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Learn MoreWant to create and sell products without worrying about inventory or shipping? Print-on-demand or POD on Shopify may be the business model you’re looking for. With its low barrier of entry and relatively minimal capital needed to get started, print-on-demand is well worth considering in 2025.
In this article by Ecommerce Pro, we explore print-on-demand or POD on Shopify, what it is, and the top 3 apps available on the Shopify App Store in 2025 that will help you grow a booming print-on-demand online business!
Ready to build a print-on-demand website on Shopify? Our team of Shopify Experts can help. Contact Ecommerce Pro today to build a better POD business.
Table of Contents
What is Print-on-Demand?
Print-on-demand allows you to provide customers with custom creations and designs, like custom-printed t-shirts, mugs, phone cases—you name it—without holding any inventory.
When someone places an order on your online shop, the order will be forwarded to a third-party POD supplier who will take care of all the printing, packaging, and shipping for you. Products are printed only when an order is placed. This way, all you handle is your online store and marketing, leaving inventory, manufacturing, and shipping in the hands of your print-on-demand partner.
If you are creative and want to sell your cool designs on products, the POD business model can be a great way to monetize your unique designs online!
Print-on-demand is a popular ecommerce business model because it eliminates much of the risk, namely high upfront costs, overhead, storage, and the risk of unsold stock, making it an ideal option for entrepreneurs starting a business or testing new products and business ideas.
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Why Print-on-Demand with Shopify?
From creating unique product designs for print-on-demand to building and running your online store, Shopify has everything you need to start a print-on-demand business.
With Shopify, POD becomes a seamless process, thanks to the platform's revolutionary ecommerce features and POD integrations through apps. Shopify's extensive app ecosystem through the Shopify App Store ensures you can find the right tools to optimize your print-on-demand business with the right Shopify app for print-on-demand.
Shopify apps for POD make connecting with a print-on-demand partner that produces and sells custom products easy. For more details on starting an online store, visit Shopify’s dedicated page to starting a business using print-on-demand.
Read our guide on Shopify Pricing Plans: How Much Does Shopify Cost in 2025?
How to Choose the Best Print-on-Demand App for Your Shopify Store
Selecting the right print-on-demand app can make or break your business. When searching for the best POD app for your Shopify online store, there are some key factors to consider that we list below.
Here’s what you should look for:
• Reviews & Ratings: One of the first things to look for. Always select an app with high reviews and ratings from verified app users. Make sure to take note of both positive and negative comments about the app.
• Ease of Use: Look for apps that are intuitive and easy to use, allowing even beginners to get started quickly.
• Features: Choose an app that offers robust features to meet your business's unique needs. Consider going for for POD app features like customization tools for creating unique products or integration with other ecommerce platforms.
• Pricing: Your budget is an important consideration. Look for apps that have competitive pricing and understand how the app’s fees fit into your profit margins. Take note that the Shopify App Store features many apps that also have free plans available.
• Product Variety: Go for an app with a diverse product catalog that lets you cater to different customer preferences. This will also allow you to diversify your offerings.
• Shipping Times: Go for POD apps that offer fast and reliable shipping, ensuring customer satisfaction.
1. Gelato Print-on-Demand
Shopify Rating: 4.8 stars (1,173 reviews)
If you’re looking for a print-on-demand solution that offers global reach, fast production, and high-quality products, Gelato is an easy choice for top-rated print-on-demand service on Shopify. Given the wide range of features Gelato offers, this app also manages to simplify POD for Shopify merchants, streamlining everything from the production to the fulfillment of their high-quality products to your customers.
What makes Gelato unique and a top print-on-demand service on Shopify is its focus on local production through its global production network. While many POD partners operate out of one location, Gelato boasts the world's largest print-on-demand network. With over 140 print partners across 32 countries and over 60 logistics partners, Gelato Print-on-demand is a truly global service, ensuring your products are manufactured close to your customers. This effectively reduces delivery times and costs while maintaining a sustainable business model. You’ll be selling globally while producing locally.
Gelato is also designed to empower sellers with intuitive free tools, making it easier than ever to bring your creative ideas to life and reach a global audience. You’ll also get to enjoy access to millions of Shutterstock Images and graphics for your custom products.
With Gelato, you can skip the complexity of managing inventory and logistics. Instead, you’ll be able to focus on growing your brand while the platform takes care of production and fulfillment of high-quality products with your unique prints.
Gelato Print-on-Demand Key Features:
- Global Production Network: Gelato partners with 140+ print providers in 32 countries, ensuring that your products are produced and delivered locally. They also work with over 60+ logistics partners to ensure fast and reliable deliveries— no matter where your customers are.
- Fast Fulfillment: Thanks to local production, courtesy of their 140+ partners, over 90% of orders are delivered within five days, giving your customers a seamless experience that will leave them satisfied with your services.
- Seamless Integration: Gelato connects effortlessly to other leading ecommerce platforms besides Shopify, like Etsy, Amazon, and TikTok Shop, making it easy to engage in multi-channel commerce.
- Creative Tools: You’ll get access to free design tools and millions of Shutterstock images to bolster your creativity and create unique, high-quality products.
Gelato Print-on-Demand Cons:
- Pricing Complexity: While Gelato does offer a free-to-install plan, the costs are based on printed products, and premium plans may be pricey for small businesses that are just starting and testing the markets.
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Quality Variability: The quality of products may vary by location and print partner. This might require additional monitoring by your brand to ensure product quality and consistency.
How Much Does Gelato Cost?
- Free to install: Pay for what you print
- GELATO+: $24/ month or $239/year and save 17%, Pay for what you print
- GELATO+ Gold: $119 / month or $1,185/year and save 17%, Pay for what you print
Why Choose Gelato?
Gelato is one of the top print-on-demand services for Shopify. It offers its users access to a global network of local suppliers, fast delivery times, and a simpler way to run your business by reducing operational complexity while maximizing your profits.
Whether you’re starting small or running a large operation as a seasoned entrepreneur, Gelato’s tools and services are there to help you succeed in print-on-demand.
To test-drive the app, you can install it for free, and only pay for what you sell. For more features, you can consider a paid plan. Go for Gelato and turn your creativity into a thriving ecommerce POD business, with the world’s largest print-on-demand network on Shopify.
2. Printify: Print-on-Demand
Shopify Rating: 4.8 stars (7398 reviews)
Printify is one of the most well-known and widely used print-on-demand apps on Shopify, offering an extensive catalog of customizable products and an expansive global print and delivery network.
With Printify, you can customize a wide selection of products in seconds—and it's not just T-shirts and phone cases—you can customize anything from apparel to accessories, home and living products, and even custom supplements. Check out Printify’s Full Catalog to see their offerings of over 1000+ products.
The platform is highly successful and is an easy choice for a lot of POD merchants on Shopify, with most users reporting that Printify makes creating and selling unique products easy and with minimal upfront costs to boot. They also reportedly offer top-notch customer services, a huge plus merchants on the app.
Today, over 39 thousand merchants are using Printify, and that’s because the platform stands out for its vast selection of print providers, allowing merchants to choose from a variety of partners based on pricing, location, and quality. This flexibility and access to a global network of print providers who print, package, and ship your orders ensures that sellers can find the best supplier for their specific needs and location, optimizing your business for both cost and fulfillment speed.
Printify Print-on-Demand Key Features:
- Extensive Product Catalog: With over 1000 products for you to choose from and customize, Printify offers one of the largest product selections in the POD industry, from apparel, accessories, home decor, and even supplements.
- Global Print Provider Network: Printify has printing partners from all across the globe, allowing merchants to conveniently select local production partners.
- Free Plan Available: Printify offers a free plan that allows users to get started without upfront investment. Paid plans are also relatively inexpensive at 29 USD a month, giving you access to the app's full features.
Printify Print-on-Demand Cons:
- Quality Variability: Since Printify works with multiple third-party suppliers, print and product quality can be inconsistent, depending on the provider chosen.
How Much Does Printify Cost?
- Free Plan: No monthly fee; pay product and shipping costs only for products sold.
- Premium Plan: $29/month; includes up to 20% discount on all products.
Why Choose Printify?
One of Shopify’s most downloaded and highly rated print-on-demand apps, Printify is an excellent choice for Shopify merchants looking for an app that offers a diverse range of products and the flexibility of a global network of print providers. Printify’s app pricing is also pretty competitive, and with its vast product selection, Printify is the ideal choice for many Shopify entrepreneurs seeking a cost-effective way to start and scale their print-on-demand business.
3. Spreadconnect: Print on Demand
Shopify Rating: 4.2 stars (739 reviews)
Bring your creative ideas and print-on-demand business to life with Spreadconnect, a strong contender for print-on-demand apps and partners for Shopify merchants. Their business model revolves around the concept of print-on-demand that puts zero demand on their merchants, supporting their partners by taking care of much of the technicalities so that you can focus on your creative process.
The app boasts fast fulfillment within 48 hours of unmatched quality products, with state-of-the-art printing and low return rates. Integration is also seamless across various marketplaces, making getting started a breeze for both POD beginners and seasoned sellers.
With Spreadconnect, everything is produced in-house, meaning higher quality control and consistent quality across their entire product range of over 250+ products. The app features user-friendly tools that allow you to upload your artwork, choose from their wide selection of apparel and accessories, and customize colors and sizes to match your brand. They also handle everything from printing to packaging, shipment, and payment.
Ultimately, what Spreadshirt offers is a completely seamless experience from product creation to delivery that empowers creators. They’re a top choice for businesses that sell merch with their unique design and branding across a selection of high-quality products you can choose from.
Spreadconnect Print-on-Demand Key Features:
- Diverse Product Selection: Spreadconnect offers a variety of products, including apparel, accessories, and home decor, allowing merchants to expand their offerings. Choices aren’t as expansive as other POD partners, but the quality is consistent.
- Premium Print Quality: Spreadconnect uses advanced printing technology that ensures vibrant, long-lasting designs on all products. They also produce in-house for better quality control.
- Fast Order Processing: Merchants benefit from quick turnaround times, ensuring customer satisfaction with timely deliveries in 48 hours.
- It’s Free: There are no recurring monthly costs when using Spreadconnect.
Spreadconnect Print-on-Demand Cons:
- Pricing Complexity: While Spreadconnect is free to download and install with no recurring monthly fee, careful cost analysis is required as you pay for printed products and various shipping fees.
How Much Does Spreadconnect Cost?
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Free to install: No recurring monthly fee. Pay per printed product and shipping fees.
Why Choose Spreadconnect?
Go for Spreadconnect to sell merch made with high-quality printing. Spreadconnect is a great choice for creators offering personalized, branded merch to their followers and fans. Setting up your POD business is made easy, as Spreadconnect handles all the order fulfillment and shipping for you, so you can focus solely on the creative process. Great for POD beginners and established sellers.
FAQs on Print-on-Demand Apps for Shopify
1. What is print-on-demand, and how does it work?
Print-on-demand or POD is an ecommerce business model where products are only printed and fulfilled when an order is placed. A third-party POD supplier handles production, packaging, and shipping, allowing you to sell customized items without holding any inventory. All merchants need to do is manage their online storefront and market their products to get sales.
2. Why should I use Shopify for my print-on-demand business?
Shopify offers seamless integration with POD apps, connecting you to POD suppliers and partners who take care of production, shipping, and delivery. This makes managing your store, processing orders, and scaling your business easy. Shopify’s app ecosystem provides various POD apps and partners that are highly rated, allowing you to choose the right partner for your brand.
3. What are the best Shopify apps for print-on-demand in 2025?
Some of the best POD apps for Shopify in 2025 include:
- Gelato – Global production network with local fulfillment
- Printify – Large product catalog and multiple supplier options
- Spreadconnect – Fast fulfillment and high-quality printed merch
4. Do I need to pay for a POD app?
Many POD apps on Shopify offer free plans where you only pay for the product and shipping costs after a sale. However, to access a more premium experience, advanced design tools, or priority support, some apps require you to get a paid plan.
5. Why Choose Gelato Print on Demand?
Go for Gelato if your brand needs an extensive global production network, helping you ensure quick delivery times and low shipping costs by producing products close to your customers. With over 140 print partners across 32 countries, Gelato helps Shopify merchants scale globally. Additionally, they offer intuitive design tools and access to millions of Shutterstock images that help in product design.
6. Why Choose Printify Print on Demand?
Go for Printify for its 1000+ customizable products, their high rating, and global network of partners. Printify also offers a free plan, making it a cost-effective solution for new businesses looking to scale their print-on-demand operations.
7. Why Choose Spreadconnect Print on Demand?
Go for Spreadconnect if you're a creator looking to monetize your brand and connect with your followers by providing unique, branded merch. Spreadconnect helps you simplify the entire POD process, from designing your unique merch to fulfilling orders and shipping them to your fans.
Ready to build a thriving print-on-demand business on Shopify? Contact Ecommerce Pro for a free consultation on POD best practices.
Get in Touch
At Ecommerce Pro, we help entrepreneurs and business owners build better and more successful Shopify businesses. Have a question or a project in mind? Get in touch with us today!
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Shopify Pricing Plans: How Much Does Shopify Cost in 2025?