Printify vs. Printful: A Comprehensive Comparison for Online Merchants

The print-on-demand market is a complex world where two giants challenge each other: Printify vs. Printful.

While each has its own strengths and weaknesses, they both promise to make your eCommerce dreams a delightful reality.

Let’s go on a journey to uncover which of these two will stand supreme. Let’s examine their histories, features, and what sets them apart.

Table of Contents

• What is Printify?
• What is Printful?
• Printify vs. Printful: A Side-by-Side Comparison
• Other Factors to Consider
• The Lowdown
• Making the Right Choice: When to Opt for Printify vs. Printful
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Printify?

While many platforms were vying for attention, Printify’s inception was marked by its commitment to simplifying the print-on-demand process for sellers. 

Its roots are deeply embedded in user-centric design and functionality, and it didn’t take long for Printify to become a hot topic in Printify vs. Printful review discussions across various platforms, including Reddit.

Here are its core features and offerings:

• Printify offers many products, from apparel to home decor, allowing sellers to design and print as per their brand’s essence.
• Seamless integration with popular online stores, especially platforms like Etsy, ensures that sellers have a hassle-free experience.
• Known for its competitive pricing, Printify often becomes the subject of “Printify vs. Printful cost” debates, offering affordability without compromising quality.

What is Printful?

Printful, often seen as the counterpart in the “Printify vs. Printful” equation, has its own tale of ascendancy. Born out of a desire to revolutionize the print-on-demand landscape, Printful’s journey is one of innovation, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Its growth trajectory, often documented in eCommerce platforms and print-on-demand forums, showcases its dedication to serving sellers with unmatched zeal.

Here are its core features and offerings:

• From trendy apparel to quirky accessories, Printful’s product range is also vast, catering to diverse seller needs.
• Printful’s integration capabilities, especially its harmonious relationship with Etsy, have been lauded by many, making it a go-to choice for many online sellers.
• Printful’s transparent pricing model ensures sellers get value for every penny spent.

Printify vs. Printful: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the two print-on-demand giants in terms of various factors users are looking for in a service provider. 

Custom Merchandise Options

• Printify. Boasting a diverse range of products, Printify allows sellers to unleash their creativity, from custom apparel to personalized home decor. Printify’s best-selling categories are t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, baby clothing, phone cases, and wall decorations.
• Printful. With a slightly different product catalog, Printful offers its own set of unique items, ensuring that sellers have a plethora of options to choose from. Some of Printful’s best-selling products include bomber jackets, t-shirts, hoodies, matte paper posters,  crew neck sweatshirts, and classic dad hats.

Platform Integrategration

• Printify. With a focus on simplifying the seller experience, Printify offers seamless integration with major eCommerce platforms, ensuring a hassle-free setup. While Printify supports a range of platforms, its synergy with Etsy stands out, making it a preferred choice for many Etsy sellers.
• Printful. Printful’s robust API ensures smooth integration with real-time updates and synchronization features that sellers rave about. Printful’s harmonious relationship with Etsy, coupled with its support for other major platforms, ensures sellers have flexibility in choosing their sales channels.

Printify vs. Printful Cost

We’ve come to one of the most crucial comparison factors – fees. How do the two compare in this department? It comes down to monthly fees, product costs, and additional fees. 

• Monthly Fees. Printify offers a free plan and two paid plans (Premium and Enterprise). Printful, on the other hand, does not charge a monthly fee for its basic services, but there are optional additional tools available with a monthly subscription.
• Product Costs. Both platforms charge for the products you sell, their fulfillment, and shipping costs after the customers buy from you. However, Printful includes standard product customization in its price, while Printify’s customization offerings may vary based on the plan.
• Additional Fees. Printful has specific fees for services like embroidery digitization, extra customization, using premium images, and product label fees. Printify’s additional fees may vary based on the chosen plan and specific services utilized.

Printify vs. Printful Fulfillment and Shipping Times

When choosing between Printify and Printful for your e-commerce needs, understanding their fulfillment and shipping times is crucial. Here’s a comparison to help you make an informed decision:

Printful’s Fulfillment and Shipping:

Fulfillment:

• Standard fulfillment time is 2-5 business days.
• Fulfillment may take longer, depending on inventory levels and circumstances.
• Proximity to LA wholesale factories aids in maintaining stock and reducing wait times.

Shipping:

• Multiple shipping options are available.
• Domestic shipping times range from 1-8 business days.
• International shipping can take 1-20 business days.
• Shipping time varies based on the courier and service level selected.

Printify’s Fulfillment and Shipping:

Fulfillment:

• Average fulfillment time is generally 2-7 business days.
• Fulfillment time can vary based on factors like product availability, order size, and time of year.
• Estimated ship-by dates are provided for each order in the Orders tab.
• High-volume seasons and holidays may extend production times.
• Printify Express Delivery service is available for expedited production and delivery within the US, aiming for a 2-business-day delivery.

Shipping:

• Shipping times are not explicitly detailed by Printify but are influenced by the chosen Print Provider and shipping method.
• Priority shipping options are available, though they do not affect the standard production time.

Fulfillment and Shipping Key Differences:

• Fulfillment Speed: Printful generally promises a slightly faster standard fulfillment time (2-5 days) compared to Printify’s 2-7 days.
• Shipping Options: Both platforms offer a range of shipping options, with Printful providing a clear time frame for domestic and international shipping.
• Expedited Services: Printify offers an Express Delivery service for faster fulfillment and shipping within the US, which appears to be a unique feature compared to Printful.
• Holiday and Peak Season Impact. Both services may experience delays during high-volume periods, but Printify provides a daily updated fulfillment status, which can be particularly useful during these times.

While both Printify and Printful offer competitive fulfillment and shipping times, the choice between them may depend on your specific needs regarding speed, shipping options, and the ability to expedite orders.

Printful’s proximity to major wholesale factories and clear shipping timelines can be advantageous for some businesses, while Printify’s Express Delivery service and daily updates on fulfillment status offer flexibility and transparency during peak seasons.

Printify vs. Printful Billing and Payment Process

Understanding the billing and payment processes of Printify and Printful is essential for online merchants. Here’s a detailed comparison to help you navigate their systems:

Printful’s Billing and Payment System

• Manual Orders: Direct payment at the end of the order process.
• Connected Store Orders: The customer purchases from your store and pays via your store’s payment platform. The order is transmitted to Printful, which then bills you for order fulfillment.
• Billing Setup Options: Printful Wallet allows depositing money via credit card or PayPal for faster order processing and reduced transaction errors. On the other hand, a credit card or PayPal account can be registered for automatic billing of each order.
• Special Considerations: PayPal transactions require matching shipping addresses between Printful and PayPal to avoid verification failures. Printful offers more info about its billing and payment system on its FAQ page.

Printify’s Payment Process

• Order Payment Structure: The payment received by your store includes the product’s retail price (production cost + profit) and the shipping fee.
• Order Processing: Orders from your sales channel are automatically imported into Printify and sent to production based on your settings. Printify charges the production price and shipping fee to your linked credit/debit card or Printify balance.
• Direct Sales Channel Integration: You receive customer payments, and then you pay Printify for production and shipping. 
• Printify Pop-Up Store: Unique from other sales channel integrations, Printify handles payment processing, printing, shipping, and customer support under this program. Your earnings are transferred to your PayPal account.

Payment and Billing Key Differences

• Manual Orders: Direct payment at the end of the order process.: Both platforms have a similar flow where the customer pays you, and you pay for the fulfillment. However, Printful offers a Printful Wallet for preloading funds, which Printify does not
• Billing Options: Printful provides a wallet option and a default payment method, while Printify bills directly to a linked card or balance.
• Address Verification: Printful has specific requirements for PayPal transactions regarding address verification.
• Pop-Up Store Feature: Printify offers a unique Pop-Up Store feature where they manage all aspects of the transaction and payout earnings via PayPal.

While both Printify and Printful offer streamlined billing and payment processes, the choice between them may depend on your preference for payment methods, the level of automation you desire in the payment process, and whether you value features like Printful’s Wallet or Printify’s Pop-Up Store.

Both systems are designed to simplify the financial transactions for e-commerce businesses, ensuring a smooth operation from customer order to fulfillment.

Other Factors to Consider

Here are other factors to consider when deciding between Printify vs. Printful:

• Print Quality. Consider ordering samples from both platforms to compare the print quality and how they align with your vision.
• Reviews and Feedback. Look for reviews and feedback from other users. For instance, Printify vs. Printful Reddit discussions could provide real-world insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each platform from a user’s perspective.

The Lowdown

While both platforms offer quality products and competitive pricing structures, the best choice will depend on the seller’s specific needs and preferences. It’s essential to consider the volume of sales, customization requirements, and additional services when deciding.

Remember, success in the print-on-demand industry isn’t solely about the platform you choose but also about the passion, creativity, and dedication you pour into your designs and customer experience.

Making the Right Choice: When to Opt for Printify vs. Printful

To make it easier for you to decide, consider the following:

Choose Printify if You:

• Are looking for a wide range of product options with flexible customization.
• Want competitive pricing with the potential for higher margins.
• Appreciate a diverse network of print providers.
• Prioritize affordability and variety over consistency.

Choose Printful if You:

• Value quality and consistency in your products.
• Need reliable, in-house printing and fulfillment services.
• Prefer seamless integrations with various e-commerce platforms.
• Are willing to pay a premium for top-notch service and branding options.

While platforms like Printify and Printful provide the tools to bring your designs to life, having high-quality, professional designs is equally crucial. That’s where Penji comes into play.

Whether you need t-shirt graphics, sticker design, or any other visual asset that requires professional graphic design, Penji’s team of experienced designers is ready to assist. 

Here are a few print-on-demand designs we’ve made for ecommerce clients in the past:

Sign up now and elevate your print-on-demand business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Is Printify better than Printful?

Both Printify and Printful have their own set of advantages and features. The best choice depends on individual business needs, product preferences, and budget. It’s recommended to review both platforms in detail and even test out their services to determine which one aligns best with your requirements.

• Is Printful the same as Printify?

While Printful and Printify are print-on-demand platforms allowing users to create and sell custom products, they are distinct companies with different pricing structures, product offerings, and integrations. Each platform has its unique features and benefits.

• What is better quality than Printful?

The quality of products can vary based on the specific item, print method, and supplier. Both Printful and Printify partner with various suppliers, so the quality can differ. It’s advisable to order samples from both platforms to compare the quality firsthand.