In the dynamic universe of e-commerce, print on demand has emerged as an essential solution. This innovative business model offers unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurs. Particularly, combining print on demand with online sales platforms like Shopify allows you to maximize your business’s potential. The best Shopify apps are those that meet your business’s specific needs while providing practical and cost-effective solutions.
Among the multitude of apps available on Shopify, how do you choose the one that best suits your business? What features should you look for? What’s the best way to use these apps to foster your business growth?
In this article, we will delve into these questions in detail. We will also introduce you to our selection of the best Shopify print on demand apps to help propel your business to new heights
The Interest of Print on Demand
Print on demand offers several key advantages that make it an attractive choice for online entrepreneurs.
- No stock required: You don’t need to invest in a product stock in advance. This reduces financial risks and storage costs.
- Flexibility: You can experiment with different designs and products at no additional cost.
- Efficiency: Print on demand can improve the efficiency of your supply chain.
- Personalization: You can offer customized products, thus increasing the perceived value of your products.
How to Choose Your Print on Demand Application ?
When choosing your print on demand application, it’s important to consider several factors.
First, the quality of printing is paramount. A low-quality product can negatively impact your business’s reputation.
Second, cost is also a factor to consider. Some apps may seem cheap at first glance, but hidden costs can add up.
Finally, ensure you choose an app that integrates well with your e-commerce platform and offers good customer support. To assist you in this process, here are some steps to follow:
- Evaluate your needs: Determine what kind of products you want to sell and what your needs are in terms of volume and variety.
- Research options: Explore the different apps available and compare their features, costs, and ratings.
- Test the app: Most apps offer a free trial or trial period. Take this opportunity to test the app and see if it meets your needs.
CustomCat
CustomCat is a Shopify app known for its wide range of products, including clothing, housewares, and accessories. It offers reasonable delivery times and a personalization option that allows customers to add names and text to products.
This app is particularly appreciated for its affordable rates and some of the lowest commissions in the market.
Pricing
The CustomCat app is free to use.
For printing, the rates are attractive for new entrepreneurs, with t-shirts starting at $9.00, mugs at $5.50, and hoodies at $17.00.
There’s also a paid plan at $20/month offering higher margins and lower product prices.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Wide choice of products (over 350 options)
- Low commissions
- Personalization tool
- Integrations with Etsy, WooCommerce, BigCommerce
- Various printing technologies
Disadvantages
- Delivery time can be long
- Their only warehouse is in the USA
- No custom packaging
Our rating on CustomCat
4,3/5
Best shopify print on demand apps - Gooten
Gooten stands out as more than just a Shopify print-on-demand app; it’s a full-fledged logistics platform. The company’s vision is to form partnerships with eCommerce shops and supply them with custom products regularly.
Pricing
Installing and using Gooten is free, with no upfront costs. Product prices are around the industry average, making them suitable for both beginners and growing dropshipping businesses.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Easy-to-use dashboard
- Good product range
- Automatic order processing, production, and shipping
- About 70% of production is located in the U.S.
Disadvantages
- Mockups could be better compared to competitors
- Customer support could be more accessible
- Some users have experienced product substitutions
Our rating on Gooten
4,2/5
Fuel - Best shopify print on demand apps
If you’re looking for print-on-demand Shopify apps with low pricing, check out Fuel. Online reviews suggest this Shopify t-shirt fulfillment service has super affordable prices, perfect for beginners.
Pricing
This best print-on-demand for Shopify app is free to install and use. Product prices are affordable—S-size, 100% cotton t-shirts start at $7 per item.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Simple to navigate integrations
- Robust support
- QA team assurance
- Fair pricing offers
- Wide color spectrum and printing options
Disadvantages
- Some delays caused by the suppliers
- Stock control of their inventory must be done more frequently
- Production must be accelerated
Our rating on Fuel
4,3/5
Teelaunch
Teelaunch is known for consistently delivering high-quality printing, earning itself generally positive reviews. Besides handling all aspects of print on demand, Teelaunch also allows for the sale of unusual products like shower curtains and soft cover journals.
App Pricing
Teelaunch doesn’t charge any monthly or subscription fees. You only pay when you make a sale, and the commission depends on the price you set.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Fast shipping
- High-quality mock-ups
- Top-notch customer service
- Successful Direct-to-Garment (DTG)
- Wide range of products
- Reasonable pricing for products
- Fairly good backend
Disadvantages
- Account locking has caused some customers problems
- Some customers experienced order deletions
- Updating the app created some issues
Our rating on Teelaunch
4,2/5
Printify - Best Shopify Print on Demand Apps
Printify is a good print on demand Shopify app for t-shirt sales. It syncs with a Shopify store within a minute and offers a nice range of clothing products to sell.
The selection of print providers is excellent—with companies based in the US, Europe, China, and Australia.
App Pricing
You can use Printify for free for 5 stores with all features. The premium plan costs $29/month and is for large dropshipping businesses operating 10+ eCommerce stores.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Easy to adapt
- High-quality products
- Quick and up-to-date tech
- Customization option
- Seamless workflow
- Excellent customer support
- Easy integration
- Beneficial financial visibility
Disadvantages
- Shipping costs need to be tracked
- Niche products may cost more than customers anticipated
- Their system could be more flexible
Our rating on Printify
4,5/5
Gelato
Gelato is a new print on demand Shopify app that quickly managed to get a decent 4.2-star rating. The reason: a big network of suppliers in 30 countries that allows worldwide delivery. Therefore, there’s a good 2. How do print on demand apps for Shopify work?
These apps allow you to choose products, customize them with your own designs, and then sell them in your Shopify store. When a customer places an order, the app handles printing and shipping.
chance that Gelato has a supplier in your country or region to deliver your orders.
App Pricing
The Shopify app is free, Gelato takes an average commission for order fulfillment. The shipping costs might be a bit higher, but that depends on the country of delivery.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Intuitive and responsive app
- Supportive customer service
- Economical pricing costs
- Supports many languages
- Integrations with different e-commerce websites
- Easy refund policy
- Helpful tutorials and resources
- Seamless process for the most
Disadvantages
- Some products’ quality was not as expected
- The IT team should fix several bugs
- Frame quality can be improved
Our rating on Gelato
4,3/5
Apliiq - Best Shopify Print on Demand Apps
Apliiq is a platform dedicated to the creation of streetwear style clothing, akin to major brands like Supreme. It’s one of the top on-demand t-shirt printing services, providing a broad selection of streetwear attire. Moreover, Apliiq provides stitching, labeling, tag creation, and graphic design services.
App Pricing
Using the Apliiq platform is free.
The offered products are affordably priced, with rates starting at $5 for snapbacks, $13 for pullover hoodies, and $3 for t-shirts.
Apliiq also provides a discount system for bulk buyers or large order purchases.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Product customization available
- High-quality prints via Direct-to-Garment (DTG) technology
- Responsive and efficient customer service
- A varied and well-developed clothing catalog
- Support for bulk buying and dropshipping
- Attention to product packaging
- Assistance from an in-house production artist
Disadvantages
- Delivery delays
- The product catalog is limited to clothing, excluding other items such as mugs or canvases
- Certain aspects of the interface and warehouses could be improved
Our rating on Apliiq
4,3/5
Printful
Printful is a company founded by Shopify, greatly facilitating the fulfillment, shipping, and delivery process with just a few clicks. It has been catering to the needs of millions of users for years, enabling them to create and sell custom products online. Additionally, Printful provides tips, ideas, and inspirational articles to its users.
App Pricing
Using Printful is entirely free. You only pay when you place an order, and these fees are only for shipping and manufacturing.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Easy to use and design
- Easy to integrate
- Allows customization
- Good templates are provided
- Responsive customer service
- Regular updates about shipping delays or other matters
- Transparent pricing
- Reasonable shipping time frame
Disadvantages
- The color range could be expanded
- The quality of printed products can be inconsistent, and some issues may arise
- Shipping costs can be overly high
Our rating on Printful
4,4/5
Yoycol
Yoycol is a recent print on demand app on Shopify. It’s an easy-to-use tool that allows dropshippers to design their own products in a simple and efficient way.
Its mission is to allow people to express themselves in every market and to make design easy for everyone.
Yoycol offers a wide range of high-quality products on which you can create and sell your designs without having to worry about production, inventory, packaging, and shipping.
App Pricing
Using Yoycol is free, you only pay for fulfillment and shipping.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Decent range of over 200 AOP products
- “All over” custom print products
- Easy-to-use 3D mockup generator tool for product design
- Automatic synchronization of products with Shopify stores
Disadvantages
- As a new app, there might be initial bugs and integration issues
- Customer support may need improvement in responding to issues
- Shipping times may be longer due to global coverage
Our rating on Yoycol
4,4/5
Lulu xPress
Lulu xPress is the print-on-demand arm of Lulu, an online platform for self-publishers. It makes it easy to create and sell your own print products, from books to calendars, that you can customize in a variety of ways.
It’s one of the best print-on-demand services for writers, photographers, educators, and creatives, especially those with an established audience they wish to monetize.
App Pricing
Lulu xPress offers shipping to over 150 countries from fulfillment centers in the US, Canada, Europe, and the UK. Rates start at $3.99 for shipping to the US.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Wide range of printing options
- Allows you to sell your books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu’s marketplace, or even as an ebook
- Recommended for authors, teachers, comedians, illustrators, and all kinds of creatives
Disadvantages
- Shipping fees may apply depending on the destination
- Production times can be longer for certain types of products
- Print quality can vary depending on product specifications
Our rating on Lulu xPress
4,2/5
Comparison of the Best Shopify print on Demand Apps
| App Name | Ease of Use | Variety of Products | Print Quality | Customer Service | Pricing | Overall Rating out of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CustomCat | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.3 |
| Gooten | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4.2 |
| Fuel | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Teelaunch | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| Printify | 4.5 | 5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Gelato | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Apliiq | 4.5 | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Printful | 5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.4 |
| Yoycol | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.4 |
| Lulu xPress | 4 | 4 | 4.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice of a print-on-demand app largely depends on your specific needs. Apps like CustomCat and Printify offer a wide variety of products, while Lulu xPress specializes in books and printed products. For print quality and customer service, apps like Printful and Yoycol stand out.
It’s important to do thorough research before choosing an app for your business. Consider not just the price, but also the product quality, customer service, and user experience.
No matter which app you choose, the main goal is to help you succeed in your print-on-demand business. Make the right choice and best of luck with your ventures!
FAQ
What is print on demand?
Print on demand is a business model where products are only created when a customer places an order. Benefits include reduced inventory costs and the ability to customize products.
How do print on demand apps for Shopify work?
These apps allow you to choose products, customize them with your own designs, and then sell them in your Shopify store. When a customer places an order, the app handles printing and shipping.
What factors should I consider when choosing a print on demand app?
You should consider factors such as product variety, cost, print quality, delivery times, user experience, and customer service.
Do all print on demand apps offer the same products?
No, some apps specialize in specific products. For example, Lulu xPress is focused on books and other print products, while CustomCat and Printify offer a wide range of products.
What are the best print on demand apps?
These are the best print on demand apps :
- CustomCat
- Gooten
- Fuel
- Teelaunch
- Printify
- Gelato
- Apliiq
- Printful
- Yoycol
- Lulu xPress