Printify vs Shopify
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top e-commerce tools picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Printify
Ranked #8 of 22 in this directory
Print-on-demand with the best prices through a global network
Shopify
Ranked #1 of 22 in this directory
The world's leading e-commerce platform
Our pick: Shopify. Our editors rank Shopify higher overall in E-commerce Tools — but Printify can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Printify | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Print On Demand | Store Builders |
| Editorial rank | #8 of 22 | #1 of 22 |
Strengths
Printify
- ✓900+ products across 90+ print providers
- ✓Lower base prices than Printful — better profit margins
- ✓Premium plan saves up to 20% on all products
- ✓Choose the best local provider for fast delivery in any region
Shopify
- ✓$150 affiliate commission per new merchant — top-tier payout
- ✓Highest-converting checkout in e-commerce — 15% better than average
- ✓8,000+ app integrations for every use case
- ✓Omnichannel: sell online, in-store, on social, and marketplaces from one dashboard
- ✓Shopify Payments eliminates third-party transaction fees
Watch out for
Printify
- !Quality varies by print provider — must test each
- !Less quality control than Printful's owned facilities
- !Provider stock can run out unexpectedly
Shopify
- !Transaction fees apply if not using Shopify Payments
- !Advanced customization requires Liquid templating knowledge
- !Monthly costs add up with apps
Best use cases
Printify
- →Compare 5 different print providers for the same t-shirt and choose the best price
- →Use a local Australian print provider for Australian customers to reduce delivery time
- →Upgrade to Premium and increase margins by 20% on your best-selling products
Shopify
- →Launch a fully branded online store in one day with no technical skills required
- →Sell on Instagram, TikTok, and your website simultaneously with synced inventory
- →Enable Shop Pay to offer one-tap checkout for returning customers
About each tool
Printify
Printify operates differently from Printful — instead of its own facilities, it's a marketplace of 90+ print providers worldwide. This means you can compare prices and shipping times from different printers for the same product and choose the best option. Products range from 900+ items at lower base prices than Printful. Printify's print network across the US, UK, Europe, China, and Australia enables fast local delivery almost everywhere. A Premium plan ($24.99/month) offers up to 20% off all products, significantly improving margins.
Shopify
Shopify powers over 4.6 million businesses in 175 countries, making it the undisputed leader in e-commerce. Every Shopify store includes a fast, customizable online storefront, the world's highest-converting checkout (15% better than competitors), built-in payment processing, inventory management, and analytics. The App Store has 8,000+ extensions for everything from email marketing to loyalty programs. Shopify's Shop Pay accelerated checkout reduces cart abandonment dramatically. Whether you're selling your first product or scaling to millions in revenue, Shopify grows with you.
Still deciding? Browse all 22 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
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