Best eCommerce Platform For Print On Demand Sellers in 2024

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Print on demand is growing year on year and the range of products on offer is growing.

But to sell you need to use an ecommerce platform or an online marketplace.

I’ve used many different platforms and can tell you from my experience that not all ecommerce platforms for print on demand are created equal, nor do they have the same functionality. You also need to watch out for the hidden costs.

So, let me take you through my the obvious and not-so-obvious contenders and show you who I use to this day and why.

Start your print on demand business the right way.

Best Overall
  • More POD than anyone else
  • Easy to use
  • Social Media Integrations
  • An app for everything
Best ForPretty sites
Wix Logo
  • Drag & Drop Builder
  • Key POD integrations
  • Many sales channels
  • Cheaper Than Shopify
Best For Beginners
Launch Cart Logo
  • Quick and Easy to launch
  • Great Value
  • High Converting Functionality
  • Cheaper Than Shopify

This blog post contains links to services I recommend. I may receive a commission if you purchase a product or service through a link on this site. This does not cost you or impact your purchase in any way.

Best eCommerce Platforms for Print On Demand

Shopify dominates the US ecommerce market, but is it the best for print on demand?

We compare the top platforms and throw in one of our favorites (Launch Cart) for good measure.

eCommerce market Share USA
eCommerce US Market Share – Statistica

Shopify – best overall – but expensive

Launch Cart – best for Printful and Printify sellers

Wix – best for ease of use

Shopify

Shopify Home Page

Shopify is synonymous with eCommerce for many online sellers.

The market leader with ~28% of the US market, Shopify has built an empire that continues to stay at the forefront of online selling.

Shopify Features

Hassle-free Setup and Seamless Operation – The platform offers a user-friendly interface that enshrines efficiency, guiding users through the setup process step by step to ensure their online store is up and running swiftly.

Exquisite Themes in the Shopify Theme Store – With over 70 immaculate themes, each store can be the digital reflection of one’s brand persona. 

Product Management Mastery – Merchants can effortlessly populate their store, make updates, optimize product listings, and oversee the entire product offering with minimal clicks.

Stalwart Security  Shopify’s commitment to security extends from secure payment processing to compliance with PCI standards, ensuring peace of mind for all transactions.

Lighting-Fast Performance Shopify is optimized for performance, ensuring that online stores load quickly for visitors around the globe.

Mobile Commerce Reaady –  Shopify guarantees that stores are mobile-ready, catering to the vast majority of users who browse and buy on their handheld devices.

Abundance of Apps – The Shopify App Store brings endless possibilities for marketing, SEO, inventory management, customer service, and more, all designed to streamline business operations and enhance the shopping experience.

Customer Service Whenever You Need It – Should you encounter any bumps on your e-commerce journey, Shopify’s quick customer service is there to get you back on track.

Shopify Print On Demand Integrations

Shopify integrates with pretty much all POD suppliers out there. These include:

  • Gelato
  • Printful
  • Printify
  • SPOD
  • Teelaunch
  • CustomCat
  • Fuel POD
  • Subliminator
  • ShineOn
  • Gooten
  • Inkthreadable
  • & many more

Did you know there are over 460 print on demand apps in the Shopify App Store

Pricing

Shopify offers three price plans.

After a recent price increase, Shopify‘s cheapest plan is $39 a month.

Basic Shopify Plan

– Monthly price: $39/month
– Credit card rates (Online): 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction
– Credit card rates (In-person): 2.7% per transaction

Shopify Plan

– Monthly price: $105/month
– Credit card rates (Online): 2.6% + 30¢ per transaction
– Credit card rates (In-person): 2.5% per transaction

Advanced Shopify Plan

– Monthly price: $399/month
– Credit card rates (Online): 2.4% + 30¢ per transaction
– Credit card rates (In-person): 2.4% per transaction

One thing to keep in mind with Shopify is that additional apps may be required and the cost of those can add up.

For example, wheelio an email pop-up tool costs $14.99 per month on top of your Shopify plan.

What Customers Are Saying

What Shopify Customers Think…
  • “I had no issues with the shop, worked well.”
  • “Thanks to shopify i was able to get my bussiness doing serious numbers!”
  • “been using Shopify for over 7 years now, and I couldn’t be more satisfied”
  • “Shopify makes it easy for you right off the bat.”
  • “We closed our Shopify account over 18 months ago and they continue to deduct from my credit card”
  • “Ban on usage of the service for adult products /services /merchants.”

Shopify CJ’s Take

The powerhouse of eCommerce, but a price tag to match. You may think $39 pm isnt alot but when you then have to layer on the cost of key apps, it becomes expensive.

But, more print on demand companies integrate with Shopify than anyone else, it’s a failry simple platform to use and has lots of youtube tutorials to help you.

If I had a proven niche that was bringing in sales, then Shopify would be the ecommerce platform I would choose.

Who is it for:

  • People with deep pockets or an established store
  • Anyone selling using a POD supplier that doesn’t integrate with other platforms.

Launch Cart

Launch Cart is a lesser known ecommerce platform, but one thats going places.

With some industry disrupting plans Launch Cart provides a great way to get your print on demand journey up and running, fast.

Launch Cart eCommerce Platform

Check out our full Launch Cart Review

Launch Cart Features

Unlimited Products: Launch Cart offers the freedom to list and sell an unlimited number of products on your online store.

0% Platform Fee: Unlike many other eCommerce platforms, Launch Cart does not charge any platform transaction fees. on paid plans.

Customize Transactional Emails: With its powerful tools, you can personalize and customize transactional emails such as order confirmations, shipping notifications, and thank you messages.

Multi-Currency Support: You can sell in over 30 different currencies, making it convenient for international customers to purchase from your online store.

Built-in Native Apps: Launch Cart comes with a range of built-in native apps that enhance the functionality of your online store. From customer reviews and list building to upselling and live selling features, these apps make it easier for you to drive sales and engage with your customers.

Launch Cart Print On Demand Integrations

As the moment, Launch Cart only integrates with Printful and Printify.

You can manually export orders though.

I’ve spoken to Greg Writer (the CEO & Founder) about this and there are more integrations coming.

Launch Cart Pricing

Launch Cart pricing starts at $0 with a free plan that you can actually sell on. Not a fake trial.

The lift off plan at $27 per month is $12 cheaper than Shopify and you dont need all those costly apps. Launch Cart has lots of conversion boosting functionality builtin.

What Customers Are Saying About Launch Cart

What Launch Cart Customers Think…
  • “The overall experience was a breeze to other platforms I have tried.”
  • “It allowed us to create a complete store with branded merch in hours not days”
  • “I love Launchcart! It’s fairly user friendly interface”
  • “LC has a ways to go before they’re competing with the likes of Shopify or Woocommerce. But they’re well on their way.”
  • “need some inventory management and some better reporting for tax purposes,”
  • “I feel they need to implement some better security. 2FA/MFA at the very least”

Launch Cart – CJ’s Take

Launch Cart doesnt have all the bells and whistles that shopify does, but its a lot cheaper especially when you factor in you wont need any additional apps.

Some of the functionality built in to Launch Cart as standard costs extra on shopify e.g. the Upsells and Order Bumps, customizable checkout page

Who is it for:

  • Anyone who wants to sell with just Printful and Printify
  • People who want to test out a new POD niche
  • Anyone wanting to spin up a store quickly
  • Me – I have multiple Launch Cart stores:

MTBMe & LaunchTogether

WooCommerce

WooCommerce isnt actually an ecommerce platform, its a plugin / extension for the ever popular WordPress.

By adding WooCommerce to WordPress you get a fully stacked ecommerce site perfect for print on demand.

WooCommerce Homepage

WooCommerce Features

Sales Order Management – Comprehensive sales order system that allows you to track and manage your orders efficiently.

Product and Order Analysis – Gain valuable insights into your products and orders with WooCommerce’s analytical tools to analyze sales, traffic, and customer behavior.

Product Reviews and Comparison – Read real user reviews and compare features.

Flexible Payment Options – WooCommerce offers a range of payment options, including, bank transfers (BACS), cheques, and major credit cards.

Inventory Management – Enhance your site by managing your inventory effectively with WooCommerce.

Seamless Integration with WordPress – Built on the powerful WordPress platform, WooCommerce seamlessly integrates with your existing WordPress website.

Mobile Friendly – WooCommerce ensures a responsive and mobile-friendly design for your store, enhancing the user experience on smartphones and tablets.

WooCommerce Print On Demand Integrations

Not as many print on demand companies integrate with WooCommerce as they do with Shopify, but there are still more than enough to keep most people happy.

These include:

  • Gelato
  • Printful
  • Printify
  • A few more
  • Gooten
  • CustomCat
  • Prodigi

WooCommerce Pricing

WooCommerce Pricing is a little complicated. In theory the plugin is free, but to use it you need a WordPress site and that needs:

  • Webhosting – From $2pm to as much as you want to pay
  • A Theme – If you want a pretty site without the faff, a theme is require $50 per year +
  • Additional Plugins to optimize your site or add functionality – these can range frrom free to hundreds of $$ a year.

What Customers Are Saying

With over 4,000 reviews and an average score of 4.7 out of 5, cusomers love WooCommerce.

WooCommerce – CJ’s Take

WooCommerce isn’t for the faint-hearted as the learning curve is steep. However, so are the rewards. With more control than any other platform, Woo has its benefits.

Who is it for:

  • The technically capable
  • Those who already have an established WordPress site
  • Those who want full control or are selling items that are (legal) but against Shopify policies.

WIX

Wix launched as a website builder targeting those with low technical skills who wanted a great-looking site.

Years on, they added ecommerce functionality and print on demand apps.

Wix Print On Demand

Wix Features

Ease of Use: Wix stands out for its user-friendly interface, enabling anyone – regardless of technical expertise – to effortlessly create their own website.

Templates Galore: Wix boasts an extensive collection of templates, allowing users to choose from a wide variety of professional designs.

Design Flexibility: Customize every aspect of your website, from fonts to color palettes, ensuring it reflects your brand or personal style.

Unified Database Management: Wix offers an all-in-one website-building experience by providing hosting, domain registration, and website management in one convenient location.

SEO and Mobile Optimization: Boost your website’s visibility and reach with Wix’s built-in SEO tools.

Channel Hopping: Sell via facebook, instagram, Amazon and many other selling channels.

Wix Answers and Logo Maker: Stay connected with your audience using Wix Answers, which allows you to address customer inquiries efficiently.

Wix Print On Demand Integrations

I was surprised to see that Wix integrates with 21 different POD companies, including:

  • Gelato
  • Printful
  • Printify
  • Shirtee
  • Inkthreadable
  • Prodigi
  • Artsadd
  • Yoycol
  • Huge POD
  • 215
  • InterestPrint
  • & many more

Wix Pricing

Wix pricing starts at $16 per month for their Light plan, but you need Core or Business in order to sell using Wix.

At $32 per month the Business plan comes in $7 per month cheaper than Shopify and is perfect for running an online store.

Wix eCommerce Pricing

What Customers are Saying about Wix

What Wix Customers Think…
  • “I have been with Wix for years. Things always run smoothly”
  • “First off as a web designer I always recommend Wix because of the ease of use for layout.”
  • “Awesome experience with Wix”
  • “I remain with Wix because of the features and perks it continually adds to its websites and the ease of use for me as an editor.”
  • “They charged me for a domain name when buying the premium plan when even the basic one came with a free domain”
  • “Dreadful platform, complicated, no security or support to their users”

Wix CJ’s Take

Whilst many may turn their noses up at this easy-to-use website builder, I think it’s a really good option.

Who is it for:

  • Non-techies that want a beautiful-looking site
  • Those selling across social platforms
  • Anyone selling using the China-based Artsadd, InterestPrint, and Printy6 (not many platforms integrate with these).

Squarespace

Squarespace is similar to Wix in that it is a website builder, aiming to enable those less tech-savvy to build professional-looking sites.

SquareSpace Homepage

Squarespace Features

Sleek and Modern Designs: Squarespace offers a wide range of modern and minimalistic templates that can be easily customized to match your brand identity. 

Integrated Shopping Cart: Squarespace provides an integrated shopping cart feature, allowing your customers to browse your products, add items to their cart, checkout, and make payments without ever leaving your website. 

Comprehensive Feature Set: With Squarespace Commerce, you get access to a comprehensive set of features from product inventory management and order fulfillment to customer management and analytics.

Mobile-Optimized Shopping: With the increasing use of mobile devices Squarespace ensures that your online store is fully responsive and optimized for mobile devices, providing a seamless shopping experience for your customers on smartphones and tablets.

Powerful SEO Tools: Squarespace provides powerful built-in SEO tools so you can easily optimize your product descriptions, meta tags, page titles, and URLs to improve your search engine rankings and attract more potential customers.

Robust Analytics: Squarespace offers robust analytics tools to track your store’s performance, including sales, visitor demographics, conversion rates, and more.

Squarespace Print On Demand Integrations

Squarespace integrates with a few key POD suppliers which should give most sellers more than enough print on demand products for their POD store.

  • Gelato
  • Printful
  • Printify
  • Art Of Where
  • Spod
  • & many more

Squarespace Pricing

Squarespace offers a number of tiers for its ecommerce platform.

There is a 14 day free trial so its free to use to test out the platform.

Monthly subscription plans start at $33 for a fully functioning ecommerce business however this comes with a 3% transaction fee.

The Squarespace Commerce plan, $3 more at $36 per month, removes the transaction fees and adds conversion boosting features like:

  • Display related products
  • Product wait lists
  • Low stock notifications to drive urgency.

At $36 pm Squarespace feels expensive given that Shopify is only $3 per month and that is a dedicated ecommerce platform, instead of a website builder with added ecommerce capabilities

What Customers are saying about Squarespace

What SquareSpace Customers Think…
  • “I used Squarespace to create my website and am very happy with the results.”
  • “I’ve been a SquareSpace user for multiple years and can only speak highly of the platform..”
  • “The help desk is fantastic”
  • “SquareSpace is not perfect but it is pretty awesome most of the time and much better than Wix or GoDaddy.”
  • “Recent “upgrades” have greatly reduced flexibility with site design. “
  • “There LITERALLY is no customer service”

Squarespace – CJ’s Take

I wouldn’t choose Squarespace if I was to start selling with print-on-demand companies, as I feel the other options available offer better value for money and are dedicated ecommerce platforms.

Who is it for:

  • Squarespace site owners looking to start selling
  • Those who want a platform that is easy to use and prioritize the aesthetic of their site over cost & functionality.

Wrap Up

If you want to start a print-on-demand business then you need a stable easy-to-use ecommerce platform.

You want to choose the best print-on-demand company for your POD business and then choose your ecommerce platform, ensuring that it integrates with your chosen POD supplier/s.

Whilst many will blindly choose Shopify, Launch Cart, and Wix are solid options for both simplicity and those on a cheaper budget.

Third-party apps mean that Shopify gets expensive if you want added bells and whistles.