11 Best Print on Demand Design Software for Your Business

If you’re looking to start a print-on-demand (POD) business, you will need print on demand design tools. These tools allow you to create unique designs that can be printed on t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and other products. In this article, we will provide you with an overview of the 11 best print on demand design software.

What Are Print on Demand Design Tools?

An Overview of Print on Demand Design Tools

Print on demand design tools are software that allows designers to create designs that can be printed on products. These tools have features that allow you to customize your designs, add text, manipulate graphics, and preview your designs on products. With print on demand design tools, designers can create unique designs that can be printed on t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and other products.

How to Choose the Right Print on Demand Design Tool?

Choosing the right print on demand design tool can be overwhelming, especially with so many options in the market. However, some factors can help you make an informed decision:

• Intuitive User Interface: The design tool should be easy to use and have a user-friendly interface.
• Design Elements: Do you need a wide range of design elements, including fonts, clipart, and graphics or a tool to create designs from scratch.
• Templates: The design tool should have pre-designed templates that you can use as a starting point for your designs.
• Cost: The design tool should be affordable and offer value for money.
• Design Type: The type of design you are creating will determine which tool is best. Complex all over print designs require software like Photoshop whereas designs for DTG printing on mugs, t-shirts etc can be produced using Canva.

Design Using Your Print on Demand Services Templates

Each POD supplier like Printful or Printify has their own set of templates that are created so you can create designs knowing the file will match the product the design will be printed on.

Templates will be of the correct high-resolution and often be in PSD format and include guidelines and show where the bleed area is or where best to place a design for a left chest print for example. 

It is important to use the templates especially when starting out to ensure the best results. When you upload images and apply them to your products before printing your design on your chosen merch.

Top 11 Print on Demand Design Tools

In this section, we will discuss the 11 best print on demand design software you can use for your print on demand business whether for basic t-shirt design or complex original graphics.

Adobe Photoshop

A popular raster graphics editor, primarily used for photo manipulation, retouching, and digital art. Photoshop supports layers, effects, and filters, making it versatile for a wide range of tasks.

Adobe Photoshop Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Powerful editing tools: Offers a wide range of powerful editing tools, including layers, masks, and filters, which allow users to manipulate images in intricate detail.
2. Versatile: It can be used for a variety of design projects, including photo editing, graphic design, and digital painting.
3. Large user community: Photoshop has a large user community, which means that there are plenty of tutorials, resources, and support available online.
4. Integration with other Adobe products: Photoshop integrates well with other Adobe products, such as Illustrator and InDesign, making it easy to switch between programs and create a seamless workflow.
5. Customizable: It allows users to create and save their own custom brushes, filters, and styles, which can be a huge time-saver for repetitive tasks.

Cons:

1. Steep learning curve: It is a powerful software with a lot of features, which means that it can have a steep learning curve for beginners.
2. Expensive: Adobe Photoshop is a premium software, and the cost may be prohibitive for some users, particularly those who only need basic photo editing features.
3. Requires powerful hardware: It requires a powerful computer with a high-end graphics card and plenty of RAM, which can be a drawback for users with older or less powerful machines.
4. Limited vector editing tools: While Photoshop can create vector graphics, it does not have the same level of functionality as a dedicated vector editing program like Adobe Illustrator.
5. Subscription model: Adobe has moved to a subscription-based model for its software, which means that users need to pay a monthly or annual fee to access the latest versions of the software.

Photoshop Pricing

Through its creative cloud platform, Adobe offers Photoshop via a monthly subscription charge of $19.99 per month.

There is a free 7-day trial so definitely worth trying before you commit.

Adobe Illustrator

A powerful vector graphics editor used for creating logos, icons, illustrations, and typography. Illustrator is preferred by designers for its precise drawing tools and scalable vector artwork capabilities.

Difference Between Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

While Photoshop works with raster graphics, Illustrator works with vector graphics. Raster graphics are made up of pixels, while vector graphics are made up of lines and curves. Vector graphics are scalable, which means they can be enlarged without losing quality. Raster graphics, on the other hand, are not scalable.

Pros:

1. Powerful vector editing tools: Illustrator offers a wide range of powerful vector editing tools, including layers, masks, and a variety of brush types, which allow users to create detailed and complex designs.
2. Versatile: Illustrator can be used for a variety of design projects, including logos, illustrations, and typography, making it a versatile tool for designers.
3. Large user community: Illustrator has a large user community, which means that there are plenty of tutorials, resources, and support available online.
4. Integration with other Adobe products: Illustrator integrates well with other Adobe products, such as Photoshop and InDesign, making it easy to switch between programs and create a seamless workflow.
5. Customizable: Illustrator allows users to create and save their own custom brushes, symbols, and styles, which can be a huge time-saver for repetitive tasks.

Cons:

1. Steep learning curve: Illustrator is a powerful software with a lot of features, which means that it can have a steep learning curve for beginners.
2. Expensive: Adobe Illustrator is a premium software, and the cost may be prohibitive for some users, particularly those who only need basic vector editing features.
3. Requires powerful hardware: Illustrator requires a powerful computer with a high-end graphics card and plenty of RAM, which can be a drawback for users with older or less powerful machines.
4. Limited raster editing tools: While Illustrator can edit raster images, it does not have the same level of functionality as a dedicated photo editing program like Adobe Photoshop.
5. Subscription model: Adobe has moved to a subscription-based model for its software, which means that users need to pay a monthly or annual fee to access the latest versions of the software.

Adobe Illustrator Pricing

Through its creative cloud platform, Adobe offers Illustrator on a monthly subscription charge of $20.99 per month.

There is a free 7-day trial so definitely worth trying before you commit.

Adobe Photoshop Elements

A simplified version of Adobe Photoshop, aimed at beginners and hobbyists who want essential photo editing and design tools without the full complexity of the original Photoshop.

Adobe Photoshop Elements Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. User-friendly interface: Elements has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners.
2. Affordable pricing: Elements is more affordable than the full version of Photoshop, making it a great option for home users and hobbyists.
3. Comprehensive editing tools: Elements offers a range of powerful editing tools, including layers, masks, and filters, which allow users to manipulate images in detail.
4. Guided edits: Elements includes a range of guided edits, which provide step-by-step instructions for common editing tasks.
5. Large user community: Elements has a growing user community, which means that there are plenty of resources, tutorials, and support available online.

Cons:

1. Limited functionality: Elements does not have the same level of functionality as the full version, which may be a drawback for advanced users.
2. Limited third-party plugin support: Elements does not support third-party plugins in the same way that the full version of Photoshop does.
3. Limited file format support: Elements has limited options when it comes to file formats, which may be a drawback for users who need to export designs in specific formats.

Photoshop Elements Pricing

Unlike other Adobe products Elements is available on a one-time fee of $99 and there is a free 30 day trial available.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite

CorelDRAW Graphic Suite is a suite of design tools that aims to cover all a designers requirements.

CorelDraw Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Affordable pricing: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite is more affordable than some other vector graphics editors, making it a great option for small businesses, home users, and students.
2. Comprehensive editing tools: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite offers a range of powerful editing tools, including layers, masks, and a variety of brush types, which allow users to create detailed and complex designs.
3. User-friendly interface: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners.
4. Large user community: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite has a large and growing user community, which means that there are plenty of resources, tutorials, and support available online.
5. Cross-platform compatibility: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite is available for both Windows and macOS, making it a versatile tool for users who work on multiple devices.

Cons:

1. Limited functionality: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite does not have the same level of functionality as some other vector graphics editors, which may be a drawback for advanced users.
2. Limited third-party plugin support: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite does not support third-party plugins in the same way that some other vector graphics editors do.
3. Steep learning curve: While CorelDRAW Graphic Suite is user-friendly, it can still have a steep learning curve for users who are new to vector graphics editing software.
4. Limited file format support: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite has limited options when it comes to file formats, which may be a drawback for users who need to export designs in specific formats.

Coral Draw Pricing

Cheaper in the long run than the Adobe products, but at nearly $300 its still far more expensive than other options.

Affinity Designer

A vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, with robust drawing tools, support for layers and effects, and compatibility with various file formats.

Affinity Designer Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Affordable pricing: Affinity Designer offers a one-time purchase price, which is lower than the cost of a subscription to some other vector graphics editors.
2. Comprehensive editing tools: Affinity Designer offers a comprehensive range of editing tools, including layers, masks, and a variety of brush types, which allow users to create detailed and complex designs.
3. User-friendly interface: Affinity Designer has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners.
4. Large user community: Affinity Designer has a large and growing user community, which means that there are plenty of resources, tutorials, and support available online.
5. Cross-platform compatibility: Affinity Designer is available for both Windows and macOS, making it a versatile tool for users who work on multiple devices.

Cons:

1. Limited third-party plugin support: Affinity Designer does not support third-party plugins in the same way that some other vector graphics editors do.
2. Steep learning curve: While Affinity Designer is user-friendly, it can still have a steep learning curve for users who are new to vector graphics editing software.
3. Limited file format support: Affinity Designer has limited options when it comes to file formats, which may be a drawback for users who need to export designs in specific formats.
4. Limited integration with other software: Affinity Designer is a standalone program and does not integrate as seamlessly with other software as some other vector graphics editors do. However, it does integrate well with Affinity Photo.
5. Limited photo editing tools: While Affinity Designer can edit raster images, it does not have the same level of functionality as a dedicated photo editings program like Affinity Photo or Adobe Photoshop.

Affinity Designer Pricing

Affinity Designer is available on a one-time purchase price of $69 (or £69) making it a very attractive option compared to some of the adobe products.

Affinity Photo

A raster graphics editor similar to Adobe Photoshop, offering a wide range of photo editing and digital painting tools, as well as support for layers and non-destructive editing.

Pros:

1. Affordable pricing: Affinity Photo offers a one-time purchase price, which is lower than the cost of a subscription to Adobe Photoshop.
2. Comprehensive editing tools: Affinity Photo offers a comprehensive range of editing tools, including layers, masks, and filters, which allow users to manipulate images in detail.
3. User-friendly interface: Affinity Photo has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners.
4. Large user community: Affinity Photo has a growing user community, which means that there are plenty of resources, tutorials, and support available online.
5. Cross-platform compatibility: Affinity Photo is available for both Windows and macOS, making it a versatile tool for users who work on multiple devices.

Cons:

1. Limited third-party plugin support: Affinity Photo does not have the same level of third-party plugin support as Adobe Photoshop, which can be a drawback for users who rely on these plugins.
2. Steep learning curve: While Affinity Photo is user-friendly, it can still have a steep learning curve for users who are new to photo editing software.
3. Limited vector editing tools: Affinity Photo can create vector graphics, but it does not have the same level of functionality as a dedicated vector editing program like Adobe Illustrator. Using Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer solves this problem.

Affinity Photo Pricing

Affinity Photo is available on a one-time purchase price of $69 (or £69) making it a very attractive option compared to some of the adobe products.

Canva

A web-based design platform that allows users to create graphics, presentations, and social media content using a drag-and-drop interface and an extensive library of templates, images, and fonts.

Pros:

1. User-friendly interface: Canva has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners. It has a drag-and-drop design feature that allows users to create professional-looking designs quickly.
2. Wide variety of templates: Offers a wide variety of templates for different design projects, which makes it easy for users to create designs without starting from scratch.
3. Collaboration: It allows users to collaborate on design projects in real-time, making it a great tool for team projects or collaborations with clients.
4. Affordable pricing: Canva offers both free and paid options, with affordable pricing plans for those who want access to more features and design elements.
5. Mobile app: There is a mobile app that allows users to create designs on-the-go, making it a versatile tool for busy professionals.

Cons:

1. Limited customization: While Canva offers a wide variety of design elements, some users may find the customization options limited, particularly for more complex designs.
2. Limited font selection: Limited selection of fonts compared to some other design platforms, which may be a drawback for users who require a wider variety of fonts.
3. Limited functionality for free users: While it offers a free version, the functionality is limited, and users may need to upgrade to a paid plan to access all the features they need.
4. Limited file formats: It has limited options when it comes to file formats, which may be a drawback for users who need to export designs in specific formats.

Pricing of Canva

Canva offers a free version and a paid version. The paid version costs $12.95 per month or $119.40 per year. At this price, Canva Pro is well worth the money due to the many ways you’ll use it when running your print-on-demand business.

GIMP

A free and open-source raster graphics editor that provides many of the same features as Adobe Photoshop, including layers, filters, and photo retouching tools.

Pros and Cons of GIMP

Pros:

1. Free: GIMP is completely free to use, making it a great option for users on a budget.
2. Comprehensive editing tools: GIMP offers a comprehensive range of editing tools, including layers, masks, and a variety of brush types, which allow users to create detailed and complex designs.
3. Customizable: GIMP is open-source software, which means that users can customize and modify the code to suit their needs.
4. Large user community: GIMP has a large and growing user community, which means that there are plenty of resources, tutorials, and support available online.
5. Cross-platform compatibility: GIMP is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile tool for users who work on multiple devices.

Cons:

1. Steep learning curve: While GIMP is user-friendly, it can still have a steep learning curve for users who are new to photo editing software.
2. Limited third-party plugin support: GIMP does not support third-party plugins in the same way that some other photo editing software does.
3. Limited file format support: GIMP has limited options when it comes to file formats, which may be a drawback for users who need to export designs in specific formats.
4. Limited integration with other software: GIMP is a standalone program and does not integrate as seamlessly with other software as some other photo editing software do.
5. Limited photo retouching tools: While GIMP can edit raster images, it does not have the same level of functionality as a dedicated photo retouching program like Adobe Photoshop.

Pricing of GIMP

GIMP is a free and open-source software tool.

Inkscape

A free and open-source vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, featuring a wide range of drawing tools and support for the SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format.

Pros and Cons of Inkscape

Pros:

1. Free: Inkscape is completely free to use, making it a great option for users on a budget.
2. Comprehensive editing tools: Inkscape offers a comprehensive range of editing tools, including layers, masks, and a variety of brush types, which allow users to create detailed and complex designs.
3. Cross-platform compatibility: Inkscape is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it a versatile tool for users who work on multiple devices.
4. Large user community: Inkscape has a large and growing user community, which means that there are plenty of resources, tutorials, and support available online.
5. Customizable: Inkscape is open-source software, which means that users can customize and modify the code to suit their needs.

Cons:

1. Steep learning curve: While Inkscape is user-friendly, it can still have a steep learning curve for users who are new to vector graphics editing software.
2. Limited third-party plugin support: Inkscape does not support third-party plugins in the same way that some other vector graphics editors do.
3. Limited file format support: Inkscape has limited options when it comes to file formats, which may be a drawback for users who need to export designs in specific formats.
4. Limited photo editing tools: While Inkscape can edit raster images, it does not have the same level of functionality as a dedicated photo editing program like Affinity Photo or Adobe Photoshop.
5. Limited integration with other software: Inkscape is a standalone program and does not integrate as seamlessly with other software as some other vector graphics editors do.

Pricing of Inkscape

Inkscape is a free and open-source software tool.

Placeit

Known for its mock-ups, Placiet includes an online design platform that offers customizable templates for various graphics, including logos, and social media content. Users can easily customize templates without needing advanced design skills and its ideal for coming up with new design ideas to build on.

Pros and Cons of Placeit

Pros:

1. User-friendly interface: Placeit has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, even for beginners.
2. Wide variety of templates: Placeit offers a wide variety of templates for different design projects, which makes it easy for users to create designs without starting from scratch.
3. Customizable: Placeit’s templates are customizable, so users can add their own text, images, and branding elements.
4. High-quality assets: Placeit’s assets are high-quality and created by professional designers, which means that users can expect professional-looking designs.
5. Affordable pricing: Placeit offers affordable pricing plans, with different tiers for different levels of access.

Cons:

1. Limited customization: While Placeit’s templates are customizable, some users may find the customization options limited, particularly for more complex designs.
2. Limited font selection: Placeit has a limited selection of fonts compared to some other design platforms, which may be a drawback for users who require a wider variety of fonts.
3. Limited functionality for free users: While Placeit offers a free version, the functionality is limited, and users may need to upgrade to a paid plan to access all the features they need.
4. Limited file formats: Placeit has limited options when it comes to file formats, which may be a drawback for users who need to export designs in specific formats.
5. Limited search functionality: The search functionality on Placeit can be improved, and users may find it challenging to find the exact asset they are looking for.

Pricing of Placeit

Placeit offers a range of pricing plans, starting at $14.95 per month for the basic plan. However, if you sign up annually you will find you can get Placeit for half the monthly price.

Vecteezy

A platform that offers free and premium vector art, illustrations, and graphic resources, as well as an online vector graphics editor called Vecteezy Editor. The editor allows users to create and edit vector graphics directly in their web browser.

Vecteezy Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Huge collection of high-quality design resources: Vecteezy has a vast collection of vector graphics, illustrations, icons, and other design resources that are created by professional designers from all over the world. This means that you can find a wide range of high-quality design assets for your projects.
2. Free and paid options: Vecteezy offers both free and paid options, so you can choose the plan that best fits your needs and budget. The free plan gives you access to a limited selection of assets, while the paid plan gives you access to the full library of resources.
3. Easy to use: The platform is user-friendly, with a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to search for and download design resources.
4. Customizable: Vecteezy’s assets are available in various file formats, including EPS, AI, SVG, and PNG, making it easy to customize them to suit your needs.
5. Licensing options: Vecteezy offers different licensing options, including royalty-free and editorial licenses, which give you the flexibility to use the assets for personal or commercial projects.

Cons:

1. Limited free assets: While Vecteezy does offer free design resources, the selection is limited compared to the paid options.
2. Pricing: The pricing for the paid plans may be higher than some other similar platforms.
3. Quality control: Since anyone can upload their designs to Vecteezy, the quality of the assets may vary, and it can be challenging to determine the quality of the assets without downloading them first.
4. No customization options: Some users may find that the customization options are limited, particularly if they need to make significant modifications to the design resources.
5. Limited search functionality: The search functionality on Vecteezy can be improved, and users may find it challenging to find the exact asset they are looking for.

Free Software

There are publically available free tools that you can use if you are on a budget. Canva has a free plan, but doesn’t allow you to save and download designs as transparent PNG’s which is key in POD designing. 

Gimp and Inskape offer powerful downloadable free-to-use options whilst Photopea is a great free web-based option.

The Design Software I Use & Why

I use Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo and Canva Pro.

I use the pro version of Canva because it’s super easy to use and has millions of graphic elements and fonts to use in your POD designs. But its uses dont stop there. I use it for social media posts where they design templates that make it super easy, for Etsy shop banners, blog featured images etc etc.

I use Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo for the more complex design and file manipulation tasks that Canva cant do. Full-featured graphic design tools like these two are well worth having, especially given that they are a fraction of the cost of other tools.

Conclusion

Overall, each design software option has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the user. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are widely recognized as industry standards and offer a wide range of powerful features, but they can be expensive and complex for beginners.

Many POD designers will not need these sorts of tools for their print-on-demand business. I have created designs that have made me thousands of dollars using nothing more than Canva.

Other options such as Affinity Designer, CorelDRAW, and Inkscape offer similar capabilities at a more affordable price point, but may not have as large of a user base or community resources.

Graphic Design Software like Canva are more tailored towards specific use cases, and may be easier to use for beginners, but may not be as powerful or include features that other options have.

Ultimately, it’s important to consider factors such as budget, skill level, and specific design needs when choosing a design software option. What may be the best design tool for one person doesn’t mean it will be the best choice for you. 

Also, remember that you dont have to stick to just one tool. I use Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo and Canva all for less total cost than a years subscription to Adobe Photoshop.

FAQ’s