Print-on-demand (POD) is still one of the simplest ways to sell physical products on Etsy without holding inventory. You create the design and listing, your POD partner prints and ships each order, and you focus on what Etsy actually rewards: great product photos, fast delivery, and consistent reviews.
If you are not fully committed to Etsy long-term, you may also want to compare Shopify vs Etsy or Etsy vs Redbubble before you build your whole workflow around one marketplace.
Quick picks (based on what usually matters most on Etsy)
- Best all-rounder with the biggest catalog: Printify
- Best for premium quality and brand-like unboxing: Printful
- Best for fast, localized fulfillment (especially EU customers): Gelato
- Best if you mainly sell phone cases and a smaller accessory catalog: Podbase
- Solid alternatives if you want options beyond the “big names”: Gooten and Teelaunch
If you want the longer breakdown (and the tradeoffs), keep reading.
What actually matters for Etsy POD (ranked)
Etsy is different from “build a store and run ads” platforms. The biggest drivers of repeatable results are usually:
- Delivery experience: buyers care about “arrives when expected” more than anything. Fast production and reliable shipping improve reviews and conversion. If you want to go deeper: fast shipping and better reviews on Etsy.
- Product quality and consistency: small defects hurt reviews quickly.
- Mockups and listing workflow: the faster you can publish and iterate, the faster you learn what sells.
- Personalization support (where relevant): Etsy customers love personalized products, but it adds operational complexity.
- Pricing control: your margins get squeezed by Etsy fees, shipping, and refunds. The provider’s base cost matters.
If you want a clean decision framework before you pick any provider, start here: how to choose a supplier for your print on demand business.
Top Etsy POD providers (updated)
Our 2025 POD integrations analysis found that Etsy direct integrations are common, but not universal. The safest path is still to pick a provider that has a mature Etsy integration and predictable fulfillment.
1) Printify
Printify is often the default recommendation for Etsy because it combines:
- a very large product catalog
- multiple print partners (so you can choose based on location, cost, and reviews)
- a straightforward Etsy integration
Best for: sellers who want maximum product choice and the ability to test quickly.
Watch-outs: because Printify is a network, quality can vary by print partner. Treat it like vendor selection inside a vendor.
If you are comparing the “network model” vs a more centralized model, see Printful vs Printify.
2) Printful
Printful is known for a more controlled production experience and strong “brand-like” features.
Best for: sellers who are willing to pay a bit more per item to reduce quality variance and build a more premium shop.
Watch-outs: the catalog is smaller than Printify’s once you consider every niche product type, and premium consistency can mean higher base costs.
3) Gelato
Gelato is a strong option for Etsy sellers who care most about delivery speed, especially when your customers are spread across regions.
- Large “local production” orientation (helpful for delivery times and fewer cross-border surprises)
- Direct Etsy integration
- Product set that covers the core Etsy winners (apparel, posters, wall art, stationery)
Best for: shops where shipping speed and on-time delivery are a primary advantage.
Where to go next:
- Full deep dive: Gelato print on demand review
- Head-to-head comparisons: Printify vs Gelato and Printful vs Gelato
- If you sell tees and activewear, the print method matters more than people think: DTF vs DTG (and why it changes margins)
4) Gooten
Gooten is a reliable alternative with a broad catalog and solid operational tooling.
Best for: sellers who want a solution that feels stable and business-like, without being locked into only the biggest names.
5) Teelaunch
Teelaunch is popular with sellers who want a simple workflow and a clear product focus.
Best for: beginners who want to get to “first 20 listings” fast without overthinking the toolchain.
6) Podbase (niche, but very Etsy-friendly)
Podbase is more niche than Printify or Printful, but it can be a great fit if your Etsy shop leans heavily into accessories like phone cases.
Best for: phone cases, simple accessories, and sellers who prefer a narrower catalog that is easier to manage.
7) Merchize (budget-focused)
Merchize can be attractive if your primary constraint is cost.
Best for: testing lower-priced products and margin-first experiments.
Watch-outs: always validate shipping expectations carefully. On Etsy, slower delivery can cost you more than you saved.
Key features and pricing comparison (high-level)
Pricing changes frequently, so treat this as a directional comparison. The bigger decision is not “who is cheapest today” but “who matches your Etsy strategy”.
| Provider | Direct Etsy integration | Strengths for Etsy sellers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printify | Yes | Huge catalog, multiple print partners, good for testing lots of SKUs | Broad catalogs, rapid experimentation |
| Printful | Yes | Consistency, premium feel, stronger brand experience | Premium positioning |
| Gelato | Yes | Localized fulfillment focus, strong for shipping-sensitive shops | EU and multi-region delivery |
| Gooten | Yes (in most cases) | Solid operational baseline, broad selection | Stable alternative |
| Teelaunch | Yes (in most cases) | Simple workflow, straightforward product focus | Beginners |
| Podbase | Yes | Great for phone cases and a narrow accessory set | Accessory-heavy shops |
| Merchize | Yes (varies by route) | Budget-friendly manufacturing routes | Margin-first tests |
How to choose the right POD provider for your Etsy shop
Pick a “default” based on your shop’s positioning, then only add a second provider if you have a clear reason.
- If you win on variety (lots of niches, lots of SKUs): start with Printify.
- If you win on premium feel and fewer refunds: start with Printful.
- If you win on delivery speed and reliability: start with Gelato.
- If you are mainly in phone cases, laptop sleeves, and similar: start with Podbase.
If you are unsure, the simplest “do the thing” path is:
- choose one provider (Printify, Printful, or Gelato)
- publish 20 to 50 listings
- learn from Etsy search data and customer messages
Scaling your Etsy POD business (practical moves)
Improve delivery expectations first
If your shop is getting views but not converting, your delivery experience is often the hidden problem. Tighten production times, choose closer facilities, and be conservative in your Etsy processing time settings.
This is why “local production” providers can matter. If you want examples and the logic behind it, see fast shipping and better reviews on Etsy.
Publish faster (without lowering quality)
Speed helps you learn. But on Etsy, spam listings with weak mockups tends to backfire.
A simple combo that works for many sellers:
If your bottleneck is listing creation itself, this experiment is worth reading: we published 10 Etsy listings in a day (manual vs Gelato).
Expand by product category, not by “random ideas”
Etsy winners often cluster by category because the buyer intent is consistent. If you already have traction, expand sideways into adjacent products.
Use these as category playbooks:
- Best print on demand T-shirt companies
- Best print on demand for hoodies
- Top print on demand companies for mugs
- Best POD services for posters
Final thoughts
There is no single “best” Etsy POD provider for everyone. But there is usually a best fit for your current strategy:
- Printify if you want the broadest catalog and fast experimentation.
- Printful if you want consistent quality and a premium brand feel.
- Gelato if you want delivery speed and localized fulfillment as a competitive edge.
When you are ready to expand beyond Etsy, start with platform fundamentals and distribution choices first. A good next read is The 2025 State of Print-on-Demand: Your Guide to a Connected Business.
Selling on Amazon too? Here is the step-by-step: How to start Amazon print on demand.