Printful vs Printify: Which One Should You Use?

Written by

Lucinda Honeycutt

Updated

[show_reviewed_by_link]

Written by

Lucinda Honeycutt

Updated

Reviewed By Our team of writers and content creators are experts in ecommerce and we fact-check every claim in our work to ensure it’s accurate and up-to-date. (Learn about our editorial guidelines.).

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If you’re looking at print-on-demand companies, chances are you’ve come across Printful and Printify. Both are well known in the print-on-demand industry, and with good reason. But which one is best? Or does that depend on your needs and preferences?

In this in-depth Printful vs Printify comparison, we’ll look at everything from pricing and profit margins, to products, lead times, printing methods, integrations, and more. By the time you reach the end, you should know which platform will work best for your print-on-demand business.

Printful vs Printify

Overview

Both Printify and Printful provide a variety of products and printing methods so you can easily create custom merchandise. It’s easy to integrate both platforms with ecommerce stores, streamlining the process of designing and selling all manner of stuff. Though they are similar, there are some significant differences between the two services that you should know before signing up.

Printful

Printful is a print-on-demand fulfillment service that empowers creatives to sell custom products without the hassle of inventory management or upfront costs. Founded in 2013, Printful has quickly earned a reputation for reliability and quality in the ecommerce space. The platform enables users to design and sell a variety of products ranging from clothing and accessories, to home decor and more, offering a seamless way for anyone to launch an online store and monetize their creative designs.

Product
Pros and Cons
Ratings
Customizable Branding Options
Fast Delivery
Multiple Integrations
Limited Branding Options
Not All Products Ship Everywhere
Low Margins
Value 4.0
Features 4.2
Customer Support 4.0
Scalability 4.7
4.2
Overall Score
User Rating
1.0

Printful Is Beginner-Friendly

At the core of Printful’s offering is its user-friendly interface, which allows sellers to easily upload their artwork and customize products with the general-purpose design tool. With a broad range of items to choose from, creators can tailor their merchandise to appeal to various niches. Their offerings include:

  • T-shirts
  • Posters
  • Mugs
  • Blankets
  • Masks
  • and much more

Once a design is uploaded with the tool, Printful takes care of the entire process—from printing and packing, to shipping directly to the customer. This streamlined approach significantly reduces the barrier to entry for new entrepreneurs, making it a great option for low-investment startups.

Integrations and Ecosystem

Printful stands out for its extensive integrations with popular ecommerce platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and Amazon. This means users can effortlessly connect their Printful account to just about any online storefront, ensuring real-time synchronization of orders and inventory. The platform also offers tools for order fulfillment tracking, providing users with insights about their sales and customer interactions. Such an ecosystem not only enhances user experience, but also helps sellers build a more sustainable and scalable business.

Commitment to Quality and Sustainability

Quality is a major focus for Printful, which utilizes state-of-the-art printing techniques and materials to ensure that products meet high standards. By partnering with a range of fulfillment centers worldwide, Printful offers various shipping options to cater to a global customer base.

Additionally, the company emphasizes sustainability, offering eco-friendly products and practices to help minimize its environmental impact. This commitment resonates with a growing consumer base that values ethical considerations in their purchasing decisions.

Printify

Printify is a leading print-on-demand platform that empowers entrepreneurs and businesses to create custom products without the need for inventory management or upfront costs. Founded in 2015, Printify has rapidly grown into a go-to solution for those looking to enter the ecommerce space.

By offering a wide range of customizable products—from apparel and accessories to home decor and stationery—Printify caters to a diverse array of market niches, allowing creators to showcase their unique designs in many different ways, while focusing on marketing and customer engagement.

Product
Pros and Cons
Ratings
Wide Variety of Products
Low Production Costs
Multiple Integrations
Inconsistent Print Quality
Limited Branding Options
Warehousing Not Available
Value 4.0
Features 3.5
Customer Support 4.5
Scalability 5.0
4.2
Overall Score
User Rating
1.8

How Printify Works

The Printify platform simplifies the process of creating and selling custom merchandise. Users can easily upload their designs using an intuitive design tool and select products from a vast catalog.

Once a design is applied to a chosen product, Printify handles the printing, packing, and shipping. This means entrepreneurs can operate their businesses without the need to invest in expensive equipment or manage inventory, making it an attractive option for those just starting out in the online retail space.

Where Printify really shines compared to Printful is in their design tool. While both services allow you to upload custom art and design a variety of products, Printify allows you to upload multiple images. With Printful you can only upload a single image, limiting your freedom to create highly-customized products.

Integration and Accessibility

Printify also offers seamless integration with popular ecommerce platforms such as Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and Wix. This allows sellers to connect their Printify account to online stores effortlessly, enabling real-time order fulfillment and tracking. This hassle-free process, backed by Printify’s extensive network of print providers across the globe, allows just about anyone to start selling custom merchandise with ease.

Quality and Variety

Printify prides itself on offering high-quality products with a variety of printing techniques, including direct-to-garment (DTG), sublimation, and digital printing. With a wide selection of suppliers, users can choose products based on price, quality, and shipping speed. This gives a little more control versus Printful who uses a more consistent standard of print and product quality from more homogeneous fulfillment centers.

Company
Products
Print Facilities
Turnaround Time
Custom Packaging
Marketplace
Printify
Products : 900+
Print Facilities : 84
Turnaround Time : 2-7 Business Days
Custom Packaging :
Marketplace :
Printful
Products : 230+
Print Facilities : 11
Turnaround Time : 2-5 Business Days
Custom Packaging :
Marketplace :

Overall, Printify stands out in the print-on-demand landscape by providing an accessible, efficient, and effective solution for entrepreneurs looking to establish their presence in the ecommerce market. Though Printful might be slightly easier to use, the extra functionality of Printify makes up for the slightly steeper learning curve, especially for those looking to establish a serious, long-term entrepreneurial endeavor.

Value

You can sign up to use either platform for free. You do not have to pay monthly fees or subscription fees. Instead, you only pay the base price on the items you or your customers purchase. You’re in complete control of the retail price, so you can keep the rest as profit.

Pricing
Monthly Fee
Apparel Pricing
Non-Apparel Pricing
Bulk Order Discounts
Transparent Pricing
Scam Reports
Refund Policy
Clear Terms Of Service
Printful
Monthly Fee : $0
Apparel Pricing : $8-$42
Non-Apparel Pricing : $8-$45
Bulk Order Discounts :
Transparent Pricing :
Scam Reports :
Refund Policy :
Clear Terms Of Service :
Printify
Monthly Fee : $0-$29
Apparel Pricing : $7-$55
Non-Apparel Pricing : $4-$60
Bulk Order Discounts :
Transparent Pricing :
Scam Reports :
Refund Policy :
Clear Terms Of Service :

Arguably, Printify offers better value with a larger range of prices and more transparency when it comes to costs and earnings. That said, the slightly lower prices don’t have a huge impact on profitability if you prefer the features and interface of Printful.

Printful Pricing

Printful has a wide range of price points depending on the products you are customizing. You can create low-cost items like mugs and posters or higher-cost items like hoodies and full-pattern leggings to suit your customer base.

Printful's pricing

Overall, Printful products tend to cost slightly more than Printify items, on average. This isn’t surprising since Printful is a couple years older and sustainability is part of their mission statement.

Printify Pricing

Ultimately, Printify has a better profit margin because its products don’t cost as much. Many of the products are the same between the two platforms, such as t-shirts.

printify

Let’s look at an example of the price difference between an identical product on both services:

On Printful, a DTG Unisex Bella + Canvas 3001 ranges from $12.95 to $17.45 (for larger sizes, up to 5XL) plus shipping costs.

Printful TShirt Pricing and Profit Margins

On Printify, the same shirt ranges from $7.64 to $ $16.43 (for larger sizes up to 4X depending on provider) plus shipping costs.

That means you could create the cheapest option for over $5 less on Printify versus Printful, a significant amount of profit for a basic shirt.

Printify Tshirt Pricing and Profit Margins

That said, these prices are always subject to change and most prices are comparable for similar products.

Remember, no matter which platform you use, you set the retail price! You can often easily compensate for minor cost differences by increasing the retail price by a dollar or two.

Features and Services

While the overall process for creating and selling custom items on Printful and Printify is very similar, there are a few notable differences that you should know.

Features
Integrated Online Store
Mockup Generator
Design Services
Warehousing
Personalization Options
Custom Packaging
Marketplace
Direct to Garment
Sublimation
Digital Printing
Embroidery
Engraving
PrintfulPrintful Features
Integrated Online Store :
Mockup Generator :
Design Services :
Warehousing :
Personalization Options :
Custom Packaging :
Marketplace :
Direct to Garment :
Sublimation :
Digital Printing :
Embroidery :
Engraving :
PrintifyPrintify Features
Integrated Online Store :
Mockup Generator :
Design Services :
Warehousing :
Personalization Options :
Custom Packaging :
Marketplace :
Direct to Garment :
Sublimation :
Digital Printing :
Embroidery :
Engraving :

One of the most significant differences is Printful offers warehousing options and Printify does not. This comes into play for popular items or lines that are expected to sell a large volume quickly. While most products on both services will be printed as they are purchased, Printful allows you to carry stock for faster turnaround and large volume orders. This greatly reduces production time delays at the risk of unsold product.

Printful also offers some engraving and embroidery options not currently available on Printify.

Printful Products

Printful Features

Printful offers robust and easy-to-use features to enable anyone to start a print-on-demand business. Here are the main ones:

1. User-Friendly Design Tools

Printful provides intuitive design tools that allow users to create custom products effortlessly. With options for uploading artwork, adjusting layouts, and previewing designs, even those without graphic design experience can produce high-quality merchandise.

Printful Mockup Generator

2. Automated Fulfillment

Once a customer places an order, Printful automatically processes it, handling printing, packing, and shipping. This automation reduces errors and takes a significant amount of logistics off of your plate.

3. Real-Time Order Tracking

Through Printful, sellers gain access to order tracking tools that show fulfillment status and shipping progress. This transparency helps keep you and your buyers informed.

Printify Features

Printify Homepage Overview

1. Advanced Design Tools

Printify features an intuitive interface that simplifies the design process while allowing for more functionality than Printful. Users can easily upload multiple graphics, customize products, and visualize their designs in real time, making it possible to create awesome designs without graphic design experience.

Printify Mockup Generator

2. Custom Branding Options

An extension of their advanced product design is custom kitting. Printify offers the ability to customize packaging and branding elements, enabling sellers to deliver a professional and cohesive brand experience without any of the legwork. This helps enhance brand recognition and allows anyone to compete with big companies

3. Global Network of Print Providers

Printify partners with a global network of print providers, offering sellers the flexibility to choose where their products are printed and shipped from. This feature helps reduce shipping times and base costs, at the risk of product and quality irregularities.

Customer Support

When choosing a print-on-demand service, customer support can significantly impact the overall experience. Both Printful and Printify offer customer service designed to assist users in navigating their platforms, resolving issues, and optimizing their businesses. Here’s a comparison of their customer service offerings:

Customer Support
Dedicated AM
Phone Support
Help Center
24/7 Support
Live Chat
PrintfulCustomer Support with Printful
Dedicated AM :
Phone Support :
Help Center :
24/7 Support :
Live Chat :
PrintifyCustomer Support with Printify
Dedicated AM :
Phone Support :
Help Center :
24/7 Support :
Live Chat :

Comparing Customer Service: Printful vs. Printify

Support Channels

Printful:

Printful provides multiple support channels, including email, live chat, and a comprehensive help center. Their help center is well-structured, featuring a wealth of articles, guides, and tutorials that cover various topics, which makes finding answers straightforward.

Printify:

Similarly, Printify offers customer support through email and live chat. They also have an extensive knowledge base filled with answers to frequently asked questions and guides that help users make the most of the platform.

Response Times

Printful:

Users generally report quick response times with Printful, especially through live chat, where representatives can assist in real time. Email inquiries usually receive responses within a few hours, ensuring timely assistance for urgent issues.

Printify:

Printify’s response times can vary but often align closely with those of Printful. Live chat responses are typically prompt, while email support can take a bit longer, depending on the volume of inquiries they are handling.

Accessibility and Availability

Printful:

Printful’s customer service is available during regular business hours, with support representatives actively assisting users. They also offer resources like webinars and community forums, which can enhance the customer support experience.

Printify:

Printify provides support 24/7 for premium users, making it highly accessible for businesses operating across different time zones. They focus on being available when customers need assistance, which is a valuable asset for entrepreneurs managing an online store.

User Feedback

Printful:

Overall, Printful enjoys positive feedback regarding its customer service, with many users appreciating the proactive approach taken by support staff. Many have found them knowledgeable and eager to solve problems effectively.

Printify:

Printify also receives favorable reviews for its customer service. Users appreciate the helpfulness of their support team, although experiences can vary depending on the specific query. The continuous addition of support resources has been noted positively.

Which is right for you?

Both Printful and Printify offer solid customer service aimed at helping users navigate their platforms effectively. While Printful excels in structured resources and proactive assistance, Printify stands out with its 24/7 support for premium users. Ultimately, the choice between them may come down to personal preference and the type of support needed for your specific business requirements.

Print Quality Compared

When it comes to print-on-demand services, the quality of the final product is paramount for any business owner looking to create a lasting impression on their customers. Both Printful and Printify are prominent players in the industry, offering a range of products and print techniques. Here’s a detailed comparison of their print quality to help you make an informed decision.

Print Quality Comparison: Printful vs. Printify

Printing Techniques

Printful:

Printful employs advanced printing techniques, including Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, Sublimation, and Embroidery. Their DTG printers are known for producing vibrant colors and sharp images, particularly on cotton fabrics. Sublimation printing is utilized for apparel with polyester content, allowing for full-color designs that are embedded into the fabric. Printful also provides embroidery options, resulting in a premium finish for logos and text on garments.

Printify:

Printify offers a variety of printing methods as well, including DTG printing, Sublimation, and screen printing, among others. The quality of the print can depend on the Print Provider selected, as Printify operates as a platform that connects users to various print providers globally. This means that while some print providers deliver high-quality results, others may not meet the same standard.

Material Quality

Printful:

Printful is known for using high-quality materials across their product range. They ensure that the fabrics used for their apparel, such as t-shirts and hoodies, are soft, durable, and suitable for printing. The attention to material quality often translates to better print results and customer satisfaction.

Printify:

Printify also offers a diverse selection of products, sourcing items from different suppliers. While many of these products are made from quality materials, the variation among print providers can lead to inconsistencies in the final product. It’s essential for users to read reviews and choose reputable suppliers within Printify to ensure quality.

Color Accuracy and Detail

Printful:

Color accuracy is one of Printful’s strong suits. Their DTG printing process allows for a wide color gamut, ensuring that designs are reproduced faithfully. Customers often report high satisfaction with the detail and vibrancy of their printed products, which enhances the overall appeal of their merchandise.

Printify:

Printify’s color accuracy can vary based on the print provider. Some providers may achieve excellent color reproduction and detail, while others may fall short. Users should be mindful of this variability and consult reviews or sample orders to assess the specific quality of the print provider they plan to use.

Customer Feedback on Print Quality

Printful:

Printful tends to receive consistently positive feedback regarding print quality. Customers frequently praise the clarity of designs and the softness of the printed areas, contributing to repeat purchases and overall customer loyalty.

Printify:

Printify’s print quality feedback is mixed; while many users have successfully produced high-quality products, others have experienced issues depending on the print provider chosen. The diversity of suppliers means that careful selection is critical for maintaining a standard of quality.

No wrong answer

Both Printful and Printify offer commendable print quality, but they come with their unique nuances. Printful provides a more consistent and reliable level of quality across its products due to its controlled printing processes and material selections. On the other hand, Printify offers access to multiple print providers, which can lead to both exceptional and inconsistent results depending on the choices made. As a business owner, evaluating your specific needs and vetting potential print providers within Printify can help you get exactly what you want.

Scalability

The general business model for both Printify and Printful makes them very flexible and scalable. Both have global distribution centers capable of creating and shipping your custom products out as the orders come in.

Printify has more locations, at approximately 90, while Printful only has around 15. However, Printful offers warehousing whereas Printify only prints products on demand, making both capable of handling large order quantities.

All in all, scalability is of little concern with either service, though Printify’s higher location count may be attractive for shortening average fulfillment time and average production time around the world.

Integrations

Both Printful and Printfy integrate with virtually all major ecommerce platforms and marketplaces. The idea is simple: They make it easy to sell products through multiple avenues, increasing the visibility and sales of your designs, which ultimately makes you both more money. A win-win for everyone.

Integrations
Shopify
BigCommerce
WooCommerce
Wix
Squarespace
Etsy
eBay
Amazon
PrintfulIntegrations with Printful
Shopify :
BigCommerce :
WooCommerce :
Wix :
Squarespace :
Etsy :
eBay :
Amazon :
PrintifyIntegrations with Printify
Shopify :
BigCommerce :
WooCommerce :
Wix :
Squarespace :
Etsy :
eBay :
Amazon :

Print On Demand Products

Both services offer a very similar catalog of products that you can customize and sell. Printful and Printify stand out among many competitors who only offer apparel, or even solely t-shirts. In either case, you won’t have any shortage of options to choose from.

Products
Bags & Backpacks
Bedding & Towels
Drinkware & Mugs
Games & Sports
Hats & Socks
Hoodies & Sweats
Jewelry
Luggage & Travel
Posters & Decals
Shirts & Pants
Swimwear & Sports
Tech Accessories
PrintfulProducts
Bags & Backpacks :
Bedding & Towels :
Drinkware & Mugs :
Games & Sports :
Hats & Socks :
Hoodies & Sweats :
Jewelry :
Luggage & Travel :
Posters & Decals :
Shirts & Pants :
Swimwear & Sports :
Tech Accessories :
PrintifyProducts
Bags & Backpacks :
Bedding & Towels :
Drinkware & Mugs :
Games & Sports :
Hats & Socks :
Hoodies & Sweats :
Jewelry :
Luggage & Travel :
Posters & Decals :
Shirts & Pants :
Swimwear & Sports :
Tech Accessories :

If anything, Printify might take the edge here as well, offering a few more categories of products and slightly lower prices overall. Printify, however, does not offer any embroidery or engraving options at the time of writing.

Here is a list of the main products sold by each respective service:

Printful Product Offerings

Apparel

  • T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts
  • Activewear and leggings
  • Hats and beanies

Home & Living

  • Wall art (posters, canvas prints)
  • Mugs, tumblers, and kitchenware
  • Blankets and pillows

Accessories

  • Tote bags and backpacks
  • Phone cases
  • Jewelry and watches

Printify Product Offerings

Apparel

  • Extensive range of T-shirts, tanks, and dresses
  • Various styles of hoodies and sweatshirts
  • Socks and leggings

Home & Living

  • Canvas prints and framed wall art
  • Variety of drinkware (from mugs to water bottles)
  • Home decor items like tapestries and rugs

Accessories

  • A wide selection of bags and backpacks
  • Phone and tech accessories
  • Seasonal items (like face masks or holiday wear)

Printify Products

Overall, Printful offers a more standardized and consistent range of products ideal for brand consistency, while Printify boasts a wider selection and flexibility in its product offerings and print centers. Your choice may depend on the specific needs of your business and whether you want a contained line or more options to experiment with with your customer base.

Share Your Opinion on Printful vs Printify

While both of these services likely have everything you need to launch your own custom apparel and accessories line, it is important to make the right choice now to ensure you don’t regret it later. Both Printful and Printify offer a wide range of products, similar business model, and comparable prices, so you’ll have to look closely at the features that matter most to youw.

The edge will likely come down to a slightly better product catalog, lower prices and shipping rates, or preference with the interface and design tools. Both offer direct integration with popular online marketplaces and ecommerce platforms, meaning the main quality of life features are virtually identical.

If you have experience with either or both services, we would love to hear your opinion! It will not only support and inform us, but help other entrepreneurs just like you hoping to become print-on-demand merchants with a popular POD business like Printfy or Printful..

Share your comment below!

About the author

Photo of author
Lucinda Honeycutt
Lucinda has been a web geek since the '90s. She's a web designer and content creator who specializes in small business, ecommerce, digital marketing, and SEO.

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