Print on Demand or POD is one of the easiest ways to get into e-commerce. For starters, it lets you get started even with just a small investment. On top of that, overhead expenses are low, while potential for profitability is high.
Two big names in the industry are Printify and Printful. Each one can take the heavy lifting out of the printed merchandise business. In other words, they’ll handle the entire fulfillment process for you, from printing to shipping. That means all you have to do is focus on your designs, marketing strategy, and building your audience. But which one should you pick? We outline their differences and similarities to help you decide.
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Printify vs Printful Comparison Chart
| Name | Printify | Printful |
| Â |  |  |
| Price | Check Price at Printify.com | Check Price at Printful.com |
| Mockup Generator | Yes | Yes |
| Print-on-Demand Items | 250+ | 220+ |
| Integrations | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, eBay, PrestaShop, BigCommerce, Wix | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, eBay, PrestaShop, BigCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Ecwid, Weebly, Amazon, Big Cartel, Wish, Magento, Storenvy, Gumroad, ShipStation, Bonanza, 3dcart, Launch Cart |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Apps | No | Yes |
| 24/7 Customer Support | Yes | Yes |
Quality and Integrations
Printify has fewer integrations than Printful.
In this context, the quality of the product depends on the printer and material. Printify relies on third parties to do the printing. On the other hand, Printful does it in-house or in its partner facilities.
Owing to Printify’s model, the quality depends on the print provider. The biggest benefit to that is you have multiple options to choose from, so if you don’t like how an item turned out, you can just switch to another printer. There’s no risk here either since you can ask for a sample first. That way you’d know firsthand whether the quality is up to par with your brand’s standards.
In Printful’s case, you have no other choice but to depend on the company’s printers. At any rate, it does a good job, so there’s nothing to worry about on that front.
One advantage that Printful has over Printify is it has more integrations. Regardless, the two of them have support for staples such as Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and eBay, to name a few.
Ease of Use
Using Printify is simpler and more intuitive than Printful.
Across the board, the two have similar core features and product catalog to work with. Each one has a mockup generator and a wide selection of POD merchandise, including clothing, phone cases, hats, mugs, and more.
Arguably, Printify is more intuitive. It just makes the whole ordering process simpler. Its mockup generator even has a beginner-friendly drag-and-drop editor.
Another difference between the two is shipping. In general, Printful has faster times, and it’s more transparent about the process. For instance, it outlines its services and estimated days of completion: three to four days in the United States, six to 10 days in Canada, and five to 20 days for international shipping. It also has same-day delivery for orders in the United States.
For the record, Printify also has international fulfillment centers.
Customer Service
You can get help anytime on Printify and Printful.
Both services have got you covered in terms of customer support. Anytime you need help, you can get in touch with them 24/7.
Moreover, they have an extensive library of articles, video guides, and anything else along those lines. Long story short, they can offer you everything you need to know to build your e-commerce business.
Pricing
Printify is more affordable than Printful.
When it comes to pricing models, each one takes a different approach. Printify has monthly plans with varying features and services. For example, its Premium package comes with 10 stores per account, up to 20 percent discount on all products, and, of course, access to its mockup generator. It has a free version to boot, which is perfect if you’re just starting out.
As mentioned earlier, it uses third parties to do the printing. Thanks to that, you don’t only get a wider range of options but also avail services at better prices.
Meanwhile, Printful doesn’t have subscriptions. Instead, it will only charge you for the product and the fees for the fulfillment process. It also has a profit calculator and other add-ons such as labels and flyers, all of which can be overwhelming for beginners. At the very least, the options are there.
In terms of overall costs, Printify offers services that are more affordable than Printful.
Verdict
Printful has the edge in integrations, but Printify can get the job done at lower prices.
To sum things up, what you can expect from Printify is quality products at more affordable pricing. It also has a free version if you just want to test the waters. In addition, you’ll also get to choose from third-party printers, so it’s more flexible in a way.
As for Printful, you can have more integration support at hand. You can also get a faster turnaround time in most cases because of how it does its own printing in-house. However, you’ll have to pay a lot more for its services.
That said, we’ll have to go with Printify here. After all, it makes excellent products, and its lower costs and print provider options could pave the way for higher profit margins in the long run.
FAQs
Printify is better than Printful when it comes to pricing. It’s more affordable, and that means you can potentially get higher profit margins down the line. However, Printful has more integrations.
Yes, Printify offers a free version. It gives you access to its mockup generator, up to five stores, and unlimited designs.
You can sign up for Printful for free. You’ll only have to pay every time an order is fulfilled.
Yes, you can use Printify and Printful at the same time. You can use both of their designs that way.