Top Print On Demand Companies for Beginners

Did you know that the print-on-demand industry is projected to reach a market value of $10 billion by 2025? [verify] With so many options available, figuring out the best print on demand companies can feel overwhelming.

Understanding which print on demand companies best suit your needs is crucial, especially if you’re just starting out. With nearly a decade of experience as a print-on-demand seller, I’ve curated a list of the top eight platforms for you to consider, categorizing them into passive and active models. Let’s dive in!

Understanding Passive and Active Print on Demand

When entering the world of print on demand, it’s essential to grasp the difference between active and passive business models. Active print-on-demand outfits require you to build a website, drive traffic, pay for each order up front, and handle all customer service. Passive platforms, by contrast, provide a ready-made marketplace, cover customer support, and collect payment from buyers before forwarding design requests to you.

"Some websites use an active print on demand business model, and other websites use a passive print on demand business model."
— Transcript excerpt

Key distinctions:

• Active Print on Demand: You create your own storefront (often via Shopify), manage marketing costs, and pay out of pocket before a sale actually lands.
• Passive Print on Demand: You upload designs to a marketplace that already has buyers; the platform processes payments and service, so you focus solely on creating and uploading.

The Best Passive Print on Demand Companies

If you want to start selling quickly and without upfront costs, passive companies are ideal. Here are the four best places to upload designs and leverage existing traffic:

1. Amazon Merch on Demand

   • Pros: Massive organic audience, no monthly fees, unlimited listings.
   • Cons: Requires approval via an application process.
     You can follow this video guide on how to apply and get your designs live fast.

2. Redbubble

   • Pros: Free signup, no application, built-in buyers.
   • Cons: New sellers start with lower margins until they earn premium status.
     Tip: Focus your first uploads on current trends to accelerate your tier upgrade.

3. TeePublic

   • Pros: Similar to Redbubble (same parent company), easy signup, passive traffic.
   • Cons: Apprentice tier pays less until you prove your design quality.
     Note: Your designs may not appear in search for everyone initially, but offsite marketing by TeePublic often brings in sales anyway.

4. Spreadshirt

   • Pros: Wide product catalog, excellent live customer support, no fees.
   • Cons: Smaller audience, so you may need to drive some traffic yourself.
     Spreadshirt stands out for responsive support and unique items like hats and mugs.

By uploading your work to all four, you maximize exposure without extra cost. You’re not exclusive to any single site, so use them in tandem.

The Best Active Print On Demand Companies

Active print on demand is for sellers who want full control and are prepared to invest in marketing. You’ll need a website builder like Shopify and be ready to pay for each order as it’s placed:

1. Printful

   • Pros: Premium image quality, in-house fulfillment, consistent branding.
   • Cons: Higher base costs than competitors.
     If you value top-tier output and reliability, Printful is the go-to.

2. Gelato

   • Pros: More affordable rates, global printing partners, no subscription fee.
   • Cons: Outsourced production can yield variable quality.
     Gelato routes orders to local vendors, cutting shipping time but sometimes compromising print checks.

3. Printify

   • Pros: Vendor selection for optimized pricing, flexible margins.
   • Cons: Quality depends on chosen external provider; more customer service work.
     Printify shines if you want to experiment with cost versus quality and fine-tune profit per item.

Choosing the Right Path

Passive print on demand lets you focus on design creation while platforms handle sales, support, and fulfillment. Active routes give you branding freedom and higher potential margins but require ongoing marketing and service.

If you’re looking to scale quickly with minimal headaches, passive marketplaces can serve as your launchpad. For full creative control and higher earnings per sale, an active setup on Shopify combined with Printful, Gelato, or Printify might be better.

Before deciding:

• Evaluate how much time you can commit to customer service and marketing.

• Consider your budget for upfront production costs.

• Think about whether you want to build a standalone brand or leverage existing marketplaces.

• Bold Takeaway: For a beginner, starting with passive print on demand platforms can be a smart way to enter the market and minimize headaches.

What’s your experience with print on demand? Are you leaning toward passive or active models? Share your thoughts in the comments below!