Print on Demand vs Dropshipping: Which One Should You Choose?

When I first got into eCommerce, I didn’t understand the real difference between print on demand and dropshipping.

Both seemed like easy, low-cost ways to start selling online without holding inventory.

But once I actually launched a few stores and learned the ins and outs, I quickly realized they’re not the same at all.

This article breaks down the real pros, cons, and opportunities of each model — based on actual experience, market data, and what’s working in 2025.

Let’s get into it.

What Is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products without holding any inventory.

When someone buys from your store, you forward the order to a third-party supplier. They handle everything — warehousing, packaging, and shipping.

You’re the middleman between the customer and the supplier.

How Dropshipping Works (Step-by-Step)

1. Set up your online store (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.).
2. Import products from suppliers (like AliExpress, CJdropshipping, Zendrop).
3. A customer places an order.
4. You pay the supplier.
5. The supplier ships the product directly to the customer.

Common Dropshipping Niches

• Tech gadgets
• Beauty products
• Pet accessories
• Home decor
• Fitness gear

Pros of Dropshipping

• Low upfront cost: You don’t need to buy inventory.
• Wide product selection: You can test dozens of products easily.
• Scalable: If a product hits, you can scale fast using ads.
• Simple setup: With tools like Oberlo or DSers, importing products is easy.

Cons of Dropshipping

• Saturated market: Everyone can sell the same product.
• Low brand value: You don’t control the product or design.
• Long shipping times: Most suppliers ship from China (7–30 days).
• Quality issues: Refunds and complaints are more common.
• Tight margins: You’re competing on price most of the time.

What Is Print on Demand?

Print on demand (POD) is a form of dropshipping where you sell custom-designed products.

You upload your artwork or text-based designs onto blank items — like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters — and your print provider produces and ships the product when someone places an order.

No inventory. No bulk buying. Just your design + their product.

How Print on Demand Works

1. Choose a POD platform (Printify, Printful, SPOD, Gelato).
2. Create designs or hire a designer.
3. Apply designs to products and list them on your store.
4. Customer buys → POD provider prints it → ships to customer.

Common POD Products

• Apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, leggings)
• Drinkware (mugs, tumblers)
• Home goods (pillows, canvas prints)
• Stationery (notebooks, stickers)
• Phone cases, bags, hats

Pros of Print on Demand

• Unique products: You own the design, no one else can copy it easily.
• Build a brand: People remember you for the design or niche.
• Higher perceived value: Branded POD items feel more premium.
• Easy to automate: Tools like Printify sync orders automatically.

Cons of Print on Demand

• Design required: You need creativity or a designer.
• Lower margins: Custom prints cost more to produce.
• Limited product control: You don’t control fulfillment speed or quality.
• Slightly longer fulfillment time: Most items take 3–7 business days to print before shipping.

Print on Demand vs Dropshipping: Side-by-Side Comparison

Here’s a quick table that shows how both models stack up:

Which One Makes More Money?

This is the question I get asked the most.

Let’s break it down with numbers.

Typical Dropshipping Store:

• Average product cost: $7
• Sell for: $19.99
• Ad spend per sale: $8
• Net profit: $4.99

But due to high refund rates, low customer loyalty, and rising ad costs — that profit often shrinks fast.

Typical Print on Demand Store:

• Average cost for t-shirt (Printify + Bella Canvas): $9.50
• Sell for: $29.99
• Ad spend per sale: $10
• Net profit: $10.49

Even though the POD item costs more, you can charge more and create bundles, leading to better profit per customer.

If you’re building a brand that can be resold or scaled, POD wins long-term.

If you’re looking for quick flips or product testing, dropshipping is faster.

Shipping Times Comparison

One of the biggest customer complaints in dropshipping is shipping time.

Here’s a rough idea of what to expect.

Most POD services now have US and EU fulfillment centers.

That means faster and more reliable shipping for Western customers.

Branding Potential

This is where the models split entirely.

Dropshipping usually feels like a random store.

You can rebrand the theme, logo, and copy — but customers will eventually find the same product cheaper elsewhere.

Print on demand lets you build something customers come back to. I’ve seen small POD stores grow into real brands because they stood out in a niche.

Examples of Successful POD Niches

• Pet lovers: Custom shirts with pet names or illustrations
• Fitness communities: Branded gym gear
• Profession-based designs: Funny nurse quotes, teacher mugs
• Pop culture: Parody designs with a cult following

People buy for the design, not the product. That’s the core difference.

Risk and Returns

Let’s talk problems. Both models come with risks, but they’re different.

Dropshipping Risks

• Supplier quality varies.
• You might get banned on payment processors due to long shipping complaints.
• High return rates can kill your margins.
• Facebook bans stores with bad customer feedback scores.

POD Risks

• A design might not sell — wasted effort.
• Some POD partners can mess up orders (wrong size, poor print quality).
• Slower product creation if you rely on freelance designers.

Overall, return rates tend to be lower with POD because the product quality is better — especially if you use US-based suppliers.

Marketing Differences

Both models need traffic, usually through ads or organic content. But how you approach marketing is different.

Dropshipping Marketing

• Focus is on the product benefits (fast, cheap, trending).
• You run short-term ads, mostly on TikTok or Meta.
• You often use viral-style creatives and low prices.
• You can’t rely much on repeat purchases.

POD Marketing

• You sell the design and message (funny, meaningful, niche).
• You can build communities around your brand.
• Email marketing and customer retention works better.
• You can upsell bundles or limited editions.

If you’re good at creating designs that connect with emotions or identity, POD gives you more flexibility in marketing angles.

Tools I’ve Used That Helped

If you’re looking to get started, here’s a list of tools I’ve personally used or recommend.

For Dropshipping

• Shopify: Still the easiest platform for store building.
• DSers: Automates AliExpress orders.
• Zendrop: Great for faster US shipping.
• CJdropshipping: Offers branding and faster fulfillment.
• AdSpy / Minea: For spying on trending products.

For Print on Demand

• Printify: Huge catalog, integrations, and decent base prices.
• Printful: Premium feel, slightly higher costs.
• SPOD: Fast fulfillment, especially in the US.
• Canva: For easy design creation.
• Creative Market / Vexels: Paid design assets and templates.

Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Pick?

After running both types of stores, here’s my honest take.

Choose Dropshipping if:

• You want to learn eCommerce quickly.
• You’re good at paid ads and fast product testing.
• You have no design skills or branding interest.
• You’re aiming for quick profit with less effort in branding.

Choose Print on Demand if:

• You want to build a long-term brand.
• You’re creative or have access to good designers.
• You want higher-quality products and fewer refunds.
• You’re aiming for higher margins and repeat buyers.

Both models have their place. You can even start with dropshipping to learn the basics, then move into POD once you find your niche.

Whatever you choose, just remember — execution beats theory. Pick one and start testing.