Printify vs Gelato: which POD platform should you use?
Printify is a print-on-demand marketplace that lets you choose from dozens of print providers worldwide based on price, location, and reviews. Gelato operates a large network of local production partners in 30+ countries with a strong focus on fast delivery and sustainability. Here’s how they stack up.
Quick verdict
Choose Printify if you want maximum flexibility to pick providers by price, quality, and location—and you’re comfortable testing vendors to dial in consistency.
Choose Gelato if you sell to multiple countries and want local production, faster shipping, and less friction with customs and import fees.
Key differences
| Factor | Printify | Gelato |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | Marketplace of many independent print providers you can choose from | Distributed network of local partners across 30+ countries |
| Strengths | Wide catalog, competitive pricing, provider choice, bulk discounts via Printify Premium | Local production, faster international shipping, sustainability, simpler logistics |
| Catalog | Very large—apparel, mugs, wall art, home goods, accessories | Broad—apparel, wall art, photo products, stationery, gifts |
| Quality control | Varies by provider; you select & test vendors for consistency | More standardized experience; still varies by region/product |
| Branding options | Depends on chosen provider; many offer neck labels, pack-ins, etc. | Branding options vary by product/location; expanding over time |
| Pricing | Often very competitive; pricing varies by provider and region | Competitive; shipping savings from local production in many markets |
| Regions | Global—US, EU, UK, CA, AU and more (provider-dependent) | Global—Europe, North America, LATAM, APAC via local partners |
| Integrations | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, eBay, Walmart (invite), Wix, BigCommerce | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce, Canva |
| Turnaround | Depends on provider and region; can be very fast with the right partner | Fast local production; many orders ship domestically |
| Extras | Printify Premium for discounts; provider ratings & samples | Gelato+ tiers for shipping/discount perks and business tools |
Printify pros & cons
- Huge provider pool to optimize for price, speed, or quality
- Large catalog and frequent competitive SKUs
- Premium plan can lower costs at scale
- Quality consistency requires vendor testing and monitoring
Gelato pros & cons
- Local production reduces shipping time and customs issues
- Lower cart abandonment internationally thanks to faster delivery
- Sustainability focus and broad regional coverage
- Branding options vary more than fully in-house providers
Which should you pick?
Go Printify if you want to optimize margins by selecting specific providers and you’re happy to sample/test until you find the perfect vendor mix for each SKU and region.
Go Gelato if you want solid, predictable local fulfillment for global audiences and less complexity around shipping times and import fees.
FAQ
Which is cheaper? Printify often wins on base price for certain SKUs depending on provider. Gelato can win overall cost internationally due to cheaper, faster local shipping.
Who has better branding? It depends on product and location. With Printify you can pick providers with deeper branding; Gelato’s branding varies by region but keeps improving.
Can I switch later? Yes. Keep your artwork and listing copy; test alternatives on the same SKU to compare quality, speed, and returns.