Gelato chooses production partners across a distributed network. Printful runs production centers and uses partners. Printify lets you choose from individual print providers or use automatic selection. Start with the products you want to offer and the countries you want to reach.
I built ArtDrop to create products across print providers. This guide compares Gelato, Printful and Printify so you can choose the products and production setup that fit your work.
Choose your first collection
Begin with a few products that suit your artwork: perhaps a print, a framed version, and a shirt. Find comparable options at each provider. You will learn more by checking those products and ordering samples than by comparing the size of three entire catalogs.
Gelato: A production network close to your customers
Gelato chooses a production partner for each order and aims to print close to the delivery address. Stock, capacity, and the product you choose determine where it is made. Its catalog shows typical production locations, which are useful when comparing delivery to different countries. Gelato production locations.
Printful: Design tools and a managed production network
Printful uses its own production centers and partner facilities. It selects the facility for each order based on the product, stock, and printing method. You design the product in Printful and manage it through one account. Printful production locations.
Printify: Choose the print provider for your product
Printify lets you compare print providers by price, location, sizes, colors, and print area. You can select a provider yourself or use Printify Choice for automatic selection on eligible products. Review your routing settings when you want to keep a particular provider. Compare Printify providers.
Printify also offers Printify Choice and Order Routing. These can select another printer automatically based on the product and your settings.
Compare the total cost
Use the same artwork, product size, material, and delivery address in each account. Add production and shipping, plus taxes and any extras you choose. A low starting price is useful only if the complete order fits your selling price.
In ArtDrop, Provider Cost Comparison gives you a starting estimate. Check the final price in the provider account before setting your retail price.
Free accounts and optional plans
Gelato, Printful and Printify offer free accounts. A paid plan can make sense when its discounts save more than the subscription costs at your expected order volume.
Scroll sideways to compare all providers.
| Factor | Gelato | Printful | Printify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embroidery | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shopify integration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paid subscription required | No. Gelato+ is optional. | No. Growth is optional. | No. Premium is optional. |
Production, shipping, taxes, and optional services are billed separately. See Gelato pricing, Printful pricing, Printify pricing.
Order a sample of your artwork
Use an image with the colors and detail you regularly sell. Compare the finished print, material, placement, and packaging. Check the delivery time as well. Keep a sample of the product you choose so you have something to compare with later orders.
Using more than one provider
You can use different providers for different products in the same Shopify store. For example, choose one for the framed print you prefer and another for a shirt that fits your collection. Keep each product connected to the provider that will print it, and make shipping charges and delivery estimates clear.
A second provider also gives you another option if a product becomes unavailable. Prepare and sample the replacement product before switching the listing. The Shopify publishing guide explains how the store and provider connections fit together.
ArtDrop writes product titles and descriptions in your brand voice and applies your saved product templates to each new artwork. Drop several files together to create a collection without re-entering the same settings.
Publish to Shopify or Etsy through your connected Gelato or Printify store. ArtDrop’s Printful workflow follows the store you connect: a standalone store keeps the product in Printful, and a Shopify-connected store finishes with a live Shopify listing. See Printful setup for that workflow.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a paid subscription to use these providers?
No. Gelato, Printful, and Printify each offer a free account. You pay production and shipping costs when you order products. Optional paid plans add benefits such as discounts; compare them against your expected orders.
Which provider should I use for art prints?
Compare the paper or canvas, finish, frame, sizes, price, and delivery destinations you need. Order samples of your artwork from the options you shortlist.
Can I use all three with Shopify?
Yes. Shopify can sell products fulfilled by all three. Keep each product connected to its chosen provider. ArtDrop can create products at all three; its Gelato and Printify connections can also publish store listings. The Printful workflow creates the product in the Printful store you connect, and a Shopify-connected Printful store finishes with a live Shopify listing.