Detailed Review: Printful Vs. Printify.
Printful and Printify are 2 of dropshipping platforms and the most popular Print-On-Demand (POD) businesses.
Both Printful and Printify offer you an easy way to print and deliver t-shirts, caps, backpacks, phone cases, mugs, pillows, blankets, and more personalized to your brand directly to your customers.
Here are some of their common characteristics:
- Print-on-Demand (POD) services.
- No subscription fees.
- The entire execution process.
- Personalized prints and brand enhancement services.
- The possibility of requesting order samples.
- Integration of a custom API.
Here's a quick overview before we dive into a detailed Printify vs Printful comparison.
Printful
Printful is an e-commerce platform that allows you to sell customizable products online. It offers complete order management, order fulfillment, inventory management, and payment processing.
It is a simple business solution from Print-On-Demand (POD) that focuses on offering clothing, phone cases, pillowcases, posters, calendars, mugs, magnets, stickers, and most importantly, T-shirts.
Some of Printful's key features include custom packaging inserts, Print-on-Demand (POD) orders, good quality prints, excellent customer support, reasonable shipping costs, and more.
Printify
Printify is a popular Print-On-Demand (POD) platform for T-shirts, hoodies, promotional items, or even household items, like mugs and blankets. It also helps you ship and fulfill your orders.
You can choose products from their catalog to sell on your website and under your brand.
However, it subcontracts all services (including fulfillment, packaging, and shipping) to several suppliers and acts as an intermediary itself.
Comparison between Printful and Printify.
Here's an in-depth comparison between Printful and Printify.
1. Ease of use
Both Printful and Printify are easy to use. You can start with nothing but your business name, connect to either platform, upload your designs, and immediately start printing inventory for your customers.
Let's compare that in detail.
Printful:
Printful takes care of the printing, packaging, and shipping for you. This gives you plenty of time to design your products and develop your e-commerce business.
To get started, you'll need to create a Printful account, which is free and easy to set up. You can sign up using your name and email or with Facebook, Google, or Apple.
They also connect to tons of e-commerce platforms, so you can choose the one that's best for you.
You can then sync your custom designs with Prinful products. Their team will take care of the production, packaging, and shipping when you receive an order.
Printful is also handy if you create your own products and use their shipping and storage services. You can send your products to the store, package them, and ship them to your customers with your brand on the package. And you can do both as well.
Here's how Printful works:
Remember that they will charge you for fulfilling orders once they have been confirmed. You'll also need to pay monthly storage fees that depend on the size and quantity of the items.
Once you've registered, you can get started right away. The best part is that Printful breaks the whole process down into seven parts, making it easier.
Printful has 2 easy to use generators:
- The Mockup Generator
- The push product generator
You'll use the push product builder when adding products to your store.
To avoid creating something from scratch, you can start with a product model.
Printful offers tons of product templates that are a combination of print files and Printful products. Pick a product, add a design, save it, and use it however you want. You can still edit the templates and push them to your store to sell.
You also have the choice between 2 techniques: printing or embroidery. You then have the choice of colors, the option to crop, upload images, videos, and much more.
And if you get lost, you can access their video tutorials that are available every step of the way.
You have completed an important part of your process. Now you can connect or create your online store to start adding products.
Printify:
It's easy, intuitive, easy, and fast to create an online store for custom t-shirts or other products with Printify.
Like Printful, Printify has a “mockup builder” to help you design and preview your products. It allows you to create a mockup in minutes and see what your design looks like on a bed sheet, tote bag, tank top, or hundreds of other products in Printify's catalog.
The generator has drag-and-drop functionality and allows you to quickly switch between different size variants and colors.
And because Printify outsources its prints to third party print services, you can choose from a list of print providers. You can compare “print providers” based on location, price, available colors, sizes, and more.
Finally, you can generate designs, preview them, and publish your creations to your online store.
Fortunately, Printify integrates with major e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify, Etsy, Wix, and more.
🏆 Winner: Both! Both Printful and Printify offer easy to use model generators and even allow you to request samples.
2. Third-party providers.
Let's take a look at the Printful and Printify providers to see which company comes out on top.
Printful:
Printful takes care of the printing, packaging, storage, and even shipping in-house to make it easier for its users. You can upload your design and let Printful take care of the rest.
And the good news is that Printful gives you the freedom to experiment with products without minimum orders or expensive equipment. You also don't have to worry about unsold inventory.
Another benefit is that you can fix print quality or misalignment issues directly with Printful, without the need for a third party.
Printful also claims to work with the best suppliers, such as Bella+Canvas, Gildan, etc. However, you can't change suppliers if you don't like the print quality. That said, complaints of this type are rare.
Printify:
Printify outsources your printing, manufacturing, branding, and even order processing activities.
That means you can choose any printing company (or even multiple companies if you're making different styles, for example shirts and caps), send them your design, and they'll print and ship the items for you.
You can choose from a varied list of print service providers in different countries like Australia, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, the United States, etc.
They will also recommend the most appropriate suppliers based on your products. You can then choose one based on shipping prices, location, reviews, production time, etc.
There are advantages and disadvantages to this business model.
You can change providers at any time if you are not happy with the final result. You can also choose suppliers that match your needs.
On the other hand, you may even end up with poor print quality. You should therefore review each provider carefully before using their services.
It's always a good idea to order a sample first to ensure that the print quality is right for you. If you're not happy with the quality, there are plenty of other providers you can turn to.
🏆 Winner: Both! Printful does everything in-house, while Printify uses third party service providers for printing, packaging, and shipping. Both models have their pros and cons.
3. Storage and order processing.
Warehouse means the same thing for retailers and manufacturers. Warehousing is the process of storing items (in this case, your merchandise) in stock until they are sold.
Shipment processing is the process of physically preparing these items for shipping so that the customer can pick them up.
Warehousing and fulfilling orders can be one of the most painful parts of starting an e-commerce business. Printful and Printify solve that problem and give you more time to focus on what matters... your products and your customers.
Let's compare them in detail.
Printful:
With Printful warehousing and order processing services, you can store your products in their warehouses.
When someone places an order, they package and ship it to your customers under your brand.
Printful has multiple fulfillment centers in the United States (Charlotte, NC, and Los Angeles, CA), Canada (Toronto and Ontario), and Europe (Riga, Latvia, or Barcelona, Spain). It also fulfills orders in Mexico.
However, your products need to meet specific storage requirements if you want to store them in Printful warehouses. For example, they don't accept perishable goods, items larger than 18″ × 18″ × 17″ (46 × 46 × 43 cm), or products worth more than $750.
Note that you will need to pay a specific amount for warehousing and order management.
Below is a list of processing and delivery fees for various sites and products:
And here is a list of storage fees based on your location and the weight of your inventory:
The total cost of storage depends on the volume of inventory, the number of units, and the location of the warehouse.
Additionally, Printful also offers Print-On-Demand (POD) and drop shipping services.
This fulfilment option allows you to fulfill orders without keeping inventory. Instead of keeping an inventory of products, sellers send orders to Printful facilities, which fulfill them by printing them and sending them to customers under your brand name.
The Print-On-Demand (POD) model is less risky if products don't sell and makes it easy to diversify products. However, it results in a higher cost per item and a longer fulfillment process.
If you opt for Print-On-Demand (POD), it will take some time for them to fulfill your order and manufacture your personalized product.
They calculate their turnaround time in business days:
- Clothing products (T-shirts, leggings, dresses, etc.): 2 to 7 business days.
- Non-clothing items (posters, mugs, phone cases, etc.): 2 to 5 business days.
Below is a list showing the average order processing time for various products:
However, the turnaround time or cost does not include shipping. The total delivery time corresponds to the time it will take for an order to reach its destination and the estimated delivery time combined.
And if you choose a simple warehouse fulfilment service, Printful will fulfill and ship your products the same day.
Printify:
Like Printful, Printify automatically manages printing and delivery logistics.
However, unlike Printful, they don't have their own warehouses. That's why they don't provide storage and order fulfillment services.
Their model only includes Print-On-Demand (POD) fulfillment services that they outsource to third-party manufacturers and suppliers.
Because Printify outsources the fulfillment and shipping process, the total lead time will vary depending on the print provider.
That said, most “print providers” listed in their directory ship your orders within 2 to 7 business days from the date the order was submitted.
You'll also be able to see the average production time of each print provider over the past 30 days.
While this delay is not a 100% guarantee of the time it will take before you receive your order, it is useful to use it to make a decision. The delay may increase during holidays and high volume seasons.
The good news is that you can check the progress of the print provider network to avoid uncertainty.
🏆 Winner: Printful. Both Print-On-Demand (POD) platforms take approximately the same business days to complete the process of fulfilling your order. However, Printful gives an exact turnaround time and also offers storage services. So Printful is winning here.
4. Branding and packaging.
Packaging and branding are essential elements in running an e-commerce business and in the success of an online store. You need to make sure your products stand out and get noticed before the customer even sets their eyes on them.
Let's compare the 2 Print-On-Demand (POD) platforms in detail.
Printful:
Printful helps you create a unique brand image and turn your site visitors into loyal customers.
It allows sellers to upload logos, slogans, or any other design they can imagine (you must have all rights to the design you are submitting) and start creating their online store.
There are several Printful brand valuation tools that allow you to create a consistent look and feel for your brand.
For example, you can add a message on the personalized packing slip that tells you about your store's environmental efforts to make a great first impression.
The packing slip also provides space for a small black and white photo, where you can include your logo or a “thank you.”
Additionally, you can personalize it:
- The tracking page for your order.
- Use the Printful return address.
- Print exterior or interior labels on your clothing.
- Personalize your orders using packaging inserts and inventory and use your own custom packaging.
- For hats, you can put your design or logo on the front, back, or side.
You can also include your personalized message, your support number, your professional email on your packing slips. You can even print to insert handwritten flyers, coupons, business cards, postcards, and thank you notes with the package.
Printify:
Printify also offers fully white label Print-On-Demand (POD) services, which means your customers won't see a trace of their brand on the product.
You can add a personalized touch by adding your own brand labels.
However, you will need to check which print provider offers what type of marking. For example, some print service providers offer collar label printing (inside and outside), while others offer sleeve printing options.
Here are the providers who offer neck label printing:
- Stakes Manufacturing (US)
- Textildruck Europa (Germany)
Here are the providers who offer sleeve printing:
- Textildruck Europa (Germany)
- OPT OnDemand (Czech Republic)
One of the most significant drawbacks is that you are now forced to choose from the few print providers mentioned above. Even though there are better manufacturers in the directory, you should stick to those that offer tagging options.
Another notable disadvantage is that none of the print service providers offer branding and personalization options for products other than T-shirts, such as caps.
Additionally, you can have your business address and phone number printed on the shipping label. Use a custom return address to have total control over the shipping label.
By default, the order shipping label includes your store name and return address. You can use Printify's address or your own. However, if you're using a custom return address, you'll need to manage returns as well.
But note that Printify doesn't allow you to add personalized messages for your customers on the shipping or packaging label.
🏆 Winner: Printful. Printful is the clear winner in this area, as it offers more customization and custom branding options.
5. Shipping costs and times.
Printful:
The Printful shipping process starts as soon as a buyer places an order. According to Printful, it can take between 2 and 7 business days to manufacture apparel products. In the case of non-apparel products, the delay is 2 to 5 working days.
When it comes to shipping, it depends on the location and availability of the product.
For example, Printful estimates that it takes 3 to 6 business days on average to ship a product to the United States.
Each year, Printful ships over 3 million orders by working with international carriers.
They work in partnership with major global carriers such as DHL, FedEx, USPS.com, and DPD.
As for fees, you can use their shipping calculator to determine shipping costs. Shipping costs also depend on international shipping rates, location, product type, and quantity.
And while Printful ships its products worldwide, it does not currently ship to Cuba, Iran, Crimea, Syria, and North Korea due to legal restrictions or restrictions imposed by carriers.
Customers may have to pay customs fees depending on the destination of the order and the place of fulfilment. Depending on order value, country limits, and other factors, prices will differ.
Customers can choose to calculate shipping costs at checkout or include them in the retail price.
Printify:
Printify has also established strong partnerships with reliable carriers to provide users with the best deals. It also partners with local fulfillment companies to support drop shippers who sell products from various regions around the world. The only problem is the higher prices for some of these solutions.
It ships its products all over the world, with the exception of a few countries, including Belarus, Burundi, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Libya, Central African Republic, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, and Zimbabwe.
Additionally, Printify's shipping solutions take longer to deliver international orders. The time and cost depend on the print provider, location, volume, and product type.
That said, you can request express shipping - only if you're using Shopify or WooCommerce. It's also available for those who have placed orders manually from their Printify account.
Printify's express shipping schedules are as follows:
- In the United States: 2 to 3 business days.
- International express shipping: 3 to 5 business days.
The express delivery option will only appear if your print provider offers it.
With Printify, you can track the exact delivery time directly from your dashboard once your customers have placed their order.
🏆 Winner: Printful. Printful's shipping times and costs are more transparent, and you can contact them directly if there's a problem. Things are more complicated with Printify in this regard.
6. Print quality.
Print quality is probably a key factor in choosing a Print-On-Demand (POD) platform. Let's compare the print quality of Printful and Printify in detail.
Printful:
Printful manages this part of its business internally, allowing it to respond directly to your printing requests.
They also invested $57.2 million in sophisticated printing machines to produce high-quality prints.
It also allows them to remain an affordable clothing supplier and ensures that the items they print won't lose shape or discolor.
They also source products and fabrics from popular and ethical brands and suppliers to ensure product quality. Additionally, their in-house professionals cut and sew some of their products.
Another important aspect of Printful is that it uses different techniques and machines to achieve the best results. For example, they use a diamond tool for mechanical engraving to ensure high precision.
Furthermore, they claim that the products go through a three-step quality check before being shipped.
This is what their quality control process consists of:
- First, their automated software checks the graphics, and their AI tool assesses whether the design needs to be realigned before printing.
- The second step consists of a quality check carried out by their order management specialists.
- Finally, they carry out a quality check after the product has been customised.
Printify:
Unlike Printful, Printify has not invested anything in printing equipment since it outsources everything to third party print providers. It is simply a point of contact between you and the manufacturer. That said, Printify reviews all complaints and offers various solutions in exchange.
This could be the reimbursement of customer money, the reprinting of products, etc.
On the other hand, Printful does its best to produce high-quality prints that ensure customer satisfaction, investing in equipment that produces the desired quality. At the same time, quality depends on the options that people choose.
If they go for the cheapest T-shirts and hoodies, they may not be as happy as expected.
🏆 Winner: Printful. Printful places particular emphasis on investing in printing equipment, while Printify entrusts manufacturing to third party suppliers.
7. Product catalog.
Printful:
Printful has a page dedicated to the product catalog. The main product categories are: men's clothing, women's clothing, children's and youth clothing, hats, accessories, home and home, collections and brands.
You can personalize these products using their “mockup generator” and sell them under your own brand.
Printify:
Printify also has a product catalog page. Product categories include holiday picks, best sellers, men's clothing, women's clothing, children's clothing, accessories, home and living room, my favorites, new arrivals, AOP apparel, and eco-friendly products.
🏆 Winner: Printify Printify also allows you to personalize these products and sell them under your brand. With over 700 items in Printify's catalog, you're sure to find the item you're looking for.
8. Support.
Printful:
The Printful Help Center page has a search bar that helps users find answers to any questions. It also offers several articles and video tutorials on getting started, shipping, packaging and delivery, design advice and mockups, printing, taxes and billing, integration, etc.
Additionally, Printful offers a free onboarding session for new users. You can contact the support team through live chat, Printful app chat, or email.
Printify:
The Printify Help Center page also has a search bar that allows you to search for articles on a variety of topics. You'll find articles about their services, your Printify account, getting started and connected to a store, designing and creating products, managing orders and shipping, and more.
🏆 Winner: Printful. However, Printify does not offer 24-hour live support. You can only reach them by email.
9. E-commerce store integrations.
Printful:
Printful allows native integration with 21 e-commerce stores, including Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Webflow, Amazon, Weebly, Bigcartel, Storenvy, and more.
You can also set up a custom API.
Printify:
Printify offers integrations with seven major e-commerce channels, including:
- Shopify store
- woocommerce
- Etsy
- ebay
- Wix
- PrestaShop
- BigCommerce
There is also a custom API feature from Printify. However, your integration options are limited.
🏆 Winner: Printful. If you want to sell on other platforms, prefer Printful.
10. Rates.
Printful:
Printful only offers 2 plans: a freemium plan and the Pro plan.
The free plan has the following features:
- Personalize 304 products.
- Integration with all e-commerce platforms.
- Create designs in the Design Maker.
- Download mockups and print files.
- 2400+ clip art.
Printful Pro costs $49/month (if paid monthly) or $539 if paid annually. Additional sales tax is charged if you have a U.S. billing address. There is also a free 14-day trial.
You get additional features with the Pro plan, including:
- Promo Maker.
- Custom model maker.
- Background removal tool
- 400+ exclusive clip art and premium images.
- Free digitized embroidery files.
- Shipping option based on the carrier.
Note that Printful charges additional sales tax if you have a U.S. billing address.
Printify:
Printify is free for up to five stores. There are no subscription fees and you can design multiple products.
The free version includes all the basic features, including:
- Unlimited product designs.
- Model generator.
- Integration with e-commerce platforms.
- Manual creation of orders.
- 24/7 merchant support.
- Self-service help center.
There are also 2 paid formulas:
- Premium ($24.99 per month) - Everything in the free plan+ 10 stores per account, up to 20% off all products and custom order import.
- Enterprise (custom pricing) - Everything in the Premium plan+unlimited stores, custom API integration, a dedicated account manager, and branded customer support.
Printify prices are lower when using a premium account.
While the Premium plan is for merchants whose sales are increasing, the Enterprise plan is more suitable for merchants who place more than 10,000 orders per day.
Other factors to consider
A final factor that may be important to consider is execution.
Printify has global fulfillment centers that minimize the risk of a product running out of stock.
Indeed, it is possible to forward an order to another center in the event that one of them does not have the desired products. This is one of the benefits Printify offers and it means that orders placed through Printify are more likely to reach their destination on time if availability is limited.
Final Verdict
When you start an online business, you're looking for ways to make your products cheaply, with significant profit margins, and few hassles.
And that's where Printful and Printify, 2 big names in the Print-On-Demand (POD) sector, come in.
In this Printify vs Printful comparison, I compared 2 of the most popular shipping platforms that offer Print-On-Demand (POD) products and dropshipping services.
The option you choose will depend on a variety of factors, including shipping costs, e-commerce store integration, the best print quality of the Print-On-Demand (POD) business, personalized products, and more.
Choose Printful if:
- You are looking for a storage and order processing company.
- You want more customization options.
- You want more integration options.
Start with Printful.
Choose Printify if:
- You're not afraid to take the time to read reviews of the best print providers.
- You want to succeed in a specific product niche, by offering a wider product range.
- You don't need storage.
- You want a cheaper option.
- You are not afraid to deal with intermediaries for personalized products.
Start with Printify.
