Printful vs. Printify: What Does Reddit Say?

If you’ve landed on this page, there’s a good chance you’re considering diving into the world of print-on-demand (POD). Whether you’re planning on launching a brand-new ecommerce store or looking for an additional revenue stream for an existing business, you’ve probably heard about two giants of the industry: Printful and Printify. So, which one should you go for? Let’s delve into the intricacies and compare these platforms based on real experiences shared by users on Reddit. Buckle up and get ready for a Reddit-based showdown!

Introduction to Printful and Printify

Before we jump into the user reviews, it’s important to understand how each platform operates. Both Printful and Printify offer similar services. They enable you to design and sell custom products online without worrying about inventory, production, or shipping. But despite their similarities, they operate quite differently.

Printful handles everything in-house, from printing to shipping. They have control over the entire process, which can lead to consistent quality. On the other hand, Printify acts as a middleman, connecting you with various printing companies around the globe. This model can potentially provide more options and better margins, but it can also introduce variability in quality.

Quality Insights from Reddit

When it comes to choosing a POD partner, quality is a critical aspect. After all, your brand’s reputation depends on it. Reddit users seem to have varying opinions about the print and garment quality offered by both platforms.

“If you care about print quality, stick with Printful…On many occasions the samples I’ve gotten from Printify came out looking cracked / faded, and were in no condition to be sold to paying customers.”

/u/aminmo

However, the experiences aren’t all one-sided. Another Reddit user found Printify’s product offerings appealing:

“To be honest, Printify has better pricing and cool products. I don’t use them for apparel anymore due to the quality being patchy or lackluster (the same can be said about Printful, however, they’re priced out of this world expensive with often rubbish print quality).” –

/u/Instantstar56

Evidently, quality can be a subjective matter and might differ based on the specific product or print provider chosen. If you’re unsure, one Redditor suggests ordering samples to see for yourself:

“Order samples from each and decide for yourself. Some people have had mixed reviews for each, so best to see it firsthand!”

/u/theperkyparalegal

Comparing Costs Between Printful and Printify

Another crucial factor to consider while choosing between Printful and Printify is the pricing. How much can you earn per sale? This largely depends on the cost of the products and services offered by the POD platform.

“Printful is way more expensive than Printify, at least if you want to use it in Europe…I will start to use Printify, and source some items with Printful.”

/u/ham_tomato

Another Reddit user echoes the sentiment:

“Printify generally has lower prices and a bigger product selection I believe…”

/u/PositivelyPOD

While Printify might seem more affordable on the surface, some users feel the extra cost associated with Printful can be justified given the higher quality of print results.

“The one big benefit Printify has is that they’re cheaper so you’ll be able to save a buck or 2 on each sale. But I’d rather choose a company with higher quality prints so I can reduce refunds/complaints and have longer-lasting customers than people who are pissed off and never buy from me again.”

/u/aminmo

Examining Product Ranges

When it comes to the range of products offered, both platforms offer a wide variety of items you can customize. However, some users feel Printify has an edge in this area.

“Printify is cheaper and had more options that I wanted, so I went Printify.”

/u/Illyria_uk

That being said, what matters most is finding a platform that offers the specific products you want to sell. In some cases, users even decide to leverage both platforms to enjoy the best of both worlds.

“I use both Printful and Printify for different items.”

/u/cosmothejtac

Printful vs. Printify on Shipping Services

One of the main challenges with dropshipping, and particularly with print-on-demand, is managing shipping. Here too, the experiences shared by Reddit users are quite varied.

“Shipping times are pretty equal for both so you won’t have to worry about your customer waiting a week longer for other items if their order consists of something from each drop shipper.”

/u/TRPC-Sam

However, some users find Printful’s shipping more cost-effective when a customer orders multiple items:

“If you sell multiple items, the shipping seems to be cheaper with Printful even though the items are more expensive…you’re gonna get 3 shipping charges tacked on because it’s 3 different suppliers where as Printful is shipped from one location.”

/u/Ka-tet19net

Customer Experiences and Service

Beyond the print quality, price, product range, and shipping, another significant factor is the customer service offered by each company. Let’s take a look at what Reddit users have to say.

“I’ve never had a problem getting a replacement.”

/u/cosmothejtac

Another user appreciates Printify‘s customer service:

“Love their website, and from what I’ve heard from others, their customer service is better in quality.”

/u/libra-luxe

Printful also received positive feedback for handling errors efficiently:

“A print was absolutely crooked. The customer sent me the pic. I got in touch with Printful and sent it to them. A new shirt was on the press that day and sent out within two days at no charge and the customer didn’t have to even fuss with mailing back the badly printed shirt.”

/u/Tijuanagringa

The Middleman Debate – Printful vs. Printify

Another discussion point revolves around the business models of Printful and Printify. While Printful handles printing in-house, Printify operates as a middleman that partners with different print companies around the world.

“You also gotta realize that Printify is actually just a middleman and doesn’t do any of the printing themselves while Printful prints from their own warehouses.”

/u/aminmo

Another user elaborated:

“Printful = one company. Printify = middleman representing several different POD companies of varying quality.”

/u/MCoryB

The middleman model allows Printify to offer lower prices and a more extensive product selection. However, it could potentially lead to more inconsistency in print quality.

The General Verdict

The Printful vs. Printify debate is not one that can be definitively settled. The right choice depends on what aspects you prioritize as an online seller: print quality, price, product selection, shipping, customer service, or the business model.

Despite the varying experiences shared by Reddit users, one thing is clear: it’s essential to test out each platform yourself and decide based on your own needs and experiences. As a user suggests:

“Order samples from each and decide for yourself. Some people have mixed reviews for each, so best to see it first hand!”

/u/theperkyparalegal

Remember, your business model and goals should guide your choice of print-on-demand service. By aligning your choice with these factors, you’ll be better positioned to build a successful online business.

The Inky Dollar Verdict

After conducting thorough research and gathering insights from Reddit, it’s time to share our own experience at Inky Dollar.

Having used both Printful and Printify in various capacities, we’ve ended up with doing 90%+ of our prints through Printful. Why, you might ask? It comes down to a combination of higher quality, reliability, superior customer support, and an overall better user interface that Printful provides.

Most of our clothing line and art prints are powered by Printful. The quality and consistency of the products have been a better fit for our target audiences, who value it and don’t mind paying a little extra. We believe that quality does indeed come at a price.

That being said, Printify still holds a place in our operations. On occasions when we require something unique or a cheaper alternative for specific items, we turn to Printify. While they may not hold the lion’s share of our business, their presence adds a layer of flexibility and allows us to cater to a wider audience base.

In conclusion, it largely depends on your business model and target audience. If your brand is robust and your audience doesn’t hesitate to shell out $30-40 for a medium quality t-shirt, Printful might be your best bet. However, if you’re targeting a more cost-conscious demographic, Printify could potentially be a wiser choice.

Remember, there’s no definitive one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to choosing a print-on-demand service. It’s all about finding the right fit for your specific business needs.