Gelato vs. Printify: Which Print-on-Demand Platform to Choose?

The print-on-demand (POD) platform you choose can shape your entire business—whether you’re running a side hustle to test the market or building a full-time income stream. With so many POD services available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

Two of the most popular names you’ll encounter are Gelato vs. Printify. Both offer unique advantages, but where do they excel? Let’s break down the pros and cons of each to help you make the right decision.

Gelato vs. Printify

As two of the best print-on-demand companies, Gelato and Printify have a reputation for providing high-quality products, competitive pricing, and reliable sales channel integrations.

But how do they compare?

Pricing comparison: Which platform offers better value?

Both Gelato and Printify offer free plans, but their premium options provide distinct benefits. 

Gelato's premium plans, Gelato+, Gelato Gold, and Gelato Platinum cater to businesses seeking additional discounts for products and branding, priority support, and advanced tools.

Printify’s Premium plan provides up to 20% discounts on all products and advanced order management solutions. It also offers an enterprise-level plan with custom pricing options.

Subscription plans

• Gelato: Free plan, Gelato+ ($25/month), Gelato Gold ($129/month).

• Printify: Free plan, Printify Premium ($24.99/month billed annually or $29/month).

Base product costs comparison

• Gelato has competitive pricing for local production, offering cost savings on shipping and faster delivery times than Gelato alternatives.

• Printify generally offers lower base prices for printing t-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, and other popular categories thanks to its global network of print providers.

Hidden costs or additional charges

Gelato:

• No hidden fees for standard usage. Premium plans have clearly outlined costs.

• Additional costs may apply for advanced design tools, branded labels, packaging inserts, personalized messaging, and expedited shipping.

• Pricing for specific features, such as custom packaging or specialized printing, may vary by product type.

Printify:

• No hidden fees for standard usage. The Premium plan offers product discounts and customer support through Printify Connect.

• Additional costs may apply for upgraded shipping and premium features through the Enterprise plan.

Both Printify and Gelato are transparent about their pricing structure, but merchants should carefully review potential costs when using specific print providers or opting for expedited services.

Product quality and variety

Both platforms offer a wide range of print-on-demand products, but their specializations differ.

Source: Gelato product catalog

Available products

• Gelato: Known for paper-based products like posters, cards, photo books, calendars, and wall art. Also offers apparel and phone cases. Unique options include personalized cards and stationery, appealing to businesses focused on custom branding.

• Printify: An extensive catalog of products, including t-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, mugs, home decor, supplements, coffee, and eco-friendly products. It has the largest customizable product collection compared to Printify alternatives.

Print quality and materials

• Gelato: Consistent quality, particularly for paper-based products. Gelato ensures quality control by partnering with local print providers and monitoring customer satisfaction through reviews and feedback.

• Printify: High-quality prints from a global network of over 100 providers, letting users choose the best print provider for specific products. Printify measures quality through user ratings, reviews, and sample orders.

Customization options

• Gelato: Offers branded labels, packaging inserts, personalized messages, and custom packaging options for select products. Gelato’s branding tools are ideal for creating custom stationery.

• Printify: Includes neck labels, branded stickers, inserts, and custom packaging options with eco-friendly materials. Printify’s customization tools makes it suitable for sellers focused on delivering branded, high-quality products.

Shipping and fulfillment: Which is faster?

Shipping speed affects customer satisfaction and overall profitability, especially for businesses that sell custom products with tight delivery expectations. Here’s how Gelato vs. Printify perform in these areas.

Source: Printify's website 

Gelato shipping and fulfillment

• Global fulfillment network: Gelato has over 140 production partners in 32 countries, enabling local production and reducing shipping distances.

• Shipping options: Economy (5-7 days), Express (5-6 days).

• Tracking: Offers live order tracking for transparency.

• Reliability: Gelato’s network has a 99.9% uptime, processing millions of parcels annually with consistent quality.

Printify shipping and fulfillment

• Global print provider network: With over 100 providers, Printify offers flexible shipping options across various fulfillment locations for both international and domestic orders.

• Shipping options: Economy (4-8 business days domestically), Standard (2-5 business days domestically, 10-30 days internationally), Priority (2-3 business days domestically, 3-5 days internationally), Express (2-3 business days, available for specific products).

• Customization: Merchants can select providers with the closest fulfillment locations to optimize shipping costs and speed.

• Upgrade options: An order with Standard Shipping can be upgraded to Priority, but you can’t upgrade Economy Shipping once an order is submitted.

Gelato’s local production model provides a slight edge in reducing shipping distances and carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Printify’s diverse print provider network offers more benefits in terms of flexible pricing and wider shipping options.

Integrations and ease of use

 Both Gelato and Printify integrate seamlessly with a wide range of ecommerce platforms, marketplaces, and API solutions, providing flexibility for various sales channels.

Gelato integrations

• Marketplaces: Etsy, TikTok Shop, Amazon

• Ecommerce platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix

• API Solutions: Gelato API

Printify integrations

• Marketplaces: Etsy, TikTok Shop, eBay, Amazon

• Ecommerce platforms: Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix, Prestashop, BigCommerce

• API solutions: Printify API, Printify Pop-Up Store

Ease of use comparison

Gelato:

• User-friendly dashboard with clear navigation for managing orders, tracking shipments, and accessing various sales channels.

• Streamlined order management process, making it easy for merchants to fulfill orders quickly and efficiently.

• Prioritizes eco-friendly options with local production, appealing to businesses focused on sustainability.

Printify:

• Intuitive dashboard that provides detailed analytics, sales data, and print provider performance insights.

• Advanced design tools like an AI image generator and Product Creator to streamline the making of print-ready products.

• Opt in to Printify Choice to streamline and automate the provider selection process to get the best price and delivery estimates.

When comparing Printify vs. Gelato, both platforms offer robust tools and ease of use for beginners. They provide streamlined dashboards with straightforward order management, clear navigation, and easy access to sales channels.

Gelato's focus on simplicity and localized production makes it especially appealing to those prioritizing sustainability. Printify excels in advanced tools, customization features, and data insights for merchants seeking detailed analytics and product options.

Printify vs. Printful vs. Gelato

Comparing Printful vs. Gelato with Printify reveals strengths and features that cater to different types of print-on-demand businesses. 

Here's a breakdown of their key offerings.

Printify offers the largest catalog of customizable print-on-demand products while Gelato balances quality with a reliable network of localized print hubs. 

However, Printful stands out with extensive branding options, the largest selection of partnered integrations, and the most reliable fulfillment in the print-on-demand industry.

How to start selling on Printful?

Printful owns and operates its own fulfillment centers, ensuring consistent quality control and fast delivery times. This gives us an edge in providing reliable service for merchants worldwide.

Printful is the most popular choice for anyone looking for consistent product quality, timely fulfillment, and extensive branding options. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Sign up: Create a free Printful account.

2. Select products: Browse our product catalog, which includes apparel, home decor, and personalized products.

3. Create designs: Use the Design Maker to customize your products. Easily add text, graphics, and branding elements with our free tools.

4. Integrate your store: Connect your online store through platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Amazon, and more.

5. Launch your products: Publish your designs, promote them across various sales channels, and start making money online.

Printify vs Gelato—Final thoughts

Choosing between Gelato and Printify depends on your priorities. Both platforms operate on the print-on-demand model, with some differences in fulfillment solutions and design tools.

Gelato offers strong quality control and is known for its paper-based products, while Printify excels with its massive product catalog and global network of providers.

Go with Printify to build a diverse and highly scalable print-on-demand business, or opt for Gelato if you want localized production and flexible pricing tiers.