Printify vs Teespring: Which is Best for Sellers in 2025?

TL;DR – Quick Comparison

Printify A print-on-demand platform that connects you to a network of third-party print providers. Offers a huge product catalog (1,000+ items) with generally lower base costs (especially if you use the 20% off Premium plan). You integrate Printify with your own store (Shopify, Etsy, etc.) and have control over pricing and fulfillment partner selection. Best for sellers who want to build a branded online store with broad product variety and higher profit potential (if managed well), and who don't mind handling storefront setup and multiple integrations for more control.
Teespring (Spring) – A combined POD service and marketplace that lets you create and sell products on its platform with no upfront costs. It provides a ready-made storefront and handles production, payments, and customer service for you. The trade-off is a smaller product range (~200 products, mostly apparel) and slower average shipping (standard delivery can take 1-2 weeks in the US). Integrations are limited (aside from a basic Shopify app and an API), but unique social media tie-ins (YouTube merch shelf, Twitch extension) make it ideal for content creators. Best for beginners or influencers who want the easiest way to start selling merch – no separate website needed - and are okay with Teespring's branding and standard fulfillment times.

Quick Comparison Table: Printify vs Teespring

Feature	Printify	Teespring (Spring)
Pricing Model	Free to use (no monthly fee). Optional Premium $29/mo for 20% off all base product prices. Pay the base cost + shipping per order, set your own retail prices (profit = retail - base cost - shipping).	Free to use (no fees or subscriptions). Teespring sets a base cost for each product; you set the selling price and keep the difference as profit. Simpler pricing but less flexibility to increase margins (base costs are fixed).
Product Catalog	1,000+ products across all major categories (apparel, home decor, accessories, etc.). Huge variety via many suppliers (e.g. multiple t-shirt brands, niche items).	~200 products total, primarily apparel and a few accessories/home goods. Limited selection keeps it beginner-friendly, but fewer unique product types (mostly standard tees, hoodies, mugs, stickers, etc.).
Fulfillment Network	Dozens of third-party print providers across the US, UK, Europe, China, Canada, and more. You can choose providers to produce closer to your customers for faster delivery.	In-house/partner facilities in the US and EU (production in ~6 countries: US, UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Belgium). All orders are routed through Spring's own system – less manual choice, more uniform process.
Shipping Speed (US)	Varies by provider and shipping method. Standard delivery often ~3-7 business days in the US (production + shipping) if you choose a domestic provider. International shipping times vary (often 1-3 weeks). Expedited options depend on provider.	Standard shipping is slower: typically 9-12 days for US delivery (EU orders often similar timeframe.) Rush Shipping upgrade available for buyers at extra cost, which can cut US delivery to ~4-5 days (3-4 days in EU). No ability for the seller to otherwise speed up fulfillment.
Integrations	10+ e-commerce platforms: direct integrations with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce, eBay, and even Amazon and TikTok Shop (for US). Also offers an API and allows up to 10 stores on one account (with Premium). Great for multichannel sellers.	Very limited native integrations: officially supports a basic Shopify integration and a public API. Instead of external stores, Spring focuses on social selling e.g. YouTube Merch Shelf, Twitch, TikTok, Discord integrations to sell directly through those channels. Spring also provides a hosted storefront on their site for each seller.
Branding Options	White-label fulfillment – no Printify branding on packages. Some print providers allow custom branded labels or pack-ins (e.g. custom neck tags, inserts or gift notes) even on the free plan. Since you run your own store, you control the branding of your website and can use your own domain.	Very minimal branding control. Orders ship in standard Spring packaging with no custom labels or inserts for most sellers. You can customize your Spring store page (banner, profile image), but cannot fully white-label the unboxing experience. Only top sellers might get access to things like custom sleeve prints or domains, on a case-by-case basis.
Ease of Use	Moderate setup. You must connect Printify to an external store (Shopify, Etsy, etc.) and set up your e-commerce site. The Printify interface itself is intuitive – with a drag-and-drop design editor - but you handle store design, listings, and payments on your platform. More initial work, but also more flexibility in how your store looks and operates.	Very easy start. Spring provides a one-stop solution - simply upload designs and publish to your Spring storefront. No separate website needed and no handling of payments/shipping on your end. Great for non-technical users. However, the trade-off is less customization and you rely on Spring's platform for everything.
Best For	Independent e-commerce sellers who want flexibility: If you run (or plan to run) your own store on Shopify, WooCommerce, etc., Printify is ideal. It offers broad product choice, control over pricing and vendors, and better scaling potential (multiple stores, higher margins with Premium).	Content creators & beginners who want a no-fuss way to sell merch: Teespring/Spring shines if you have an audience on YouTube, Twitch, or social media and want to monetize quickly. Also good for newcomers who don't want to build a full online store upfront. (Less suited for those wanting a long-term standalone brand presence.)

Pricing: Base Costs, Plans and Profit Margins

Printify Pricing – Freemium model with optional discounts: Printify is free to start – you only pay the production cost and shipping for each order, with no platform fee taken out. You list your products at whatever retail price you choose, so your profit is Retail Price - (Base Cost + Shipping). The base costs are set by the print providers and tend to be competitive; in fact, Printify often has lower base prices than many other POD services because providers compete on the platform. For example, a basic unisex t-shirt might have a base cost around $8-$10 on Printify (varies by provider), whereas some other platforms charge more for a similar shirt.

To boost profits further, Printify offers a Premium plan for $29/month (or ~$25/month if paid annually). Premium subscribers get 20% off all product base costs. That means if a hoodie normally costs $21 base, it would only cost about $17 with Premium – allowing you to keep an extra ~$4 in profit on that item. The Premium plan also increases your account's store limit (up to 10 online stores vs 5 on the free plan). The plan pays for itself if your order volume is high enough (roughly 15+ items sold per month can justify the $29 fee via the 20% savings). For very high-volume sellers, Printify even has an Enterprise plan with custom pricing and dedicated support.

Bottom line: Printify lets you control your pricing and margins. You can shop around different suppliers for better base cost or quality, and adjust your retail prices freely. This flexibility appeals to those who want to optimize profits – you're not locked into a set margin. Just remember you'll need to account for shipping costs in your pricing (you can charge customers separately for shipping at checkout or bake it into product prices, depending on your storefront strategy).

Teespring Pricing - Simplicity with fixed base costs: Teespring (now Spring) takes a different approach: you don't pay any monthly fees, and Teespring handles the financial transaction with the customer. Each product has a fixed base cost (the amount Teespring charges for production, including their service). You set a selling price for your product, and when an item sells, Teespring keeps the base cost and you get the rest as profit. For example, if Teespring's base cost for a t-shirt is $13 and you price it at $25, your profit would be $12. You receive your profit payout from Teespring after they fulfill the order.

There are no premium plans or subscriptions on Teespring; every seller gets the same base pricing. The advantage is that it's very straightforward - you know exactly how much you'll earn per sale based on the price you set, and you never have to directly pay for orders (Teespring covers production and just pays you your share). However, the trade-off is lower flexibility in margins. Teespring's base costs can be on the higher side (e.g. a hoodie might have a base cost around $38), which means to make a decent profit you often have to price items relatively high. And if you do raise prices too high, it may discourage buyers. Unlike Printify (or other POD services), you can't shop around or get a discount on the base cost – you're essentially “locked in" to Teespring's set prices. This makes Teespring easy to manage but harder to optimize for profit. It's a system that works fine for creators who are more focused on content and just want a simple merch offering, but it's less ideal for entrepreneurs who want to tweak their pricing strategy for higher margins.

Comparing Profit Potential: Both platforms only charge you when you make a sale (no sales = no costs out of pocket). Experienced sellers often note that Printify offers higher profit potential per item - thanks to generally lower base costs and the Premium discount - especially if you price your products strategically. With Teespring, the profit per sale is usually more constrained. On the flip side, Teespring's simplicity means you'll never accidentally underprice an item (their system ensures you always cover base cost), whereas with Printify you must set prices wisely to ensure you're profiting after base cost + shipping. In short, Printify gives more room to increase your margins, while Teespring prioritizes simplicity (you get a predictable, if not always large, cut of each sale). If maximizing profit per item is a key goal, Printify has the edge. But if you prefer a hands-off approach to pricing, Teespring's model is very straightforward for a beginner.

Product Catalog and Fulfillment Coverage

Printify Product Range: When it comes to selection, Printify is one of the most expansive POD platforms out there. It offers over a thousand unique products that you can customize. This includes all the staples – t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, tank tops, mugs, phone cases, posters, pillows, etc. – as well as tons of niche items. Because Printify works with many different suppliers, its catalog aggregates all the products those suppliers offer. You'll find multiple brands and styles for popular products (for example, dozens of t-shirt options from basic to premium brands, various cuts and fabrics) and also products that you might not find on smaller POD services. From leggings and dresses to jewelry, pet accessories, car seat covers, and even things like puzzles or Christmas ornaments – Printify's variety is a big selling point. It's great if you want the flexibility to expand into different categories or offer unique merchandise in your store. The flip side of having so many choices is that it can be a little overwhelming at first to decide which product or supplier to use for each design - but Printify's interface lets you filter by category and even compare providers by price and rating, which helps manage the breadth.

Teespring Product Range: Teespring (Spring) has a much more limited catalog. It focuses on the core merchandise that content creators typically sell. You'll primarily find apparel (t-shirts of various types, hoodies, sweatshirts, tank tops, leggings, etc.), a handful of accessories like tote bags and socks, some home decor like posters/canvas prints and pillows, plus small items like stickers and mugs. In total it's on the order of a few dozen distinct product types (roughly ~50-60 base product listings, which with variants amounts to around 150-200 total SKUs). This lean catalog makes Teespring very straightforward - new sellers aren't overwhelmed by choices and can focus on designing the classics (a t-shirt is by far the most common product). The downside is if you want to sell something beyond Teespring's list, you're out of luck. For instance, Teespring doesn't offer more specialized products like jewelry, backpacks, or pet items. So as your brand grows, you might feel a bit constrained by the limited product line. That said, Teespring covers all the major merch items to get started, and they have been expanding gradually (for example, adding things like all-over print leggings, and even digital products like ebooks or music files which are unique to their platform). But overall, in a Printify vs Teespring comparison, Printify clearly wins on product variety – it simply offers far more choice and the ability to find just the right product for your niche.

Fulfillment Networks & Locations:

Printify and Teespring take very different approaches in how products are fulfilled and shipped to your customers:

Printify Fulfillment: Printify itself doesn't print or ship anything - instead, your orders are sent to the third-party print provider you select. Printify's network includes print partners in at least 5+ countries (with multiple providers in the USA, Canada, UK, China, Australia, and more). Many providers have multiple production facilities too. This means if most of your customers are, say, in the US and Europe, you can choose providers in those regions to minimize shipping time and customs issues. You have the option to select a specific provider for each product you create (for example, you might use a U.S.-based printer for orders going to U.S. addresses and a Europe-based printer for EU orders). Managing this is manual, but Printify's interface shows you provider locations and average production times to help you decide. The benefit of Printify's decentralized network is flexibility and redundancy: if one printer is out of stock or slow, you can switch to another. And as you scale, you can route orders to the closest facility to your customer to reduce shipping time. The challenge is that you, as the seller, need to make these choices - it's not automatic (at least not on the free plan; some automation is possible via API or third-party apps). Overall, Printify's fulfillment model is very global in reach (providers on multiple continents) but requires a bit of management on your part to fully leverage that.
Teespring Fulfillment: Teespring historically centralized its production but now works with a combination of its own facilities and partners, primarily in the United States and Europe. According to their data, Spring's production network spans about 6 countries (USA, UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium), which are mostly used to serve North American and European orders efficiently. However, as a seller you do not control or choose the production location – Teespring's system will handle that behind the scenes. Every order placed on your Spring store is automatically routed to one of their facilities for fulfillment. In general, a U.S. customer's order will be produced in the U.S. or nearby, and a European customer's order in the EU, etc., to keep shipping times reasonable. The key difference is Teespring is a closed system - you can't pick or switch providers. This makes things simple (nothing for you to manage; it "just works"), but if a particular facility is backed up, you have to wait it out. There's no alternative provider you can manually switch an order to, unlike with Printify. Teespring's approach is one-size-fits-all: consistent process, less decision-making for the seller, but not as much flexibility if something goes wrong.

Shipping Speeds & Delivery:

Fast shipping is crucial for customer satisfaction, and here we see a noticeable difference in typical delivery times:

With Printify, shipping speed depends on the provider you choose and the destination. Many of Printify's popular providers in the U.S. have production times of 2-5 business days and then domestic shipping might take another 3-5 days, so an average U.S. order can arrive in roughly 5-10 business days (1-2 weeks) from order to doorstep, often sooner. If you select a provider that is geographically close to your customer, it's feasible to get items delivered in under a week. Printify doesn't guarantee a specific timeframe globally because it varies, but as a seller you can influence it by your provider choices. For international orders, it can range widely (a provider printing in the US shipping to Asia might take 2-3 weeks, whereas a European order printed in Europe could arrive in a week). So, Printify's shipping speed is variable – it can be very fast if optimized, or average if not. One thing to note is that Printify providers offer different shipping options (standard, expedited, etc.), and you can usually see the shipping cost and estimated times for each in Printify's catalog. Some sellers use multiple Printify listings to offer customers a choice of "Standard" vs "Express" shipping by leveraging different providers or shipping methods.
With Teespring, shipping times are more fixed. For a U.S. customer, Spring generally quotes about 7-14 days (1-2 weeks) for standard delivery. This accounts for both printing and transit. European deliveries are similar, often around 5-10 days once shipped (since production might happen within Europe for EU orders). If customers want it faster, Teespring offers a Rush Shipping option at checkout for an extra fee – this can cut delivery to around 4–5 business days in the U.S. (and 3-4 days in parts of Europe). Rush orders get prioritized production and faster shipping, but again, as the seller you don't manage this; it's up to the customer to choose and pay for rush, and Teespring to fulfill it. Notably, if you compare it to Printify, Printify can sometimes meet those rush-level speeds through its normal process if you have a good provider close to the buyer. But on Spring, if the buyer doesn't pay for Rush, they're likely waiting closer to 2 weeks. In summary, Printify can achieve faster shipping on average (especially domestic) if used strategically, whereas Teespring's standard fulfillment is a bit slower on average. However, Teespring's process is predictable - every order goes through their pipeline – so you know what to expect and don't have to explain varying shipping sources to customers.

Quality Control:

It's worth mentioning how each handles print quality and consistency as part of fulfillment. With Printify's many providers, quality can vary slightly between printers. Printify does vet providers and has a rating system - and they have a quality guarantee policy if something is printed badly - but it's wise for sellers to stick with top-rated providers and even order samples to ensure the print quality and materials meet expectations. The good news is the best Printify providers produce quality on par with any leading POD company; you just have to identify them. Teespring, on the other hand, has more centralized quality control. They standardize their production to maintain consistency and have improved a lot since early years when quality was hit-or-miss. These days, Spring's print quality is generally solid (comparable to other major POD services). But because they use a mix of in-house and outsourced fulfillment, occasionally a product might come from a facility that's not up to par - if that happens, Teespring handles the reprint or refund for the customer. As a seller, you don't directly control quality, you are trusting Spring's production. Both platforms will replace or refund orders that have manufacturing flaws or damage. Overall, both Printify and Teespring can deliver professional print quality, but Printify gives you more control (you can choose or change suppliers if you find quality issues) whereas Teespring operates behind the scenes (you have to trust their process).

Integrations and Sales Channels

One of the biggest differences between Printify and Teespring is how they integrate (or don't) with other selling channels:

Printify Integrations: Printify is built to plug into your existing online store or marketplace. It offers direct integrations with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce (WordPress), BigCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, and even supports eBay and Amazon integrations (Printify added a direct integration for Amazon in 2024 for U.S. sellers, which is a big plus because it lets you publish products to Amazon without a third-party bridge.) Essentially, Printify covers most major e-commerce platforms, allowing you to automatically push your product listings to those sites and sync orders. For example, if you connect Printify to a Shopify store, when a customer buys a product on your Shopify site, Printify will automatically forward that order to the print provider, then send the tracking info back to Shopify once it ships – it's seamless. You can connect up to 5 stores on the free plan (10 with Premium), which is great for multichannel sellers (e.g. one Shopify shop, one Etsy shop, etc.). Additionally, Printify has an API for custom integrations, so developers can hook Printify into any custom website or app if needed. They even introduced a simple hosted storefront called Printify Pop-Up Store (in beta) for those who don't have any website - it's not a fully featured store, but a basic way to sell via Printify without a Shopify account by sharing a link. Overall, Printify's integration support is excellent for traditional e-commerce - it basically lets you use POD on whatever platform you prefer. If you already run a shop on a platform like Shopify or Etsy, Printify slides into your workflow easily.
Teespring Integrations: Teespring's philosophy is a bit different - instead of integrating with external stores, it tries to be a self-contained platform. You don't need an outside website at all; your Teespring store itself is where customers buy. Therefore, Teespring has very few e-commerce integrations in the traditional sense. The main one is a Shopify integration (Spring has a Shopify app that, ironically, lets you embed Spring products on a Shopify site if you really wanted, but this is less common). Besides that, they provide an API which some advanced users or larger partners have used to pull Spring products into other sites. However, the real integration focus for Teespring is social media and creator platforms. Spring has unique official integrations with platforms like YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Discord, and even Linktree. For example, if you have a YouTube channel with enough subscribers, you can connect your Spring store and get a merch shelf under your YouTube videos displaying your products - fans can click and buy without ever leaving YouTube. Similarly, Twitch streamers can enable a merch panel, and TikTok creators can integrate Spring products into their TikTok store functionality. These integrations are something Printify (and most other POD platforms) don't offer, and it's a big reason why Spring appeals to influencers. Additionally, Spring's platform itself can act as a quasi-integration with marketplaces: they have a Boosted Network program where top-selling Spring products might be listed on Amazon, eBay, or Etsy through Spring's own accounts. This means if your design is doing really well on Spring, you could unexpectedly get sales from Amazon or other channels that Spring pushed your product to - you as the seller aren't doing that work, Spring is. It's not guaranteed (they tend to only do this for trending items), but it's a unique perk of being in Spring's ecosystem.

In summary, Printify is best for integrating with your own sales channels (online store, marketplaces), giving you the ability to sell on Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, etc., under your own brand. Teespring is best for integrating with social channels and using its built-in marketplace. If you already have an ecommerce site, Teespring doesn't embed into it as deeply as Printify would - instead you might use one or the other. If you have a large social following, Teespring's ready-made store and merch shelf integrations could be a huge advantage, whereas Printify would require you to set up a separate store and then promote that link to your followers. It really depends on where and how you plan to reach your customers.

Ease of Use and Storefront Customization

Getting Started with Printify: Using Printify does come with a bit more initial setup. Since Printify is not a marketplace, you'll need to have or create your own storefront on an e-commerce platform (Shopify is a popular choice, but could also be Etsy, WooCommerce, etc.). This means setting up that store (creating an account, designing your website or Etsy shop, configuring payments/shipping settings on that platform). Then you connect Printify to it via an app or API key. Printify's onboarding process is pretty straightforward it guides you to connect a store, then you can start designing products. The design process in Printify is user-friendly: you pick a product from the catalog, upload your design image (they'll show you a 3D mockup on a t-shirt or mug, for example), and you can add text or adjust placement easily with their mockup generator. Once you're happy with it, you publish the product to your connected store with a click, and it appears on your site for sale. In terms of ease of use, most people find the Printify app/interface simple and clean - it's not cluttered, and it focuses on the essentials of product creation and order management. However, because you're running the show on your own site, you also have to handle aspects like your site's theme, layout, checkout process, setting product descriptions, and possibly dealing with your own customer emails or inquiries. Essentially, Printify is as easy as any modern SaaS tool, but the overall process requires more work from you because you're combining it with running a standalone online store. If you're comfortable with e-commerce basics or willing to learn, this is not a big hurdle - and there are plenty of guides and support articles (Printify has a help center and the platforms like Shopify have extensive docs). But it is a different mindset from an all-in-one platform.

Getting Started with Teespring: Teespring is designed to be extremely easy for newcomers. You can create an account on Spring and literally launch a product for sale within minutes. The process goes like this: you upload a design, choose what product(s) to put it on (say, a unisex t-shirt and a hoodie), set your selling price, write a title/description, and that's it - Spring generates a listing on its site that you can start sharing. You automatically get a Spring storefront (yourname.creator-spring.com) where all your listings can be seen together. There is no need to configure payment processors (Spring handles the credit card transactions from customers) and no need to arrange any shipping settings. It's all taken care of under the hood. Spring's interface for designing products is also quite straightforward, though a bit more limited. You pick from their product catalog (which, as mentioned, isn't huge so it's not overwhelming), upload your artwork, position it on the product, and you're done. The platform will generate mockups for you. Customization on your storefront is limited to adding a profile picture, a banner image, and maybe a bio – basically, it's a templated store page. This is fine for a casual merch shop, but notably you don't get to use your own domain name (it will always be a Spring subdomain, unless you reach high seller tiers and request a custom domain mapping). Overall, the learning curve on Teespring is almost nonexistent; even someone with no e-commerce experience can use it. This makes it very attractive to people who are, say, focused on creating YouTube videos or art and don't want to also become a “webstore manager." On the other hand, as your business grows, you might feel the platform is too limiting – you can't tweak the checkout process, you can't add apps or plugins, and you are one of many sellers on Spring. In essence, Teespring prioritizes simplicity over flexibility.

Store and Branding Customization:

Another aspect of ease-of-use is how much you can customize the look and branding of your store, which ties into user experience:

With Printify, since you're running your own store, you have full control over your brand. You pick your website theme or design, use your own logo, customize pages, and make the shopping experience unique to you. Customers essentially see your brand front and center (they won't really know Printify is involved – Printify is behind the scenes). This is great for building a professional-looking brand. It does mean you have to put in effort to set that up, or possibly invest in a nice Shopify theme, etc. But the result is you have an independent online presence. Also, when it comes to the products themselves, Printify shipments are typically white-label, meaning the packing slip or return label can often have your store name (or a neutral name) on it, not Printify's or the print provider's. Some Printify print partners allow inside neck label printing (so you can have your logo or brand name on the apparel's label) for an extra fee, and some allow adding a small insert or business card in the package. These are not platform-wide features but depend on provider capabilities – still, the fact that any branding is possible is a plus. All of this enables a cohesive brand experience for customers if you want that.
With Teespring, customization is minimal. Your store page on Spring will have Spring's layout and URL. You can upload a header banner and a logo/avatar, so there's a bit of personalization. But you can't change the overall design or add custom pages beyond your product listings. It's a template that all creators share. Additionally, the customer experience is Spring-branded: when a buyer checks out, they're technically checking out through Spring's system, and the emails they receive (order confirmation, shipping notification) come from Spring (though it might include your store name in the content). The package that arrives will usually have no indication of your brand; at best it's neutral, at worst it might have a Spring logo somewhere (Spring has claimed to be fully white-label in packing now, but historically some packaging had Teespring markings). And as a new seller, you absolutely do not have options for custom inserts or labels. Only if you become very successful and join something like their "elite seller" tiers might they give you some extra perks, but that's not guaranteed. Essentially, if you launch on Teespring, you're somewhat piggybacking on Spring's brand and platform. This is fine if branding isn't your priority – for example, an influencer might care more that their fans can get a shirt easily, than about whether the fan perceives the package as coming from the influencer's "company." But if you want to look like a standalone business, Teespring will feel limiting. Many serious sellers who start on Teespring eventually transition off once they realize they want a custom storefront or better branding control.

In terms of learning curve, both platforms are user-friendly software. Teespring is undeniably quicker to get going – you could launch a product in an afternoon. Printify requires more setup and learning because you have to deal with an e-commerce platform too, but many sellers find that once set up, day-to-day operation is smooth. Printify's dashboard helps you manage orders across all your integrations, and it has features like automatic order routing if something goes wrong (e.g. if a provider can't fulfill, you can manually or sometimes automatically move the order to another). Teespring's dashboard is more about tracking your sales, setting up promotions (they have some built-in promo code features), and seeing analytics of your Spring store. Both have mobile-responsive sites but Printify does not have a dedicated mobile app (Printful does, but Printify you'd use via browser or the Shopify app, etc.), and Teespring also doesn't have a seller mobile app - you just use the website. Both provide support if you get stuck (we'll cover support next). Overall, if you want ease of use, Teespring wins for initial simplicity. If you want flexibility and customization, Printify wins but requires a bit more work.

Seller Support and Resources

Reliable support and educational resources can make a big difference, especially if you're new to POD or run into issues with orders. Here's how Printify and Teespring compare:

Printify Support: Printify offers 24/7 support via live chat and email for its users. In practice, many sellers report that Printify's chat support is responsive and helpful in resolving issues like order problems, technical questions about the app, or guiding new users. They do not have phone support, but 24/7 chat covers most needs. Printify also has an extensive online Help Center with articles and tutorials on how to use the platform, integrate with various stores, design guidelines, etc. Because Printify works with external providers, if something goes wrong (like a misprint or a package lost in transit), you typically contact Printify's support and they will coordinate with the print provider to sort it out. This "middleman" support model generally works fine, though occasionally it might take a little time as Printify communicates back-and-forth with the provider. Overall, Printify gets good marks for support in the POD community – they are known to make things right if there's an issue (refund or reprint), and their reps understand common POD concerns. Additionally, Printify runs a blog and has community forums/groups where sellers can learn tips or see announcements of new features (like new integrations or products being added).
Teespring Support: Teespring's support has had mixed reviews over the years. They provide support via email (and possibly chat for certain inquiries, though email is the primary channel). They do not have phone support either. In the early days, Teespring was sometimes criticized for slow support response and a lack of transparency when issues arose. They have since improved their customer service, but as a seller you should be aware that if one of your customers has a problem (for example, their shirt never arrived or has a defect), that customer will be directed to Teespring's customer support (since Teespring is the one fulfilling the order). Spring's team will handle the inquiry and hopefully resolve it (often by sending a replacement or refund). You as the seller don't have to do customer support for fulfillment issues – which is a pro in terms of workload - but you also don't have direct control over how the issue is handled. If Teespring's support is slow or the customer is unhappy, it might reflect on you even though you're not the one emailing them. In terms of resources, Teespring has a “Training Center" or community hub for sellers, which includes guides on how to promote your products, how to design good merch, and how to use the platform. They also have a community forum where sellers share tips. So there is a knowledge base out there. The platform is simple enough that you may not need much hand-holding in using it, but when it comes to succeeding (marketing your stuff, boosting sales), Teespring provides some educational content. One unique thing: Teespring has some account managers or creator success reps for high-performing sellers - if you start doing well, they might reach out and give you advice or access to beta features. But that's for later stages.

In summary, for technical and order support, both platforms offer around-the-clock support, but Printify's may feel more directly connected to you since you manage your store (you'll likely interact with Printify support more often for things like changing an order's provider, etc.). Teespring's support interacts more with the end-customer on your behalf for fulfillment issues, which can be convenient but means you're a bit hands-off. For learning resources, both have blogs and help centers; Teespring specifically caters to creators with its training guides, whereas Printify's resources focus on using their platform effectively and e-commerce tips in general. Neither platform leaves you completely alone – there's help available - but the experience of resolving issues is different (self-service vs handing it off). If you value being in control of customer service, Printify (or running your own store in general) lets you be in the driver's seat; with Teespring, you're entrusting customer support to them (which for some sellers is a relief, and for others is uncomfortable).

Pros and Cons Summary

To wrap up the comparison, let's break down the key pros and cons of Printify and Teespring in context:

Printify - Pros:

Extensive Product Variety: Access to a massive catalog of products (1000+ items) allows you to expand into almost any niche or category.
Competitive Pricing & Higher Margins: Generally lower base costs and the ability to set your own prices. The Premium plan's 20% discount can significantly boost profit margins for volume sellers.
Multiple Integrations: Easily connect to Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Amazon, eBay, etc., enabling multi-channel sales from one Printify account.
Global Fulfillment Flexibility: Choose print providers in different regions to serve customers worldwide faster; ability to switch providers if needed to avoid delays.
Branding and Control: You maintain your own storefront/brand identity. No Printify branding is shown to customers, and some providers support custom labels/inserts for a branded unboxing.
Scalability: Suitable for scaling a serious e-commerce business - handle multiple stores, utilize API for custom solutions, and optimize every aspect of pricing and fulfillment as you grow.

Printify - Cons:

Learning Curve & Setup: Requires setting up an external store and learning e-commerce platform basics (domain, website design, etc.). Slightly more complex initial setup than a plug-and-play marketplace.
Inconsistent Quality Control: Quality and shipping times can vary by the print provider you choose. It may take trial and error to find the best providers; you're responsible for managing this consistency.
Limited Built-In Marketplace: Printify doesn't bring its own shopper traffic. You have to drive your own traffic via your website or marketplaces like Etsy. There's no central "Printify marketplace" for organic discovery of your products.
No Instant Audience Integration: Missing the native social media selling features that Spring offers (you can still sell on social by linking your site, but no official YouTube integration for example).
Branding Options Not as Extensive as Printful: While you can white-label the experience, some advanced branding (like custom packaging with logos) depends on providers or isn't as robust as a service like Printful's in-house offering.
Customer Service is Your Responsibility: Although Printify supports you, you are effectively the store owner. You (or your site) will field customer inquiries and you'll work with Printify to resolve them. This is additional work compared to a platform that handles buyer support for you.

Teespring - Pros:

Easy and Fast Setup: Incredibly simple to start – no need for a separate website or any technical know-how. You can launch products the same day you sign up.
No Upfront Costs or Fees: Completely free to use unless you make a sale (and even then, you're not "paying" - they just take their base cost out). Low risk for beginners since you don't invest in software or subscriptions.
Built-In Platform & Marketplace: You get a hosted storefront and access to Spring's marketplace. Popular designs might get extra exposure through Spring's site or Boosted Network, including listings on Amazon/eBay managed by Spring.
Handles Production & Support: Teespring takes care of printing, shipping, and even customer service for your orders – you don't have to coordinate with printers or handle lost package claims, etc. It's quite hands-off operationally.
Social Media Integrations: Unique selling point - direct integrations with YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and more allow creators to sell merch seamlessly to their audience. This can significantly boost sales if you're an active creator on those platforms.
Beginner-Friendly Features: Teespring provides resources and perks (like promo tools, analytics, and for successful sellers, potential features like custom domains or consultation). Also, the ability to sell digital products on the same platform is a plus for some creators (e.g., an influencer can sell a PDF or music file along with shirts).

Teespring - Cons:

Limited Product Selection: Only offers the most common merch items - might not fulfill unique product ideas. As your brand grows, you could outgrow Spring's catalog and need to switch to another POD for more options.
Slower Fulfillment Times: Standard shipping is relatively slow (often 1-2 weeks to deliver in the US) compared to some competitors. This can lead to impatient customers. Expedited shipping costs extra and not all will opt for it.
Lower Profit Flexibility: You can't reduce base costs or improve margins except by raising your sale price. High base prices on some products mean your profits per item can be modest. This is fine for casual sellers but frustrating for those who want to maximize profits.
Minimal Branding & Store Control: You're one of many sellers on Spring's platform, and you can't fully brand the customer experience. You also can't use your own site design or domain (unless specially allowed later). This limits brand-building potential.
Dependent on Having an Audience: Teespring's marketplace itself isn't known for strong organic traffic for new sellers. If you just post designs and don't promote them, you may see little to no sales. The platform works best if you bring an existing audience (fans, followers) to it. For those without an audience, success on Spring is not guaranteed.
Account Restrictions for New Sellers: Teespring employs a "Trust Score" system - new accounts might be limited in how many products they can launch or require a few initial sales to unlock certain features (like additional product types). This is intended to weed out spam, but it can be an obstacle for legit newcomers until they prove themselves.
Less Suitable for Large-Scale Ecommerce: If you plan to scale up with lots of SKUs, run promotions, or integrate with external tools (email marketing, upsell apps, etc.), Spring's closed ecosystem can feel limiting. It's geared towards simplicity, not the complex needs of a big online retail operation.

When to Choose Printify vs Teespring

Ultimately, Printify and Teespring serve different needs, and the best choice depends on your situation and goals. Here are some guidelines on when each platform makes sense:

Choose Printify if... you are aiming to build your own brand/store and want maximum control. Printify is ideal for entrepreneurs setting up a Shopify/WooCommerce/etsy shop with a unique brand identity. It's great if you want to offer a wide range of products or plan to expand your catalog over time. Also choose Printify if competitive pricing and higher margins are a priority – for example, if you're willing to put in effort to source the best-priced suppliers and optimize your profits. It's well-suited for those who don't mind handling the e-commerce logistics (website maintenance, integrating apps, setting shipping prices) in exchange for flexibility. If you have some experience with platforms like Shopify or are keen to learn, Printify will give you a powerful backend to fulfill your orders while you grow your own customer base. In short, go with Printify to power an independent online store or multi-channel business where you call the shots on design, pricing, and customer experience.
Choose Teespring if... you are a content creator or beginner who wants a no-hassle way to start selling merch. Teespring is perfect if you already have an audience on social media or YouTube and you want to monetize that following with minimal fuss. Since Spring handles the heavy lifting, you can focus on creating designs and promoting your merch link – they handle the rest. It's also a good choice if you want to test the waters with POD without committing to building a full store. For example, if you're unsure whether your designs will sell, you can put a few up on Teespring and see how it goes (because it costs nothing and setup is quick). If you get traction, great – you've validated your idea. If you're a hobbyist or doing this for a small community (say for a club, event, or just for fun), Teespring's simplicity is very appealing. In short, go with Teespring (Spring) to launch quickly and easily, especially if you plan to leverage their social integrations or you don't want to deal with running an e-commerce site.
Consider using both: This isn't an either/or scenario for everyone. Some savvy sellers use each platform's strengths to their advantage. For example, you might start on Teespring to get your feet wet and use the YouTube integration to sell to your channel subscribers, while simultaneously building your own Shopify store for a more branded experience. You could list some exclusive products on your Shopify store fulfilled via Printify (where you want high margins or specific items Teespring doesn't have), and also have a basic Spring store for your mainstream merch and impulse buys from your videos. There's no rule against diversifying. Over time, you may decide one path suits you better, but especially in the beginning, you can experiment.

Final thoughts: Both Printify and Teespring have enabled thousands of people to launch print-on-demand products with no upfront inventory, but they cater to different use cases. Printify is like a toolbox for building a custom POD business - it gives you resources and freedom to create your own brand's presence. Teespring is like a ready-made shop - super convenient, but less customizable. If you're serious about growing a long-term, scalable e-commerce brand (and you don't mind a bit of setup work), Printify will likely be the better choice for its flexibility and cost advantages. If your priority is to start right now with the least effort - for example, you're an influencer who just wants merch available for your fans – Teespring/Spring is incredibly convenient and has that built-in network effect for creators.

Consider your audience, your technical comfort level, and your growth ambitions. The good news is both platforms are free to try, so you can dip your toe in and even run test orders on each. And remember, the POD landscape has many other players too – it's worth checking out how Printify and Teespring stack up against alternatives. (For instance, see our other comparisons like Printful vs Printify or Printify vs Gelato for more context on the competition.) The best platform is the one that aligns with your business goals and helps you provide the experience you want for your customers. Good luck, and happy selling!