If you’re dreaming of starting your own online store, the best print on demand sites are a great place to start. It’s one of the easiest ways to dip your toes into the world of e-commerce without breaking the bank. There’s no need for inventory, no storage headaches, and, best of all, your designs can reach people around the globe. But with so many platforms out there, how do you decide which print on demand site is the best for you? Let’s walk through the most popular options, and I’ll share a few insights to help you pick the right one for your needs.
Print on demand, in a nutshell, means that the products you design—whether that’s t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, or even phone cases—are only produced after a customer places an order. This way, you don’t need to worry about unsold items piling up or figuring out where to store them.
The print on demand company handles production, shipping, and sometimes even customer service. It’s basically a low-risk, low-hassle way of bringing your creative ideas to life and sharing them with others.
Among the vast sea of options, some platforms have become staples in the print on demand space. Let’s start with one of the big players—Printful. Printful is a name that’s very popular among aspiring entrepreneurs, and for good reason.
Printful integrates with many major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and even Amazon, making it easy to link your online store to your chosen print on demand products. They also offer a wide range of products, from shirts to wall art, so there’s a lot of creative freedom in what you decide to sell.
Another standout feature of Printful is its quality control. They own their own printing facilities, which means they can keep a close eye on the quality of every item. There’s a real sense of reliability that comes with knowing your customers are getting a good product. The downside, however, is that Printful isn’t the cheapest option out there. They tend to have slightly higher product and shipping costs, which can squeeze your profit margins unless you price your products accordingly.
Moving on to Printify, which is another platform worth considering, especially if you’re more budget-conscious. Printify works a bit differently compared to Printful in that they don’t have their own printing facilities. Instead, they connect you to a network of print providers across the globe, which can be both a strength and a weakness. The good thing is that you get more flexibility in terms of pricing since different providers offer different costs and options, and you can pick the one that fits your budget. Plus, you have the choice of choosing providers closer to your target market, which can mean lower shipping costs and quicker delivery times.
However, Printify’s approach does have some trade-offs. Since the print providers are third parties, the quality can sometimes be inconsistent, and you might need to do a bit more research to make sure you’re picking a reputable provider. But for many sellers, especially those just starting out, Printify’s affordable pricing and wide selection of products make it an attractive option.
If you’re a fan of marketplaces where people are already browsing for unique, artistic goods, then Redbubble might catch your interest. Redbubble is both a print on demand provider and a marketplace, so you don’t need to have your own website or worry about integrating with an online store.
You create your designs, upload them, and they’re available for people to find directly on Redbubble. It’s a good platform if you like the idea of having your designs seen by an audience that’s already looking for unique and creative products. The site has a very artsy vibe, so if your work appeals to that audience, you could find some success here.
That said, Redbubble also comes with limitations. For starters, you don’t have as much control over your branding. Your store is hosted under Redbubble, and they take care of customer service, which can be a positive for some but limits your personal touch. You’re also competing with other artists on the platform, which means standing out can be challenging, especially at first.
Etsy also has a bit of crossover with print on demand, especially when paired with a provider like Printful or Printify. Etsy is a marketplace that already has a massive customer base looking for handmade or unique items, and print on demand products fit well within this niche. What’s nice about Etsy is that you can create a branded storefront and build a bit more of a relationship with your customers, but you still don’t have to handle the production side of things if you use a print on demand service to fulfill your orders.
The downside is that Etsy has fees—listing fees, transaction fees, and processing fees—and these can add up. You also need to be a bit more proactive about marketing your shop since competition is high, and getting your listings to appear in front of potential buyers can take some work. However, for people who like the idea of combining a personal touch with print on demand products, Etsy can be a great option.
If you’re looking for a platform that’s incredibly user-friendly, TeeSpring (now called Spring) could be a good choice. TeeSpring started as a place to easily sell t-shirts but has since expanded its product selection quite a bit. One of the best things about Spring is the simplicity. The platform was designed with beginners in mind, so even if you have no technical skills, you can easily create and sell your designs.
Another advantage is that Spring also acts as a marketplace, and they have a built-in audience. Their integration with social media platforms, like YouTube, makes it easy to sell merch to your followers if you’re a content creator. But there are some limitations to consider. For one, Spring isn’t as flexible as other platforms in terms of integration. You don’t have the same range of choices when it comes to connecting your store to other e-commerce sites, and the product selection, while growing, is still somewhat limited compared to bigger players like Printful.
Zazzle is another print on demand platform that’s worth exploring. Zazzle stands out because of the wide range of products they offer—not just the usual suspects like t-shirts and mugs, but also things like wedding invitations, party supplies, and home decor. If you want to create products that aren’t quite as common in the POD world, Zazzle might be an interesting option for you.
It’s also a marketplace, much like Redbubble, so you can create a store within Zazzle and upload your designs for customers to find. Their customer base includes people looking for custom gifts or special event products, so if your designs cater to these occasions, Zazzle might be a good fit. The main drawback is that, much like other marketplace platforms, it can be competitive. But if you find your niche, Zazzle offers the opportunity to tap into an audience that’s interested in customization and creativity.
For those of you who might already have a following on social media or want more control over your brand, Gelato could be a perfect match. Gelato isn’t as well known as some of the other platforms, but they have a lot to offer—particularly if you want a global reach. Gelato has print hubs all over the world, which helps with faster shipping times and can save on shipping costs. The platform integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and a few other popular e-commerce options, allowing you to run a store with your branding front and center.
One of Gelato’s strong points is sustainability. They produce items close to where the order is made, which reduces the carbon footprint—a factor that’s becoming increasingly important to many buyers. The product catalog might not be as extensive as some other platforms, but if your target audience values eco-friendliness and fast delivery, Gelato could be a great choice.
Let’s not forget Society6—a platform that’s quite artist-focused. Society6 is both a print on demand provider and a marketplace, geared specifically towards artists and designers. They’ve built a strong reputation for art prints, home decor, and furniture items featuring creative artwork. If your strength is art and illustration, Society6 allows you to upload your work and turn it into a wide variety of products without needing to deal with any of the technical side of selling.
The good news is that Society6 has a dedicated audience that loves supporting artists, and they take care of customer service, production, and shipping for you. The downside is that their royalty rates are relatively fixed, which means you don’t have as much say over pricing and profit margins. If you’re looking to establish a brand and want more control over your income, this might feel limiting, but for artists who want to focus solely on creation, Society6 is a good outlet.
As you consider these options, it’s important to think about your priorities. Are you looking for maximum control over your brand and pricing? Or are you hoping to tap into an existing audience to get your designs out there as quickly as possible? Do you care more about production quality, shipping speed, or maybe the ability to choose among a wide variety of products? Every platform has its unique strengths and weaknesses, and the best one for you depends largely on what kind of experience you want to have.
If you’re someone who loves the idea of starting a brand and creating a storefront that you can customize and control, pairing a platform like Shopify with Printful, Printify, or Gelato might be ideal. This combination allows you to present a polished, branded experience to your customers, while still letting you offload the production and fulfillment aspects.
On the other hand, if you’re an artist looking for a low-effort way to get your work in front of people, marketplace-focused platforms like Redbubble, Society6, or Zazzle might be a better fit. They have ready-made audiences, and all you need to do is focus on your designs. The trade-off, of course, is that you’ll be competing with many other artists, and you won’t have as much control over pricing or branding.
For beginners, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options, but remember that you can always experiment. Many of these platforms allow you to use them simultaneously, so you’re not stuck choosing just one. For example, you could test your designs on both Etsy and Redbubble and see where you get the best response. Or you could use Printify for your main e-commerce store while also creating a Society6 store to expand your reach.
The beauty of print on demand is that the barriers to entry are so low, making it possible to start small, try out different products and platforms, and learn what works best for you. It’s also an incredibly flexible way to test the waters with different types of designs—whether it’s typography, digital art, or photography—and see what resonates with an audience.
In the end, the “best” print on demand site comes down to what matters most to you. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but there’s a great chance that one of these platforms can help you take that first step toward turning your creativity into a thriving business.
And remember, building an online store takes time and patience. Don’t be discouraged by slow beginnings—each sale is a chance to learn, refine, and grow. Whether you’re creating art, starting a brand, or just exploring something new, print on demand is a fantastic way to bring your ideas to life with minimal risk and tons of potential.