SPOD and Printify are two of the biggest print-on-demand services available today—but which one is better suited for your ecommerce business?
To find out, I spent dozens of hours researching, testing, and comparing them across real-world scenarios. I looked at everything from product quality to pricing, integrations, branding options, and shipping speed.
So, which one actually helps you run a smoother ecommerce operation?
After comparing both platforms side by side, here’s the quick verdict:
SPOD vs Printify: Quick Verdict
Printify – Best overall for product variety, flexible pricing, and global reach
SPOD – Best for fast, consistent shipping and quality control
In this review, I’ll go deep into the differences between SPOD and Printify across major ecommerce features—like fulfillment times, margins, integrations, and product range—to help you figure out which print-on-demand platform is right for your store.
Quick Comparison: SPOD vs Printify
| Feature | SPOD | Printify |
|---|---|---|
| Product Catalog | ~200 items | 900+ products |
| Fulfillment Time | 48 hours | 2–7 business days |
| Print Network | In-house only (Spread Group) | 100+ global providers |
| Branding Options | Basic | Advanced (depending on provider) |
| Integrations | Shopify, WooCommerce, API | Shopify, Etsy, Wix, WooCommerce, API |
| Global Shipping | US & EU only | Worldwide |
| Pricing Control | Fixed | Flexible per provider |
| Monthly Cost | Free | Free (Premium optional) |
Both platforms let you build and run a print-on-demand store without holding inventory. But how they do it—and who they work best for—differs quite a bit.
Let’s break it down in more detail.
Pricing: It’s a Tie—Until You Add Scale
When it comes to upfront costs, both SPOD and Printify are free to start using. There are no monthly fees unless you subscribe to Printify Premium.
Printify Pricing Plans:
- Free Plan: Access to full catalog and providers, but no product discounts
- Premium Plan: $29/month, includes up to 20% discount on all products
SPOD Pricing:
- 100% free—no monthly fees or subscription model
- Transparent pricing baked into product costs
Example Pricing: Gildan 5000 T-Shirt
| Platform | Base Price | Shipping (US) | Total Cost | Profit (Selling at $20) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPOD | $7.85 | $3.57 | $11.42 | $8.58 |
| Printify (Free) | $8.24 | $4.00 | $12.24 | $7.76 |
| Printify (Premium) | $6.59 | $4.00 | $10.59 | $9.41 |
Verdict:
SPOD is slightly cheaper by default. But if you're using Printify Premium, you can often earn higher margins—especially on bulk orders or promotional periods.
What I like about SPOD’s pricing is that it’s consistent—there are no surprise add-ons or upsells.
You always know what your cost per unit is going to be. With Printify, on the other hand, pricing can vary between providers, so you need to double-check each listing before publishing. That flexibility is a plus, but it adds another step to the workflow.
Product Range: Printify Takes the Lead
If variety is your priority, Printify wins by a mile.
Printify offers over 900 products from multiple third-party print providers. You can find everything from t-shirts and mugs to yoga mats, beanbags, phone cases, Bluetooth speakers, and pet accessories.
SPOD, in contrast, offers just under 200 core products, mainly focused on apparel, mugs, posters, and accessories.
Product Categories
| Category | SPOD | Printify |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Home & Living | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tech & Electronics | ✗ | ✓ |
| Eco-Friendly Products | ✓ | ✓ |
| Niche/Novelty Items | ✗ | ✓ |
Verdict:
If you want access to trending, seasonal, or niche products, Printify is the better platform.
Fulfillment & Shipping: SPOD Is Faster
SPOD's major selling point is its speed. They promise to ship 95% of all orders within 48 hours. That’s because they handle production in-house through their parent company, Spread Group.
Printify, on the other hand, acts as a middleman between you and independent print providers. This means that production times vary depending on the supplier—anywhere from 2 to 7 business days.
Fulfillment Centers
| Platform | Fulfillment Network | US Centers | EU Centers |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPOD | In-house only | Pennsylvania, Nevada | Leipzig, Germany |
| Printify | Third-party providers | Multiple options | Multiple options |
Shipping Times (USA):
- SPOD: 2–8 days total
- Printify: 4–10+ days depending on provider and location
Verdict:
SPOD wins on speed and reliability. It’s the better option for US or EU sellers who prioritize customer satisfaction and low delivery complaints.
What this means in practice is fewer refund requests and angry emails about delays.
When I used SPOD for my core product line, my customer service workload dropped significantly. Printify can absolutely match that level of reliability—but only if you carefully vet your suppliers and choose fast-shipping vendors.
Print Quality: SPOD Is More Consistent
One of the trade-offs with Printify’s flexibility is inconsistent product quality across different vendors.
You might have one provider that delivers flawless shirts—and another that sends crooked prints or faded colors.
SPOD’s in-house fulfillment offers more consistent results. Their printing process and packaging are standardized across the board, which makes them more predictable if you’re scaling.
That said, Printify does allow product sampling before launch, which helps you vet different suppliers manually.
Verdict:
SPOD offers more predictable print quality. Printify is still great if you test your providers first.
I always recommend ordering at least one sample from each Printify provider you plan to use. Some offer DTG, others offer sublimation, and each uses different quality garments.
Printify gives you choice—but you need to be proactive. With SPOD, you trade flexibility for confidence that what you see is what the customer gets, every time.
Branding & Customization: Printify Has the Edge
If you want more control over your packaging, slips, or branding options, Printify has a slight advantage.
Some Printify partners offer:
- Custom packing slips
- Branded neck labels
- Custom inserts
- Eco-friendly packaging
SPOD, on the other hand, provides white-label shipments only, with basic packing slips and no branded inserts.
Verdict:
Printify gives sellers more room for brand customization, especially useful for boutique or premium stores.
Branding is where Printify can really elevate a store experience.
If you're building a lifestyle brand and want everything—from the label to the mailer—to reflect your aesthetic, Printify’s partners like Stoked on Printing or Monster Digital give you that edge.
SPOD doesn’t offer inserts or private labeling at this time, so you’re limited to logo-free packaging.
Integrations & Selling Channels
Both platforms integrate well with popular ecommerce platforms, but Printify wins on versatility.
Supported Integrations
| Platform | SPOD | Printify |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | ✓ | ✓ |
| WooCommerce | ✓ | ✓ |
| Etsy | ✗ | ✓ |
| Wix | ✗ | ✓ |
| Squarespace | ✗ | ✗ |
| BigCommerce | ✗ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
If you’re selling on Shopify, both tools work well. But if you want to sell across multiple marketplaces like Etsy, Wix, or eBay, Printify is more flexible.
Verdict:
Printify wins if you’re selling on more than just Shopify.
That extra flexibility has been a game changer for multi-platform sellers. I’ve seen many creators start on Shopify, then expand to Etsy once their audience grows—and Printify makes that transition seamless.
With SPOD, you’ll hit a wall if your business model includes marketplaces or non-Shopify storefronts.
Ease of Use: SPOD Is Simpler
SPOD’s user interface is more straightforward—especially for beginners.
There’s no need to compare providers or weigh production times. You choose a product, upload your design, and sync it to your store.
Printify gives you more control, but it can feel overwhelming at first. You’ll need to:
- Compare print providers
- Check production locations
- Review print quality reports
- Manually select the best vendor
Verdict:
SPOD is better for new sellers. Printify is more powerful, but takes more time to manage.
I found SPOD’s design tool and product creation flow to be much faster when launching a store from scratch.
With Printify, the extra steps pay off in the long run, but they require more effort and decision-making upfront. If speed to launch is your priority, SPOD is the better choice.
Support & Customer Service
Here’s how support stacks up across the two platforms.
| Feature | SPOD | Printify |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes (Mon–Fri) | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Help Center | Yes | Yes |
| Average Response Time | 24–48 hours | 24–72 hours |
| Community Forum | No | Yes |
Verdict:
Both offer decent support, but Printify has stronger community resources, especially for troubleshooting third-party issues.
One thing I’ll note is that SPOD’s support is more consistent, likely because everything is managed in-house.
With Printify, your experience may vary depending on the provider, and you sometimes have to wait while they coordinate with that third party. The community forums help fill the gaps, but the support chain is less direct.
Final Verdict: Should You Choose SPOD or Printify?
Here’s a quick breakdown depending on your business goals:
| Scenario | Recommended Platform |
|---|---|
| Selling mostly in the US | SPOD |
| Need fast, consistent shipping | SPOD |
| Selling internationally | Printify |
| Want product variety | Printify |
| Want advanced branding | Printify |
| New to POD and Shopify-only | SPOD |
| Need Etsy integration | Printify |
If you’re just launching and want simple operations, go with SPOD.
If you want to test new product lines, sell across channels, or build a brand around customization, go with Printify.
While both platforms bring unique strengths, your decision really depends on how you prioritize speed, variety, and control.
SPOD takes care of consistency and logistics, which makes it ideal for a streamlined operation. Printify, on the other hand, gives you flexibility at scale—with access to hundreds of products, international shipping, and advanced branding capabilities that help elevate your brand.
If your business is going to evolve, or you're building something bigger than just basic merch, having Printify in your toolkit makes a lot of sense.
Comments 0 Responses