Best Print-on-Demand Apps for Shopify (Ranked & Compared)

New to POD margins and pricing? Read Print-on-Demand Profit Margins Explained to learn how base costs, shipping, and fees affect your profit. Understanding your margins helps you choose the right POD app confidently.

How We Chose & What Matters

There’s no universal “best” POD app. The right choice depends on your goals—whether that’s minimizing costs, maximizing quality, or scaling globally. We analyzed major Shopify-compatible POD platforms using the following factors:

• Catalog & Print Methods: Apparel basics, posters, jewelry, and specialized printing techniques.
• Base Cost & Shipping: Transparent pricing, regional options, and add-on fees.
• Fulfillment Network: In-house vs third-party providers and delivery times.
• Branding & Packaging: Labeling, inserts, pack-ins, and unbranded packaging.
• Integration Quality: Shopify sync, variant mapping, and order automation.
• Support & Consistency: Production reliability and help response times.

We also considered real-world seller discussions and “People Also Ask” data on Google, including topics like “Printify vs Printful,” “best POD apps for beginners,” and “most profitable POD items.”

Top Picks at a Glance (Comparison Table)

Best Overall Apps (Deep Dive)

1. Printify — Best Overall

Why: Huge catalog, competitive pricing, and the freedom to choose printing partners by cost, rating, or geography. It’s ideal for scaling or experimenting across multiple niches.

• Pros: low base prices; multiple providers; great integrations
• Cons: quality varies by provider; requires testing

2. Printful — Best for Branding & Consistency

Why: Printful owns its facilities, ensuring consistent quality and control. Their branding options (labels, pack-ins) make it best for serious brand builders.

• Pros: in-house printing; fast fulfillment; advanced branding
• Cons: higher cost per unit; extras can add up

3. Gelato — Best for Global Production

Why: Gelato’s localized production minimizes international shipping time and carbon footprint. Excellent for poster or art-focused stores.

• Pros: worldwide coverage; eco credentials
• Cons: smaller apparel range; regional differences

4. SPOD — Fastest Turnaround

Why: SPOD’s 48-hour average production time helps sellers run quick campaigns or respond to trends fast.

• Pros: quick fulfillment; easy app setup
• Cons: limited niche variety

5. Gooten — Best for Catalog Variety

Why: Gooten’s partner network covers everything from apparel to decor and pet accessories. Great for long-tail or lifestyle brands.

• Pros: product range; scalable operations
• Cons: variability between vendors

6. teelaunch — Best for Gifts & Accessories

• Pros: creative catalog (drinkware, accessories); good upsell items
• Cons: less control over branding

7. CustomCat — Best for Apparel Margins

• Pros: competitive pricing on tees and hoodies; ideal for volume
• Cons: simpler app design; basic branding

8. ShineOn — Best for Jewelry

• Pros: high perceived value; good for emotional gifting niches
• Cons: limited to jewelry and gifts

Best by Specific Need

• Lowest base costs: Printify, CustomCat
• Strongest branding tools: Printful
• Global coverage: Gelato
• Fastest production: SPOD
• Gift & jewelry niches: ShineOn
• Unique catalog options: teelaunch, Gooten

Typical Pricing & Fees

Almost all Shopify POD apps are free to install. You pay only when you sell. Expect:

• Base cost: the blank item price
• Printing cost: varies by method (DTG, embroidery, sublimation)
• Shipping: depends on region and product weight
• Add-ons: labels, inserts, and premium branding

Typical total per order (tee + shipping): $10–$18. Hoodies range $20–$35. Always verify exact pricing for your chosen provider and region.

Setup Tips & Common Mistakes

1. Start with 3–5 products. Avoid overloading your store early.
2. Order samples before launch. Check print, color, and packaging.
3. Route orders regionally (US to US, EU to EU).
4. Use lifestyle photos—not just mockups—for higher conversion.
5. Set a free shipping threshold to increase order value.
6. Track profit weekly (COGS, ads, refunds, fees).

Keeping Your POD Profitable

Profit tracking separates sustainable POD brands from hobby stores. Beyond sales, monitor:

• COGS (base + shipping + printing)
• Transaction fees (Shopify, Stripe, PayPal)
• Ad spend across Meta, TikTok, and Google
• Refund rates and discount costs
• GPAM (Gross Profit After Marketing): shows true health

Learn the formulas and simple dashboards in The Complete Guide to Tracking Profits in Print-on-Demand.

FAQs

Which Shopify POD app is best?

Printify is best for cost control and catalog size. Printful is strongest for quality and branding. Gelato is ideal for global orders.

Printify or Printful — which should I choose?

Printify gives flexibility and lower costs but more variation. Printful costs more but delivers consistent branding and packaging.

Most profitable POD items?

Premium tees, hoodies, jewelry, posters, and bundled products often yield higher margins.

Should I use multiple POD apps?

Yes, many sellers mix apps—Printify or Printful for apparel, Gelato for posters, and ShineOn for jewelry—to optimize costs and shipping.

Average production times?

Typically 2–5 business days. SPOD is fastest; Gelato shortens delivery via local routing.