Ever had a great idea for a t-shirt, a custom mug, or a unique phone case? Thanks to Print-on-Demand (POD), turning that idea into a real product you can sell online has never been easier. With POD, you create the designs, and a partner company handles all the printing, packing, and shipping whenever an order comes in. You don't have to buy inventory or manage a warehouse.
But there's a crucial step in the middle: connecting your online store to your printing partner. This connection is called an "integration," and it’s what makes the whole system work automatically.
To understand how this world is connected, we analysed data from 118 top print-on-demand vendors to see which e-commerce platforms and tools they support. Here’s what we found.
Key Findings: The Most Important Stats for 2025
For anyone selling or looking to sell custom products, these numbers highlight the clearest paths to success.
- Shopify is the King of Connections: An overwhelming 64% of POD vendors offer a direct integration with Shopify. It is, by far, the most supported e-commerce platform in the industry.
- The "Big Three" Dominate: If you want the most choice in printing partners, you should be on one of these three platforms.Shopify: Supported by 64% of vendors.Etsy: Supported by 42% of vendors.WooCommerce: Supported by 36% of vendors.
- API Access is the Standard for Customization: 47% of vendors offer an API (Application Programming Interface). This "universal adapter" allows for custom-built websites and unique business models, showing the industry's maturity.
- Selling Where People Shop: Major marketplaces are a huge focus. 31% of vendors integrate with Amazon, and 18% connect with eBay.
- The Rise of Social Selling: A new trend is rapidly emerging: TikTok Shop. Already, 11% of vendors, including major players like Printful, Printify, and Gelato, allow you to sell directly on the social media giant.
Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce: The Power Trio
Choosing your e-commerce platform is the first major decision you'll make. Our data shows that your choice dramatically impacts how many printing partners are available to you.
- Shopify (64% Vendor Support): If print-on-demand is your goal, Shopify is the safest and most powerful bet. It's a dedicated e-commerce platform built for selling. The sheer number of vendors that connect with it means you’ll have endless options for products, pricing, and features.
- Etsy (42% Vendor Support): The go-to marketplace for handmade, custom, and unique goods. Its strong support among POD vendors makes it perfect for artists and designers who want to tap into a built-in audience actively looking for creative products.
- WooCommerce (36% Vendor Support): For those who prefer to build their store on WordPress, WooCommerce is the leading choice. It offers immense flexibility and control, and with over a third of vendors supporting it, you still get a fantastic selection of printers.
Beyond Your Own Website: Tapping into Marketplaces and Social Media
You don't just have to sell on your own site. The smartest sellers meet customers where they already are.
- Amazon (31% Vendor Support): Integrating with Amazon allows you to list your custom products on the world's largest marketplace. Vendors like Merchize, SunFrog, and T-Shirt Gang make this connection possible.
- eBay (18% Vendor Support): The original online marketplace is still a powerhouse. Nearly one in five vendors can connect your products directly to your eBay listings.
- TikTok Shop (11% Vendor Support): This is the future of "social commerce." Imagine a user seeing your t-shirt in a video and being able to buy it without ever leaving the app. Companies like Printful, Spreadshop, and MyDesigns are on the cutting edge here, offering integrations that make this a reality.
What is an API? The Secret Tool for Power Users
You'll see "API" listed as an integration for nearly half (47%) of all vendors. So what is it?
Think of it as a custom-order hotline for developers. Instead of a simple plug-and-play connection like the Shopify app, an API allows programmers to build a completely custom link between their software and the printer. This is for businesses that need more power and flexibility. For example, a company could use an API to:
- Build a unique mobile app that sells custom merchandise.
- Connect a POD service to a video game, allowing players to order shirts with their in-game achievements.
- Create a fully automated system for a large corporation's company swag store.
Vendors like Printful, Printify, and Zazzle all offer robust APIs, signaling that they cater to everyone, from a single seller to a major enterprise.
The Leaders in Connectivity
Some vendors go above and beyond, offering a massive number of integrations that give their users maximum flexibility.
- Printful: Stands out with an incredible 19 integrations, including all the major platforms, plus niche ones like Big Cartel, Webflow, and Square.
- Safsira: A new and highly connected player, offering 18 integrations that cover nearly every major e-commerce channel.
- Print KK: This vendor boasts 9 integrations, connecting to Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, eBay, Walmart, and more.
- Blue Doba & BurgerPrints: Both offer 8 integrations each, showing a strong commitment to connecting with a wide variety of seller platforms.
The Final Word: A Highly Connected Future
The print-on-demand landscape of 2025 is more interconnected and accessible than ever. For the average person looking to start a side hustle or build a brand, the path is clear: start with Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce. These platforms give you the freedom to choose from dozens of printing partners.
For businesses looking to scale or build something unique, the widespread availability of APIs provides a toolkit for limitless innovation. And with the rapid growth of social commerce channels like TikTok Shop, the very definition of a "storefront" is expanding. The data shows a healthy, competitive, and highly connected industry ready to bring your ideas to life.