Looking for the best print-on-demand apps for Shopify? You’re in the right place! The world of ecommerce is booming, and more businesses are tapping into print-on-demand (POD) services to sell customized products like t-shirts, mugs, and wall art—all without the need to manage inventory. Shopify, with its user-friendly platform, makes it easy to integrate these apps and start selling quickly.
Print-on-demand apps are a game-changer for ecommerce store owners and agencies. You can create and sell custom products without worrying about stock or fulfillment. All you have to do is upload your designs, and the app handles the printing and shipping. This makes it ideal for smaller businesses looking to scale or ecommerce agencies managing multiple stores.
In this article, we’ll go over the 8 best Shopify-recommended print-on-demand apps, each offering unique features to suit different business needs—whether you want fast shipping, eco-friendly options, or the ability to scale globally. By the end, you’ll have a clear idea of which app is the perfect fit for your Shopify store. Let’s dive in.
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8 Best Shopify Recommended Print on Demand Apps for Ecommerce Stores
1. Printful – All-in-One Solution for Custom Products
Printful is one of the most widely recommended print-on-demand apps for Shopify, and for good reason. It offers a huge variety of customizable products, from t-shirts to home decor, with no upfront costs or inventory management. Printful handles everything from printing to shipping, letting ecommerce owners focus on growing their business.
Key Features:
- Wide Product Range: Printful offers over 250 products, including clothing, accessories, and home goods.
- Mockup Generator: The app provides a design tool that allows you to create mockups easily. Even if you’re not a designer, you can upload a logo or image to see how it would look on various products.
- No Minimum Orders: Whether you sell one item or hundreds, there are no minimum order requirements.
- Global Fulfillment: Printful has fulfillment centers across North America, Europe, and other regions, so you can offer faster shipping options to customers around the world.
Why It’s Recommended:
Printful is ideal for businesses looking to simplify the order fulfillment process. It integrates seamlessly with Shopify, making it an easy option for beginners or agencies managing multiple stores. The wide product variety also means you can experiment with different niches, whether it’s apparel, mugs, or wall art.
Ideal For:
Store owners looking for a reliable all-in-one solution with global fulfillment and a wide range of products.
Pricing:
Printful charges per product, with prices varying based on the product and customization. There are no subscription fees, but upgrading to their paid plan can offer volume discounts and lower rates.
2. Printify – Best for Competitive Pricing
Printify is another standout in the Shopify print-on-demand space, offering a huge network of printing partners across the globe. This gives store owners flexibility in choosing suppliers based on price, location, or product quality. It’s particularly great for businesses that want to keep production costs low while maintaining control over product quality.
Key Features:
- Extensive Product Catalog: With over 300 customizable products, Printify offers a wide variety of items including apparel, accessories, home decor, and more.
- Multiple Print Providers: Printify partners with suppliers from different parts of the world, giving you the option to choose suppliers based on location and pricing. This is great for optimizing shipping times and costs.
- Mockup Generator: Like Printful, Printify offers a mockup generator so you can visualize your designs on various products.
- Discounts for Premium Members: Printify’s premium plan ($29/month) provides access to discounts on products, making it an excellent choice for high-volume stores.
Why It’s Recommended:
Printify stands out for its competitive pricing. By connecting with various suppliers, you can find the best deal for your business. This makes it ideal for ecommerce store owners focused on high margins.
Ideal For:
Stores looking for lower-cost options with a wide range of products and suppliers.
Pricing:
Printify has a free plan, but their premium plan ($29/month) offers better discounts on products, making it more suitable for larger stores looking to scale.
3. Gooten – Best for Scalability
Gooten is a print-on-demand platform designed with scalability in mind. It has a network of global manufacturers, allowing store owners to automate order fulfillment and manage high order volumes effortlessly. Gooten handles everything from printing to shipping, so you can focus on growing your brand.
Key Features:
- Global Fulfillment Network: Gooten has over 70 fulfillment centers worldwide, ensuring fast and reliable shipping to customers globally.
- 150+ Product Options: Gooten offers a wide variety of products, including fashion items, home goods, and accessories.
- Order Management: The platform includes automated order management tools, making it easy to scale your business.
- API Integration: For more tech-savvy users, Gooten offers API access to create custom integrations.
Why It’s Recommended:
Gooten is ideal for businesses that want to scale quickly. Its wide fulfillment network and automation tools make it easy to manage large volumes of orders without sacrificing quality or speed.
Ideal For:
High-volume stores looking to expand globally.
Pricing:
Gooten doesn’t charge any subscription fees, and product prices vary depending on the type.
4. AOP+ – Best for All-Over-Print Products
AOP+ specializes in all-over-print products, making it perfect for businesses that want to sell custom clothing, accessories, or home goods with intricate designs. This app allows you to create designs that cover the entire product, offering more creative freedom.
Key Features:
- All-Over Printing: AOP+ specializes in dye-sublimation printing, allowing designs to cover the entire surface of a product.
- No Minimum Orders: You can order as few or as many products as you like, making it ideal for small and large businesses alike.
- Custom Branding Options: AOP+ allows you to add custom packaging and branding materials to your orders.
- Global Shipping: Products can be shipped worldwide, with fulfillment centers based in the UK.
Why It’s Recommended:
AOP+ is a great option for businesses that want to offer highly customized, all-over-print products like t-shirts, hoodies, and home decor items. The ability to create full-coverage designs helps brands stand out.
Ideal For:
Stores focusing on unique and highly customized apparel or home goods.
Pricing:
Free to install, with products starting at around $9.
5. Teelaunch – Best for Apparel Customization
Teelaunch focuses on helping store owners build their own branded apparel line. With its easy integration, custom branding options, and global fulfillment network, Teelaunch is ideal for businesses that want to create unique, personalized clothing items.
Key Features:
- Custom Apparel: Teelaunch is particularly strong when it comes to custom t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel.
- Global Fulfillment: The app offers fulfillment centers around the world, ensuring fast delivery times.
- Wide Product Selection: In addition to apparel, Teelaunch offers a variety of other products like mugs and phone cases.
- Low Startup Costs: There are no upfront costs or minimum order requirements.
Why It’s Recommended:
Teelaunch is perfect for businesses that want to focus on apparel, offering high-quality printing and easy Shopify integration. It’s also a great choice for brands that want to create their own unique product lines.
Ideal For:
Apparel-focused stores and businesses looking to build a strong brand identity.
Pricing:
Teelaunch charges per product, with no monthly fees.
6. Gelato – Best for Global Reach
Gelato offers local production and delivery in over 30 countries, making it an excellent choice for stores with a global customer base. By producing products locally, Gelato reduces shipping times and costs, while also minimizing the environmental impact.
Key Features:
- Localized Production: Gelato produces products in over 30 countries, allowing for faster and cheaper shipping.
- Eco-Friendly: Gelato emphasizes sustainability by focusing on local production and reducing shipping distances.
- No Upfront Costs: You only pay when an order is placed, and there are no setup or monthly fees.
- Wide Product Range: Gelato offers over 100 products, including clothing, wall art, stationery, and more.
Why It’s Recommended:
Gelato is ideal for stores selling to an international audience. Its localized production helps reduce shipping times and costs, while its eco-friendly focus appeals to environmentally conscious consumers.
Ideal For:
Stores with a global audience looking for eco-friendly and fast shipping solutions.
Pricing:
Free to install; products are priced based on type and location.
7. CustomCat – Best for Beginners
CustomCat is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it a favorite among beginners. With over 550 customizable products and a low-cost paid plan, it’s a great option for small businesses just starting with print-on-demand.
Key Features:
- Extensive Product Selection: CustomCat offers over 550 customizable products, from apparel to home goods.
- Low-Cost Plan: CustomCat’s optional paid plan ($30/month) offers some of the lowest product prices in the industry, such as $7 t-shirts and $3.50 mugs.
- User-Friendly: The app is easy to use, with a simple interface that makes it ideal for beginners.
- Multiple Printing Options: Choose from direct-to-garment, sublimation, 3D dye diffusion, and embroidery printing.
Why It’s Recommended:
CustomCat’s combination of affordability and ease of use makes it a great choice for new ecommerce businesses. The low-cost premium plan is perfect for those just starting out but looking for competitive product prices.
Ideal For:
Beginners and small businesses.
Pricing:
Free to install, with a paid plan for $30/month that reduces product costs.
8. Lulu Direct – Best for Publishing and Book Sales
Lulu Direct is designed specifically for authors, publishers, or anyone looking to sell books through Shopify. It allows you to print and sell books on demand, without the need to manage any inventory. Whether you’re selling print books, ebooks, or even calendars, Lulu Direct handles the entire fulfillment process.
Key Features:
- Book Printing: Specializes in printing books, offering various formats such as hardcover, paperback, and spiral-bound options.
- Worldwide Shipping: Lulu Direct ships to over 150 countries, ensuring your books reach a global audience.
- Multichannel Selling: You can sell books through Shopify, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other platforms.
- Custom Branding: Lulu Direct allows you to brand your books and packaging, providing a professional touch.
Why It’s Recommended:
For stores that focus on books or educational content, Lulu Direct is the perfect fit. It allows you to print books on demand, so there’s no need to maintain inventory, and you can sell across multiple channels, expanding your reach.
Ideal For:
Authors, publishers, or ecommerce stores looking to sell printed books or educational materials.
Pricing:
Pricing varies by book type and size; there’s no monthly fee, and you only pay for the books you sell.
FAQs
1. What is the best Shopify print-on-demand app for beginners?
CustomCat is a great option for beginners due to its user-friendly interface and low-cost paid plan that offers discounted product pricing. It’s easy to set up and offers a wide variety of products, which makes it ideal for small businesses or new stores just starting out.
2. How do print-on-demand apps handle shipping?
Most POD apps, like Printful and Printify, handle shipping directly from their fulfillment centers. They automatically calculate shipping costs based on the product and destination. For example, SPOD offers some of the fastest shipping times, while Gelato uses local production facilities to reduce shipping times and costs.
3. Is print-on-demand profitable for ecommerce stores?
Yes, print-on-demand can be very profitable, especially if you choose the right products and pricing strategy. Apps like Printify allow you to compare multiple suppliers and choose the best-priced products, increasing your profit margins. By not holding inventory, you also reduce upfront costs, making POD a cost-effective business model.
4. Can I use multiple print-on-demand apps in one Shopify store?
Absolutely! Many store owners use multiple POD apps to diversify their product offerings. For example, you could use Printful for apparel and Lulu Direct for book printing. Shopify allows you to integrate more than one POD app, giving you flexibility in your product catalog.
5. What are the costs involved in starting a print-on-demand business on Shopify
Most print-on-demand apps are free to install, but you pay for the product and shipping when an order is made. Some apps, like Printify, offer premium plans for discounts on product costs. Additionally, you’ll need to pay for a Shopify subscription (starting at $29/month). Optional costs may include marketing, design tools, and any additional features you need for scaling your store.
Conclusion
Print-on-demand (POD) apps make it incredibly easy for ecommerce store owners to offer custom products without needing to hold inventory or manage shipping logistics. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your store, there’s a Shopify-compatible POD app that will suit your needs.
To recap, Printful and Printify are great all-rounders with a broad range of products and global fulfillment networks. SPOD stands out with its lightning-fast production times, while Gooten is a solid choice for businesses looking to scale.
For highly customized, all-over-print products, AOP+ offers unique opportunities, while Teelaunch focuses heavily on apparel. If your audience is global and sustainability is a priority, Gelato’s local production model is a strong option. Beginners will appreciate CustomCat’s ease of use and low costs, and if your focus is on book publishing, Lulu Direct is tailor-made for you.
Each app has its strengths, and the best one for you will depend on factors like product variety, production speed, shipping destinations, and customization options. Try out a few to see which fits your business model best.
