Are you a creator looking to monetize your designs with print-on-demand merchandise? Teespring is a popular solution, but it‘s not the only option. There are many other excellent print-on-demand companies out there that might be a better fit for your needs.
In this post, we‘ll take an in-depth look at the top Teespring alternatives and competitors for 2024. Whether you‘re an artist, YouTuber, online entrepreneur, or influencer, you‘re sure to find the perfect print-on-demand platform on this list. Let‘s get started!
What is Teespring?
First, a quick refresher on Teespring (now known simply as "Spring"). Teespring is an ecommerce platform that allows anyone to create and sell custom products featuring their designs. It specializes in apparel like t-shirts, hoodies, and leggings, but also offers other items like mugs, phone cases, and home decor.
The key thing that sets Teespring apart from traditional ecommerce is that it handles the entire production and fulfillment process for you. That means you don‘t have to worry about inventory, shipping, or customer service. When someone buys one of your products on Teespring, the Teespring team produces the item on-demand and ships it directly to the customer on your behalf.
This print-on-demand business model makes it easy for anyone to create and sell custom merch online. You simply upload your designs, choose which products you want them to appear on, set your prices, and start promoting your store. Teespring takes care of the rest and you earn a profit on each sale.
Pros and Cons of Teespring for Creators
So Teespring sounds pretty great, right? And for many creators, it absolutely is. Some of the key benefits of selling on Teespring include:
- No upfront costs – It‘s free to create an account and start selling.
- Easy to use – The platform is designed to be beginner-friendly.
- Smooth integration with YouTube – Teespring is one of the only print-on-demand companies that allows you to sell merch directly on your YouTube channel.
- Decent profit margins – While not the highest in the industry, you can make a solid return on each sale.
However, Teespring is far from perfect. In fact, there are some significant drawbacks to be aware of:
- Few customization options – The storefront builder is very basic compared to other ecommerce platforms.
- Less organic traffic than big marketplaces – Most of your sales will come from your own audience and marketing efforts.
- No white-label branding – The Teespring logo will appear on your products/packaging unless you‘re on a premium plan.
- High order minimums – Your products won‘t be produced until you hit a certain number of sales.
Many creators find that these limitations hold them back from reaching their full potential. If you can relate, it might be time to explore some of the top Teespring alternatives for print-on-demand in 2024.
The Top Teespring Alternatives
Now that we‘ve covered the basics of Teespring, let‘s take a look at the competition. Here are some of the best Teespring alternatives worth considering:
1. Sellfy – Best for All-in-One Ecommerce
If you want to run a full-fledged online store (not just a basic merch shop), Sellfy is one of the best Teespring alternatives out there. It‘s an all-in-one ecommerce platform that comes with everything you need to build, customize, and manage your store – including built-in print-on-demand functionality.
With Sellfy, you can sell a variety of products beyond just t-shirts and apparel. Digital downloads, subscriptions, physical products, and print-on-demand are all supported. Its print-on-demand offering is provided in partnership with industry-leading suppliers like Printed Mint, Dreamship, and Teelaunch.
Some of the key benefits of using Sellfy over Teespring include:
- Attractive, fully-customizable storefront and shopping cart.
- No order minimums or complicated fulfillment rules.
- Zero transaction fees on any plan, even the free one.
- Ability to connect a custom domain for stronger branding.
- Robust analytics tools.
- Built-in marketing and discount tools.
Plans start at just $19/month, making it very affordable even for new creators. It‘s great for anyone who wants to build a standalone ecommerce brand (not just a basic merch shop) and sell POD products alongside other offerings.
2. Gelato – Best for Existing Online Stores
Already have an online store up and running on a platform like Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce? Gelato is the perfect Teespring alternative for you. Rather than providing a standalone storefront, Gelato focuses on enabling print-on-demand functionality for leading ecommerce platforms and online marketplaces.
Getting started is easy. You simply connect Gelato to your existing store, import the products you want to sell, and you‘re good to go. When orders come in, Gelato automatically prints and ships them to customers on your behalf.
There are many reasons to choose Gelato over Teespring:
- Seamless integration with all major ecommerce platforms.
- Unmatched global reach with facilities in over 30 countries.
- Excellent product quality printed using sustainable and eco-friendly methods.
- Extensive product catalog spanning apparel, accessories, wall art, home decor, stationery and more.
- Fast, convenient order tracking and shipping.
- Discount of 30% or more on shipping rates for premium members.
With operations in 130 markets and a stellar industry reputation, Gelato is one of the most dependable print-on-demand companies in the world. Whether you sell your own designs or want to offer print-on-demand products to clients, Gelato has you covered.
3. Redbubble – Best Print-on-Demand Marketplace
Redbubble is a hugely popular online marketplace where independent artists can upload their designs and sell them across a variety of products. It receives tens of millions of visitors per month – second only to Etsy in terms of organic traffic to POD marketplaces.
The massive audience is the key differentiator between Redbubble and Teespring. Because Teespring is a standalone ecommerce platform (not a marketplace), you‘re responsible for driving all of your own traffic and sales. On Redbubble, there‘s potential to have your designs discovered by shoppers who are browsing the site.
Some other advantages of Redbubble include:
- Quick and easy setup – create an account, upload your artwork, and start selling in minutes.
- Huge selection of over 70 different products from apparel to tech accessories to home goods.
- Well established company, having been in business since 2006.
- Large, passionate community of over 700,000 independent artists.
- High-quality products fulfilled by local production partners around the world.
While Redbubble does charge fees on each sale, the tradeoff can definitely be worth it – especially if you‘re just starting out and don‘t have a large following to promote to. Success on the platform will take some trial and error, but the potential for organic sales is there.
4. Spreadshop – Best for YouTubers and Creators
Spreadshop (formerly known as Spreadshirt) is another popular print-on-demand platform geared towards YouTubers, Twitch streamers, gaming communities, and other online creators. Similar to Teespring, you can create your own shop and merch designs and then sell them directly to your fans.
However, Spreadshop has some distinct advantages over Teespring. These include:
- No minimum order quantities or hidden fees.
- Volume discounts on larger orders.
- Wider product selection with over 200 items to choose from.
- More payment options for customers including Apple and Google Pay.
- White label branding available on all items, even for free shops.
- Detailed analytics and sales reports.
Most notably, Spreadshop has a slightly stronger integration with YouTube than Teespring. You can more easily connect your shop to display across your channel and videos for maximum visibility. The setup process is quicker too.
If you‘re an online creator whose primary platform is YouTube, Spreadshop is definitely worth a look as a Teespring alternative. It offers a more robust feature set with fewer limitations.
How to Choose the Right Teespring Alternative
With so many great options out there, how do you decide which Teespring alternative is right for your print-on-demand business? Here are a few key factors to consider:
Your Primary Sales Channel – If you want to sell primarily through your own audience, go with a creator-focused platform like Sellfy or Spreadshop. If you want to tap into a built-in audience of shoppers, choose a marketplace like Redbubble.
Desired Product Selection – Consider which types of products you want to sell. Some platforms are more flexible than others in terms of selection.
Customization and Branding – How much control do you want over the look of your store and products? All-in-one solutions like Sellfy will give you the most flexibility.
Profitability – Compare the base costs and fees for each platform to understand your profit potential. Don‘t forget to factor in any discounts or volume pricing.
Unique Needs – Consider any special requirements you might have, like white-labeling, eco-friendly printing, or global fulfillment.
Ultimately, the best Teespring alternative for you will depend on your brand and goals. Don‘t be afraid to experiment with a few different options to find the perfect fit.
Tips for Marketing Your Print-on-Demand Products
No matter which platform you choose, success in print-on-demand takes more than just uploading designs and hoping for the best. Marketing is essential, especially if you‘re selling primarily through your own shop (not a marketplace).
Here are some tips to get your promotional efforts started:
- Hype up your products to your existing audience through email, social media, videos etc.
- Collaborate with other creators and influencers in your niche to get your designs in front of a wider audience.
- Run social media contests and giveaways to raise awareness and collect emails.
- Set up retargeting ads to bring window shoppers back to purchase.
- Experiment with paid ads on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
- Optimize your store and product listings for SEO and natural discoverability.
The key is to make it as easy as possible for potential customers to find your products. Invest time into promoting your store in creative ways and building hype around each new product launch.
Wrapping Up
Teespring is a reliable print-on-demand platform, but it‘s not the only game in town. We hope this guide has given you a sense of the many excellent Teespring alternatives out there and how to choose the best one for your needs.
Whether you go with an all-in-one solution like Sellfy, a fulfillment provider like Gelato, or a popular marketplace like Redbubble, you have the potential to build a thriving business around your designs. The tools are there – it‘s up to you to put them to work.
Do you have a favorite Teespring alternative we didn‘t cover here? Let us know in the comments! And if you found this guide helpful, be sure to share it with a friend or fellow creator.
Happy selling!
