Best Print on Demand UK Companies: My Top Picks After Trying Them All

When I first jumped into print on demand, I had no idea which UK supplier would actually deliver on time, print decent quality stuff, and not kill my margins.

I’ve personally tested a bunch of POD suppliers that ship within the UK. Some were great. Some were awful. A few were surprisingly good at very specific things.

So here’s the breakdown of the best print on demand companies in the UK — what they’re good at, where they fall short, and how their pricing stacks up.

Comparison Table: Quick Look at UK POD Providers

1. Printful – Big Brand Features, Now With UK Fulfilment

Printful finally got their UK warehouse up and running — so now you can get their premium-level platform without 10-day EU shipping delays.

Still the smoothest experience from product creation to fulfilment, especially with their high-end mockup generator.

What You Get

• Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Squarespace integration
• Real-time shipping calculations
• Reliable order tracking
• Big brand feel, polished backend

Pricing Overview (UK Fulfilment)

Pros:

• Great mockups
• Trusted brand
• New UK facility speeds up fulfilment

Cons:

• Expensive base prices
• Lower profit margins if you’re not charging premium

2. Inkthreadable – Best for Fast Shipping and Eco Packaging

If I had to pick one platform that nails UK POD shipping and keeps things clean with branding — Inkthreadable takes the crown.

Here’s why it works:

• UK-based (Blackburn) — fast delivery: most orders arrive in 2–4 working days
• Offers white-label packaging — no third-party branding on parcels
• Responsive customer support
• Fully eco-friendly: biodegradable packaging and vegan inks

I’ve used Inkthreadable for everything from mugs to hoodies. The print consistency and shipping speed are why I keep coming back.

Product Range Breakdown

Pros:

• Super fast UK shipping
• Great branding control
• No minimums
• Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce integration

Cons:

• A bit pricier than Printify
• Mockup generator could use an upgrade

3. Two Fifteen – Best for Apparel Brands That Want to Scale

I didn’t discover Two Fifteen until I saw it mentioned in a Reddit thread — but once I tried them, I was hooked. These guys know apparel.

They print and ship everything from the UK, and they’re dialled in for serious clothing brands who want a custom, branded experience.

Why I Like Them:

• Fashion-forward product catalogue
• Organic and oversized garments available
• Orders fulfilled in 24–72 hours
• Branding extras like neck labels, swing tags, and custom stickers

Feature Set

Pricing Examples

Watchouts:

• Website isn’t the most user-friendly
• Not designed for art prints or photo gifts

4. AOP+ – Best for Hands-Free Etsy Automation

AOP+ is perfect if you’re running an Etsy shop and want a totally hands-free print on demand setup.

Once it’s connected, orders are auto-synced, printed, packed, and shipped without you touching a thing.

It’s all UK-based, and they offer really solid branding options — thank-you cards, your logo, custom packaging, and more.

Seller Fit Table

Popular Product Types

• All-over print hoodies
• Wall art and posters
• Leggings and dresses
• Phone cases, mugs, beanies

Pricing Snapshot

Extras:

• White-label option
• Pro plan available with faster support
• Great for lifestyle brands and artists

Prodigi – Best for Artists and High-End Prints

If you’re focused on art, photography, or wall decor, Prodigi is the platform. Based in the UK, their print quality is second to none — proper giclée printing, gallery-quality posters, and custom framing.

You won’t find mugs and hoodies here — this is for art shops, not merch drops.

Artist-First Features:

• Fine art printing
• Canvas + framed prints
• White-label fulfilment
• Mobile app for artists

Pricing Examples

Ideal For:

T-Pop – Best for Eco-First Brands

T-Pop is based in France but delivers to the UK in 2–4 days. The platform is clean, modern, and all about sustainability.

If your brand’s selling point is eco-consciousness, this is the one to look at.

Why People Use T-Pop:

• Everything is plastic-free
• Carbon-neutral by default
• Custom thank-you cards
• Fully white-label
• Easy Etsy/Shopify integrations

Pricing Breakdown

The product range is a bit smaller, but for minimalist stores, fashion startups or ethical lifestyle brands — it’s ideal.

Gelato – Best for Global Scaling With Local Printing

Gelato isn’t a UK company, but they’ve got local fulfilment in the UK, so you get the best of both: speed and reach.

If you want to scale globally without worrying about long shipping times, this one’s worth a look.

Why It’s Useful:

• Smart local routing — auto prints in nearest country
• Super fast UK delivery
• Great quality for posters, mugs, clothing
• API and ecommerce integration

Product Pricing

Where Gelato Wins:

• Selling globally
• Print consistency across countries
• Poster and wall print sales

Contrado – Best for Luxury and Unique Products

Contrado is based in London and they do premium print on demand. Their range is full of high-ticket, unusual products — leather bags, silk scarves, custom furniture, and home accessories.

It’s definitely not for everyone — but if you’re aiming for high-end, boutique-style drops? Contrado is in a league of its own.

Product Highlights

• Handmade in the UK
• Premium materials
• Niche products no one else offers
• Full white-label support

Pricing Snapshot

Not Great For:

• Budget brands
• Fast fashion or basic tees
• Dropshippers looking for volume

How to Choose the Best Print on Demand Company in the UK

I made the mistake early on of just picking the cheapest supplier. That backfired.

The print quality was average, the shipping took forever, and the packaging looked like it came from a random warehouse.

My return rate was brutal. I ended up refunding half the orders and spent more time managing complaints than growing the brand.

Here’s how to actually choose the right UK POD provider for your business:

1. What Are You Selling?

If it’s fashion apparel: Go with Two Fifteen or Inkthreadable

If you’re selling art prints or photography: Prodigi or Gelato

For unique, luxury products: Contrado

Want full automation on Etsy? Use AOP+

The product type is your starting point. A mug is not the same as a silk scarf.

If your brand depends on how the product looks and feels in someone’s hands, the POD platform has to be aligned with your niche.

This is where niche-specific providers win. Prodigi doesn’t try to do hoodies — they do wall art, and they do it well.

2. What’s Your Brand Focus?

Eco branding? Choose T-Pop or Inkthreadable

High-end finish? Go with Contrado

Mass production at scale? Try Printful or Gelato

Your branding is more than a logo.

It’s how your package feels when the customer opens it, how clean the print looks, and even if there’s a recyclable label on the bag.

Some platforms (like T-Pop) have branding baked in, while others let you bolt it on.

If you’re trying to look premium, avoid suppliers that ship in grey polybags with zero identity.

3. What’s Your Profit Margin?

Factor in:

• Product base price
• Shipping cost
• Branding extras
• Platform fees (Etsy, Shopify, etc.)

Some suppliers charge more, but you get better packaging and fewer returns — which can save money long term.

It’s tempting to pick the lowest-cost option, but remember this: £3 saved on a hoodie means nothing if the customer returns it.

I’ve learned it’s better to earn slightly less and deliver quality, than chase big margins and get slammed with refund requests or bad reviews.

Pay attention to the full cost per order — not just the item price.

4. How Important Is Speed?

UK-based fulfilment is key for:

• Lower refund rates
• Happier customers
• Better reviews

If you’re selling to UK customers, use UK-based fulfilment. Avoid international shipping when you can.

Speed makes a big difference with customer satisfaction.

No one wants to wait 10 days for a t-shirt. If you’re running a brand that promises “fast dispatch” or you’re selling during peak times like Christmas, having local fulfilment is non-negotiable.

Even if a US supplier says “worldwide shipping,” it doesn’t mean it’ll arrive fast. UK fulfilment keeps your reviews positive and your stress low.

Testing Tips: How I Evaluated Each Platform

Before recommending any of these, I did hands-on testing. Here’s how I vetted each platform so you don’t have to fly blind.

✅ Step 1: Ordered Product Samples

I ordered basic t-shirts, mugs, and a print from each supplier

Compared:

• Print clarity
• Fabric quality
• Packaging
• Branding (did they include my logo or not?)
• Shipping speed

This is the most important thing you can do. I’ve seen platforms advertise “premium cotton,” but the actual shirt felt like sandpaper.

Some sent clean, branded packages. Others looked like they were packed at a car boot sale.

Always judge suppliers based on real product samples, not mockups or sales copy.

✅ Step 2: Customer Support Test

Sent real support tickets

Measured how fast each company responded and how helpful they were

Noticed some (like Inkthreadable and AOP+) replied fast with useful responses

Others gave generic answers or took 3+ days

Support is underrated — until something breaks. I don’t care how good the UI is if support goes silent when a customer doesn’t get their order.

The best suppliers treat you like a partner, not a number.

Quick replies, real answers, and someone who actually knows what they’re doing — that’s what you’re looking for.

✅ Step 3: Fulfilment Times

Tracked every order

Measured time from order > fulfilment > delivery

UK suppliers averaged 2–4 days, while international ones took 7–10+

Speed really varies. Some orders were packed and shipped within 24 hours. Others took a week just to move from “processing” to “printed.”

If your platform’s fulfilment time regularly goes beyond 5 days, it’s not sustainable for UK customers.

I tracked everything using standard shipping methods and included both branded and unbranded options to see if that affected turnaround.

✅ Step 4: Real Customer Feedback

Pulled reviews from Reddit, Trustpilot, and Etsy seller forums

Looked at what actual users were saying about refunds, quality, and integration bugs

This gave me a behind-the-scenes look beyond the shiny sales pages

Reddit and Facebook groups are gold for honest feedback.

You’ll find stories about missed Christmas deadlines, product flops, API issues, and refund nightmares.

But you’ll also find shoutouts to platforms that fixed problems fast. I used these sources to cross-check my experience against the wider community — and most of the time, the patterns matched.

Final Verdict: Which UK POD Platform Should You Pick?

Let’s make this easy — here’s what I’d recommend depending on your situation:

🔹 Just Starting Out?

Go with Inkthreadable

• Affordable
• Easy setup
• Fast delivery
• Great branding control

🔹 Building a Fashion Brand?

Pick Two Fifteen

• Focused on clothing
• Loads of branding options
• Feels like a premium experience

🔹 Running a Print Shop or Etsy Store?

Choose AOP+

• Automated
• Simple backend
• White-label ready

🔹 Selling Art or Photography?

Use Prodigi

• Print quality is unmatched
• Perfect for high-end prints
• Easy Etsy/Shopify sync

🔹 Going Global?

Go for Gelato

• Auto-routes orders to local print hubs
• Fast UK and international delivery
• Scalable for worldwide sales