Print on demand or POD has really caught fire in today’s economy. It is not therefore surprising that there are quite many competitors within this industry with their own rightful niche defined to differentiate them from each other. To the readers of this article, I will help you safely navigate your way in this industry by identifying the best print on demand companies.
What are the best print on demand fulfillment companies? These are the best print on demand companies. I indicated the providers with other product specialties beside t-shirts.
- Printful
- Zazzle
- Redbubble
- Fine Art America (art)
- TeeSpring
- Society6 (art prints)
- Sunfrog
- Teefury
- Threadless
- Design By Humans
- GearLaunch
- Printify
- Shine On Jewelry (jewelry items)
- Pillow Profits (covers)
- Print Aura
The list shown above is in no set order of ranking. I will go over each one of them in this article. I will try to list the pros and the cons of using them, their print on demand products, and their unique product offering if any.
But before I proceed, I would like to discuss these print on demand providers and how they may differ from each other in terms of how they are being used.
Print On Demand Companies Setup
Certain print on demand t-shirt companies such as RedBubble and Society6 offer you an online storefront within their sites.
This would mean that traffic coming to their sites can go to your store and select an item to be ordered. This same order will then be sent to the backend of these print on demand providers for order fulfillment.
This setup is different if you have an online store of your own that has its own website. This will also apply if you are using an online marketplace or platform like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, or Amazon.
When orders come in this through this front end, orders will be sent to the print on demand provider. That is why certain print on demand companies such as Printful have interfaces setup through an app or widget that can be added to these same online stores.
What To Consider With Print On Demand Companies
You should make it a point to check the following when evaluating these providers.
Price Of Item And Payment Mode
I’m referring here to the item price and its related shipping costs.
It is to your interest to obtain the lowest possible item price for these print on demand products so that you will get a higher profit out of them.
You will also have to check as to how much you can charge for this item since some providers will set a limit on this amount in terms of percentage or actual dollar price.
Review also other associated charges that may come along with this pricing. Some providers may specify a minimum amount or minimum order quantity.
Also, if you some print on demand companies charge a monthly membership fee. If you are using Shopify and Amazon, you will also be paying associated fees with them.
If you are selling from the online store itself, Paypal will be charging you fees for payment handling.
All of these related charges will have a substantial effect on your net income, if you don’t handle them properly, after processing the customer’s order.
It is also crucial to note how are you going to get compensated for your products that you have sold because it is more than likely that these providers will handle payments. Check on their payment schedules also.
Please see the following chart for comparison for this print on demand t-shirt companies in terms of pricing. I am using standard and premium t-shirts as the basis for comparison.
Fulfillment Turnaround Time
Ideally, you will sign up with the provider that can guarantee the shortest possible turnaround time for production and delivery.
It is also to your interest if you can have the item ordered by the customer to reach them quickly.
If the print on demand companies that you are considering are handling their order fulfillment outside the US, you have to be prepared that delivery might take longer than usual.
Other Considerations
I will pay extra attention if this print on demand provider can help me market my store. What I mean by this is that they have enough pull on the marketplace that traffic can get diverted to my online store.
This is why platforms such as Amazon and Shopify have an edge since they have extensive market presence driven by their popularity and usefulness. Stores that have a presence with these giants can count on sure traffic going to their sites.
I am not too concerned about print quality since chances are that the best print on demand t-shirt companies are using the same technology and printers. The print difference will be minimal at best. I would pay attention instead to the quality of fabric or material being used with these products.
Ideally, these companies will have an extensive product selection to grow my business. You can check this link for the best print on demand items that you should consider.
Last, I will check their customer service for hours, responsiveness, and thoroughness since this will be obviously important. A very responsible print on demand provider will save you a lot of headaches here. Customer reviews are a good source for this.
I will now discuss these print on demand providers listed above.
Printful
Among print on demand companies, Printful has been around longer than most.
Their business model is different from most in the sense that they take care of their customer’s order fulfillment. Others outsource the handling of these products.
Another difference is that Printful can be integrated with other e-commerce sites like Amazon and Shopify where the orders will be received. You can refer to this link my article as to how this integration with Amazon works.
These orders can then be sent to Printful for handling and order fulfillment.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, all-over shirts, tank tops, ¾ sleeve shirts, crop tops, long sleeve shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, leggings, shorts, jackets, skirts, dresses, swimwear, sports bras, bodysuits
Accessories: tote bags, backpacks, drawstring bags, phone cases, socks
Hats: baseball caps, snapbacks, trucker hats, beanies, bucket hats, visors
Home Living: aprons, coffee mugs, pillows, wall art, beach towels, bean bags
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: vintage caps
Pros Of Using Printful:
- They are integrated with numerous e-commerce sites and online marketplaces.
- Handles their own order fulfillment which should make them better in terms of performance.
- An extensive selection of high-quality products is available. You even have the option of selecting different brands for the same item such as t-shirts.
- They give you the option of white label handling so that you can use your own brand name.
- Have a mockup generator which allows you to generate the best print on demand t-shirts.
- Excellent customer services and online site offer a variety of helpful information.
Cons Of Using Printful:
- Pricier compared to others.
- You can’t use your own boxes, tissues, and other poly-mailers when shipping customer orders.
Zazzle
Through Zazzle, you will have a high volume of incredible and unique customizations possible. There is about 1300 print on demand products available for you to further customize.
You can select one of Zazzle artist’s own artwork or upload your own. Zazzle can connect you to makers who create the products and the designers who can design artwork. And their site generates a high volume of web traffic which is good for you since their viewers can see your products for sale.
They also have available on their site officially licensed brands like Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, Harry Potter, Coca Cola, Sesame Street, and others.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, hoodies, jerseys, jackets, polos, activewear,
Accessories: headbands, embroidered hats, trucker hats, baseball caps, rings, watches, necklaces, luggage tags, passport holders,keychains, underwear, custom espadrilles, gym bags, duffel bags, laptop embroidered bags, backpacks, ties, cufflinks, lapel pins, sunglass, eyewear, scarves
Electronics: phone cases, otter cases
Home & Living: beddings, bath mats, pillowcases, mugs, linens, food labels, door mats, yard signs, bumper stickers, license plates, dog shits, pet beds & collars
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: wedding items such as invitations, announcements, cards, programs, guest books and all mailing accessories and stationeries
Pros Of Using Zazzle:
- They have extensive product selection.
- You can define the royalty you want to generate for your products.
- High site traffic allows exposure to your products.
- Competitive price points for their products.
Cons Of Using Zazzle:
- Customer reviews point out that Zazzle does not allow them to create stickers that may be considered offensive such as negative Trump-related merch.
- There were instances of delayed or failed order shipment delivery.
Redbubble
This is an online marketplace for a big number of products with artwork submitted by its diverse community. Their artists mostly are coming from the indie scene.
They have a big consumer base which shows how much affection they have for this site. Aside from this, they are recognized for being one of the companies that can provide the best print on demand t-shirts.
Redbubble, unlike Printful, does not provide an interface with e-commerce sites such as Shopify.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, dresses, mini skirts, leggings, scarves, kids clothing
Bags: studio pouches, laptop sleeves, tote bags, drawstring bags
Device cases: phone wallets and cases, laptop skins and sleeves
Home decor: pillowcases, duvet covers, mugs, clocks, acrylic blocks, wall tapestries
Stationery: greeting cards, postcards, hardcover journals, laptop stickers, spiral notebooks
Wall art: posters, prints (metal, frame, canvas, photographic), artboards
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: studio pouches
Pros Of Using Redbubble:
- No membership fees to join.
- The site is easy to use, have fast upload facility, and secured by 256-bit SSL encryption.
- They have a free return policy for all orders with refund or exchange options.
- You can define your own royalty here.
Cons Of Using Redbubble:
- Bad reviews are mostly on delayed deliveries and canceled orders.
- Redbubble does not allow sellers to promote their own proprietary brands.
Fine Art America
This site caters to art lovers, especially the ones who like paintings and images of paintings. There are some pieces of digital art present here. You can use these designs for your print on demand items.
They claim to have hundreds of thousands of independent artists and brands in their site. They have 14 global production facilities spread in 5 countries.
You will be supporting these artists when you use this provider’s services.
PRODUCTS:
Home decor: pillowcases, covers, blankets, towels, curtains, mugs,
Lifestyle: bags, zip pouches, t-shirts, yoga mats,
Stationery: greeting cards, spiral notebooks
Tech: phone cases, chargers
Wall art: prints, posters, tapestries, paintings, photographs, illustrations, digital art,
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: Their wall art can be customized for specific rooms in your house such as bedroom and even house styles (beach house, bachelor’s pad, etc.).
Pros Of Using Fine Art America:
- They have plenty of great art that will look good on your print on demand items.
- You can license or sell your own artwork here.
- You can set your own prices.
- They provide their own 30-day money-back guarantee for their products.
Cons Of Using Fine Art America:
- No visibility as to how much they are charging for your items. Artists do not know the final price of the product.
- You have to pay for your own premium membership if you do prefer to sell from your website. This website can be provided by Fine Art America.
- There is a limit to how many images you can upload if you only have a standard membership.
TeeSpring
You can select an existing design in the site if you want to.
You do need to meet a minimum sale requirement before you will get paid. You also need to do promotions for your own products.
They also have set a minimum quantity requirement before they will print your orders.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, tank tops, long sleeve t-shirts, socks, leggings
Accessories: phone cases, tote bags, stickers, mugs
Home decor: tapestries, blankets, posters, prints
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: none
Pros Of Using TeeSpring:
- You can set your own prices here.
- They have a good client base that will increase the visibility of your products.
- They have excellent training programs at the TeeSpring Training Center.
- A dedicated customer service agent can handle any inquiries for your products.
Cons Of Using TeeSpring:
- They have a minimum quantity requirement for order fulfillment.
- They also have a minimum sale requirement before you will get paid here.
- Reviews by clients point out unresponsive and inefficient customer service personnel.
Society6
This site is similar to Fine Art America in the sense that artists from all countries can upload, license, and sell their art for print on demand products. You will be supporting these artists in their work if you use their designs.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, hoodies, leggings, biker tanks, tank tops
Bags: tote bags, duffel bags, backpacks
Bath: towels, bath mats, curtains
Home decor: curtains, wallpapers, wall clocks, pillows, blankets, covers, comforters
Stationery: stickers, notebooks, wrapping paper
Tabletop: mugs, coolers, coasters, cutting boards, trays
Tech: phone cases, laptop sleeves, laptop skins
Wall art: prints, posters, tapestries, wall hangings, wall murals, wood wall art
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: Furniture items like benches, bar stools, tables, and credenzas.
Pros Of Using Society6:
- Art lovers would love the selection available here. There are plenty of designs available.
- You can set your margins here.
- The quality of art prints here is excellent.
- They have a big variety of products available.
Cons Of Using Society6:
- Different specifications of art can be sometimes difficult to handle in printing. Their set pixel guidelines on various products must be followed strictly to have your designs properly printed on each item.
- Apparel print quality is not the best for they are often dull.
Sunfrog
They are known for t-shirt and apparel products with numerous categories to choose from. They state that they are the world’s largest direct to garment or DTG printer with no upcharges for more color requirements.
They are offering flat-rate pricing for both item and shipping costs for easier ROI calculations.
Their Sunfrog academy has extensive courses on Facebook Marketing, Google Analytics, Email Marketing, and others
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, hoodies, long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, tank tops, pants, shorts, leggings, wraps
Accessories: headwear, blankets
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: none
Pros Of Using Sunfrog:
- Competitive pricing for consumers.
- Excellent selection of designs.
- Their academy is very helpful
- Great service.
Cons Of Using Sunfrog:
- Delays in delivery by Sunfrog are reported by consumers.
Teefury
Teefury features designs coming from indie artists. They are known for their graphic designs.
Their designs mostly come from pop culture parody and original art with a focus on horror, sci-fi, anime, cartoons, internet humor, puns, nostalgia, retro, dog shirts, cat shirts, and others. You can say that they are focused on nerd and geek culture.
They have high-quality print on demand t-shirts available. They do not have an extensive product selection for they have kept it simple with t-shirts, hoodies, and tank tops forming their bread and butter. They also offer all over prints.
In certain instances, they release limited edition leggings, sweaters, pins, skits, and even shoes to maintain the interest of their customers.
They have designs that can be purchased for a low as $1 for a very limited time which increases their site traffic. Offbeat designs are also available.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, all over print t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: none
Pros Of Using Teefury:
- Their collection of designs are very diverse and interesting especially if you are interested in the ultra-popular geek culture.
- You can return t-shirts for a refund within 30 days.
Cons Of Using Teefury:
- Complaints about them are usually regarding the length of processing and delivery of products.
- They are not an artist-friendly marketplace.
- Others are complaining about their t-shirt quality.
Threadless
Threadless is similar to the earlier print on demand providers reviewed here.
They also source their designs from artists coming from various countries. They even allow these same artists to set up shop within their own site.
Designs submitted by artists here would have to pass the vote by the entire Threadless community before it can be made available.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, all over print t-shirts, hoodies, tank tops, long sleeve t-shirts, leggings, shoes
Accessories: tote bags, duffel bags, backpacks, mugs, pins, patches, hats, phone cases, notebooks,
Art: prints, canvas, tapestries
Home decor: pillows, blankets, covers, bath mats, rugs, drinkware, curtains
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: skateboards
They can ship all their products to worldwide destinations.
Pros Of Using Threadless:
- They have many original designs available.
- These designs can be further customized if needed.
Cons Of Using Threadless:
- No return policy present.
- Quality of apparel used and the print is not the same as before. Their performance is deteriorating according to clients.
Design By Humans
The crowd comprising the majority of its users are YouTubers, gamers, designers, and artists. You can say that this is quite an eclectic crowd which is apparent in the designs that can be seen in this site.
They have regular contests regarding these designs with the winning one can be sold at discounted prices. Artists can earn more if their designs are selling high. They can also open a store within this site if they passed certain qualifications.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts
Accessories: phone cases
Art: wall art prints
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: none
Pros Of Using Designs By Humans:
- They have a good supportive community for artists.
- Artists can earn more here compared to other sites.
- You can find great prints here.
- You can return delivered items within a period of 60 days if dissatisfied with it.
Cons Of Using Designs By Humans:
- Usual complaints on late deliveries noted.
GearLaunch
When you integrate GearLaunch to your Shopify online store, all orders will be automatically sent to them for fulfillment. You can also enter your new products in GearLaunch and it will send it to your Shopify store.
They have a referral program where you will get credits for successful a signup of your recommended person.
There is a monthly membership fee to use this print on demand provider.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, sweatshirt, hoodie, baby onesie
Art: poster, art prints, canvas print, framed print
Others: mugs, pillows, tote bags
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: none
Pros Of Using GearLaunch:
- Customer service is excellent for they are very responsive. They have dedicated account managers.
- Quality products shipped properly.
- They have free refunds and exchanges.
- Product pricing is among the lowest.
Cons Of Using GearLaunch:
- Usual wrong or delayed delivery issues cited in customer reviews.
Printify
Printify prides itself of offering very low prices for their blank products.
You can visit their design guide page for helpful advice and tips on working with these products.
They offer 3 types of membership programs: free, premium, and enterprise. You get discounts if you get the paid membership plans.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, sweatshirt, hoodie, polo shirt, tank tops, pants, long sleeve t-shirt, skirts, dresses, swimwear, bibs, bodysuits,
Accessories: sneakers, flip flops, socks, tote bags, backpacks, duffel bags
Electronics: phone cases, laptop sleeves
Hats: trucker hat, beanie,
Home and living: posters, wall decals, canvas, wall clocks, tapestries, bath mats, curtains, towels, mugs, tumblers, can holders
Jewelry: bracelet, dog tags, necklaces, metal pin
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: Martin boots, platform heels
Pros Of Using Printify:
- Item price is low compared to others
- Wide selection of products.
- Shipping times are shorter compared to others.
- Mockup generator in place for you to use.
Cons Of Using Printify:
- Outsourced order fulfillment to 3rd party providers.
- You have to pay extra for membership to obtain the best prices.
Shine On Jewelry
Just by the name of this provider alone, you would know that their core product is jewelry items. Your customers will enjoy the premium pieces of jewelry items that they are handling and are bound to repeat their orders or refer it to other people.
They are proud to say that their workforce is composed primarily of mothers and that they can produce your order within 3 days.
You can plug-in their app to your Shopify store.
PRODUCTS:
Jewelry: bangles, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, dog tags, chains, charms
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: Their jewelry offering like charms and bangles have more choices compared to other print on demand providers.
Pros Of Using Shine On Jewelry:
- They provide excellent customer service.
- Products that are purchased from them can be customized to your requirement.
- These products are high markups that can be extremely profitable for your store.
- Free replacements when products get damaged from delivery.
Cons Of Using Shine On Jewelry:
- No 3D printing anymore.
Pillow Profits
This print on demand provider always comes up with new and exciting products which they get from what is trending currently. Their latest ones are car seats and sneakers.
Their fulfillment warehouses are being served out of Asia, specifically in China.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, dresses, sweaters, leggings, hoodies, jackets
Accessories: sneakers, faux fur leather boots, slippers, leather boots, women’s shoes, socks
Home decor: tapestry, curtains, blankets, robes, wall art, beddings, covers
Others: aprons, luggage cover, backpacks, saddle bags, handbags, tote bags
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: sarongs, auto sun shades, car floor mats, car seat covers
You can also plug-in this app to your Shopify online store.
Pros Of Using Pillow Profits:
- Easy designer program to customize your products with free mockup programs available.
- You can exchange item sizes (up to 2 sizes from the original order).
- Excellent customer service.
- Free returns and exchanges on some products.
Cons Of Using Pillow Profits:
- Be aware that in Shopify, sizes will always default to the smallest one available so make note of this. This can cause you headaches in order fulfillment.
- You pay a monthly fee to use this service.
- Their pricing is on the higher side of the spectrum.
Print Aura
Print Aura can help turn your idea to a marketable product. They are an on-demand, dropshipping solution provider with white label capabilities.
They are integrated with Shopify, Storenvy, Etsy, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.
They claim that they can assist you in setting up your online store in minutes.
PRODUCTS:
Apparel: t-shirts, hoodies
Accessories: hats
Electronics: phone cases
Others: mugs, tote bags, aprons, pillows, posters
UNIQUE PRODUCT OFFERING: none
Pros Of Using Print Aura:
- They carry a product mockup tool in their app.
- They have a product guarantee for all their items.
- No membership fees.
- Their Kornit DTG printers are among the best in the industry.
- They are cheaper compared to other print on demand providers.
Cons Of Using Print Aura:
- Their interface and ordering process is not user-friendly.
- They have no sublimation products.
I will like to end this article by discussing how much you can charge for your print on demand products.
How Much You Should Charge For Your Print On Demand Products And Other Factors
Please remember here that your profit is the difference between what you charge the customer for your product and the fulfillment costs. Fulfillment costs are composed of two components which the item cost (inclusive of printing) and shipping costs.
You will have to be on top of what the market charges for this type of product for you don’t want to overcharge. Charging below market price can be detrimental because it can be perceived as low quality.
I suggest that you check the prices your closest competitors charge so you will gain a better idea here.
Evaluate these print on demand t-shirt companies for the quality and cost of their items. Check out if they are not placing a limit on how much you can price your item. If your designs are excellent and popular, you can make plenty of profits here.
I also suggest that before you sign on with these print on demand companies that you go ahead and place an order. That way, you can really evaluate the quality of their items and prints. You will also see if they are on top of their delivery partners since you can really see if they can keep up with their commitments here.
It will be ideal if the print on demand t-shirt companies that you are considering will also be carrying other diverse products.
Consider also print on demand companies that have fulfillment centers outside the US because this may allow you to really target the global market. Aside from this, there should be faster turnaround time for deliveries to these non-US customers since the origin is outside the country.
Lastly, evaluate these providers if they will allow custom labeling for your products since this can make a big difference in your effort to build your brand. A simple sticker logo would go a long way to establish your identity in this competitive business.
Related Questions
What is print on demand book publishing?
This is when a copy of a particular book is printed when there is an order for it. It is bound with full-color lamination and then eventually shipped to the designated address. This works just like any other print on demand product handling.
What is Custom Cat?
This is a print on demand company that had developed its own proprietary product manufacturing and fulfillment solution for online stores. It is offering premium pricing of low volume customized products which eliminates costly setup fees.
What is Print Aura?
This is another one of those print on demand company that offers white label and drop shipping solution for its customers. Partnering with Print Aura will allow its customers to focus on other things for they don’t need to worry about order fulfillment.
What are the print on demand products?
These are the products that are manufactured by print on demand providers based on the designs that its customers have submitted. T-shirts, mugs, books, caps, and umbrellas are some of the common print on demand generated products.
