Printful vs Printify vs Gelato: My Full Review After 10+ Years in Print-on-Demand

Ever wondered which print-on-demand platform is actually worth building your business on?

When I first got into POD over a decade ago, choices were limited and things were simpler. Fast forward to now, and you’ve got dozens of platforms, each promising fast shipping, high margins, and top-quality prints.

I’ve spent the last 10+ years running multiple print-on-demand stores, testing everything from t-shirts and mugs to wall art and custom packaging.

And out of all the platforms I’ve used, Printful, Printify, and Gelato have been the three that kept showing up in my workflow — each with its own pros and painful cons.

Here’s what I learned after years of testing them head-to-head.

My Experience with Each POD Platform

I’ve used all three in real stores, with real customers, and real stakes on the line.

Let me walk you through what it’s actually like using these platforms over time — not just the stuff you read in marketing emails or YouTube videos.

Printful: Reliable, Polished, but Pricey

Printful was the first serious POD platform I used when I was scaling my first Shopify store in the lifestyle niche.

• The onboarding was smooth, and the Shopify integration worked right out of the box. I didn’t need a developer or support to get started.
• I leaned on them heavily for embroidered hats, premium hoodies, and tote bags with custom branding — like inside labels and custom packaging.
• Everything felt professional. The packaging looked clean, the customer experience was solid, and the print quality was easily a notch above other suppliers I’d used in the past.

But the tradeoff?

• The margins were thin. On a $35 hoodie, I was sometimes only clearing $7–$9 after costs and shipping.
• Their fulfillment times were slower during the holiday rush, and you had no control over where it shipped from.

That said, if brand image and premium quality matter, Printful is a beast.

I still use them to this day for high-ticket products where quality has to land right the first time.

Printify: High Margins, High Volume – If You Know What You’re Doing

I brought in Printify when I started building more volume-focused stores — especially for Etsy and niche t-shirt brands.

Here’s what made it work:

• Massive supplier network. You can choose from dozens of print providers in the US, UK, Europe, and Canada. That meant I could test out different suppliers for the same product to find the best combo of price and quality.
• Once I signed up for Printify Premium ($29/month), my margins opened up. A basic Gildan tee cost me $7.25 with free shipping from certain providers. I could sell it at $21.99 and still undercut competitors on Etsy.

But Printify isn’t hands-free:

• You need to vet your suppliers. I learned this the hard way when I let a lower-tier provider handle a product and got hit with blurry prints and late deliveries.
• There’s no Printify-branded quality control. It’s your job to manage the supplier relationship, and if there’s an issue, they route you through the provider directly.
• Also, there’s no custom packaging unless your supplier offers it — which most don’t.

Despite all that, Printify’s been the most profitable platform for me, hands down.

You just have to treat it like a marketplace and be picky with who you work with.

Gelato: Global Speed That Surprised Me

Gelato came into the mix a bit later, when I started experimenting with selling wall art and eco-friendly paper goods in Europe.

• What caught my attention was their local production model. They print in 30+ countries, which means customers in places like Germany or the UK can get products within 2–4 business days. That’s fast — faster than Amazon in some cases.
• I tested Gelato with art prints, posters, and notebooks, and the results were solid. Print quality was clean, packaging was protective, and the delivery times were impressively consistent.
• They even let you use your brand name on the sender label, which helps when you’re trying to look more legit in new markets.

A few limitations I ran into:

• Their product range isn’t as wide as Printify or Printful — especially for apparel.
• They also don’t offer things like embroidery or advanced packaging customization yet.

That said, I’ve kept Gelato in my stack for international orders, especially for EU and Australia.

If you want to sell globally without long shipping delays or VAT headaches, Gelato is a strong player.

Bottom Line from Experience?

• Printful = Premium quality and best for polished, branded stores.
• Printify = Best for profits and product variety — if you manage the process carefully.
• Gelato = Fastest global shipping and reliable quality, especially for non-US customers.

You don’t need to stick with just one. I still use all three today across different stores depending on the product, the target customer, and the delivery country.

Product Options and Customization

One of the biggest questions I get from clients is: “Which platform gives me the most product variety and customisation for my brand?”

Short answer?

It depends on what you sell, how much control you want over your packaging and branding, and how deep your product line needs to go.

Let’s break it down from how I’ve used each platform — and what I learned the hard way.

Printify: The Wild West of Product Variety

If product range is your top priority, Printify wins by a mile. No other platform gives you access to this many SKUs — over 850+ unique products.

• I’ve used Printify to sell everything from shot glasses and tank tops to yoga mats and phone cases.
• They partner with dozens of third-party print providers, so each item can come from a different source. That’s both a strength and a weakness.
• Some providers offer unique colour options, eco-friendly materials, or region-specific items (like EU-certified textiles or UK mug styles).

Where it gets tricky:

• No standardisation. One t-shirt might come from a top-tier printer in the US, while another version of the same product comes from a cheaper UK supplier with different fabric weight and colours.
• Branding options are limited. Only certain providers offer things like custom neck tags or branded pack-ins. Most of the time, you’re getting a plain white-label product in generic packaging.

If your strategy is about volume and niche testing, Printify gives you the playground. Just don’t expect much polish out of the box.

Printful: Best for Branded, Premium Stores

When it comes to branding, packaging, and control, Printful is in a league of its own.
If you’re trying to build a premium brand — especially in fashion, wellness, or lifestyle — this is where Printful shines.

Here’s what I’ve personally used them for:

• Custom inside labels on hoodies and shirts
• Printed neck tags
• Branded packing slips with thank-you messages
• Embroidery on hats, polos, and sweatshirts
• Even custom branding stickers on packaging

These little touches make a huge difference.
I’ve had customers mention the unboxing experience in reviews — which never happens with generic packaging.

Product-wise, they’ve got a tight selection — around 300–350 items — but it’s curated and consistent.
No weird variations, no mystery materials. Just solid, professional-grade gear.

The downside?

• You won’t find quirky novelty items like in Printify’s catalog.
• Everything’s a bit more expensive — but you’re paying for that brand polish.

If you’re building a long-term brand that customers remember, Printful gives you the tools to do that properly.

Gelato: Focused, Clean, and Internationally Friendly

Gelato sits somewhere in between — it doesn’t offer hundreds of weird items like Printify, but it’s more flexible than you might think.

• They focus on high-demand core products like wall art, apparel, stationery, mugs, and eco-friendly packaging.
• Their mockup tools are simple, but good enough to get a clean-looking product page fast.
• Unlike Printify, every item follows consistent specs, which makes selling to global customers a lot easier.

Branding-wise:

• You can add your brand name as the sender on shipping labels — a big win if you’re trying to look legit in other countries.
• You can also customise packing slips with your logo and a message — though you won’t get the full-on packaging experience like Printful.

Where they stand out is global reach.
Let’s say you want to launch a minimalist art print store in the UK, Australia, and Germany — Gelato has local print partners in all three, using the same product specs. That’s hard to beat.

Product range isn’t massive — you won’t get dog beds or puzzles here — but what they offer is clean, professional, and great for global shipping.

Quick Comparison – Product Options & Branding

Feature	Printify	Printful	Gelato
Total Products	850+	300+	~200
Unique/Novelty Items	✅ Wide variety	❌ Limited	❌ Focused core range
Apparel Selection	✅ Extensive	✅ High quality	✅ Essentials only
Embroidery Options	❌ Rare (few partners)	✅ Yes	❌ Not available
Mockup Generator	✅ Functional	✅ Advanced	✅ Simple + clean
Custom Neck Labels	❌ Few suppliers only	✅ Yes	❌ Not offered
Branded Packaging	❌ Not standard	✅ Stickers, inserts	❌ Not yet supported
Branded Packing Slips	❌ Some suppliers	✅ Fully custom	✅ Logo + message
Global Product Consistency	❌ Varies by supplier	✅ Controlled	✅ Consistent worldwide

So, Which One’s Best?

• If you want to test a bunch of niches fast and keep costs low, go with Printify. Just be ready to vet suppliers and skip branding.
• If you want premium quality and full branding control, Printful is the way — especially for Shopify and DTC brands.
• If you’re selling to multiple countries and want speed with simplicity, Gelato delivers clean, reliable products with decent customisation.

Each platform serves a different business model.
I use Printify for product testing, Printful for premium brand lines, and Gelato when I want EU orders to arrive in 3 days or less without any surprises.

Product Quality

No matter how slick your website is or how well your ads convert, if the product sucks when it lands in the customer’s hands — you’ve already lost.

After 10+ years in print-on-demand, I’ve seen the full range of what shows up in that brown box.

I’ve ordered samples from every platform, sent gifts to friends in different countries, and handled angry customer emails when things didn’t match what they saw online.

So here’s how Printful, Printify, and Gelato really perform when it comes to print clarity, fabric quality, consistency, and presentation.

Printful: Consistent, Premium-Feeling Products

This is where Printful consistently leads the pack. If quality is your top priority — especially for clothing and embroidered products — they rarely miss the mark.

What I’ve personally tested:

• Bella+Canvas 3001 tees
• Champion hoodies
• Embroidered dad hats
• Ceramic mugs
• Canvas prints

What stood out:

• Print sharpness is excellent. Colours pop, blacks are deep, gradients are smooth.
• Embroidery is tight. No loose threads or wonky stitching. My logo looked exactly like the design file.
• Fabrics feel premium. Even basic tees had that soft, retail-quality feel.
• Packaging is neat — white poly bags or cardboard boxes, no random crumpled fillers.

What could be better:

• Occasional delays in high seasons, but never major.
• Slight colour variance on darker garments — common in DTG (direct-to-garment) printing though.

If you’re building a premium brand or charging higher ticket prices, this is the kind of quality that justifies it.

I’ve had customers email me to ask where I got the shirts printed — and that almost never happens in ecommerce.

Printify: Inconsistent — But There Are Hidden Gems

With Printify, quality is a wildcard. That’s not because the platform itself is low quality, but because it’s a marketplace of dozens of different suppliers.

That means your product’s quality depends entirely on who you choose.

Here’s how it played out in real life:

• Monster Digital (US) – Excellent print clarity, shirts were folded neatly, very few defects. My go-to supplier for t-shirts.
• Awkward Styles – Great for mugs and hoodies. Fast turnaround, reliable packaging.
• Dream Junction – Hit or miss. Some prints were vibrant, others faded too quickly after washing.
• Some no-name providers – Total disasters. Off-centre prints, poor quality shirts, even mismatched orders.

Pros:

• Great when you choose right. Some providers absolutely nail quality at a lower cost than Printful.
• Fast turnaround with certain US-based print shops.

Cons:

• You have to test samples. Always order your own before going live.
• No real QC (quality control) — Printify doesn’t touch the product. If a supplier cuts corners, it’s on you to deal with it.
• Packaging can be basic or just plain sloppy — depends entirely on the printer.

In short, Printify can be great — even better than Printful on price/quality — but only if you put in the work to vet suppliers and actively manage your product catalog.

Gelato: Surprisingly Good for Global Fulfillment

I went into Gelato with low expectations — mostly because they don’t get as much hype as the other two.

But I’ve been very impressed with the quality across the board.

What I’ve tested through Gelato:

• Art prints (A3 and A2)
• Classic unisex t-shirts
• Spiral-bound notebooks
• Ceramic mugs

What stood out:

• Paper quality on art prints is excellent. I got a sample shipped to the UK, and the print looked gallery-ready.
• T-shirt prints were crisp and well-aligned. Colour reproduction was accurate.
• Packaging was sturdy — especially for fragile items like mugs and prints. No dents or damage on arrival.
• Local printing meant faster shipping without sacrificing quality.

Where it could improve:

• Not many high-end fashion options — shirts are good, but you won’t get the same variety or softness as Printful’s Bella+Canvas range.
• No embroidery (yet), which limits your brand expansion.

Overall, Gelato is a strong option if you’re serving international customers and want to ensure quality stays consistent no matter where your buyer lives.

They’re not the best for flashy fashion brands, but for clean, consistent print jobs — especially with wall art and paper goods — they’re very solid.

My Sample Testing Summary

Platform	Print Sharpness	Fabric Feel	Consistency	Packaging	QC Process
Printful	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Internal QC
Printify	⭐⭐⭐ (avg)	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐ (varies)	⭐⭐	❌ Supplier-dependent
Gelato	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	✅ Standardised process

So, Who’s Best for Quality?

• Use Printful when your brand needs to look polished and you don’t want to stress about fulfilment.
• Use Printify if you’re willing to test and stick with trusted suppliers — and want to increase profit margins while maintaining solid quality.
• Use Gelato if you’re selling to a global customer base and need uniform quality in multiple countries, especially for art prints, posters, and paper goods.

Remember: Quality isn’t just about how it looks — it’s also about consistency, packaging, and customer experience.

You only get one shot at a first impression, and this is where the platform you pick makes or breaks you.

Profitability

Let’s be real — it doesn’t matter how cool your designs are if your profit margins suck.

Over the past decade, I’ve tested pricing, promos, shipping setups, upsells — the whole lot.

The platform you pick has a huge impact on how much you keep per sale, and it’s not always obvious from the outside.

Here’s how Printful, Printify, and Gelato stack up when it comes to product cost, shipping fees, platform plans, and your real profit potential.

Printify: The King of Margins (If You Go Premium)

If we’re talking raw profit potential, Printify wins hands down — especially when you’re using Printify Premium.

Why Printify works:

• Printify isn’t a printer — it’s a marketplace. So you can cherry-pick the cheapest supplier for each product.
• Most products are 30–40% cheaper than the same item on Printful.
• Printify Premium gives you up to 20% off on every product, which stacks fast if you’re doing any kind of volume.

Real numbers:

• Gildan 5000 T-Shirt (Monster Digital, USA):
  • Printify Free Plan: $8.38 + $4 shipping = $12.38
  • Printify Premium: $7.25 + $4 shipping = $11.25
• Retail price: $24.99
• Gross profit: $13.74 per order
  (Higher if you use upsells, bundles, or multi-item orders)

What to watch out for:

• No bulk discounts unless your provider offers it.
• Higher potential for returns or reships if you pick a bad printer — which eats into margins.
• You may need to pay monthly for Premium ($29/month) to unlock the real margin power.

If you’re selling at volume or want to test multiple niches, Printify’s pricing structure makes it the most scalable platform from a profitability standpoint.

Printful: Polished but Pricey

This is where a lot of sellers hit a wall — they jump on Printful, love the quality, and then realise they’re clearing just a few bucks per order.

Why Printful is expensive:

• They do everything in-house. That means consistent quality, better branding, and better support — but also higher overhead, which you pay for.
• Shipping is not baked into the product price. You pay separately per region.

Real numbers:

• Bella+Canvas 3001 T-Shirt (US fulfillment):
  • Product: $13.95
  • Shipping (US): $3.99
  • Total: $17.94
• Retail price: $24.99
• Gross profit: $7.05
  (And that’s without including ad spend or transaction fees)

Where Printful shines:

• No need for manual supplier checks. You know what you’re getting.
• More trust from customers. Less refunds, fewer bad reviews.
• Better for higher-ticket stores where you can price items at $35+ and still keep decent margins.

Bottom line? You’ll need to charge more, or build a stronger brand, to stay profitable with Printful — but the upside is fewer headaches post-sale.

Gelato: Balanced Margins, Global Savings

Gelato sits between the two. They’re not the cheapest, but they make up for it with lower shipping costs, especially for international customers.

What makes Gelato profitable:

• Local production in 30+ countries. So if a customer is in the UK, Australia, or Germany, shipping is local, faster, and cheaper.
• Less chance of customs delays or VAT issues, which can be a refund risk.
• Gelato+ Gold ($24/month) gives you access to better pricing and lower shipping on key items.

Example numbers:

• Unisex Softstyle T-Shirt (UK customer):
  • Base cost: $10.00
  • Local shipping: $3.50
  • Total: $13.50
• Retail price: $24.99 (in local currency equivalent)
• Gross profit: $11.49
  (No extra customs fees, faster shipping = fewer refunds)

Gelato’s model is great for international sellers looking for stable profit per region without needing to build multiple storefronts or micromanage suppliers.

Profitability Comparison Table

Platform	Avg T-Shirt Base Price	Avg Shipping	Total Cost (US)	Gross Profit @ $24.99	Monthly Fees	Best For
Printify (Premium)	$7.25	$4.00	$11.25	$13.74	$29/month	High volume, budget-focused
Printful	$13.95	$3.99	$17.94	$7.05	Optional	Premium brands, higher pricing
Gelato	$10.00	$3.50	$13.50	$11.49	$24/month	International, consistent margins

Real Profit Tips from My Own Stores

Here’s what’s worked for me across all platforms:

• Always order samples. Low quality = higher refund rates = dead profits.
• Bundle products. A $5 profit per item turns into $15 when people buy a 3-pack.
• Use upsells. Add mugs, tote bags, or stickers to increase average order value.
• Price with purpose. Don’t race to the bottom. People pay more for better design and reliable shipping.
• Cut costs by geography. Sell EU orders through Gelato, US through Printify, and premium gear through Printful.

I don’t look at profits per product — I look at profit per customer, and that number is only healthy when the platform matches your pricing strategy.

Fulfillment and Sales Channels

When you’re running a print-on-demand store, how fast your orders get out the door and how easily your store integrates with platforms like Shopify or Etsy can make or break your brand.

I’ve worked with all three platforms — Printful, Printify, and Gelato — across different tech stacks, marketplaces, and fulfillment setups.

Some made my life easier. Some caused support nightmares.

Here’s what I’ve learned from years of actually fulfilling customer orders at scale.

Printful: Most Reliable Fulfillment and Cleanest Integrations

If you want plug-and-play fulfillment, Printful is easily the smoothest setup I’ve used.

Fulfillment experience:

• Average production time: 2–5 business days.
• Ships from in-house facilities in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
• I’ve rarely had issues with delays unless it was during Q4 holiday spikes.
• Orders auto-sync and get fulfilled without manual input once setup is complete.

What I love:

• Real-time order tracking.
• Auto-notifications when something is delayed.
• Everything is under Printful’s roof — no middlemen or disconnected third-party printers.

Sales channels:

• Direct integration with:
  • Shopify
  • Etsy
  • WooCommerce
  • Squarespace
  • Amazon
  • eBay
  • BigCommerce
  • Wix
• You can also push to marketplaces through tools like Order Desk or Printful’s own API.

This makes Printful perfect for sellers who want minimal tech headaches and a clean, automated workflow.

Printify: Flexible but Dependent on Print Providers

Printify gives you more choice, but that means you’re also depending on external print providers — and not all of them deliver on time.

Fulfillment experience:

• Production time: 2–7 business days (varies by provider).
• Shipping times range from 3–12 days depending on printer location and customer’s country.
• I’ve had some orders ship same day (shoutout to Monster Digital), and others that dragged for a week.

What to know:

• Printify doesn’t control the printing or fulfillment — it routes orders to third-party printers.
• If something goes wrong, you deal with Printify support, who then has to deal with the provider. That adds an extra layer of friction.

Sales channels:

• Direct integrations with:
  • Shopify
  • Etsy
  • WooCommerce
  • Walmart (via third-party tools)
  • BigCommerce
• You can connect multiple stores under one Printify account, which is great if you run multiple brands or niches.

If you’re okay with more hands-on oversight, Printify gives you flexibility and scale — but you need to be proactive with supplier selection and order tracking.

Gelato: Best for Global Speed and International Reach

Gelato is built different — literally.

Their whole model is based on local production in over 30 countries, and it’s been a game-changer for my international stores.

Fulfillment experience:

• Production time: Usually 1–3 business days.
• Shipping time: Often just 2–4 days for EU, UK, Australia, and US.
• I’ve had orders in the UK delivered in 48 hours with no expedited shipping — just regular fulfillment.

Why it works:

• They use local print partners, so orders are fulfilled close to your customer.
• This means faster shipping, lower customs risk, and more reliable tracking updates.
• It also helps with sustainability — fewer border crossings = lower carbon footprint (a nice marketing angle for eco-friendly brands).

Sales channels:

• Integrates directly with:
  • Shopify
  • Etsy
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce
• Custom API is also available if you’re running a headless setup or need more control.

I use Gelato for EU and international orders, especially for products like art prints and stationery.

It’s faster and cheaper than sending from the US, and you avoid all the post-Brexit shipping drama in the UK.

Fulfillment + Integration Comparison Table

Feature	Printful	Printify	Gelato
Fulfillment Time	2–5 days	2–7 days (varies by printer)	1–3 days
Shipping Speed	3–7 days (domestic)	3–12 days (varies)	2–4 days (international avg)
Fulfillment Source	In-house (US, EU, MX)	Third-party providers	Local print partners
Real-Time Tracking	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Multi-Country Printing	❌ Limited	✅ Yes	✅ 30+ countries
Shopify Integration	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Etsy Integration	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Amazon Integration	✅ Yes (via API/tools)	❌ (not direct)	❌ (manual/API)
Custom API	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Reliability (based on usage)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Final Thoughts on Fulfillment and Channels

• Printful is the most reliable if you want everything under one roof — fewer surprises, better tracking, and faster issue resolution.
• Printify gives you flexibility, but you’ve got to actively manage your fulfillment and know which providers to trust.
• Gelato is unbeatable internationally, especially for UK, EU, and Australian customers. If global reach matters to you, this platform delivers fast, reliably, and with fewer customs headaches.

Here’s how I personally use all three:

• US orders → Printify (Monster Digital)
• Premium branded products → Printful
• EU/Australia/UK → Gelato

This hybrid strategy gives me the best combo of speed, quality, and profit, without putting all my eggs in one fulfillment basket.

Ease of Use

Let’s be honest — even the best platform doesn’t matter if it’s a pain to work with every day.

Over the years, I’ve had to train VAs, troubleshoot product syncing issues, and manually re-do listings because of clunky dashboards.

That’s why ease of use is a big deal, especially if you’re managing multiple products or scaling fast.

So here’s how Printful, Printify, and Gelato compare when it comes to setup, daily workflow, and dashboard experience — all from actually using them in live stores.

Printful: The Most Polished UI (and Almost No Learning Curve)

Printful’s dashboard is the cleanest of the three. It just works.

What I like:

• The product builder is smooth and visual — you upload your design, position it with drag-and-drop tools, and the preview updates in real-time.
• Setting up variants (sizes, colours, etc.) is quick and intuitive.
• You get a full breakdown of costs, shipping fees, and retail pricing right as you build the product — no surprises later.
• You can sync entire collections to Shopify or Etsy with one click.
• Built-in branding tools like packing slips, inside labels, and mockups are just part of the flow.

What could be better:

• If you’re bulk editing a large catalogue, it’s slower — there’s no true bulk product editor.
• Design tool doesn’t give advanced placement for edge-to-edge printing — but that’s a small gripe.

Verdict: If you want something that feels like Shopify — slick, stable, and built for speed — Printful’s UI is a win. It’s what I recommend for beginners who want to get up and running fast.

Printify: Flexible but Clunky in Places

Printify is solid, but it can feel a bit DIY. It works — but it doesn’t feel polished.

Pros:

• Product creation is straightforward: pick a product, upload a design, choose colours, write your description, and sync.
• You get a preview of each supplier’s pricing and shipping — which helps when comparing providers.
• You can duplicate products easily, which is great if you’re testing multiple niches or designs.
• Integration with Shopify and Etsy is direct and mostly reliable.

Cons:

• The dashboard gets messy fast if you’ve got 50+ products or use multiple suppliers. There’s no great filtering or folder system.
• When syncing to your store, you sometimes have to manually tweak product variants or fix image layouts.
• The mockup generator varies wildly depending on the supplier — some look professional, others look outdated or too generic.
• You have to manually check shipping costs per supplier — no global pricing estimate like Printful.

Verdict: Printify isn’t hard to use — but it takes more clicks and more attention.

If you’re scaling or running multiple stores, things can get disorganised quickly unless you stay on top of it.

Gelato: Streamlined and Straightforward

Gelato doesn’t have the most features — but it nails the core experience.

What I like:

• Super clean dashboard. No clutter, no fluff. Just the tools you need.
• Product setup is lightning fast — pick a product, upload your design, preview it, and hit publish.
• You can set global product preferences like currency, shipping methods, and default branding options, which saves time when adding new items.
• Everything is designed to be minimal and scalable — no visual overload, no unnecessary steps.

Where it’s limited:

• Product customisation is basic. No advanced placement tools, no mockup backgrounds, no branding overlays like Printful.
• You won’t get a ton of design tools or AI features — just the basics.
• No true product bulk editor — yet.

Verdict: If you want to keep things lean and fast, Gelato is refreshingly simple.

Perfect for sellers who care more about speed and consistency than endless features.

Real-Use Summary – Ease of Use Comparison

Feature	Printful	Printify	Gelato
Setup Time	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Dashboard Cleanliness	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Product Creation Flow	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Design Tool / Mockup Generator	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐ (varies)	⭐⭐
Syncing with Stores	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Best For	Beginners, branding pros	Niche testers, budget scaling	Global sellers, speed-focused

Final Thoughts on Ease of Use

Here’s the no-nonsense truth:

• Printful is the easiest to work with if you care about visuals, efficiency, and smooth syncing. Everything looks good and works out of the box.
• Printify gives you more control and more product variety — but expect to spend more time managing and cleaning up behind the scenes.
• Gelato is lean and efficient, perfect if you don’t need every bell and whistle but just want to launch fast and keep things simple.

For my stores, I usually train new team members on Printful first, use Printify when we want to test more SKUs, and plug Gelato in when we’re expanding internationally and want minimal dashboard overhead.

Customer Support

You won’t care about support until you need it. But when something’s on fire — like a customer’s order going missing in Q4 — support can either save the sale… or sink your brand.

Let me break down how Printful, Printify, and Gelato handle customer support — based on actual issues I’ve run into.

Printful: Fast, Helpful, and Actually Knows Their Stuff

Printful has the most professional and responsive support team out of the three — no question.

My real experience:

• I’ve contacted Printful dozens of times for order edits, address changes, refunds, and product issues.
• They respond within minutes via live chat, and usually under a couple hours by email.
• What stands out is they don’t just copy-paste help articles. Their agents are trained and actually understand the platform and printing process.
• When a customer’s hoodie was delivered to the wrong address (my fault), they helped me reissue it — no extra fees, just handled it.

Key features:

• 24/7 live chat and email support
• Ticketing system that shows response ETA
• Detailed knowledge base that’s actually useful
• Agents can directly escalate to production or billing

If you’re running a serious brand, or just want fewer fires to put out, Printful’s support team is your safety net.

Printify: Gets the Job Done — Eventually

Printify’s support has improved a lot over the years, but it still has one major flaw — they’re just the middleman between you and the print provider.

Real issues I’ve had:

• I once had a customer receive the wrong size hoodie from a low-tier provider. Took three days to hear back from support.
• The agent had to reach out to the print provider for approval, which added another delay.
• Refunds and reprints are handled case by case — no clear policy, depends on the supplier.
• Sometimes responses feel canned — you can tell they’re juggling multiple tickets.

Support setup:

• No live chat — email and ticket-based only
• Response time: 24 to 48 hours, depending on backlog
• Support hours follow EU/US time zones — no 24/7
• Escalations are slow unless you’re on Printify Premium and mention it

That said, if you’re using top-rated providers like Monster Digital or Awkward Styles, you’ll rarely need support — they don’t mess up often.

But if you’re using Printify across multiple suppliers, expect to spend time chasing down issues.

Gelato: Surprisingly Fast and Customer-First

Gelato may not get the spotlight Printful does, but their support team is fast, global, and actually pretty impressive.

What I’ve run into:

• I had a UK customer say a framed print was delivered damaged. I contacted Gelato support at 10 PM my time (late in the UK) and had a response within 4 hours — with a tracking update and confirmation that a reprint was being sent.
• They didn’t ask me to send photos or go through a ticket chain — just took ownership and got it fixed.

Support experience:

• Live chat and email, both responsive (not 24/7, but close)
• Localised support teams in major time zones
• Friendly, solution-focused agents — not just script readers
• Very clear refund/reprint policy if the printer is at fault

Gelato’s smaller size actually works in their favour here — you’re not just another number in a giant system.

Support Comparison Table

Platform	Live Chat	Email Support	Avg Response Time	Quality of Help	Reprint/Refund Speed	Best For
Printful	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	30 mins – 2 hrs	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	Fast + direct	High-volume stores
Printify	❌ No	✅ Yes	24–48 hours	⭐⭐	Varies by supplier	Budget sellers, lower volume
Gelato	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	2–5 hours	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Fast + consistent	Global sellers

Final Thoughts on Support

If you plan to scale or just want to spend less time fighting fires, here’s my personal breakdown:

• Printful has the best overall support — fast, knowledgeable, and empowered to help you immediately.
• Printify is good enough if you stick to high-rated suppliers, but you’ll need to stay on top of it. Support takes longer and often passes the buck.
• Gelato punches above its weight — I’ve had some of the fastest international support turnarounds with them, even outside business hours.

Support doesn’t matter — until it really does.
And when it does, the difference between a refund and a 5-star review is how quickly your platform steps in and fixes the problem.

Pricing, Plans & Fees

Let’s talk about the money side — not just product pricing, but the hidden stuff that hits your margins:

• Subscription fees
• Shipping markups
• Discount tiers
• Extra charges for branding or tools

I’ve paid all three platforms out of my own pocket, from free plans to monthly premiums, so this isn’t guesswork — it’s what you’ll actually spend (or save) depending on how you run your store.

Printify: Low Product Costs, Premium Plan Worth Every Dollar

Printify’s pricing model is built for margin hunters. They offer two main plans:

Free Plan

• Access to all products
• Full supplier network
• Unlimited stores
• No commitment

BUT — you pay retail product prices, which are already lower than Printful, but still not the cheapest you can get.

Printify Premium ($29/month)

• Up to 20% off every product
• Works across up to 10 stores
• Pays for itself quickly if you’re doing just 15+ orders/month

Let me break this down:

• If a Gildan tee costs $8.38 on the free plan, you’ll pay $7.25 with Premium.
• That $1.13 savings adds up fast — across hoodies, mugs, canvas prints, etc.
• You’ll clear $5–$7 more profit per sale, and that adds up if you’re running a volume-based store.

Hidden fees?

• None, really. No setup fees, no branding upsells — but also, no custom branding unless your supplier offers it, and most don’t.
• Shipping fees vary by product and supplier, and there’s no bundled shipping discount across items.

Best for: Sellers who care about profits, run multiple stores, or want to test a lot of products.

Printful: Premium Costs for Premium Features

Printful’s product pricing is higher, but that’s because they bake in branding, quality control, and in-house fulfillment.

Free Plan

• Unlimited products
• All integrations
• Full branding options (at per-order cost)
• Design tool and mockup generator
• Great for small stores or people testing ideas

Printful Pro ($24.99/month)

• Access to premium tools:
  • Background remover
  • Product image generator
  • Exclusive clipart and assets
• Access to carrier-based shipping options
• Keyword research and trend data
• Priority support and some faster fulfillment

Now here’s the thing — you don’t need the Pro plan unless you’re:

• Doing lots of design in Printful’s editor
• Running a full brand with custom branding at scale
• Wanting priority support and design assets to save time

Hidden fees?

• Shipping is not included — you’ll pay by country, item, and weight.
• Branding add-ons cost extra:
  • Inside labels: $2.49 per item
  • Custom packing slips: free
  • Embroidery digitization: one-time $6.50 setup

Printful can feel expensive if you’re only selling basic tees. But for premium items or branded packaging, you get what you pay for.

Best for: Brands focused on quality, experience, and long-term value — not bargain-hunters.

Gelato: Global Seller Perks Without the Premium Price Tag

Gelato’s pricing is middle-of-the-road but makes up for it with fast shipping and localized production.

Free Plan

• Access to all core products
• Local printing in 30+ countries
• Basic branding: company name on label, logo on packing slip
• Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce integrations
• Email support

It’s enough to run a decent store, especially if you’re testing international waters.

Gelato+ Gold ($24/month)

• Up to 30% off shipping
• Up to 50% off product samples
• Access to premium mockups
• Advanced order routing (for faster fulfillment)
• Priority support

Gelato+ Gold is ideal if you’re:

• Scaling across multiple regions
• Selling print-heavy goods like posters, art prints, notebooks
• Wanting better control over shipping costs globally

Hidden fees?

• Product pricing can be slightly higher than Printify but often lower than Printful, especially on wall art and mugs.
• Some advanced features are locked behind the paid plan (like smart routing or branded features).

Best for: Global-first sellers, artists, and creators who want faster delivery without blowing margins on international shipping.

Quick Price Plan Comparison Table

Platform	Free Plan	Paid Plan	Monthly Cost	Product Discounts	Branding Options	Shipping Discounts	Best For
Printify	✅ Yes	Premium	$29/month	Up to 20%	Supplier-dependent	❌ No	High-margin volume sellers
Printful	✅ Yes	Pro	$24.99/month	None	Extensive (paid add-ons)	Carrier-based options	Premium brands, pro-level sellers
Gelato	✅ Yes	Gelato+ Gold	$24/month	Sample & shipping	Basic (free)	Up to 30%	Global sellers, fast delivery

Final Word on Pricing

If you’re bootstrapping and need maximum profit per item, Printify Premium is a no-brainer.

If you’re building a real brand with a premium feel, Printful is worth the cost, especially if you’re charging more and using their branding tools.

And if you’re selling across multiple countries, Gelato+ Gold saves you big on shipping and keeps fulfillment local — which adds up fast in international sales.

I use all three. Here’s how:

• Printify Premium for high-margin, low-touch products (tees, mugs)
• Printful Pro for my main Shopify brand with custom labels and embroidery
• Gelato+ Gold for international orders and art print stores (EU & UK especially)

Final Verdict: Which Print-on-Demand Platform Should You Use?

After using all three platforms across different brands, niches, and regions, here’s the truth:

There’s no single “best” option — only the best for your specific store setup.

Each platform brings something different to the table.

If you’re focused on high profit margins and don’t mind doing a bit of supplier management, Printify Premium gives you the most control over costs.

If you’re building a brand that customers remember, where unboxing matters and quality needs to land every time, Printful is the go-to.

And if you’re selling globally, especially to buyers outside the US, Gelato’s local fulfillment model makes your life a whole lot easier.

Here’s the full comparison, side by side:

Feature	Printful	Printify	Gelato
Product Range	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Print Quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Branding Options	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Profit Margins	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fulfillment Speed	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Support	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
International Reach	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

So, what should you choose?

• Choose Printful if you’re focused on premium branding, quality, and customer experience. Ideal for fashion, fitness, lifestyle, and professional DTC stores.
• Choose Printify if you’re after profit and product variety, and you’re comfortable managing supplier differences. Great for testing niches, scaling fast, and running multiple stores.
• Choose Gelato if you’re selling internationally, want faster delivery times, and don’t need every product under the sun. It’s perfect for art prints, wall decor, and minimal product lines with global reach.

My stack today?

I still use all three:

• Printify for high-volume products on Etsy and Shopify
• Printful for branded Shopify stores and influencer collabs
• Gelato for EU and UK art print fulfillment

Mixing them gives me flexibility, profit, and reach — without sacrificing the customer experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is best for beginners?

Printify — hands down. The free plan gives you access to hundreds of products, you don’t need a credit card to start, and setup with Shopify or Etsy takes minutes. Just be sure to pick reliable print providers (Monster Digital is a solid one).

Which platform gives the best profit margins?

Printify Premium offers the best margins if you’re chasing volume. You’ll save up to 20% on product costs, which makes a huge difference even with basic tees. Just make sure to account for shipping and supplier location.

Which platform is best for international shipping?

Gelato — no contest. They print in over 30 countries, so instead of shipping across borders, your products are printed locally. That means faster delivery, lower shipping costs, and fewer customs headaches.

Which has the best print quality?

Printful — especially for embroidery, DTG shirts, and canvas prints. If presentation and premium feel matter to your audience, they’re consistently ahead.

Can I use more than one platform at the same time?

Absolutely — and I recommend it. I use Printify for cheaper products, Printful for branded items, and Gelato for international orders. Most ecommerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce) let you integrate all three.

Is Printful worth the extra cost?

Yes — if you’re focused on brand building. Their packaging, print consistency, and support save you time and stress. If you charge premium prices and want repeat customers, it pays for itself.

Does Printify handle returns and refunds?

Kind of. Printify doesn’t fulfil orders themselves, so refunds and reprints depend on the print provider. If something’s wrong, they’ll contact the printer on your behalf — which can be slow. You’re still the one who has to deal with your customer.

Does Gelato offer custom branding?

Partially. You can add your store name and logo to packing slips, and the sender label can show your brand — which helps for international trust. But you won’t get custom packaging or inside labels like Printful.

Can I use these platforms with Etsy?

Yes — all three integrate directly with Etsy. Orders sync automatically, and fulfillment is hands-off once everything is set up properly.

Do any of them offer bulk order discounts?

Only Gelato offers structured volume discounts through their Gelato+ Gold plan — especially useful for art print sellers or B2B stores. With Printify and Printful, you’d have to work out deals manually with a supplier (or just rely on lower base costs).

Can I create branded packaging with any of these platforms?

Only Printful offers true branded packaging options — inside labels, custom pack-ins, packaging inserts, and branded stickers. Printify depends entirely on the provider, and most don’t offer this. Gelato lets you brand packing slips, but that’s about it.

Do I need to pay to use any of these platforms?

Nope — all three offer free plans that are fully functional for most sellers. Paid plans (like Printify Premium or Gelato+ Gold) unlock better pricing and features, but they’re optional.

What if a customer enters the wrong address?

With Printful, you can usually catch it in time and update the order manually. With Printify, you have a short window before the order locks. Gelato lets you edit addresses too — but once it’s in production, it’s out of your hands.

Which is best for selling posters or art prints?

Gelato all the way. Their art print quality is solid, pricing is fair, and they print locally, which means less chance of damage during shipping — especially overseas.