Companies Like Printify: Which Is Best for POD Sellers?

How to compare companies like Printify

Most "Printify alternatives" lists rank companies by surface features — number of products, sample integrations, a screenshot of the dashboard. That ranking misses the structural differences that actually drive profit.

Two factors decide which company wins for any given seller. The first is the production model: does the company own its factories, or aggregate a network of independent printers? The second is geography: where do orders ship from, and how does that map to your customer base?

The 10 companies below sit in very different positions on both axes. A US-only seller pushing volume on $19 tees and an EU-based seller selling premium posters should choose different companies — even though both might land on Printify by default. (Printful's own roundup of Printify alternatives covers similar ground from a vendor's perspective; this guide takes a seller-margin lens instead.)

Each profile covers ownership, geographic footprint, integrations, base-price posture, and the seller this company is actually built for. Skip to the comparison table if you want the at-a-glance view.

1. Printful

Printful is the company most often compared to Printify and the closest direct rival on functionality. Founded in 2013, it's now part of the same parent company as Printify after a 2021 merger — but the two operate as separate brands with deliberately different positioning.

The structural difference: Printful owns and operates its own production facilities (Charlotte NC, Los Angeles, Toronto, Riga, Birmingham UK, Tijuana, and more). That ownership translates into tighter quality control and more consistent print results than Printify's aggregator model.

The trade-off is base cost. Printful's prices typically run $4–$8 higher per unit on common SKUs like Bella+Canvas 3001 tees or Gildan hoodies. For a seller charging $25 for a tee, that gap is the difference between $11 and $5 of margin per sale.

Integrations are deep — Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, Amazon, eBay, Big Cartel, plus a robust API. Branding options (inside labels, packaging inserts, custom packing slips) are the best in the category.

Best for: sellers prioritizing print consistency and brand presentation over the lowest possible base cost. For the broader category framing, see our companion guide on sites like Printify.

2. Gelato

Gelato is the company that rewrote international POD economics. Headquartered in Oslo, it operates a network of 130+ print partners in 32 countries, so a German order prints in Germany and a Japanese order prints in Japan.

For a US-only seller, Gelato's pricing sits between Printful and Printify with no special advantage. For anyone selling more than 20–30% internationally, the math flips entirely. Shipping a tee from a US Printify provider to Berlin costs $12–$18 and takes 10–14 days. Through Gelato's Berlin partner, the same shirt ships for €4 and arrives in 3–5 days.

The catalog is narrower than Printify's — strongest on posters, framed prints, photo books, and apparel basics. If you sell oddball SKUs (custom socks, all-over-print hoodies), check availability before switching.

Integrations cover Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, plus a strong API used by enterprise customers like Canva. Gelato also offers Gelato+ ($24/month) and Gelato+ Gold ($119/month) tiers that unlock discounts and premium support.

Best for: sellers with 20%+ international orders, especially in the EU. See our sites similar to Printify guide for context on how Gelato compares to other supplier networks.

3. CustomCat

CustomCat is the budget specialist. Headquartered in Detroit and operating from a single Michigan facility, CustomCat pushes base prices that often beat Printify by $2–$4 on the most common tees and hoodies.

The model is straightforward — own the factory, run it lean, pass savings to sellers. For a US seller pushing volume on simple SKUs, CustomCat can add 10–15% to margin on every sale compared to the same product through Printify's aggregated network.

The trade-offs are real. The catalog is narrower (mostly apparel, mugs, and hats). Design tooling and product mockups are dated compared to Printify or Printful. International shipping rates and times are non-competitive — CustomCat ships everything from Michigan.

Integrations include Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and the CustomCat API. A $30/month "CustomCat Premium" plan unlocks additional volume discounts.

Best for: US-only sellers running volume on standard apparel SKUs, where every dollar of margin matters. If you're evaluating physical-store-style alternatives instead, see stores like Printify for a different cut.

4. Gooten

Gooten is the breadth play. The New York–headquartered company aggregates a network of print partners similar to Printify, but its catalog leans into categories Printify is weaker in — bedding, bath, pet products, custom home goods, and oversized wall art.

If your store sells beyond apparel — duvet covers, dog bandanas, shower curtains, large canvas prints — Gooten often has SKUs Printify doesn't carry at all. Quality varies by partner, same as Printify, so testing samples is non-optional.

Base costs are competitive with Printify on overlapping SKUs. Apparel pricing is generally a wash. Home goods and lifestyle pricing is where Gooten typically beats the rest of the field.

Integrations cover Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and the Gooten API. The dashboard is functional but less polished than Printify's.

Best for: sellers expanding beyond apparel into home, lifestyle, and pet categories.

5. Spreadshirt

Spreadshirt is the German company that doesn't quite fit the supplier-network mold. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Leipzig, Spreadshirt runs three connected products: a print-on-demand service for your own store, a Spreadshop hosted storefront (similar to a Shopify-lite), and a Spreadshirt consumer marketplace.

The hybrid model is the point. If you have an audience but no store, Spreadshop gives you a hosted shop in 10 minutes. If you have a store, Spreadshirt fulfills your orders through their own facilities. If you want to skip the store entirely, Spreadshirt's marketplace exposes your designs to their buyer base.

Base costs are mid-tier — competitive with Printify on European fulfillment, slightly higher on US orders. Production runs from Pennsylvania, Las Vegas, and German facilities. Quality is consistent because Spreadshirt owns the production.

Integrations for the POD service include Shopify, Etsy, and the Spreadshirt API. Spreadshop is a standalone hosted product with no integration needed.

Best for: European creators who want a hosted shop without setting up Shopify, or US sellers serving an EU customer base.

6. Spring (formerly Teespring)

Spring is the creator-monetization play that rebranded from Teespring in 2021. The pitch is built around YouTubers, TikTok creators, and Twitch streamers — Spring integrates directly with YouTube's merch shelf, TikTok Shop, and Twitch's merch features, so a creator can sell to their audience without leaving the platform.

The POD product itself is solid — apparel, drinkware, accessories, with Spring handling production, fulfillment, and customer service. You set a retail price, Spring takes a base cost, you keep the rest as profit.

The model is different from Printify in one key way: Spring is the merchant of record. They handle taxes, returns, and customer service. That's a feature if you don't want to run a store, and a constraint if you want full customer data and brand control.

Best for: creators with existing audiences on YouTube, TikTok, or Twitch who want merch tied directly to their content platform.

7. Redbubble

Redbubble is a marketplace, not a supplier network — a category distinction that matters. You upload designs to Redbubble's own marketplace, and Redbubble handles everything else: customer acquisition (via their organic search traffic and ads), checkout, fulfillment, and customer service. You earn a royalty on each sale.

For sellers with strong design skills but no marketing budget, Redbubble is a real channel. The marketplace ranks well in Google for "[character] [product]" searches, which means Redbubble can drive customers to your designs you'd never reach yourself.

The trade-offs are everything you give up. Royalties are 10–30% (you set the markup, Redbubble takes the rest). You don't own the customer relationship. Brand building is impossible — the URL says redbubble.com, not yours.

Best for: designers and illustrators who want passive royalty income on a portfolio, not entrepreneurs building a brand.

8. Zazzle

Zazzle is the older, broader marketplace. Founded in 2005 and based in Redwood City, Zazzle differentiates from Redbubble with a heavier focus on customization — buyers can personalize designs (names, dates, colors) before checkout. That makes Zazzle strong in invitations, business cards, gifts, and event products where personalization is the point.

The catalog is enormous — 1,300+ product types including categories no supplier network touches (postage stamps, custom puzzles, pet bowls, full wedding stationery suites). Royalty rates start at 5–10% and scale up to 99% depending on your Designer tier.

Same trade-off as Redbubble: you don't own the customer, you can't build a brand, and you're competing with millions of other Zazzle designers. The upside is Zazzle's organic traffic for niche keywords (wedding, baby shower, corporate gifts) is hard to replicate elsewhere.

Best for: designers targeting personalization-heavy niches like weddings, events, and corporate gifting.

9. Print Aura

Print Aura is the small-and-focused alternative. Headquartered in New York, the company runs a single facility and competes by being easier to talk to than the big networks. Direct phone support is rare in this category and Print Aura offers it.

The catalog is narrower than Printify — primarily apparel and accessories — but the brand options are stronger. Custom neck labels, custom hang tags, branded inserts, and custom packing slips are available without enterprise minimums. For a seller building a small-batch brand on Etsy, that combination is hard to find elsewhere.

Base costs are mid-tier, comparable to Printful. Integrations cover Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and a manual order entry option. No subscription fee.

Best for: small Etsy sellers building a custom-branded apparel line where direct communication with the printer matters.

10. Teelaunch

Teelaunch is the unusual-products specialist. Beyond the standard apparel and accessories catalog, Teelaunch carries Bluetooth speakers, neon signs, ceramic dishware, kitchenware, and engraved metal goods that the big networks don't touch.

The model is similar to Printify on supplier side — an aggregator network with quality that varies by SKU. The differentiation is purely catalog. If your design works on a Bluetooth speaker or a neon sign, Teelaunch is one of the few places to actually sell it.

Integrations are Shopify-first with Etsy and eBay support. The Shopify app is well-rated. Base costs on the unusual SKUs are higher than apparel, but margins on novelty items often run 60%+ retail markup.

Best for: sellers with a creative catalog that needs SKUs outside the standard POD playbook.

Comparison table

The high-level view across the 10 companies. Base-cost columns are rough and SKU-dependent — always verify on the specific product you sell.

Company	Model	Production	Base cost vs Printify	Integrations	Best for
Printful	Supplier network	Owned factories, global	+$4–$8	Shopify, Etsy, Woo, Wix, Squarespace, Amazon	Brand-led sellers
Gelato	Supplier network	Distributed, 32 countries	Comparable	Shopify, Etsy, Woo, Wix, Squarespace	International sellers
CustomCat	Supplier (single factory)	Owned, Michigan	−$2–$4	Shopify, Etsy, Woo, BigCommerce	US volume sellers
Gooten	Supplier network	Aggregated, US-heavy	Comparable	Shopify, Etsy, Woo, BigCommerce	Home & lifestyle
Spreadshirt	Hybrid + marketplace	Owned, US + Germany	Comparable	Shopify, Etsy, hosted Spreadshop	EU creators
Spring	Marketplace + platform	Owned production	N/A (royalty model)	YouTube, TikTok, Twitch integrations	Content creators
Redbubble	Marketplace	Network	N/A (royalty 10–30%)	None (their store)	Designers, passive income
Zazzle	Marketplace	Owned + network	N/A (royalty 5–99%)	None (their store)	Personalization niches
Print Aura	Supplier (single facility)	Owned, New York	Comparable	Shopify, Etsy, Woo	Small-batch brands
Teelaunch	Supplier network	Aggregated	Varies by SKU	Shopify, Etsy, eBay	Novelty SKUs

Which company fits which seller

A grid of 10 options doesn't help if you can't narrow it down. Here's how to map the company to the seller in five common situations.

You're brand-new and just want the easiest setup

Stay on Printify or move to Printful. Both have the deepest tutorials, the most active forums, and the smoothest Shopify/Etsy integrations. The cost differential matters less when you're still figuring out which products sell.

You're scaling on Etsy and margin is tight

Test CustomCat. The $2–$4 base-cost gap compounds across hundreds of orders, and Etsy buyers don't see which supplier you use. Keep Printify as a backup for SKUs CustomCat doesn't carry.

You're selling internationally

Switch to Gelato. The international shipping math is decisive — local production drops shipping costs by 60–80% and cuts delivery time from 14 days to 3–5. For more on the EU-specific economics, see our Printify Premium pricing breakdown and the August 2024 update for the comparison numbers.

You sell home goods, pet products, or oversized prints

Gooten has the catalog. Printify covers apparel well but is patchy on home goods. Gooten is built around those categories.

You're a YouTuber or TikToker

Spring is the only one of these companies that integrates directly with the platform's native merch features. Setup is faster and the customer never leaves the platform.

Switching from Printify without breaking your store

The mechanics of switching are simple. The mistake most sellers make is doing it all at once.

Start with one product. Pick the SKU that has the clearest economic case to move — usually your top seller, since the margin gain compounds fastest. Run it on the new supplier for two weeks.

Order samples to your own address before launching. Print quality, color accuracy, garment fit, and packaging vary between suppliers, and a 5% return-rate jump erases any margin gain from cheaper base costs.

Once one product is stable on the new supplier, run both side by side for 30 days. Compare actual gross margin per order — not list price, real bank-deposit dollars after fees, shipping, and returns. If the new supplier wins by 8%+ on real margin, switch the rest of the catalog. If it's a wash, the switching cost wasn't worth it.

The supplier-comparison question is exactly the kind of thing POD founders waste weekends on with spreadsheets. The math is easy in principle and miserable in practice because the data lives in five different dashboards.

FAQs

What is the most direct competitor to Printify?

Printful is the closest functional rival — same integrations, same store-owner model, similar product catalog. The difference is that Printful owns its production while Printify aggregates a partner network, which shows up as higher base costs but tighter quality control at Printful.

Is Printful or Printify cheaper?

Printify is typically cheaper on base costs — usually $4–$8 less per shirt on common SKUs — because it aggregates competing print providers. Printful's owned-factory model costs more but delivers more consistent print quality.

What companies print like Printify?

Printful, Gelato, CustomCat, Gooten, and Print Aura all operate as supplier networks where you upload designs, list products on your own store, and the company fulfills orders when a sale comes in. Spreadshirt also fits this model with the added option of a hosted storefront.

Which Printify alternative is best for Etsy sellers?

For US-focused Etsy sellers, CustomCat (cheapest base costs) and Printful (best quality) are the two strongest alternatives. For international Etsy sellers, Gelato's distributed production cuts shipping costs enough to outweigh any base-cost difference.

Can I use multiple POD companies on the same store?

Yes — most Shopify and Etsy sellers run two suppliers in parallel. The common pattern is one primary supplier for 80% of SKUs and a secondary supplier for niches the primary doesn't cover well. Printify + Gooten or Printful + Gelato are common pairings.

Is Redbubble better than Printify?

They're different products, not direct competitors. Redbubble is a marketplace where you earn royalties without owning a store. Printify is a supplier you use behind your own store. Redbubble fits passive royalty income; Printify fits building a brand.

What is the best free alternative to Printify?

Printful, Print Aura, Teelaunch, and CustomCat are all free to use with no subscription required — you only pay base costs when an order comes in. Gelato is also free at the base tier, with paid plans for discounts.

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