If you’ve ever searched for a print-on-demand partner that feels more like a manufacturer than a merch plug, you’ve probably landed on Apliiq. And for good reason.
Apliiq is different. It lets you build real streetwear brands, not just slap graphics on tees.
With options such as woven labels, neck tags, embroidery, and custom packaging, it’s a platform for creators who take their branding seriously.
But with all that power comes tradeoffs: higher costs, slower shipping, and fewer integrations.
And if you’re just getting started, running lean, or building across multiple channels, you might need something more flexible.
In this guide, we’ll break down what makes Apliiq great and where it can fall short.
We’ll also explore 10 alternatives that help brands scale faster, ship quicker, or launch for less, all without sacrificing quality.
Apliiq isn’t built for mass-market merch. Its entire DNA is rooted in brand-first, fashion-forward fulfillment. If you’re just trying to flip Canva tees with basic DTG prints, this probably isn’t your lane.
However, if you’re trying to build a legitimate clothing brand (one with real packaging, genuine labels, and genuine customer loyalty), Apliiq gets it.
You don’t just upload a design and call it a day. You’re choosing blanks, setting up woven neck tags, tweaking embroidery placements, and building something that looks custom-made, not print-on-demand.
Once you receive your first sample in hand, with your label sewn in, your logo on the tag, and your branding on the packing slip, the value becomes apparent. It doesn’t feel like merch. It feels like your brand.
Here’s what makes Apliiq a go-to for creators who care about perception, quality, and premium pricing:
This isn’t just about printing logos on shirts. Apliiq lets you build a private label brand from scratch, with all the production touches that make a $30 hoodie feel like a $70 one.
Every order can ship with your custom woven labels, neck tags, embroidered patches, and branded packaging with no massive MOQ required.
With Apliiq, you won’t find gimmicky products or souvenir-style novelties, because it sticks to what fashion brands actually want: streetwear basics done right.
The platform has an impressive catalog of over 750 clothing items to customize and design.
Think heavyweight hoodies, flannels, joggers, snapbacks, eco-fleece, and crop tops, all from premium blanks like Bella+Canvas, AS Colour, and Yupoong.
Everything is cut, printed, embroidered, labeled, and shipped out of Los Angeles and Philadelphia. That means tighter quality control, responsive support, and a smaller carbon footprint.
Customization Options That Go Beyond
Most POD platforms stop at DTG. Apliiq offers:
You can even do limited edition runs with exclusive label designs. That’s the kind of control streetwear creators dream about.
Don’t expect Amazon Prime speed. Your customers aren’t ordering bulk socks; they’re buying into a brand, so those extra days count for quality.
Basic DTG orders ship in 2–5 business days.
Add branding? You’re looking at 7–10+, but that’s the tradeoff for custom work.
Shipping is handled via USPS, with free shipping available on U.S. orders exceeding $100.
Apliiq works best with Shopify. The integration is seamless, featuring automatic order synchronization, real-time tracking updates, and seamless product publishing.
You can also connect to Etsy or WooCommerce, but that’s where the integrations stop. No TikTok Shop, no Amazon, no marketplaces.
If you want omnichannel sales, you’ll need workarounds—or a different platform.
Apliiq isn’t just a POD platform. It’s edging into apparel partner territory. That includes:
Few POD companies even come close to offering this level of service.
There’s no monthly fee, but costs do add up fast. That’s because you’re paying for the real deal:
The tradeoff: you're selling quality, not chasing margins. So, if your pricing reflects your brand's value, the math works.
Apliiq is primarily focused on long-term brand building, which entails higher costs, slower fulfillment, and fewer plug-and-play features.
If you’re looking for speed, lower overhead, broader integrations, or more automation, you may encounter friction with Apliiq’s model.
Here’s where Apliiq can start to feel limiting:
Apliiq does a lot of hands-on work, including sewing in woven labels, embroidering patches, and printing neck tags. That’s great for brand quality. But it slows everything down.
Basic DTG orders ship in 2–5 business days. Add branding, and you’re looking at 7–10+ days before it even leaves the warehouse. That’s a problem if your audience expects Amazon-speed delivery or if you’re launching time-sensitive drops.
If you’re prioritizing fast shipping or quick product testing, platforms like Printful, SPOD, or Gelato are significantly faster.
Apliiq only integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy.
That’s fine if you’re building a standalone brand, but if you want to sell on Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, or via custom storefronts, you’re out of luck.
There’s no API access for custom dev work, no marketplace syndication, and no native integration with major ecommerce tools like Klaviyo, ShipStation, or Meta Shops.
If multi-channel selling is part of your strategy, you’ll need to look elsewhere.
Apliiq is not built for high-speed scaling. It doesn’t offer much in the way of:
Once you start moving higher volumes or operating across multiple storefronts, the manual overhead increases, which can slow down your operations.
For sellers who want to run tight, automated systems, platforms like Printify, Gooten, or Shopify + app stacks offer more control.
If you’ve never run a brand before, Apliiq’s setup process can feel overwhelming. There’s no guided wizard, no onboarding checklist, and very little automation.
You’re on your own to figure out:
Support is responsive, but there’s still a steep learning curve compared to beginner-friendly platforms like Teespring, Printful, or Fourthwall.
Unlike platforms like Redbubble, Etsy, or even Gumroad, Apliiq doesn’t have a built-in marketplace. So don’t expect any exposure just for listing products.
Any traffic to your store is solely reliant on you through ads, email, influencers, or content.
If you're still building your audience, this can be a major hurdle.
If you’re building a real brand, Apliiq is one of the few print-on-demand platforms that actually gets it.
This isn’t some plug-and-play merch app for hobbyists. It’s built for creators who care about perception, presentation, and long-term growth.
The custom labels, neck prints, embroidery, and packaging aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re how you stand out in a saturated market.
The product quality is legit, the branding options are unmatched, and the support is human and responsive. From heavyweight blanks to LA-based fulfillment, Apliiq feels closer to working with a boutique manufacturer than a generic POD vendor.
But make no mistake: this platform is not for everyone.
The setup takes time. The learning curve is real. And the price per item, especially when you factor in custom branding, adds up quickly.
If you're just testing ideas or trying to launch something quick and cheap, you'll probably burn through your margins before you gain traction.
For designers looking to build a clothing line and not just sell merchandise, Fourthwall provides you with the tools to do it right.
It’s a full-stack platform designed for creators who prioritize quality, branding, and presentation.
With no coding experience required, you can design and sell apparel, digital products, memberships, and more, all from a beautifully branded storefront you control.
Fourthwall supports a wide range of high-quality blank garments, including favorites like Bella+Canvas, Cotton Heritage, Lane Seven, and Gildan.
You can apply your designs using DTG, embroidery, screen printing, or sublimation, making it easy to match your creative style to the right print method. And every product is paired with real-time 3D mockups, so your store looks just as good as your designs.
Unlike most POD platforms, Fourthwall isn’t just a backend printer; it’s a designer-friendly launchpad.
You get a clean, customizable storefront with custom domains, branded packing slips, and tools to run drops, preorders, and limited collections. Plus, built-in integrations with TikTok Shop, YouTube Merch Shelf, and Twitch Gifting enable you to connect your brand with where your audience already resides.
If Apliiq feels too slow or limiting, and you want a faster way to get your apparel brand in front of customers without compromising quality, Fourthwall is the way to go.
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If Apliiq feels too slow, too specialized, or too costly for your brand goals, Printify is a strong alternative, especially for designers who want more options, faster turnaround, and flexibility in how they build their apparel line.
Printify isn’t a single manufacturer; it’s a network of over 80 global print providers, giving you access to more than 1,300 customizable products, from fashion basics and streetwear to mugs, pet accessories, and even supplements.
You can choose who prints your designs based on cost, print method, location, or speed, giving you a level of control most POD platforms don’t offer.
It supports all major print types, including DTG, embroidery, all-over print, sublimation, and UV printing, and features top-tier brands such as Bella+Canvas, Gildan, Next Level, and Stanley/Stella.
You also get a free Product Creator, AI mockup tools, and integrations with Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, and more.
And unlike Apliiq, Printify doesn’t focus on in-depth branding tools (no woven labels or neck tags), but if you’re looking for a faster, cheaper, and broader platform, it’s one of the most capable POD solutions available.
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Gelato is a great alternative to Apliiq for creators and brands that want to deliver high-quality apparel quickly, without sacrificing consistency or their carbon footprint.
With a production network comprising over 140 partners in more than 30 countries, Gelato routes every order to the closest facility, thereby reducing shipping times, import delays, and emissions.
It's especially strong for international sellers or anyone who needs reliable, region-specific fulfillment without the guesswork.
Apparel is produced using DTG and embroidery, and the catalog features premium blanks from Stanley/Stella, Cotton Heritage, and Gildan, encompassing a range of products, including t-shirts, hoodies, kidswear, and accessories.
You can design your products using Gelato’s built-in editor, access millions of Shutterstock images, and offer personalization tools that let your customers add names or text directly on products.
If you want a clean, fast, global POD setup that delivers reliable results and scales well, Gelato is a professional-grade solution.
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Tapstitch stands out in the print-on-demand space by focusing on premium apparel, high-quality printing, and style-first product design.
The platform offers a curated catalog of over 300+ products, including heavyweight tees, oversized hoodies, vintage-washed sweats, and technical streetwear, all crafted with detail and fit in mind.
Blanks feature fabrics up to 430 GSM, fashion-forward silhouettes, and come in on-trend colorways that elevate your brand beyond basic merch.
With DTG (Direct-to-Garment) and DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing options, Tapstitch delivers both soft, detailed prints and durable, vibrant transfers, perfect for both casual wear and retail-ready streetwear.
You can create multi-placement designs, custom neck prints, and even bulk drops without holding inventory. Their orders ship globally, and U.S.-based fulfillment is available for faster domestic delivery.
If you’re a designer who values aesthetics, craftsmanship, and brand identity, Tapstitch is a go-to choice for easy-to-launch collections that look like they belong on department shelves.
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Spreadshop may be newer to the custom merch storefront game, but it has deep roots thanks to its powerhouse parent company, Spreadshirt, which has been printing and fulfilling custom apparel since 2002.
That means Spreadshop combines startup-level usability with enterprise-level infrastructure, enabling independent creators, influencers, and small businesses to launch a professional-looking print-on-demand storefront in minutes, without handling inventory or dealing with logistics.
With a free, fully hosted storefront, tools for product personalization, fast global fulfillment, and one of the smoothest setup experiences in the POD space, Spreadshop shines for anyone looking to sell custom clothing without the steep learning curve.
It offers a solid catalog of apparel from well-known and reliable brands, such as Gildan, Bella+Canvas, Stanley/Stella, and more, with digital direct printing, flex, and sublimation options available depending on the product.
One standout feature? You can upload multiple designs in one batch and instantly apply them to dozens of apparel styles in bulk.
This alone saves hours of tedious manual setup—a major win for designers with large catalogs or seasonal drops.
And with bonus perks like performance-based margin increases, optional low-cost design services, and even YouTube merch integrations, Spreadshop positions itself as a creator-friendly alternative to platforms like Apliiq.
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TPOP is a European-based print-on-demand platform designed for creators, small businesses, and growing brands who want full control over their apparel without compromising on sustainability.
The platform offers a curated product catalog that includes organic cotton t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and home goods, all printed with water-based inks and packaged in plastic-free, recycled materials.
Unlike many POD platforms, TPOP is proudly focused on ethical and eco-responsible production, with fulfillment handled in-house from France.
Its clean, intuitive dashboard makes it easy to customize products, manage orders, and sync with eCommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce.
You also get full white-label branding, custom packing slips, logos, inserts, and even sender details, to make every unboxing feel like your own.
For sellers who prioritize sustainability, transparency, and brand polish, TPOP delivers a refined alternative to platforms like Apliiq.
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Based in Detroit, CustomCat is recognized for its fast fulfillment, extensive product selection, and competitive base pricing, which enables high-margin selling—especially for apparel.
Whether you're selling tees, hoodies, polos, or embroidered caps, you get access to premium brands like Bella+Canvas, Gildan, Hanes, Port Authority, and even Adidas.
What sets CustomCat apart is its trio of print technologies: DIGISOFT™ (a proprietary DTG/DTF hybrid), embroidery, and dye sublimation, enabling vibrant designs on apparel, mugs, blankets, and more.
The platform integrates with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, with CSV upload and API options for larger or more complex stores.
While the design tools are basic, the platform is built for sellers who value speed and control, not endless tinkering.
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Gooten isn’t just a print-on-demand provider; it’s an automated fulfillment powerhouse that routes your orders to a global network of production partners for fast, low-cost delivery.
With over 150+ customizable products (including a wide selection of apparel), Gooten lets you sell everything from premium tees and hoodies to niche products like yoga mats, pet beds, and Christmas ornaments.
You’ll find reliable staples from brands like Bella+Canvas, Next Level, Gildan, Lane Seven, and Allmade, all printed with DTG, sublimation, or embroidery depending on the item.
What makes Gooten different is its dynamic routing model. Instead of using a single print facility, Gooten automatically sends orders to the best print partner based on customer location, product availability, and speed, reducing errors, delays, and shipping costs.
If Apliiq is all about creative branding and product-level customization, Gooten is the lean, logistical answer. It’s built for serious sellers who want to scale efficiently, not spend hours managing operations.
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Redbubble is one of the most recognizable names in the print-on-demand world, built to help independent artists and illustrators turn their designs into real products without worrying about inventory, shipping, or customer support.
Since 2006, it’s grown into a global marketplace with over 700,000 creators and millions of shoppers, offering designs on more than 70 customizable products, including apparel, accessories, wall art, stickers, and more.
For apparel, Redbubble utilizes direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, allowing artists to create bold, full-color designs without color limitations.
You can choose from standard or premium t-shirts, but the quality is inconsistent. Some shirts arrive soft and vibrant, while others are thin, misprinted, or fade quickly.
That’s because Redbubble doesn’t handle printing itself; instead, they route orders to third-party fulfillment centers based on the customer’s location, which means the quality of your product can vary from one order to the next.
And though its marketplace may offer a far better reach in terms of customers, many creators find the steep platform fees hard to swallow. Between base pricing, royalty cuts, and extra markup fees, it’s not uncommon for artists to walk away with just a couple of dollars from a $25 shirt.
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If you're looking for a print-on-demand platform that goes beyond t-shirts and hoodies, JetPrint might be up your alley.
This China-based POD platform offers over 650 customizable products, including apparel, accessories, jewelry, and one of the most diverse shoe catalogs in the industry, from lifestyle sneakers and clogs to high-top basketball shoes and mesh running footwear.
With fast production times (averaging 5 days), direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, and real-time mockup previews, JetPrint is well-suited for creative entrepreneurs who want flexibility and product variety.
The platform integrates with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce, and offers powerful automation tools like order syncing, product publishing, and global dropshipping.
JetPrint is also one of the few POD platforms offering custom branding options, such as product labels and packaging inserts, allowing you to build a recognizable brand without upfront costs.
While it may lack some advanced analytics or design tools, JetPrint makes up for it with its low base prices, no subscription fees, and live design previews, which are especially useful when creating high-detail custom shoes.
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If you're serious about turning your creativity into a real brand, Fourthwall is the platform built to help you do just that.
Whether you’re a designer, artist, or content creator, Fourthwall gives you everything you need to launch, sell, and grow, all in one place.
With premium apparel options from trusted brands like Bella+Canvas, Lane Seven, Cotton Heritage, and Gildan, plus powerful storefront tools, custom branding, and seamless shipping, you’ll have the freedom to build a merch business that feels entirely your own.
You don’t need to worry about inventory, printing, or fulfillment. Fourthwall handles it all, so you can stay focused on designing and connecting with your audience.
Thousands of creators have already made the switch—now it’s your turn!
Sign up for free on Fourthwall and start building your brand today.
Fourthwall is one of the best Apliiq alternatives for independent clothing brands.
It allows full branding control, high-quality apparel options from Bella+Canvas and Cotton Heritage, custom domains, and even product upsells.
It’s designed to help you build a real brand, not just sell merch.
Yes, JetPrint and Spreadshop typically offer better base pricing and flexible profit margin settings.
Spreadshop even rewards volume sellers with tiered discounts, while JetPrint’s competitive product costs and no monthly fees allow for stronger margins, especially when selling at scale.
TPOP is widely regarded as the most eco-conscious Apliiq alternative.
It uses organic materials, water-based inks, recycled packaging, and operates a paperless production process.
It’s the ideal choice for sellers who prioritize sustainability and low-impact fashion.
Apliiq stands out for its cut-and-sew capabilities and its deeper focus on custom branding options, such as woven labels and custom tags, making it a strong choice for fashion-focused brands seeking a tailored, boutique-style approach.
On the other hand, Fourthwall offers a streamlined all-in-one platform geared toward creators, artists, and influencers, with built-in storefronts, email capture tools, analytics, and digital product support.
The best choice depends on whether you're building a fashion label with unique garments or a creator-led brand looking for ease of use and quick launch features.
There are no monthly fees, no upfront costs, and no contracts to use Fourthwall. You set your prices and choose your own margins. Here is how our pricing and splits work when you sell:
Additionally, all US-based credit card transactions have an added 2.9% + $0.30 payment processing fee (same as Shopify). Fees vary for PayPal and other providers. Learn more.
Product costs are listed directly in our product catalog.
If a t-shirt is listed in our catalog at a $10 cost, we will automatically deduct that amount from your profits whenever you make a sale. You can sell products for any price you want.
For example, if you sell the shirt for $22, you'll make $12 in profit on each unit sold. If you sell it for $50, then you'll make $40 in profit on each unit sold.
Yes! Fourthwall works with manufacturing & fulfillment partners around the globe in the US, UK, EU, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Japan.
Shipping rates are dynamically determined by the size of package and destination. We work with most major carriers and pass through the true cost of shipping. That means that you can offer low-cost, fast shipping to your fans. Most items have a delivery window of 5-8 days.
Be sure to browse our product catalog to find products that are fulfilled out of your target regions to provide the fastest & cheapest shipping for your community.
Yes! Fourthwall operates as the "Merchant of Record" and automatically supports the following payment methods on checkout:
Fourthwall operates as the "Merchant of Record", which means that we're responsible for handling all sales taxes. This includes nexus registration, collecting sales tax, and remitting this to US states & other countries.
That way you can focus on designing products and promoting your shop, not taxes.
Yes. You can connect a custom domain or subdomain on Fourthwall. Learn More.
Fourthwall Pro subscribers receive a free custom domain upon upgrading.
If you need help finding an artist or designer, check out our design community.
This is a vetted network of exceptional designers that can help you make great quality designs for your audience. We also recommend tools like Canva or Kittl.
Yes. For any product from our product catalog, we'll handle all customer support for you.
From answering general order questions to making address changes, our team is there to ensure that your buyers are treated with the same level of care that you would personally give them. We have a 12-hour or less average reply time, including nights and weekends.
For any items that you source on your own and ship from home, however, you'll need to do customer support.
Yes! Over 200,000 sellers use Fourthwall to power their storefronts. This includes creators, podcasters, artists, musicians, startups, non-profits, and more.
Get inspired and browse all examples sites.
Fourthwall supports many free integrations, including:
There are no requirements to join Fourthwall! Sign up now.