exercise meticulous control over the quality of its products, thereby maintaining consistently higher standards.

The Verdict: 

Printful emerges as the victor.

Printful vs Printify vs Print Aura

Print Aura: Overview

Print Aura falls significantly short compared to Printify and Printful, deviating from print-on-demand merchant expectations. The website’s static appearance raises concerns about user-friendliness and responsiveness, potentially impacting order fulfillment.

• Shipping: Standard shipping for T-shirt orders takes 3-5 business days in the US, giving Print Aura a slight lead in shipping speed.
• Mockup and Design Tools: Print Aura’s mockup tool and design page lack the optimal performance and fast loading seen in Printful and Printify.
• Recommendation and Scaling: Suited for beginners needing basic print designs, Print Aura struggles with scalability and less appealing print designs compared to Printful.
• Mockup Generator: Print Aura’s mockup generator lacks clarity in operation, potentially posing navigation challenges for new users.

Printful and Printify: Overview

Printful

• Printful stands out with a diverse production network and the freedom for drop shippers to choose their preferred print designer.
• Printful is the sole service with a broad production network, offering the ability to select a preferred print designer.
• Printful is better at growing, and their print designs look fancier than what you’d find on Print Aura.

Printify

• Printify offers an option to upgrade to an advanced plan, providing more flexibility.
• Both Printify and Print Aura have limitations on this freedom.

Print Aura falls behind in various aspects, including user-friendliness, shipping speed, mockup tools, scalability, and print design appeal. Printful and Printify offer a more comprehensive and flexible experience, with Printful showcasing a unique production network and design freedom.

Printful vs. Printify vs. Sellfy

Sellfy: Overview

Sellfy shares similarities with Printful and Printify, catering to entrepreneurs seeking a straightforward way to sell POD products. Sellfy’s user-friendly platform features a built-in 3D mock-up for design testing and customization.

• Product Range and Customization: Sellfy offers a smaller product range of 40 items but compensates with extensive color, size, and labeling options. They provide embroidery, direct-to-garment printing, and eco-friendly material choices.
• Shipping: Average fulfillment time is five days, with a possibility of up to 20 days for locations outside the US and Canada. About 50% of orders ship within three working days, potentially faster than Printify and Printful for US customers.

• Fulfillment and Integration: Lack of location selection and limited details about fulfillment centers. No native dropshipping app integrations or third-party carrier options. Add-ons are focused on marketing and store management.
• eCommerce Platform and Pricing: Sellfy allows setting up a fully hosted eCommerce website to sell digital, physical, and POD products. Physical product fulfillment for non-Sellfy POD products requires independent shipping and fulfillment arrangements. Competitive pricing includes built-in marketing and analytics tools for revenue tracking, site visits, conversions, and purchases.
• Areas for Improvement: Improve flexibility in fulfillment and dropshipping integrations to catch up with competitors.

Printful and Printify: Overview

• Printful and Printify offer broader fulfillment capabilities and integrations, potentially surpassing Sellfy’s flexibility.

In summary, Sellfy provides a user-friendly platform for selling POD products, with customization options, competitive pricing, and eCommerce capabilities. However, its fulfillment and integration limitations may put it slightly behind Printful and Printify regarding flexibility and options.

Printful vs Printify vs Teelaunch

Teelaunch: Overview

Teelaunch is designed exclusively for Shopify users, setting it apart from Printful and Printify. While not as widely recognized, Teelaunch offers unique and rare print products not commonly found on other platforms.

• Product Variety: Teelaunch provides distinctive products, including branded power banks, shower curtains, UV-printed bracelets, kids’ beanies, monogram gloves, journal hardcovers, jewelry boxes, and more.
• Brand Design and Quality: Compared to Printful, Teelaunch is still improving brand design and quality within the dropshipping model.
• Shipping and Fulfillment: Teelaunch’s shipping times could improve to match its competitors, especially compared to Printful’s shorter shipping times due to more US warehouses. Enhancing lead times would require Teelaunch to develop in-house fulfillment capabilities for greater control over product quality and turnaround time.
• Ease of Use: Teelaunch offers user-friendly interfaces for beginners.
• Pricing and Markup: Teelaunch stands out in pricing by providing competitive markup potential while maintaining print design quality.

Printful and Printify: Overview

• Printful and Printify have established themselves as more recognized and productive players in the print-on-demand market.
• Printful particularly excels in brand designs and quality.

In summary, Teelaunch offers unique products and competitive pricing, making it an appealing choice for Shopify users. While it may lag in some areas, focusing on fulfillment and quality control could elevate its standing to match competitors like Printful and Printify.

Pros of Printful

• Diverse Product Portfolio: Printful offers an extensive range of distinctive products for customization, providing sellers with a wide array of options.
• Automated Fulfillment System: Printful employs a computerized order fulfillment process, streamlining the task of processing and shipping orders efficiently.
• Integration Capabilities: Printful integrates with prominent shopping cart platforms and online marketplaces, facilitating smooth business operations and expanded market reach.
• Swift Turnaround: Printful boasts a rapid turnaround time, ensuring that orders are processed and dispatched promptly, enhancing customer satisfaction.
• Centralized Fulfillment Centers: Printful operates centralized warehouses in critical locations such as Los Angeles, North Carolina, Latvia, and Mexico, with plans for an additional facility in Spain. With in-house printing capabilities, drop shippers can offer global sales and expedited order fulfillment.
• User-Friendly Interface: Printful’s platform features a user-friendly interface, enabling new and experienced sellers to navigate and utilize the system efficiently.
• High Product Quality: Printful maintains a reputation for delivering products of superior quality, contributing to customer loyalty and positive brand perception.
• Extensive Customer Base: Printful has established a substantial customer base across the United States and Europe, highlighting its broad appeal and successful market presence.

Cons of Printful

• Premium Pricing: Printful’s products command a higher price point compared to its competitors. This might necessitate market research to ascertain your target audience’s willingness to invest in customized branded items.

Pros of Printify

• Printing Provider Selection: Printify allows users to choose from various printing providers, enabling them to align their POD business with a partner that best suits their quality and production preferences.
• Flexible Pricing Model: Printify provides a pricing model that offers flexibility in setting your profit margins, enabling you to determine your desired level of profitability for each product.
• Extensive Product Variety: Printify boasts a wide selection of over 200 products, providing sellers with diverse options for their customers.
• Cost-Effective Products: Printify’s products are often priced at a more affordable level than other platforms, potentially offering cost savings for sellers and customers.

Cons of Printify

• Limited Integrations: Printify has a restricted number of integrations with other platforms and marketplaces, potentially limiting your ability to reach a broader customer base.
• Limited Branding Services: Printify’s branding services are somewhat restricted in scope, potentially limiting your ability to customize and brand your products thoroughly.
• Inconsistent Print Quality: At times, Printify’s print quality may vary, which could impact the overall satisfaction of your customers with the final product.

Who Should Use Printful? Who Should Use Printify?

Who should choose Printful over Printify? 

• Quality-Conscious Entrepreneurs: Those who prioritize superior product quality and are willing to invest in premium materials and printing techniques should opt for Printful. Its in-house production and rigorous quality control ensure high-end finished products.
• Design-Centric Sellers: Individuals who emphasize creative design and branding may prefer Printful due to its extensive design tools, customization options, and resources for creating unique and eye-catching products.
• Niche Market Sellers: Entrepreneurs targeting specific niche markets with specialized design requirements can benefit from Printful’s detailed customization options, allowing them to cater to unique customer preferences effectively.
• Fulfillment Efficiency Seekers: Businesses prioritizing streamlined order fulfillment and timely shipping may find Printful advantageous, thanks to its well-established fulfillment centers in multiple locations, ensuring prompt processing and delivery.
• US and European Market Focus: Sellers targeting the US and European markets can benefit from Printful’s popularity and strong presence in these regions, facilitating better customer reach and sales opportunities.
• Brand Identity Builders: Those looking to build a distinct brand identity and maintain consistency across their product line can use Printful’s comprehensive branding and packaging options.

Who should choose Printify over Printful? 

• Budget-Conscious Entrepreneurs: Individuals seeking cost-effective print-on-demand solutions may prefer Printify’s competitive pricing model, allowing them to maintain higher profit margins while offering a range of customizable products.
• Variety-Oriented Sellers: Sellers who value a diverse product selection can benefit from Printify’s extensive catalog of over 200 products, offering a wide range of options to cater to different customer preferences.
• Flexibility in Printing Partners: Those who want the freedom to choose their printing partners and diversify their supply chain can opt for Printify, which enables them to select from a network of different printing providers.
• Simple Integration Seekers: Entrepreneurs looking for an easy integration process with various e-commerce platforms and marketplaces may find Printify’s user-friendly interface and quick setup appealing.
• Startups Exploring Different Markets: New businesses looking to explore various markets and expand their product offerings may find Printify’s flexibility and range of printing partners beneficial for adapting to different customer demands.

FAQ: Printful vs Printify

Printful vs Printify – Final Verdict

In the final verdict of our comparison between Printful vs Printify, Printful is the definitive winner, underpinned by its exceptional attributes and advantages, such as established presence and expertise, superior print quality and shipping, diverse product range, seamless integration and accessibility, efficient global fulfillment, user-friendly interface, and credible reputation.