10 Best Print-On-Demand Companies in 2023
Print-on-demand companies are revolutionizing the world of e-commerce for creators and influencers. You no longer need to worry about inventory, warehousing, or fulfillment. Instead, companies like Fourthwall allow you as the creator to focus on your craft while they handle all product sourcing, printing, and shipping aspects. With a wide variety of options available, choosing the right print-on-demand company for your needs can be overwhelming. This guide to the best print-on-demand companies will help you find the right fit.
What Are Print-On-Demand Companies?
Print-on-demand (POD) companies are a fulfillment solution that enables you to create and sell unique products without investing in inventory. POD is a type of dropshipping where all you will need to do is provide the design and the company handles the rest. These companies offer a comprehensive e-commerce fulfillment service that covers the entire process from sourcing and warehousing products to printing customized products, packaging materials, and delivering orders to customers.
There are two types of print-on-demand companies: print-on-demand services and print-on-demand marketplaces.
Print-on-demand Services: A platform where creators can upload their designs, choose the products they want to sell, and set their own prices.
Print-on-demand Marketplaces: Platforms that allow creators to upload their designs to be sold alongside other creators’ designs.
10 Best Print-On-Demand Companies For 2023
In no particular order, these are the companies creators have been using in 2023:
1. Fourthwall
Fourthwall is a creator e-commerce platform that enables creators like YouTubers, Twitch Streamers, TikTokers, Podcasters, Musicians, and artists to launch a website, source and sell products, and offer memberships to their supporters.
Fourthwall is known for having fantastic customer service, affordable prices, and a variety of high-quality products. Additionally, Fourthwall’s team provides creators with valuable information on how to grow their businesses through their blog posts, making it a great platform for learning new ways to expand your business and increasing revenue while doing what you love.
Pros:
- Unique products
- A variety of production methods
- Great customer service
- Affordable prices
- Option to offer memberships
- All-in-one platform (no need to integrate with other e-commerce platforms)
- Worldwide shipping
- Native integration with Printful for more product customization options
- Custom website builder
Cons:
- No phone support
2. Printful
Printful is a well-established print-on-demand service that allows you to create and sell custom products with your art designs. With Printful, you can access a wide range of integration options for e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, and more. Their products are from high-quality materials like Airlume pre-shrunk cotton, and their printing options include screen printing, embroidery, and more.
Pros:
- Offers a variety of printing options
- Integration with various e-commerce platforms
Cons:
- A bit more expensive than other options
- No phone support
- No custom website builder
3. Printify
Printify offers a wide range of products from trusted suppliers. They are an all-in-one print-on-demand service that offers multiple integrations available with lots of e-commerce platforms. Their printing options include Direct to Garment (DTG), embroidery, and more. Printify is however a vendor network, meaning that shipping costs can range more widely than other companies. They do offer a monthly membership where you can get 20% off all orders for better profit margins as you grow your shop.
Pros:
- Great range of printing options
- User-friendly interface
- Multiple integrations
Cons:
- Limited designs per product
- No phone support
- Shipping costs vary
- No custom website builder
4. SPOD
SPOD (Spreadshirt Print on Demand) is well known for having the quickest turnaround times with 48-hour POD dropshipping and offering real-time shipping rates. SPOD printing technology has excellent quality, perfect for detailed designs. They do have a smaller selection of white label products however they do offer more competitive price points. Recommended for creators looking to have lower-cost merch while still having fast shipping times.
Pros:
- Fast turnaround time and real-time shipping rates
- Good quality printing
- No minimum order quantity
Cons:
- Only integrates with Shopify and WooCommerce as of now
- Smaller selection of products
5. CustomCat
CustomCat has a low minimum order quantity, perfect for creators who want to test their ideas. They offer quality products like t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies for clothing. Their printing options include Direct to Garment (DTG), embroidery, and more printing options. CustomCat is known for its affordable prices and free shipping on certain orders.
Pros:
- Good quality printing
- Wide range of product options
Cons:
- No integration with major platforms like Shopify
6. Gooten
This company offers fast shipping worldwide, typically taking about 6 days to fulfill. Gooten’s API integration options are known to be a bit more complicated, however, this makes the platform developer-friendly and flexible for those with more experience. Their printing options include direct-to-garment printing, sublimation, and more. This platform is recommended for both experienced and new creators who wish to scale up their business.
Pros:
- Wide range of product options
- Multiple integrations
- Global shipping
Cons:
- Printed product quality has been reported to be mixed
- No phone support
7. Apliiq
They provide quick integrations with various e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and others. Apliiq offers a free mockup generator tool that makes it easy to create unique designs. This provider is best for creators with no design experience in fashion.
Pros:
- Offers custom apparel service
- Integrates with various e-commerce platforms
- Free mockup generator tool
Cons:
- Limited product options
- No phone support
8. Spring
Spring (formerly known as TeeSpring) is another print-on-demand company. They are a popular choice for content creators looking to make merchandise. You can build your own website with their website builder, and use their integrations to connect to your socials.
Pros:
- Variety of product options
Cons:
- Lack of customization options
- More expensive than alternatives
- Limited customer support
9. Zazzle
Zazzle is a massive online marketplace where creators can provide customized products such as clothing, accessories, home decor, and gifts. It is one of the best in the competition in terms of its enormous selection of unique products a creator can design with. Zazzle is a great option for creators who want access to more products however is not the best option in marketplaces since it is quite oversaturated. It may be difficult for creators to be discovered on the platform.
Pros:
- Wide selection of unique products
- Multiple products to personalize
- Large online marketplace
Cons:
- Lower Quality Printing with Light Colors
- No Phone Support
- Low discoverability on the site
10. Society6
Society6 is a print-on-demand marketplace designed to market art and artists. Society6 offers a wide range of products such as wall art, home decor, and various accessories like phone cases and bags. It is perfect for aspiring or established artists. The caveat to this platform being a marketplace is that while you can integrate with other platforms like Etsy, purchases on other platforms will be shipped to you for you to fulfill. Society6 is a popular platform to access a broad audience.
Pros:
- Recommended for artists
- Offers a broad audience
- Wide range of products
Cons:
- High commission pricing
- No phone support
- If you choose to sell on other platforms you will be responsible for shipping for those platforms
Key Factors to Choose a Print-On-Demand Company
Before selecting a print-on-demand company, it's essential to assess a few factors:
- Shipping Times: It is crucial to select a company that ships products to the consumer within a reasonable time frame.
- Product Quality: Creators must ensure that the print-on-demand company is providing good quality products to sell. As a creator, you should be able to receive samples of blanks of the products you are considering selling to check for quality.
- Printing Customization: It is essential to choose a print-on-demand service that offers a range of printing options- from traditional screen printing to embroidery- to cater to your design and product needs. You can read more about choosing the right production method for your merch on our blog.
- Product Catalog: The broader the range, the easier it is to choose a company as they will have more products for you to choose from.
- Integrations With Other Platforms: Compatibility with your e-commerce platform is essential to make the connection seamless. Selecting a POD company that allows you to sell through multiple channels such as your own website, Amazon, Etsy, etc. is valuable in that it gives you the option to expand your sales channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What products do print-on-demand companies offer to creators?
A: Most print-on-demand companies offer various products such as clothing, accessories, home decor, etc. You can check out our product catalog to get inspiration for your store.
Q: Do all print-on-demand companies integrate with e-commerce platforms?
A: No, not all companies integrate with all e-commerce platforms. It is essential to ensure a print-on-demand company is compatible with your e-commerce platform and has integration options as you continue to grow your business. Or, consider using a platform like Fourthwall that doesn’t require additional integrations.
Q: How should I price my print-on-demand products?
A: You will need to assess your product cost: design, production, shipping, taxes, and platform fees per order to figure out what price you will need to set each product at to make a profitable margin. The basic formula to follow is: retail cost + profit margin = product cost.
Q: Should I choose a print-on-demand service or a print-on-demand marketplace?
A: You will need to weigh the pros and cons of both styles of POD to see which is the right fit for you as a creator and how you would like to scale your business. Typically, a POD service is what most creators opt for as there is more flexibility and ownership of where the products are being sold online.
Start Selling Your Merch Today!
Now that you know everything you need to know about picking a print-on-demand service, it’s time to start selling your merchandise.
With Fourthwall, creators of all kinds can build custom websites and design and sell products, all while offering the best experience to their supporters. This all-in-one platform comes with social media integrations like Twitch Gifting, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok feed integration, and so much more. You can build your site and start selling right away, and we’ll handle all of the logistics so you can stay focused on your craft as a creator.