Printify vs. Printful vs. Gelato: The Ultimate Print-On-Demand Comparison

Choosing the right Print-on-Demand (POD) platform is like picking the perfect business partner — it can make or break your success. Whether you’re launching your first Etsy shop or looking to scale an existing one, deciding between Printify, Printful, and Gelato isn’t just about comparing features; it’s about choosing a tool that will empower your brand to grow.

Imagine having a platform that not only handles production and shipping but also aligns perfectly with your business goals—whether that’s offering the widest product variety, focusing on premium quality and branding, or even prioritizing sustainability and global reach.

Each platform has something unique to offer, and knowing the differences can help you unlock new potential for your e-commerce business.

In this article, we’re diving deep into these three POD giants, breaking down their strengths, weaknesses, and hidden advantages.

Whether you’re focused on profit margins, shipping times, or the ability to create a seamless brand experience, this guide will give you the tools to pick the perfect partner. Let’s find out which platform will give your business the competitive edge it needs to thrive!

If you’re ready to take your Etsy business to the next level with Print-on-Demand (POD), choosing the right partner is crucial. In this guide, we’re diving deep into the Printify, Printful, and Gelato platforms to help you decide which one is the best fit for your business. From product variety to shipping, print quality to integrations, we’ll explore every aspect to help you make an informed decision.

Let’s talk about the top Print-on-Demand (POD) platforms that are helping thousands of entrepreneurs launch successful online businesses. Whether you’re a seasoned Etsy seller or just getting started, finding the right POD platform can make all the difference. Today, we’re diving into three of the most popular platforms: Printify, Printful, and Gelato. Each brings something unique to the table—whether you’re after product variety, premium quality, or eco-friendly solutions.

Here’s a quick introduction to these game-changers:

Printify

If variety is what you’re looking for, Printify’s got your back. With over 600 products to choose from, they partner with multiple print providers, allowing you to shop around for the best pricing and fastest production times. You get flexibility in choosing suppliers, but you’ll want to pay close attention to quality, as it can vary from provider to provider.

Printify

Printify offers the largest selection and the ability to choose from multiple suppliers. It's a great option for those who want to keep costs low and experiment with different products or suppliers.

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Printful

For those seeking high-end quality and custom branding options, Printful is the premium choice. They produce all items in-house, meaning consistency is king. With branding options like custom labels and inserts, Printful helps you create a polished, professional image, making it the perfect choice for businesses focused on building a strong, recognizable brand.

Printful

Printful, on the other hand, is the go-to platform for sellers who want to build a premium brand. Its high-quality products, consistent printing, and custom branding options (like personalized labels and packaging) make it ideal for those looking to create a professional and polished experience for their customers.

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Gelato

If sustainability and global reach are priorities, look no further than Gelato. With local production in 30+ countries, they minimize shipping distances and carbon footprints, ensuring that your products are eco-friendly and reach your customers faster. Gelato is perfect for international sellers or those passionate about the environment.

Gelato

Gelato is perfect for businesses that prioritize sustainability and want to reach a global market with fast, eco-friendly shipping. If your brand emphasizes environmental responsibility, Gelato’s local production model ensures lower carbon emissions and quicker deliveries to international customers.

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Having a diverse range of products is important, especially if you want to expand your offerings and test different products with your audience.

• Printify: With 600+ products and growing, Printify takes the lead in terms of variety. You can sell anything from traditional t-shirts and mugs to more niche items like phone cases, yoga mats, or even puzzles. Printify works with different print providers, which allows them to offer a much wider selection than their competitors.
• Printful: Printful’s catalog has 330+ products, which is still quite extensive. The platform shines in the apparel category, with a large selection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, leggings, and sportswear. They also offer home goods like pillows and wall art, plus some interesting accessories like embroidered hats and backpacks. The main difference with Printful is that they own and manage their production facilities, so their product selection focuses more on quality and branding capabilities.
• Gelato: Gelato has a more curated selection, offering around 130+ products. While it doesn’t offer the same volume of items as Printify, its focus is on quality and sustainability. Products like wall art, personalized stationery, and mugs stand out, and for brands prioritizing eco-friendly products, Gelato’s model is highly appealing.

Verdict: If product variety is a priority, Printify wins hands down with the largest catalog. But if you’re more concerned with quality and brand consistency, Printful offers excellent options.

Your customers will judge your brand based on the quality of the products they receive. Consistent, high-quality prints can lead to positive reviews and repeat customers, while poor quality could harm your reputation.

• Printify: The quality on Printify can be inconsistent because they work with a large network of third-party print providers. This means some suppliers may deliver better quality than others. It’s a good idea to order samples from different suppliers to ensure you’re happy with the print quality before launching your products. On the plus side, this variety allows you to test different suppliers and price points to find the right balance for your brand.
• Printful: Known for its premium print quality, Printful handles all production in-house. This means you can expect more reliable quality across all their products. Additionally, Printful offers advanced branding options like inside and outside labels, custom packaging, and inserts, which can help you create a more professional and memorable customer experience.
• Gelato: Gelato places a strong emphasis on local production and eco-friendly processes, and they maintain strict quality controls to ensure consistency. This is particularly beneficial for businesses that are passionate about sustainability. The local production model also ensures high-quality prints, as items are produced close to the customer, reducing shipping times and the potential for damage.

Verdict: Printful comes out on top for the highest and most consistent print quality, along with excellent branding options. Gelato is a close second, especially for brands that prioritize sustainability.

Your pricing strategy is crucial to ensure profitability, and the costs associated with each platform can vary significantly.

• Printify: One of Printify’s biggest strengths is its competitive pricing. Since you can choose from multiple suppliers, you have more control over the cost of production. They also offer a Premium plan at $29/month, which gives you a discount of up to 20% on all orders, helping you maximize your margins. Printify’s affordability makes it a strong option for sellers who are just starting out or looking to scale quickly.
• Printful: Printful’s pricing is higher than Printify’s, largely due to the premium quality of its products and its in-house fulfillment. While Printful doesn’t offer discounts as significant as Printify’s premium plan, you’re paying for reliability and top-notch customer service. However, the higher costs can cut into your profit margins, especially if you’re selling low-cost items like t-shirts.
• Gelato: Gelato’s pricing sits between Printify and Printful. Their local production model often results in lower shipping costs, especially for international orders, which can help offset some of the production costs. Gelato also offers a Pro plan at $14.99/month, which includes discounted shipping and other benefits.

Verdict: Printify wins on pricing flexibility and affordability, making it the best choice for sellers focused on maximizing profit margins. Gelato offers a middle ground, with lower international shipping costs being a notable benefit.

Shipping speed and reliability are critical, especially if you want to avoid negative reviews due to late deliveries.

• Printify: Because Printify works with multiple suppliers across the globe, shipping times can vary depending on the supplier and their location. You can offer faster shipping by selecting suppliers closer to your customers, but this may involve higher costs. However, the flexibility Printify provides is a major advantage for sellers with global customers.
• Printful: Printful has fulfillment centers located in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan, which allows for faster and more reliable shipping times, especially for customers in these regions. They offer flat-rateshipping options, making it easier to manage your shipping costs.
• Gelato: Gelato takes a unique approach by producing products locally in over 30 countries, which significantly reduces shipping times and costs, especially for international orders. This local production model is particularly beneficial if your customer base is spread across different regions.

Verdict: Gelato wins for international shipping and eco-friendliness, while Printful is a solid choice for U.S. and European customers due to its fulfillment centers in those regions.

When running an e-commerce business, smooth integrations with platforms like Etsy, Shopify, and WooCommerce are essential.

• Printify: Printify integrates easily with Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Wix, and more. Their system is user-friendly, and you can set up your store with minimal technical know-how.
• Printful: Printful offers even more integrations, including Amazon, eBay, Gumroad, and TikTok Shop. This is ideal for sellers looking to expand beyond a single platform and reach a wider audience across multiple channels.
• Gelato: Gelato supports integrations with Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and other major platforms. While their integrations list isn’t as extensive as Printful’s, they cover all the essential platforms needed for most POD sellers.

Verdict: Printful takes the lead here due to the broad range of integrations, especially with larger platforms like Amazonand eBay, which are crucial for scaling a business.

Whether you’re dealing with production delays or need help navigating the platform, customer support can make or break your experience.

• Printify: Printify offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and email. However, since they work with third-party suppliers, resolving issues can take longer because they act as an intermediary between you and the print provider.
• Printful: Printful also provides 24/7 support, and since they handle everything in-house, issues are typically resolved more quickly. Their extensive help center and support resources make it easy to find answers to common questions.
• Gelato: Gelato offers 24/7 live chat support and has a dedicated customer success team for premium users. Their support is praised for being fast and responsive, especially for international sellers.

Verdict: Printful wins again for faster issue resolution due to in-house production, but Gelato provides great support, especially for international businesses.

Each platform has its strengths, and the best choice depends on your business goals, budget, and target market. If you’re looking for flexibility in pricing and product variety, Printify offers the largest selection and the ability to choose from multiple suppliers. It’s a great option for those who want to keep costs low and experiment with different products or suppliers.

Printful, on the other hand, is the go-to platform for sellers who want to build a premium brand. Its high-quality products, consistent printing, and custom branding options (like personalized labels and packaging) make it ideal for those looking to create a professional and polished experience for their customers.

Finally, Gelato is perfect for businesses that prioritize sustainability and want to reach a global market with fast, eco-friendly shipping. If your brand emphasizes environmental responsibility, Gelato’s local production model ensures lower carbon emissions and quicker deliveries to international customers.

Ultimately, the right choice depends on what you value most—whether it’s variety, quality, or sustainability. Take some time to evaluate your business needs, and consider ordering product samples from each platform to ensure you’re satisfied with the quality before making your final decision.

If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of Print-on-Demand (POD) and make informed decisions about your business, check out my other articles! I’ve covered everything from how to make money on platforms like Zazzle and TeePublic to step-by-step guides for launching successful Etsy stores using Printify, Printful, and Gelato.

Each article is packed with insights on optimizing product listings, leveraging SEO, and scaling your business with the best tools available. Explore more to gain a competitive edge and turn your creative ideas into profit!