Disclosure: We may earn a commission or fee from some of the links in our content. However, this does not affect our recommendations. Learn more.
Printful and Teespring are two of the most popular platforms in the print-on-demand and dropshipping space, but which one is actually better for your business?
I’ve spent over 150 hours testing both platforms in real ecommerce stores — from design tools and product quality to customer experience and profit margins.
Based on that experience, I can confidently say that Printful is the better choice for most people looking to build a scalable, brand-led business.
That said, Teespring still has its place — especially for creators looking to test ideas quickly or sell to their followers.
Quick Verdict: Printful vs Teespring
| Platform | Best For |
|---|---|
| Printful | Long-term brand building, full store control, higher-quality fulfillment |
| Teespring | Quick, low-effort merch launches, influencers with an existing audience |
Printful vs Teespring: Quick Comparison
Here’s a side-by-side breakdown of how both platforms stack up across core categories:
| Feature | Printful | Teespring (Spring) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Model | White-label fulfillment | Platform-based storefront |
| Customer Data Ownership | Yes | No |
| Branding Options | Extensive | Limited |
| Product Range | 300+ SKUs | ~50 SKUs |
| Fulfillment Locations | US, EU, Mexico, Canada, Australia | Primarily US |
| Shipping Speeds | 2–5 business days | 5–10 business days |
| Integrations | Shopify, Etsy, Amazon & more | YouTube, Twitch, Instagram |
| Profit Margins | Higher (but requires setup) | Lower (quick to launch) |
| Support | Structured, 24/7 chat and email | Slower, mostly email-based |
Pricing and Profitability
Winner: Printful — better profit potential and full pricing control
Pricing is one of the most important considerations in print-on-demand.
Both platforms are free to use, but the way they handle pricing and profit margins is very different.
Printful Pricing
Printful charges you per item fulfilled. You set your retail prices, and your profit is whatever you charge on top of their base price.
- Example: A Bella + Canvas 3001 t-shirt costs about $12.95. If you sell it for $29.99, you keep the difference (minus shipping and payment fees).
- No subscription is required.
- Optional paid plan: Printful Growth ($24.99/month) offers up to 20% product discounts, better shipping rates, and premium tools.
Teespring Pricing
Teespring sets a base cost for each product and then gives you a recommended selling price.
You can raise the price, but margins are narrower.
- Example: A basic t-shirt has a base cost of $10.22. If you price it at $21.99, your profit is around $11.77.
- Teespring takes care of everything: hosting, fulfillment, and payments.
- No monthly subscription or external store needed.
Verdict
If you’re optimizing for maximum profit and brand control, Printful gives you more flexibility.
Teespring works best if you’re focused on speed and simplicity, but you’ll likely make less per sale.
Product Range and Quality
Winner: Printful — wider product selection and better print methods
The right products can make or break your store.
Whether you’re selling apparel, accessories, or home goods, you want options that align with your brand.
Printful Product Catalog
Printful offers over 300 customizable products, including:
- T-shirts, hoodies, leggings, and jackets
- Mugs, wall art, tote bags, and phone cases
- Embroidered hats, backpacks, and eco-friendly gear
- All-over-print items using sublimation
- On-demand embroidery, cut & sew, and direct-to-garment (DTG) printing
Teespring Product Catalog
Teespring’s catalog is more limited, focused on:
- Apparel (shirts, hoodies, leggings)
- Mugs and phone cases
- Stickers, posters, and tote bags
- Fewer customization options (no embroidery or sublimation)
Verdict
Printful is the clear winner if you need product variety or care about premium features like embroidery or custom labeling.
Teespring may be fine for simple apparel or promotional merch.
Branding and Customization
Winner: Printful — complete brand control
Being able to present a consistent, professional brand is essential in ecommerce. Printful makes this much easier than Teespring.
Printful Branding Tools
- Inside label printing
- Custom packaging slips with your logo
- Branded pack-ins (flyers, stickers)
- White-label shipping with no mention of Printful
- Warehouse storage for your own custom products
Teespring Branding Tools
- Teespring logo appears in order confirmation emails
- No insert or packaging customization
- Basic storefront customization (banner image, colors, etc.)
- Limited ability to build a unique brand identity
Verdict
If brand ownership matters to you — and it should — Printful gives you all the tools to build a consistent brand from end to end.
Teespring’s model is better suited for creators pushing casual merch.
Fulfillment, Shipping, and Delivery
Winner: Printful — faster shipping and better global coverage
Customers expect fast, reliable shipping — and delays can tank your reviews. This is an area where Printful performs significantly better.
Printful Shipping Overview
- Fulfillment centers in the US, EU, Mexico, Canada, and Australia
- Average fulfillment time: 2–5 business days
- Ships to over 170 countries
- Real-time tracking and automated updates
- Custom return address with your brand name
Teespring Shipping Overview
- Fulfillment based primarily in the US
- Average fulfillment time: 5–10 business days
- International shipping available, but slower and less reliable
- Tracking available, but delays are more common
- No branded return address
Verdict
Printful gives your customers a better experience, especially if you’re selling internationally or on marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon.
Integrations and Platform Flexibility
Winner: Printful — works with all major ecommerce platforms
Flexibility in where and how you sell is key. Whether you’re using Shopify, Etsy, or your own custom site, Printful integrates easily.
Printful Integrations
- Shopify
- Etsy
- WooCommerce
- Amazon
- eBay
- Squarespace
- Wix
- BigCommerce
- TikTok Shop
- Custom API available
Teespring Integrations
- YouTube Merch Shelf
- Twitch
- Linktree
- Instagram and TikTok for product linking
Verdict
Printful offers far more integration options, giving you the freedom to build and scale your store across multiple platforms.
Teespring is much more limited and mostly focused on creators and influencers.
Ease of Use
Winner: Teespring — faster to launch, minimal setup
If you just want to get a product up and running quickly, Teespring is hard to beat.
But if you’re building a serious business, Printful’s learning curve is worth the investment.
Printful User Experience
- Requires a third-party store (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.)
- Steeper learning curve, especially when setting up shipping and taxes
- More control means more complexity
- Dashboard is clean and easy to navigate once you’re set up
Teespring User Experience
- All-in-one platform
- No website or integrations needed
- Great for creators launching merch without a storefront
- Limited customization beyond surface-level design
Verdict
Teespring wins on simplicity. Printful takes more effort upfront but offers a more powerful long-term solution.
Customer Support and Reliability
Winner: Printful — more responsive and structured support
When things go wrong — and they sometimes will — responsive support can save the sale and your reputation.
Printful Support
- 24/7 live chat and email
- Extensive help center and tutorials
- Real-time order tracking and system status updates
- Fast resolution of order or print issues
Teespring Support
- Email-based support with longer response times
- Help center with basic FAQs
- No live chat or phone support
- Delays are common, especially during holidays
Verdict
Printful provides more robust support, which becomes important once you’re handling dozens or hundreds of orders each month.
Best Use Case: Printful vs Teespring
| Use Case | Recommended Platform |
|---|---|
| Long-term ecommerce business | Printful |
| Building a brand | Printful |
| Selling on Shopify or Etsy | Printful |
| Quick merch for followers | Teespring |
| No website, just a few products | Teespring |
| Custom packaging or labeling | Printful |
| Scaling globally | Printful |
| Low-effort product testing | Teespring |
Final Verdict: Printful Is Better for Most Sellers
After using both platforms extensively, my recommendation is clear: Printful is the better choice for 90% of sellers who want to build a brand, grow over time, and control their business.
Yes, it takes more effort to set up.
But with that comes more control, more potential for profit, and a better customer experience.
Teespring still has its place — especially for creators or influencers who want a quick, no-hassle merch store.
If that’s you, Teespring might do the job just fine. But for everyone else, Printful is the smarter long-term investment.
