Printful vs Printify: Which One Makes You More Money?

Printify vs Printful

If you’re starting a print-on-demand (POD) business, two names come up more than anything else: Printful and Printify. When I launched my own POD experiments, I decided to test both platforms side-by-side to see which one actually performs better in real life not just on paper.

After using both services extensively, ordering samples, comparing quality, monitoring shipping times, and testing profit margins, I can confidently say this:

Both are great but they’re great for different reasons. And depending on your business style, one will fit you better than the other.

In this full breakdown, I’ll share everything I learned first-hand so you can make the right choice for your store.

The short answer

If you want the short answer:

• Printful: is better for premium-quality sellers who value consistency, branding options, and reliable fulfillment.

• Printify: is better for maximizing profit margins, scaling quickly, and accessing a huge product catalog.

I actually use both now and I’ll explain why.

Try Printful

Try Printify

What I Tested

To give you a fair comparison, I personally:

Ordered shirts, hoodies, mugs, and tote bags from both services✔

Tested multiple Printify suppliers (like Monster Digital & Dimona Tee)✔ Compared print quality, color accuracy, fabric thickness, and stitching✔ Checked fulfillment and shipping speed✔

Reviewed pricing and profit margins✔

Connected both platforms to a Shopify and Etsy test store✔

Explored their branding options and integrations✔

This review is based entirely on my personal experience.

Printful: My Experience

What I Liked:

Right away I noticed that Printful feels like the Apple of POD. Everything from product mockups to the unboxing experience feels clean and professional.

• Quality was consistently high. Every sample I ordered especially apparel looked polished, accurate, and well-printed.

• Shipping was reliable. My orders were fulfilled quickly and arrived within the estimated timeframe.

• Branding features are amazing. Inside labels, custom pack-ins, branding stickers if you’re building a premium brand, Printful makes it easy.

What I Didn’t Love:

The downside is clear:

• The prices are noticeably higher. Especially for popular items like hoodies and t-shirts.

But in return, you get consistency and quality control because Printful prints most of their products in-house.

Printify: My Experience

What I Liked:

Printify instantly stood out for one major reason:

• The prices are significantly lower. When I compared the same base products, Printify often came out $3–$8 cheaper. And the Printify Premium plan drops prices even more.

• The product catalog is massive. Shoes, blankets, jewelry, clocks you name it, they have it. It’s unbeatable for variety.

• Choosing different suppliers is powerful. I tested Monster Digital and Dimona Tee, and the quality was excellent for the price.

  
  

What I Didn’t Love:

Quality varies.

• Some providers were great, others were just okay.

You have to test suppliers to find your best match, which takes more work. Shipping times also depend on the provider you choose, so they can be inconsistent.

Side-by-Side Comparison

(Based on My Testing)

Feature	Printful	Printify
Pricing of products	Higher	Lower (even lower with Premium subscription)
Quality	Consistently great	Depends on provider
Product Catalog	Around 450-480	Over 1300
Fulfillment	Fast, reliable	Variable
Shipping	Clear and predictable	Rolls vary by provider
Branding	Best in the industry	Limited
Integrations	Wide range, smooth API	Wide range, slightly less polished
Profit Margins	Lower unless premium pricing	Higher margins
Best For	Premium brands	High-volume sellers
Overall Strength	Quality + branding	Low cost + variety

Quality Comparison (What I Saw)

Printful Quality:

• Sharp prints

• Great color accuracy

• Softer shirts and hoodies

• Tight stitching

• No misalignments

Everything I received looked brand-ready.

Printify Quality:

It depends on the supplier but some (like Monster Digital) delivered surprisingly high-quality prints at unbeatable prices.

Others weren’t as consistent. That’s the trade-off.

Winner for Quality: Printful

Winner for Value: Printify

Pricing & Profit Margins (My Numbers)

Printful:

• T-Shirt: ~$12–$15 base

• Hoodie: ~$25–$35 base

• Mug: ~$7–$10 base

Your profit margins depend heavily on charging premium prices.

Printify:

• T-Shirt: ~$7–$9 (as low as ~$5 with the Premium subscription)

• Hoodie: ~$17–$25

• Mug: ~$3–$5

Margins can be huge if you choose the right supplier.

Profitability Winner: Printify

Fulfillment & Shipping (My Experience)

Printful:

Every order I tested arrived:

• On time

• Packaged neatly

• With branded inserts

  
  

Printify:

Shipping varied a lot. Some providers were fast, others were slow. You need to test.

Fulfillment Winner: Printful

Branding (Printful Dominates)

Printful lets you add:

• Inside neck labels

• Sleeve prints

• Pack-in flyers

• Custom packaging

• Branded packing slips

This makes your product feel premium straight out of the box.

Printify does offer some branding, but it depends entirely on the provider and most don’t offer much.

Branding Winner: Printful (by far)

Integrations

Both integrate with:

• Shopify

• Etsy

• WooCommerce

• Wix

• Squarespace

• eBay

• TikTok Shops

• BigCommerce

Printful has a slightly smoother backend, but both do the job well.

Some of the Printful integrations platforms.

So Which One Should You Choose?

(My Final Opinion)

After testing both extensively, here’s how I personally use them:

Use Printful if…

• You care about consistent premium quality

• You want strong branding features

• You prefer in-house production

• You want a reliable fulfillment partner

  
  

Use Printify if…

• You want the lowest possible product costs

• You want bigger profit margins

• You want a massive catalog

• You're okay choosing your own providers

  
  

My personal recommendation:

Use BOTH!

This hybrid approach gives you the best of both worlds:

• Printful → premium items like hoodies, embroidered products, high-end shirts

• Printify → low-cost products, fast scaling, large variety

This strategy has worked incredibly well for me higher margins, more product options, and more flexibility.

Final Thoughts

Printful and Printify are both excellent POD platforms, but they shine in different areas. If you're building a brand that values quality and consistency, Printful will feel like a perfect fit. If you're scaling aggressively or value keeping costs low, Printify is hard to beat.

But from firsthand experience?

You don’t have to choose, using both unlocks the most potential.