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11 Best Print on Demand Companies to Launch Your Ecommerce Business

As an ecommerce entrepreneur and merchandise maker, I‘m constantly exploring new ways to efficiently create and sell customized products online.

After years of managing traditional production, inventory and shipping, I‘ve become a huge advocate of print-on-demand services for launching lean, scalable online businesses.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll do a deep dive on everything you need to know about print on demand (POD), from how it works to its key benefits and limitations. I‘ll also share my expert analysis on the 11 best print on demand companies available right now based on extensive research.

My goal is to provide merchants, creators and designers with the ultimate resource for understanding if print on demand is right for your ecommerce business and which provider best aligns with your needs.

How Does Print on Demand Work?

For those unfamiliar, print on demand eliminates all the complexities of traditional manufacturing, inventory and order fulfillment.

With POD, products are only printed when a customer places an order, meaning you avoid the risk and waste of over-predicting demand and pre-making stock.

Let‘s walk through the full print on demand process:

  • You design custom products like t-shirts, phone cases, home decor or other items and upload them to a print on demand platform.

  • When a customer orders your product, the print on demand company receives the order and prints a one-off physical copy on-demand.

  • The provider handles the printing, embroidery, packaging and shipping directly to the customer on your behalf.

  • You earn a profit margin on each sale without any upfront costs or holding physical inventory.

Print on demand empowers online retailers and creators to focus entirely on design rather than operational challenges. The provider handles production and fulfillment automatically based on orders.

This on-demand manufacturing model allows businesses to scale without the burdens of forecasting, largescale production, warehouses and shipping logistics.

Below I‘ve compiled some helpful statistics that showcase the rising adoption of print on demand:

This data highlights the explosive growth in print on demand, especially for apparel, along with the huge business opportunity it represents.

Benefits of Print On Demand (POD)

Now that we‘ve covered the basics, let‘s explore some of the biggest reasons businesses are pivoting to print on demand:

1. Eliminates Upfront Costs and Risks

With POD, you avoid all upfront investments in raw materials, tooling, manufacturing equipment and inventory. Items are only printed once a confirmed order comes in, eliminating financial risk.

2. Easy to Scale and Grow

With no limitations around production capacity or warehouse space, you can scale print on demand sales infinitely without major capital investments.

3. Global Reach

Top print providers have production and shipping capabilities established worldwide. This enables you to sell far and wide without complex logistics.

4. Higher Profit Margins

When you remove all the costs of operating production and managing inventory, POD offers much higher profit margins per product.

5. Time Savings

You get to invest time into designing vs manufacturing and shipping operations. This frees up bandwidth for what matters most.

6. Low Commitment

With many print providers, you can test out POD with zero financial commitment or contracts. This "test before you invest" model reduces risk.

7. Access to Technologies Like DTG

POD allows you to leverage advanced printing techniques like direct-to-garment (DTG) without buying specialty equipment.

Based on my own business experience and consulting work, these benefits enable much faster time-to-market and higher profitability compared to traditional manufacturing.

For businesses making frequent design updates or selling into unpredictable markets, the advantages are hardest to ignore.

Potential Limitations to Understand

However, print on demand does come with a few limitations compared to owning in-house production. As part of your due diligence, be sure to evaluate the following factors:

1. Lower Per Item Profit

Due to production and provider commissions, per item profit can be lower compared to high-volume manufacturing.

2. Limited Quality Control

You must rely on the provider to meet quality standards and have less control in the process.

3. Potential Production Delays

During high-volume seasons, some providers may experience delays in printing and shipping orders promptly.

4. Restricted Product Options

Not all intricate products can be printed on-demand efficiently. This may restrict product lines.

5. Rushed Quality Inspection

Quick turnaround times may result in some quality issues being missed before items ship.

6. Dependency on Provider Health

You depend on the provider staying financially stable. If they go under, your business is disrupted.

For less complex products with steady demand, owning in-house production may be more cost-effective at major scale.

But for most new businesses, the benefits of POD far outweigh limitations as long as you pick the right provider.

How to Select the Right Print on Demand Company

With so many print on demand companies now available, how do you select the best match? Here are the most important factors I analyze:

Product Print Quality

This is make-or-break. Review product samples yourself and read buyer reviews to assess print quality.

Product Catalog Size

Look for an expansive catalog from apparel to phone cases to home decor and more so you can expand over time.

Order Integration

Make sure the company offers seamless integration with major ecommerce platforms and marketplaces for smooth order management.

Production Locations

Choose providers with print facilities located near your target markets for faster fulfillment and lower shipping fees.

Pricing Model

Compare base product costs, provider commissions, shipping rates and minimums to calculate potential profitability.

Shipping Speed

Look for providers with fast shipping from print to doorstep so customers get orders quickly.

Responsiveness

Evaluate how quick and helpful customer service is should production or shipping problems occur.

I always advise evaluating at least 3-5 print on demand companies based on the criteria above to make the best choice. Taking time to do research upfront prevents headaches later on.

Now let‘s dive into my top picks across major print on demand categories…

Top 11 Print on Demand Companies

After extensive research evaluating over 25 leading print on demand providers, here are my top recommendations:

1. Printify – Best Overall Print Provider

Printify stands out as the best overall print on demand company based on its expansive product catalog, high print quality, and easy integration with top ecommerce platforms like Shopify and Etsy.

Some key advantages:

  • Huge selection of over 300 print products from apparel to phone cases and home decor.

  • Automated order routing to production facilities for fast fulfillment.

  • Multi-platform integrations make managing orders simple.

  • Provides expected profitability estimates so you can plan your business.

  • Positive buyer reviews for print quality.

The two biggest complaints about Printify are slow shipping times, especially internationally, and occasional inaccuracies with print colors.

However, their huge selection of print products combined with design, mockup and integration tools make Printify my top overall pick.

2. Printful – Best for Branded Merchandise

Printful stands out as the best print on demand solution for established brands looking to create merchandising and custom products under their existing brand.

Key advantages:

  • Huge assortment of branded products from apparel to home goods, accessories and more.

  • High-quality printing, embroidery and embellishment processes that bring designs to life.

  • Fast shipping from print facilities located around the globe.

  • API and warehouse integrations enable selling Printful items alongside existing inventory.

  • Order mockup tool lets you visualize the end products.

The top drawbacks cited are occasional color inaccuracies and minimum order quantities on some products before unlocking wholesale rates.

However, Printful’s combination of quality, reliability and seamless integration make them best suited for brands wanting to expand into print on demand merchandise.

3. Teespring – Best for Niche Apparel Campaigns

Teespring dominates when it comes to designing and selling custom apparel for niche audiences.

Key perks:

  • Requires no minimum orders or upfront costs -great for testing ideas.

  • Makes it easy to create targeted campaign pages to directly promote merch.

  • Tight platform integrations with YouTube, Twitch and more simplify the buying process.

  • Supports bulk orders with discounts.

Limitations include a smaller product catalog focused solely on apparel, higher base product costs, and slow shipping times.

But for designing one-off custom t-shirt campaigns or seamlessly integrating merch stores with leading social platforms, Teespring is hands-down the leader.

4. Gearbubble – Best for Mass Customization

Gearbubble stands out for enable full mass customization with an enormous catalog of products from electronics to home items that can be printed on demand.

Key advantages:

  • Endless product customization ability – they‘ll print on almost anything

  • Both US-based and international manufacturing keeps costs low.

  • Design studio and creative tools empower customization.

  • Volume discounts available on bulk orders.

Downsides are higher base costs per item and occasional issues with print quality and shipping delays.

But if you have a very diverse range of customized merchandise in mind, Gearbubble has the catalog size and global production capabilities to bring it to life.

5. TeeMill – Most Sustainable

TeeMill stands out as the leader in sustainable print on demand focused primarily on apparel and t-shirts.

Notable features:

  • Eco-friendly production using renewable energy and planting trees.

  • Diverse curated graphics and fonts for easy design.

  • Profit estimator shows expected earnings per product.

  • Online community of makers for inspiration and idea exchange.

Cons to consider are limited products, slow production and shipping times currently.

But for eco-conscious brands that want to design and sell custom apparel sustainably, TeeMill has compelling values-based appeal.

6. Gooten – Best Automation for Developers

Gooten dominates when it comes to API-driven print automation solutions ideal for developers.

Key perks:

  • Automated order management powered by API integrations.

  • Diverse selection of print products from apparel to wall art.

  • On-demand order printing, packing and shipping.

  • No monthly fees – pay per product.

Downsides are slower fulfillment times and smaller design libraries.

For developers and existing merchants wanting scalable automated print fulfillment, Gooten is the clear leader.

7. Scalable Press – Best DTG Apparel Printing

Scalable Press specializes in Direct to Garment (DTG) print-on-demand apparel known for soft feel and vivid color reproduction.

Notable features:

  • Specialization in DTG results in superb print quality with soft garments.

  • Mockup generator makes design visualizations easy.

  • Swag management platform to organize merch orders.

  • Wholesale rates available without large minimums.

The limitations are a focus solely on apparel currently and relatively slow fulfillment times.

But for the best DTG custom apparel printing, Scalable Press is the clear frontrunner.

8. Zazzle – Most Product Options

Zazzle stands out for enabling print on demand for the most extensive selection of product categories imaginable – from mugs to cufflinks to skateboards.

Key advantages:

  • Endless custom products beyond just apparel and accessories.

  • Volume discount pricing for bulk orders.

  • Manufacturing partners around the globe enable fast delivery.

  • Built-in design and mockup tools require no other software.

Downsides include premium pricing on low-quantity orders. Slow international shipping times have also been cited.

But if having every print product under the sun available appeals to you, Zazzle can‘t be beat.

9. PrintMonster – Best for Flexible Apparel Printing

PrintMonster dominates when it comes to flexible print options for apparel, offering both DTG and screen printing along with embroidery.

Notable features:

  • Ability to choose between DTG or screen printing based on the design.

  • Embroidery services for unique branded merchandise.

  • Integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce and more.

  • Wholesale bulk order discounts.

Limitations include a smaller product catalog focused on core apparel along with longer production times currently.

But for maximum flexibility in apparel printing methods and high-quality embroidery, PrintMonster is a customization standout.

10. Print Aura – Best DTG Prints for Apparel

Print Aura specializes in premium-quality custom apparel and accessories using industry-leading Direct to Garment printing technology for stunning designs.

Key benefits:

  • Unsurpassed DTG print quality and color vibrancy.

  • Specialization results in stellar customer reviews.

  • Seamless order syncing with top ecommerce platforms.

  • Print samples available to showcase capabilities.

Like other DTG-focused providers, the product catalog is limited to core apparel and accessories.

But for the absolute best DTG print quality for t-shirts, hoodies, hats and more, Print Aura dominates the playing field.

11. Printful – Most Reliable Fulfillment

Printful earns our final spot for most reliable print on demand fulfillment based on their exceptional attention to quality, detail and customer happiness.

Major advantages:

  • Fanatical focus on consistent quality and accuracy.

  • Rapid order processing and best-in-class shipping timeframes.

  • Top-notch customer service for prompt issue resolution

  • High order volume capacity without sacrificing speed.

The main tradeoffs are moderately higher base costs for products and limited item categories focusing on apparel and accessories.

But if your top priority is flawless order fulfillment you can count on, Printful is as reliable as it gets.

Key Takeaways – Is Print on Demand Right for You?

Based on my own experience both selling print-on-demand merchandise and advising other small businesses exploring POD, I wanted to recap some key takeaways:

  • Print on demand eliminates the risk and overhead of traditional manufacturing, making launching an online merchandise business extremely affordable and low-risk.

  • POD enables impressive scalability not bound by production capacity constraints. You can grow revenue exponentially.

  • It does trade off some per-item profit and control vs owning your own production. But for most new entrepreneurs and creators, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

  • Spend time finding the right POD company for your specific product lineup, audience and business goals. Don‘t just go for the cheapest – really evaluate print quality and capabilities.

  • Leverage print on demand as a launchpad to test merchandise viability without major investment. You can always bring production in-house down the road once validated.

If you‘ve been on the fence about print on demand, I hope this guide has showcased why it could be the fastest and most affordable way to turn your designs into a thriving online merchandise enterprise.

For most new sellers, POD eliminates the biggest barriers to getting started. I highly recommend testing out a few provider options to find the best long-term fit for your business needs and vision.

The opportunities to build the next great merchandise brand have never been more within reach thanks to the power of print on demand.

Further Resources

To take a deeper dive, here are some additional print on demand resources I recommend checking out:

I hope this print on demand guide provides a helpful starting point for taking your custom merchandise brand to the next level. Feel free to reach out if you have any other questions!

AlexisKestler

Written by Alexis Kestler

A female web designer and programmer - Now is a 36-year IT professional with over 15 years of experience living in NorCal. I enjoy keeping my feet wet in the world of technology through reading, working, and researching topics that pique my interest.