Selling print-on-demand (POD) products on Amazon is one of the most scalable ways to build an e-commerce income, but getting accepted into Amazon’s official Merch on Demand program can be difficult, with long waitlists and vague rejection criteria. The good news? You don’t need to wait.
In 2026, the best Merch on Demand alternatives are third-party POD providers that integrate directly with Amazon Seller Central. These platforms allow you to bypass the waitlist, retain full control over your customer data, and sell a wider range of products. Our analysis of 118 Print On Demand (POD) providers revealed that 31% of them offer integration with Amazon.
Quick Look: Who Is Each Platform For?
Not sure where to start? Here is a quick breakdown to stop you from guessing:
- 🚀 The Profit Hunter: Choose Printify. Their competitive pricing and vast network of print providers generally offer the best margins for sellers competing on price.
- 💎 The Brand Builder: Choose Printful. With premium white-label options, custom pack-ins, and consistent quality control, they are ideal if brand reputation is your priority.
- 🌍 The Global Scaler: Choose Gelato. Their local production in 32+ countries means faster delivery to customers in the EU and beyond, keeping Amazon feedback scores high.
Best Alternatives by Goal
If you are looking for a specific advantage over Merch on Demand, here are the winners:
- Fastest Approval: All listed below. Unlike Merch on Demand, you can open a Seller Central account and connect these tools instantly.
- Best Margins: Printify (via Printify Premium).
- Best for European Sales: Gelato (Reduces VAT/customs headaches via local fulfillment).
- Best for Amazon-Adjacent Selling: Printful. (Best integrations for expanding to Etsy or Shopify later).
Scorecard: Top Merch on Demand Alternatives
Before diving into technical integration details, here is how the top players score on the factors that matter most to business owners in 2026:
| Platform | Approval Friction | Margin Potential | Product Breadth | Integration Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printful | Low (Instant) | Medium | High (340+) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Native) |
| Printify | Low (Instant) | High (Competitive) | Very High (900+) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Native) |
| Gelato | Low (Instant) | Medium-High | Medium | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Global focus) |
| Gooten | Medium (Vetting) | Medium | High (150+) | ⭐⭐⭐ (API/Partner) |
Detailed Amazon Integration Comparison
Below we compare the technical capabilities of these providers, focusing on how they handle Amazon Seller Central integration, Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) compatibility, ease of setup, fees, shipping speeds, and branding for Amazon orders.
| POD Platform | Amazon Seller Central (FBM) Integration | FBA Compatibility | Integration Setup Ease | Amazon Fees & Commissions | Production & Shipping Speeds | Branding & Customization for Amazon Orders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printful | Yes – Native FBM Integration. Official Amazon integration via API. Orders sync for automatic fulfillment. | No direct FBA. Manual stock shipping possible for FBA, not integrated. | Moderate complexity. Needs API setup, GTIN exemptions. "Setup time: Slow" but stable once done. | Standard Amazon fees (referral ~15% + Pro Seller $39.99/mo). No extra Printful fee for Amazon integration. | 2–7 days production. Fast global shipping from multiple locations. No Prime/2-day but competitive U.S./EU speed. | Excellent branding: fully white-label, custom packing slips, logo/message, branded inserts (optional). |
| Printify | Yes – Direct Amazon integration. Syncs listings and auto-fulfills orders. | No built-in FBA. Can manually bulk-order to stock FBA if desired. | Relatively easy. Modern dashboard. Requires Pro Seller, GTIN exemption, category approvals. | Standard Amazon fees. Free to use, optional Printify Premium ($24.99/mo) for margin boost. | 2–5 days production. Shipping speed depends on chosen print provider, global redundancy reduces delays. | Good branding: store name on label, custom return address, neck labels/inserts available for extra fee. |
| Gelato | Yes – Official Amazon integration (US/expanding). Orders fulfilled via global network. | Not direct FBA. On-demand only. No FBA stocking service. | Moderate. User-friendly interface, Amazon Pro needed. Step-by-step guidance. | Standard Amazon fees. Gelato is free; optional Gelato+ for discounted shipping/packaging. | 1–4 days production. Local fulfillment in 32+ countries, very fast delivery in target region. | Branding available (with subscription): packaging inserts, branded sticker labels, white-label default. |
| Awkward Styles | Indirect – No native app. Use Order Desk or API for Amazon order sync/fulfillment. | No FBA. Print-on-demand only, no warehousing. | More involved. Extra tool (Order Desk/API) needed, requires some technical setup. | Standard Amazon fees. Free plan or $25/mo Pro for product discounts. | 2–5 days production. U.S. shipping from LA facility, international available but slower. | Basic branding: white-label, your name as sender. No advanced inserts or custom packaging. |
| Gooten | Indirect – API or Order Desk needed for Amazon order relay. | No FBA. Only print-on-demand, no integrated FBA. | Technical setup required. Needs API or middleware; not plug-and-play. | Standard Amazon fees. No Gooten subscription or integration fee. Competitive product costs. | 2–7 days production. Global network, choose regional partners for faster delivery. | White-label default, custom packing slip for higher tiers, no branded inserts for most users. |
| AOP+ (All Over Print) | Yes – via Shopify or Order Desk/API. Can automate Amazon order fulfillment. | No FBA. On-demand only, no FBA prep. | Moderate. Shopify workaround or API connection required; once set up, is automated. | Standard Amazon fees. Free to use, pay per product (higher for all-over print items). | 3–7 days production. Ships from UK (some US/EU partners), fast for UK/EU, slower for US/global. | White-label fulfillment. No advanced branding/inserts, just standard packing slip with your name. |
Summary: When selling print-on-demand products on Amazon in 2026, you have a range of integration options. Printful, Printify, and Gelato offer the most seamless direct integrations with Amazon Seller Central, making them easier to set up for FBM automation.
For a deeper dive into the specific rivalries:
- The Heavyweights: Read our Printful vs Printify comparison to see which one wins on quality versus profit margins.
- The Global Battle: Check out Printful vs Gelato if you are selling internationally.
- The Price War: See Printify vs Gelato to decide between low costs and shipping speed.
Consider your business needs: Printful and Gelato shine in branding and global speed, Printify and Gooten offer wide product choice and supplier flexibility, Awkward Styles and AOP+ cater to specific niches. For a curated breakdown of the top POD platforms beyond just Amazon integration, check out our Top 7 Merch on Demand Platforms for Amazon (2026).
Want to learn how to launch your own POD business on Amazon? See our beginner's guide.