Best Printify Alternatives: Which POD Platform Should You Actually Use?
Printify is solid. Over 1,300 products, competitive pricing, and a massive network of print providers worldwide. But it's not perfect for everyone.
The multi-provider model means inconsistent quality across orders. Your customer might get a great shirt from one provider and a mediocre one from another. And while the free plan is generous, you need the $24.99/month Premium plan to unlock the best discounts.
If you're here, you're probably frustrated with quality inconsistency, looking for better margins, want more branding options, or need faster fulfillment. Let's break down the alternatives that actually matter.
Quick Comparison: Printify vs The Competition
| Platform | Best For | Monthly Fee | Product Count | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printify | Product variety, low costs | Free / $24.99 | 1,300+ | Multiple print providers |
| Printful | Brand control, quality | Free / $24.99 | 380+ | In-house production |
| Gooten | Automation, unique products | Free | 500+ | Smart order routing |
| Gelato | International, sustainability | Free / Paid tiers | 400+ | Local production in 32 countries |
| SPOD | Speed | Free | 200+ | 48-hour fulfillment |
| Sellfy | All-in-one solution | $29+ | Limited | Built-in store builder |
1. Printful – Best for Brand Builders Who Care About Quality
Printful is the closest like-for-like alternative to Printify. The big difference? Printful handles production in-house at their own fulfillment centers, while Printify connects you to third-party providers.
This matters because in-house production means consistent quality across orders. They use standardized equipment like Komit printers for DTG and Coloreel for embroidery. Your customer gets the same quality whether they order Monday or Friday, from California or Canada.
Printful Pricing
Printful is free to start with no monthly fees. You pay per product when orders come in. Their Growth plan costs $24.99/month (or free once you hit $12K in annual sales) and unlocks up to 30% product discounts, premium mockups, and custom branding options.
Product costs are competitive now. A few years ago Printful was noticeably more expensive than Printify, but they've slashed prices significantly. A basic unisex t-shirt starts around the same ballpark as Printify's options.
What's Good
- Consistent print quality across all orders
- Strong branding options (custom labels, pack-ins, packaging)
- Excellent mockup generator with 300+ products
- Flat-rate shipping makes pricing predictable
- 24/7 support
What Sucks
- Smaller product catalog (380+ vs Printify's 1,300+)
- Less flexibility on pricing since there's one provider
- Some niche products aren't available
Bottom line: If you're building a real brand and customer experience matters more than squeezing every penny, Printful is the move. If you just want the cheapest possible product, Printify probably wins.
We've covered this matchup in detail – check out our Printify vs Printful comparison for the full breakdown.
2. Gooten – Best for Scaling Sellers Who Want Automation
Gooten flies under the radar compared to Printful and Printify, but it's legit. They have 500+ products (including 200+ exclusive items you won't find elsewhere) and a smart order routing system that automatically sends orders to the best supplier based on price, location, and fulfillment speed.
Gooten Pricing
Completely free to use. No monthly fees, no subscription costs. You just pay for products when they sell. Their pricing varies by product and supplier, but base costs tend to be competitive – often lower than Printful for comparable items.
They also have a VIM (Very Important Merchant) program that unlocks better pricing and dedicated support as your volume grows.
What's Good
- No subscription fees whatsoever
- Smart order routing optimizes for cost and speed
- Unique products (magic mugs, fleece blankets, candles)
- 99% order accuracy with under 3-day fulfillment SLA
- Good for high-volume sellers
What Sucks
- Steeper learning curve than Printify
- Customer service gets mixed reviews
- You can't manually choose providers like on Printify
- Mockups aren't as polished as Printful's
Bottom line: Gooten makes sense if you're scaling and want hands-off automation. It's not great for beginners who want a guided setup experience.
3. Gelato – Best for International Sellers & Eco-Conscious Brands
Gelato takes a different approach: local production. They partner with producers in 32 countries, so your customer's order gets printed as close to them as possible. Less shipping distance means faster delivery and lower carbon footprint.
If sustainability is part of your brand story, Gelato leans into this hard. They're not just greenwashing – local production genuinely reduces transportation emissions.
Gelato Pricing
Free plan available with basic features. Paid tiers unlock better pricing and additional perks, though their subscription model is a bit more complex than Printify's straightforward free/premium split.
What's Good
- Local production in 32 countries = faster shipping worldwide
- Strong sustainability positioning
- Good for sellers with international customer bases
- Comprehensive customer support
What Sucks
- Smaller catalog than Printify
- Pricing can vary significantly by region
- Less control over which specific provider handles your order
Bottom line: If you sell internationally and want to reduce shipping times for customers outside the US, Gelato is worth testing.
4. SPOD – Best for Speed Freaks
SPOD (Spreadshirt Print-On-Demand) is owned by Spreadshirt and focuses on one thing: fast fulfillment. They promise 48-hour production for most products in the US and EU. That's significantly faster than the 2-5 business days you'll typically see from Printify.
SPOD Pricing
Free to use with no monthly subscription. Competitive product pricing, though the catalog is smaller than Printify's.
What's Good
- 48-hour fulfillment is legitimately fast
- No subscription fees
- Reliable quality (owned by established Spreadshirt)
- Good for US and EU markets
What Sucks
- Limited product selection (~200 products)
- Not ideal for global shipping outside US/EU
- Fewer customization and branding options
Bottom line: If fast shipping is your competitive advantage and you're focused on US/EU markets, SPOD delivers. Literally.
5. Sellfy – Best All-in-One Solution
Sellfy is different from the others on this list. It's not just a POD fulfillment service – it's a complete ecommerce platform with built-in POD features. You don't need Shopify or Etsy. Sellfy handles your store, checkout, marketing tools, and print-on-demand fulfillment in one package.
Sellfy Pricing
Plans start at $29/month. More expensive upfront than using Printify + a separate platform, but potentially simpler if you want everything in one place.
What's Good
- All-in-one: store builder + POD + marketing
- No need for external ecommerce platform
- Built-in email marketing and upselling tools
- Good for creators selling digital + physical products
What Sucks
- Limited POD product selection
- Monthly fee adds up vs free platforms
- Less control over fulfillment compared to pure POD services
Bottom line: Makes sense if you don't already have a store and want the simplest possible setup. If you're already on Shopify or Etsy, stick with a dedicated POD service.
6. Marketplace Alternatives: Redbubble, Zazzle, Amazon Merch
If you don't want to manage your own store at all, marketplace platforms handle everything – including traffic.
Redbubble and Zazzle let you upload designs and sell through their marketplace. They handle production, shipping, customer service, and bring their own audience. The tradeoff? Lower margins and less brand control.
Amazon Merch on Demand is the same concept but on Amazon. You get access to Amazon's massive customer base, and orders ship with Prime. The catch: you have to get accepted (it's invite-only) and competition is fierce.
These aren't direct Printify alternatives since you're not connecting to your own store. But if you just want to sell designs without building a business, they're worth considering.
So Which Printify Alternative Should You Choose?
Here's the quick decision framework:
- Want consistent quality and brand control? → Printful
- Scaling and want automation? → Gooten
- Selling internationally? → Gelato
- Need fast shipping in US/EU? → SPOD
- Want everything in one platform? → Sellfy
- Don't want to manage a store? → Redbubble, Zazzle, or Amazon Merch
Honestly? Many successful POD sellers use multiple platforms. Printify for variety, Printful for premium products, Gooten for unique items. Test a few, order samples, and see what works for your specific products and audience.
One More Thing: You Can Still Use Printify
If you're not ready to switch completely, consider using Printify alongside another platform. Cover your bases with Printify's massive catalog, then use Printful for your hero products where quality matters most.
Want to know more about Printify specifically? Check out our full Printify review and Printify pricing breakdown to see if the issues you're experiencing are deal-breakers or just minor annoyances.
Ready to start selling? Try Printify free – it's still one of the best options for most POD sellers. Or if dropshipping appeals to you, check out Spocket for a curated supplier network with US and EU vendors.