Printify and Teespring (now Spring) are two of the most well-known names in the print-on-demand (POD) space, but which one’s better suited for your ecommerce business?
I’ve spent hours researching both platforms—from product selection and pricing, to fulfillment speed and profit margins—so you can make the best decision based on your goals.
After comparing both options side by side, I found Printify is the better choice for ecommerce sellers looking to scale with more control, branding options, and profit potential.
Teespring is great for creators looking to sell merch with minimal effort, but it comes with trade-offs.
Printify vs Teespring: Quick Verdict
| Platform | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Printify | Best for serious ecommerce businesses looking for flexibility, branding, and higher profit margins |
| Teespring (Spring) | Best for creators and influencers who want a simple merch setup with built-in audience tools |
In this review, I’ll break down how Printify and Teespring compare on product variety, pricing, profit margins, integrations, shipping, branding, and ease of use.
Quick Comparison Table: Printify vs Teespring
| Feature | Printify | Teespring (Spring) |
|---|---|---|
| Product Variety | 850+ products across apparel, home decor, drinkware, accessories, and more | Around 50–60 products focused mainly on apparel, stickers, and mugs |
| Pricing | Pay base cost + shipping; set your own retail price | Fixed base cost deducted from your sale price |
| Profit Margins | Higher potential margins with control over pricing | Lower average profit; simplified model |
| Integrations | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, eBay, BigCommerce | YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Linktree, Discord |
| Shipping | Varies by provider; 2–7 days US, 7–21 days internationally | Fixed process; 7–14 days US, up to 21 days internationally |
| Fulfillment | Multiple global providers, customizable options | In-house only; no provider flexibility |
| Branding Options | White-label shipping, branded packing slips, custom domains | Basic branding; limited customization unless you’re a high-volume seller |
| Ease of Use | Requires storefront setup and integration | Built-in store; quick setup for creators |
| Best For | Ecommerce businesses scaling through Shopify, Etsy, etc. | Content creators and influencers selling merch through social channels |
Product Variety: Printify Offers More Choice
When choosing a POD platform, having access to a wide range of products is essential—especially if you want to test different niches or stand out with unique items.
Printify
Printify connects you with multiple global print providers, giving you access to:
- Over 850 different products
- Categories like apparel, accessories, home decor, drinkware, pet gear, and more
- Specialty items like sneakers, clocks, duffel bags, and bean bags
| Product Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Apparel | T-shirts, hoodies, leggings, jackets |
| Accessories | Phone cases, bags, wallets |
| Home Decor | Posters, canvas, pillows, blankets |
| Drinkware | Mugs, tumblers, water bottles |
| Unique Products | Shoes, clocks, pet beds, notebooks |
Since Printify works with third-party suppliers, you can choose different providers for each item—depending on location, print quality, and price.
Teespring
Teespring’s catalog is narrower.
It offers:
- Around 50 to 60 products
- Mostly apparel, mugs, stickers, and phone cases
- All fulfillment is done in-house, with no third-party providers
The smaller catalog makes it easier for beginners, but limits flexibility as your store grows.
Winner: Printify
With a wider catalog, more custom items, and multiple supplier options, Printify gives you more ways to build a unique product lineup.
Pricing and Profit Margins: Printify Gives You More Control
How much you earn on each sale depends on two things: your product base cost and how much control you have over pricing.
Here’s how they compare.
Printify Pricing
Printify follows a simple pricing model:
- You pay a base cost + shipping to the print provider
- You set your own retail price
- Your profit = Retail price – Base cost – Shipping
There’s also an optional Printify Premium plan at $29/month, which gives up to 20% off all products.
| Product | Base Cost | Shipping | Suggested Sale Price | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoodie | $20 | $5 | $45 | $20 |
| Mug | $6.50 | $4 | $19 | $8.50 |
| T-shirt | $9 | $4 | $24 | $11 |
Margins vary depending on your chosen provider and sales platform, but Printify’s pricing gives you full control.
Printify is especially useful if you're running promotions or offering bulk discounts.
You can adjust your pricing strategy over time, test multiple suppliers for the same product, and even switch providers if one starts charging more.
This dynamic setup gives sellers the flexibility to protect their margins without relying on a single fixed cost.
Teespring Pricing
Teespring handles pricing slightly differently:
- You choose a sale price
- Teespring subtracts their set base cost
- Your profit = Sale price – Teespring’s cost
You don’t pay any fees to use the platform, but your ability to adjust product cost is limited.
| Product | Teespring Cost | Sale Price | Profit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoodie | $38 | $50 | $12 |
| T-shirt | $13 | $25 | $12 |
| Mug | $10 | $18 | $8 |
One of the trade-offs with Teespring is predictability. Since you’re locked into their base pricing, your margins are fixed unless you change your retail price.
That makes Teespring easy to manage but harder to optimize. It’s great for creators who want a quick setup, but less ideal for sellers who want to scale with smart pricing strategies.
Winner: Printify
Printify gives you the flexibility to set your own margins. If you're serious about optimizing profits and scaling, this is a major advantage
Integrations: Spring Wins for Creators, Printify for Ecommerce
The way your POD platform connects to your storefront or content channels matters—especially if you're building on Shopify or promoting through YouTube.
Printify Integrations
Printify is built for ecommerce sellers using platforms like:
- Shopify
- Etsy
- WooCommerce
- eBay
- Wix
- BigCommerce
Orders are synced automatically and fulfilled by your chosen print provider. This setup works best if you already have a storefront or are building one from scratch.
Printify’s API access also allows advanced users or agencies to build custom integrations, making it suitable for more technical ecommerce teams.
Whether you're managing multiple stores or scaling via automation, this flexibility supports more complex ecommerce strategies over time.
Teespring Integrations
Teespring focuses on creators with built-in social platform integrations:
- YouTube Merch Shelf
- Twitch
- TikTok
- Linktree
- Discord
Spring also hosts your storefront for free, which simplifies setup if you don’t want to use a separate ecommerce platform.
Because Teespring is designed with content creators in mind, it’s a natural fit for those who already have a fanbase on social platforms.
The YouTube Merch Shelf, for example, integrates directly under videos for eligible channels—turning your content into a conversion engine without needing a website.
Winner: Tie (Depends on Use Case)
- If you're a YouTuber or TikTok creator, Spring’s native integrations are perfect.
- If you're running an ecommerce store, Printify's integrations are far more robust.
Fulfillment and Shipping: Printify Is Faster with More Options
Fulfillment speed affects your customer satisfaction, returns, and reviews. Here’s how Printify and Teespring stack up.
Printify Shipping
Because Printify uses multiple global print partners, shipping speeds and costs vary by provider.
- US delivery: 2–7 business days
- International: 7–21 business days
- Shipping rates: Depend on provider and location
- You can choose a provider based on speed, location, or reviews
This setup gives you more control, but requires more initial research.
It’s worth noting that Printify also offers production locations in the US, UK, Australia, and the EU, which helps reduce customs delays and shipping costs for international customers.
If you’re targeting customers across multiple regions, Printify’s global supplier network offers a big advantage in speed and scalability.
Teespring Shipping
Teespring handles fulfillment in-house and offers fixed shipping options.
- US delivery: 7–14 business days
- International: Up to 21 business days
- No control over shipping providers
- Limited fulfillment locations
Delivery speed is slower, especially for international customers.
Since Teespring uses its own fulfillment facilities, shipping times are more predictable, but there’s no option to switch to a faster or local provider.
If a product becomes popular in a specific country, you won’t be able to reduce delivery times by shifting fulfillment closer to the buyer.
Winner: Printify
Printify’s network of suppliers allows for faster shipping if you select a local provider. You trade off simplicity for better logistics.
Branding and Storefront Customization: Printify Leads
Custom branding helps your store look professional and build trust with customers.
Printify Branding
Because you’re building your store on Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce, you can customize everything:
- Custom domain name
- White-label packaging
- Custom packing slips and inserts
- No Printify branding on your products
Some print providers even allow for branded stickers and packaging.
This level of branding is ideal for ecommerce businesses focused on long-term growth.
You can build a consistent experience across your website, packaging, and unboxing process—which is something most creators using Spring won’t have access to.
Teespring Branding
Teespring offers a simple store under a Spring-branded domain (yourname.creator-spring.com). Branding options include:
- Basic logo and banner uploads
- Limited storefront customization
- No custom packaging unless you're a high-volume seller
It’s good for beginners, but lacks the flexibility to build a unique brand.
Even with its limitations, Teespring can still serve as a decent merch platform for creators who are more focused on content than brand development.
But if you’re aiming to grow an ecommerce business with repeat customers and strong identity, Spring’s branding options will eventually fall short.
Winner: Printify
If you want to grow a recognizable brand and control how your products are presented, Printify is the clear winner.
Ease of Use: Teespring Is Simpler, Printify Takes Setup
Both platforms are beginner-friendly in different ways.
Printify
- Requires integration with a third-party store (Shopify, Etsy, etc.)
- Simple drag-and-drop product designer
- You’ll need to manage store design, payments, and checkout via your platform
- Better suited for sellers with ecommerce experience
Printify’s user dashboard is intuitive, but the learning curve comes from configuring your store, provider selection, and understanding how to optimize shipping and pricing.
It’s not difficult, but it does take some trial and error—especially if you’re new to ecommerce.
Teespring
- Fully hosted on Spring’s platform
- Guided store setup process
- You can launch your first product in under 30 minutes
- No need to manage shipping or storefront hosting
Teespring is easier for creators or anyone just getting started, but you may outgrow it quickly.
The store editor is simple, but limited. Most of your time will be spent uploading designs and tweaking product names or prices.
It’s fast, but once your audience grows, you might wish for more control than Spring provides.
Winner: Teespring
If you're brand new to ecommerce and want a no-fuss experience, Teespring is the easiest entry point. But Printify offers more room to scale.
Final Thoughts: Should You Use Printify or Teespring?
Here’s a final breakdown to help guide your decision:
| Feature | Printify | Teespring (Spring) |
|---|---|---|
| Product Catalog | 850+ products | 50–60 core items |
| Pricing | Set your own prices | Fixed base costs |
| Profit Margins | Higher with right strategy | Lower, simpler |
| Integrations | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, eBay | YouTube, TikTok, Linktree |
| Fulfillment | Choose providers, faster options | In-house, slower |
| Branding | Custom branding, white-label | Limited control |
| Ease of Use | Requires setup, more control | Beginner-friendly |
| Best For | Ecommerce store owners | Content creators |
My Recommendation
- Choose Printify if you:
- Want to scale a long-term ecommerce business
- Need product variety and control over pricing
- Are using Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce
- Care about branding and packaging
Printify is better suited for sellers who want full control over their business, from profit margins to branding.
If you’re building a store with the intention of long-term growth, repeat customers, and international reach, the customization options and supplier network make Printify the stronger pick overall.
- Choose Teespring if you:
- Want a quick, free way to sell merch
- Already have an audience on YouTube or TikTok
- Don’t want to manage your own store or fulfillment
- Need the simplest setup possible
Teespring is ideal if your priority is getting merch out fast with little effort.
For influencers, streamers, or anyone monetizing an audience, the built-in integrations and hands-off fulfillment process make it one of the easiest ways to start selling products without touching a line of code.
Whichever you pick, both platforms offer free sign-ups—so it’s easy to test both before committing.
It’s worth trying a product or two on each to see which platform better suits your goals, especially if you’re balancing ease of use with the desire for control.
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