Try Printful if you want to work through its design tools and managed production network. Try Printify if you want to compare individual print providers or choose a specific one. The best starting point is the product and print result you want to sell.
I built ArtDrop to create products across print providers. This guide compares Printful and Printify so you can choose the products and production setup that fit your work.
How much control do you want over the printer?
With Printify, a particular provider can be part of your product choice: for example, one that offers the shirt colors or larger print area you need. With Printful, you choose the product and Printful selects the production facility. If you use Printify Choice or automatic routing, check those settings because they also allow automatic provider selection.
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
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 | Printful | Printify |
|---|---|---|
| Production model | Own production centers plus partner facilities | Marketplace of partners |
| Embroidery | Yes | Yes |
| Shopify integration | Yes | Yes |
| Paid subscription required | No. Growth is optional. | No. Premium is optional. |
Production, shipping, taxes, and optional services are billed separately. See 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 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
Is Printify cheaper than Printful?
Some Printify products or providers may cost less for your order. Compare production plus shipping for the same product, destination, and delivery speed. Include optional plan discounts only if you plan to pay for that plan.
Which has better print quality?
Order the same artwork on the products you are considering. Compare color, detail, placement, and the material itself. For Printify, sample the provider you intend to use.
Can I use Printful and Printify on one Shopify store?
Yes. Connect each product to the provider that will fulfill it. ArtDrop can create products at both providers. Its Printify connection can publish to your store, and a Shopify-connected Printful store finishes with a live Shopify listing.