Home > Articles > Shopify vs Teespring: The Most Comprehensive Comparison

Shopify vs Teespring: The Most Comprehensive Comparison

August 30, 2023
Written and researched by experts at AvadaLearn more about our methodology

By Sam Nguyen

CEO Avada Commerce

In the realm of print-on-demand businesses, choosing between Shopify vs Teespring is a crucial decision. This comprehensive article delves into a detailed comparison of the two platforms to help you make an informed choice.

Key Takeaways

  • Shopify is the preferred option for entrepreneurs who desire a customizable and scalable platform for their print-on-demand business and think about the longer term.
  • Teespring is well-suited for beginners who prioritize a user-friendly interface and integrated services to embark on their print-on-demand journey.

Shopify vs Teespring: The key difference

The main difference between Shopify and Teespring lies in their approach and focus. 

Shopify is primarily a comprehensive e-commerce platform that allows you to create an online store to sell products. It provides tools to manage products, inventory, payments, and shipping. 

While it doesn’t offer print-on-demand services inherently, it integrates with a number of third-party POD services such as Printful or Printify. This means you can sell custom printed products on your Shopify store, but the printing and shipping are handled by the POD service you choose to integrate. 

Also, Shopify focuses on providing a robust and customizable ecommerce platform that supports a variety of business models and integrates with a wide range of other services.

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Teespring (known as Spring), on the other hand, is primarily a POD platform, specifically tailored for creators to design and sell custom printed merchandise. Users design products using the platform’s tools, and Teespring handles the printing, shipping, and customer service when an item is sold. This model allows creators to sell custom merchandise with no upfront cost and without needing to handle any logistics themselves.

Spring gears towards making it easier for creators to monetize their audience, and they’ve integrated with various platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram to facilitate this.

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Shopify vs Teespring: Pros and Cons

Pros and Cons of Shopify 

Pros

  • Highly customizable: Shopify offers extensive customization options, allowing you to create a unique and branded online store.
  • Scalability: Shopify provides the flexibility to scale your business as it grows, accommodating increasing sales volumes.
  • Wide range of features: Shopify offers a comprehensive set of features, including built-in marketing tools, analytics, and app integrations.
  • SEO-friendly: Shopify provides SEO tools and features to optimize your store for better search engine rankings.
  • Professional customer support: Shopify offers reliable customer support to assist you with any issues or questions.

Cons

  • Cost: Shopify requires subscription fees, and some advanced features may come with additional costs.
  • Learning curve: The platform can be complex for beginners, requiring time and effort to fully understand and utilize all its features.

Pros and Cons of Teespring

Pros

  • User-friendly interface: Teespring is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it accessible to beginners.
  • Integrated services: Teespring handles printing, fulfillment, and shipping, streamlining the process for sellers.
  • No upfront costs: Teespring allows you to start selling without any subscription fees or upfront investments.
  • Global reach: Teespring offers worldwide shipping, allowing you to target customers internationally.

Cons

  •  Limited customization: Compared to Shopify, Teespring has fewer options for customizing your store’s design and branding.
  • Limited sales features: Teespring lacks some advanced sales features like abandoned cart recovery or detailed analytics.

Shopify vs Teespring: In-depth Comparison

Pricing

Shopify

Subscription fees

Shopify offers a range of pricing plans, starting from $39 per month for the Basic plan and going up to $399 per month for the Advanced plan. The specific features and capabilities increase as you move up the pricing tiers. These tiered plans allow sellers to choose a plan that aligns with their business needs and budget. 

Additionally, Shopify offers a hot deal for new users, including a 3-day free trial and the opportunity to pay only $1 for the first 3 months, providing an affordable entry point for entrepreneurs looking to establish their online presence.

You can click here to get the deal.

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Transaction fees

Shopify charges transaction fees on each sale made through external payment gateways. The transaction fee percentage varies based on the selected plan, with lower fees for higher-tier plans. 

Below are the rates for each plan:

Basic Shopify:

  • Online credit card rates: 2.9% + 30¢
  • In-person credit card rates: 2.7%
  • Additional fees using all payment providers other than Shopify Payments: 2.0%

Shopify:

  • Online credit card rates: 2.6% + 30¢
  • In-person credit card rates: 2.5%
  • Additional fees using all payment providers other than Shopify Payments: 1.0%

Advanced Shopify:

  • Online credit card rates: 2.4% + 30¢
  • In-person credit card rates: 2.4%
  • Additional fees using all payment providers other than Shopify Payments: 0.5%

Read more: Shopify Pricing Plans: How To Choose The Right Plans For Your Store

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Additional fees

In addition to subscription and transaction fees, Shopify may have certain additional fees depending on the specific features and services used by sellers. These additional fees can include app fees for third-party integrations, fees for premium themes or plugins, and fees for add-on services such as advanced analytics or shipping label printing. It’s important for sellers to carefully review the pricing details and understand any potential additional fees associated with their chosen features to effectively manage their costs and budget.

Teespring

Subscription fees

One of the most significant advantages of using TeespringGo’s Fulfillment Service is its cost-effectiveness. Here’s how the pricing works:

  • TeespringGo charges a service fee, which is added to the base cost of each product.
  • The remaining profit after deducting the base cost and service fee goes directly to you.
Pricing for Fulfillment Service

Firstly, Teespring Go offers a comprehensive fulfillment service, ideal if you already have inventory you wish to sell. This service includes storing your inventory at their warehouse, creating product mock-ups or photos, listing creation, order fulfillment, and customer service.

The cost for this is quite straightforward. A service fee is added to the base cost of each product, with all remaining profit going directly to you.

Let’s illustrate this with an example. Suppose you are using Teespring Go’s fulfillment service to sell CDs. You initially paid $5 per CD and are now selling them for $20 each. Therefore, the $20 selling price, minus the $5 base cost, minus the $3 service fee (which equates to 15% of $20) leaves you with a tidy $12 profit per CD. In essence, with Teespring Go’s fulfillment service, you send your inventory, promote your Teespring listing to your audience, and then reap the profits!

Pricing for Sourcing and Fulfillment Service

In addition to the fulfillment service, Teespring Go also offers a sourcing and fulfillment service for those who need assistance finding a trusted vendor to create and sell a completely custom product.

With this service, Teespring Go designs your custom product in collaboration with one of their trusted vendors, fulfills your orders, and takes care of inventory storage, listing creation, order fulfillment, and customer service. An upfront deposit is required before the sourcing process begins. This deposit is later deducted from the total inventory cost.

Much like the fulfillment service, Teespring Go’s fee is added to the base cost of each product, with all remaining profit going to you.

Here’s an example to explain how this pricing model works: You source custom pins with Teespring for $1.40 each and sell them for $9 each. In this scenario, Teespring’s fulfillment fee is $2 (as 15% of $9 falls below the $2 minimum). Therefore, your selling price of $9 minus the base cost of $1.40, minus Teespring’s service fee of $2, leaves you with a profit margin of $5.60 per pin.

With this approach, you’ve successfully created and sourced a completely custom product without having to deal with fulfillment logistics or customer service. Plus, you make a profit on each item sold. It’s a win-win situation!

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Transaction fees

Regarding transaction fees, specific information about Teespring’s transaction fees is not readily available. 

Table comparison in terms of overall pricing

PlatformSubscription FeesTransaction Fees
Shopify$39-$399 per month0-2% 
TeespringNo. Fees are charged on sales made.No transaction fees

The Verdict

Shopify takes the lead in terms of overall pricing. 

Sales Features

Print-on-Demand Tools

Shopify and Teespring both provide fantastic print-on-demand tools that empower sellers to create and personalize their merchandise. However, one standout advantage of Shopify lies in its seamless integration with various third-party print-on-demand apps. This integration capability opens up a world of possibilities for sellers, offering a broader array of e-commerce and sales features that are exclusively accessible on the Shopify platform. More choices, more freedom.

By harnessing these integrations, sellers can diversify their product offerings, streamline their operations, and deliver an enhanced experience to their valued customers. It’s worth noting that while Teespring also offers print-on-demand tools, it operates within its own platform and lacks the extensive integration options available on Shopify.

Shipping 

Shipping plays a pivotal role in the success of any e-commerce venture, and fortunately, both Shopify and Teespring offer efficient solutions to streamline the shipping process. With its comprehensive shipping system, Shopify seamlessly integrates with leading shipping carriers, empowering sellers to effortlessly calculate shipping rates, print labels, and monitor package progress. 

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Teespring also prioritizes shipping services to ensure prompt delivery of products to customers. It handles all aspects of order fulfillment, ensuring that customers receive their products promptly and efficiently. 

However, while Teespring may offer a more streamlined shipping experience within its platform, Shopify takes it a step further by providing sellers with access to additional shipping options through third-party apps. This integration capability grants sellers unparalleled flexibility and customization when it comes to their shipping preferences.

Warehousing And Fulfillment

When it comes to warehousing and fulfillment, Shopify and Teespring offer distinct approaches. 

With Shopify, sellers have the freedom to handle their own warehousing and fulfillment processes. This means they can store and fulfill orders from their own facilities or choose to work with third-party logistics providers. You can definitely use Shopify warehousing and fulfillment by using Shopify Fulfillment Network, a new Shopify feature. 

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On the other hand, Teespring takes on the responsibility of warehousing and fulfillment for sellers. They handle all aspects, including production, storage, and shipping of products on behalf of the sellers. However, the con here is sellers have to rely on Teespring’s integrated fulfillment services.

Dropshipping

Dropshipping has gained significant popularity as a business model, and both Shopify and Teespring are committed to supporting this method of order fulfillment. Shopify provides sellers with dedicated dropshipping apps, which simplifies the process of importing products from diverse suppliers and fulfilling orders through dropshipping. 

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Teespring, on the other hand, seamlessly integrates with multiple print-on-demand suppliers. This integration empowers sellers to effortlessly create and sell customized products without the complexities of inventory management. 

Both platforms offer options for sellers to explore dropshipping as a fulfillment method. However, Shopify stands out by providing greater flexibility in terms of supplier choices. Whether you opt for Shopify or Teespring, you can confidently venture into the world of dropshipping and leverage their capabilities to streamline your business operations.

Inventory Management 

Effective inventory management plays a pivotal role in the success of any e-commerce business, and both Shopify and Teespring recognize this importance by offering comprehensive tools to support sellers. Shopify stands out with its robust inventory management features, empowering sellers to effortlessly track stock levels, set alerts for low inventory, and efficiently manage product variants and SKUs (Stock Keeping Units). 

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Teespring also places emphasis on inventory management, providing sellers with the necessary capabilities to have clear visibility into their available stock. Whether it’s tracking SKUs or managing inventory levels, both platforms prioritize streamlining the inventory management process. However, it seems rather basic compared to Shopify’s.

Product Mock-up

Shopify offers a diverse range of themes and design options, empowering sellers to showcase their products with professional-looking mock-ups. Furthermore, Shopify’s integration with print-on-demand apps allows sellers to generate realistic product mock-ups using their custom designs. This is a huge advantage over Teespring. 

Teespring also recognizes the importance of product mock-ups and provides sellers with features specifically designed for creating visually appealing representations of their products. 

Payment Gateway

A seamless and secure payment process is essential for the success of any e-commerce business, and both Shopify and Teespring prioritize this aspect by offering reliable payment gateway options for sellers. 

Shopify provides its native payment gateway, Shopify Payments, which streamlines the payment process and offers competitive transaction rates. Moreover, Shopify seamlessly integrates with 100+ third-party payment gateways, allowing sellers to select the one that aligns best with their specific needs. 

Teespring, meanwhile, only supports 2 payment gateways (Payoneer and Paypal). 

Discover: Shopify Payments: Review, Usage, Fees, and How it works

SEO features

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a crucial role in driving organic traffic to online stores, and both Shopify and Teespring recognize its significance by offering features that aid sellers in optimizing their store’s visibility. 

Shopify provides built-in SEO tools, empowering sellers to optimize their product pages, meta tags, and URLs for better search engine rankings. Furthermore, Shopify offers a range of apps and plugins designed to enhance SEO capabilities and further improve store visibility. 

Teespring also understands the importance of SEO and provides sellers with SEO features to optimize their product listings and increase the likelihood of appearing in relevant search results. However, what you can optimize on Teespring is rather limited. You can just create a keyword list for optimization, and optimize the title, description, and URL of the listing.

Reporting and Analytics

Precise reporting and analytics are indispensable for effectively monitoring and comprehending the performance of an e-commerce business. 

Shopify takes the lead by offering a comprehensive set of reporting and analytics tools that equip sellers with valuable insights into sales, traffic, and customer behavior. In particular, the metrics are:

  • Sales conversion rate: The percentage of visitors who make a purchase. An average ecommerce conversion rate is around 5.2%.
  • Average order value: The average amount customers spend in a single transaction.
  • Customer lifetime value: The total revenue expected from a customer throughout their relationship with your business.
  • Customer acquisition costs: The cost of acquiring a new customer, calculated by dividing marketing expenses by the number of new customers.
  • Shopping cart abandonment rate: The percentage of shoppers who add items to their cart but do not complete the purchase.
  • Returning customer rate: The percentage of customers who have made more than one purchase.
  • Bounce rate: The percentage of visitors who leave the website without taking any action.
  • Net promoter score: Measures overall customer loyalty and satisfaction, calculated based on customers’ likelihood to recommend the business.
  • Click-through rate: The rate at which people click on an ad, email, or post and land on your website.
  • Store sessions by traffic source: Tracks the number of visitors and how they accessed your website (e.g., search, social, direct, email).
  • Store sessions by device: Shows the number of visitors based on the device they used to access your online store.
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Teespring also recognizes the significance of reporting and analytics, providing sellers with features to monitor sales and track essential metrics, including:

  • Listings Analytics: Access individual listing analytics to see metrics such as orders made, units sold, and total profit for each listing.
  • Source of Units: Understand where your sales come from, either through Teespring’s Boosted Network or Direct sales from your promotions.
  • URL Parameters: Utilize URL parameters to track traffic and views from specific sources, providing valuable data on audience responsiveness.
  • Traffic Sources: Get a breakdown of your page traffic sources, including social media channels and websites.
  • Orders: Identify your most popular products and colors to optimize your promotional strategies and increase sales.
  • Google Analytics: Integrate Teespring with Google Analytics to gain comprehensive data on website visitors, traffic sources, and buyer demographics.
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Sales Features only Shopify has

Shopify offers a range of exclusive sales features that set it apart from Teespring and provide additional value to sellers. Here are five key sales features that are unique to Shopify:

1. Abandoned Cart Recovery

Shopify’s Abandoned Cart Recovery feature enables sellers to recover potentially lost sales by automatically sending reminder emails to customers who have added items to their cart but haven’t completed the purchase. This powerful feature helps sellers recapture customer interest, reduce cart abandonment, and increase conversion rates.

2. Shopify Email

Shopify Email is an integrated email marketing tool that allows sellers to create and send professional-looking emails directly from their Shopify dashboard. With pre-designed templates and customizable content, sellers can engage with their customers, promote products, and drive repeat purchases—all without needing a separate email marketing platform.

3. Multi-Channel Selling

Shopify’s multi-channel selling capabilities enable sellers to expand their reach beyond their online store by seamlessly selling on various channels like social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram), marketplaces (Amazon, eBay), and in-person through Shopify’s POS system. This feature helps sellers tap into different customer segments and increase their sales opportunities.

4. Advanced Discounting Options

Shopify offers advanced discounting options that allow sellers to create a variety of promotions and discounts tailored to their specific marketing strategies. From percentage-based discounts to buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offers and free shipping promotions, sellers have the flexibility to attract customers with compelling deals and drive sales growth.

5. Customizable Checkout Process

Shopify provides sellers with extensive control over the checkout process, allowing them to customize it to match their brand identity and provide a seamless shopping experience. From adding custom fields and order notes to adjusting the layout and design, sellers can create a checkout process that aligns with their brand and enhances customer trust and satisfaction.

These sales features are unique to Shopify and empower sellers with powerful tools to enhance their online business. By utilizing these features, sellers can optimize their sales strategy, improve customer engagement, and drive revenue growth. Teespring, on the other hand, may not offer these specific features or may not have developed them to the same extent, highlighting the advantages of choosing Shopify as a platform for e-commerce and sales success.

The Verdict

Shopify emerges as the clear winner primarily due to its comprehensive set of sales features and advanced capabilities. 

Apps and Integrations

Shopify 

Shopify is known for its extensive app and integration ecosystem (8,000+), offering sellers a wide range of options to enhance their online stores. These apps are across various categories, including marketing, sales, inventory management, customer support, and more. 

This flexibility allows sellers to expand their functionality, automate processes, and optimize their business operations. Furthermore, if a seller encounters any issues with a particular app or integration, Shopify’s ecosystem provides alternative options, giving sellers the freedom to switch and find solutions that best fit their needs.

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Teespring

Teespring, on the other hand, has more limited app and integration capabilities compared to Shopify. Some of the integrations include YouTube merch shelf, Twitch merch store, Streamlabs, and Google Shopping.

Sellers using Teespring may have fewer options to connect with other third-party apps or services to enhance their store’s functionality or streamline their operations. This limitation can potentially impact sellers who rely heavily on specific integrations or require a broader range of app functionalities.

The Verdict

Shopify takes the lead when it comes to apps and integrations. 

Ease of Use

Shopify 

Shopify has earned its reputation for providing a user-friendly interface and intuitive features, catering to users with varying levels of technical knowledge. It excels in offering a seamless setup process, allowing even beginners to swiftly establish their online store and commence selling products. With a plethora of customizable themes and templates at their disposal, sellers can create visually captivating and polished storefronts without the need for advanced coding or design expertise. 

Shopify goes the extra mile by providing comprehensive documentation, helpful video tutorials, and a supportive community, ensuring that sellers can easily navigate the platform and leverage its extensive range of features. 

So, whether you’re new to e-commerce or an experienced seller, Shopify offers an accessible and empowering environment that simplifies the process of building and managing your online store.

Teespring

Teespring is also super user-friendly and easy to get started with design tools and customization options for creating and selling products. Because it is also free to start, so it’s easy for you to create the first listings.

The Verdict

When it comes to ease of use, Teespring emerges as the winner. 

Scalability

Shopify 

When a business aims to scale up, Shopify offers a robust platform ready to support its growth. Shopify provides scalable solutions that adapt to increasing demands and business expansion. As the business expands, Shopify allows sellers to upgrade their pricing package to accommodate higher capacity requirements. This flexibility ensures that sellers can seamlessly handle higher volumes of traffic, transactions, and inventory as their business grows. 

Additionally, Shopify offers various advanced features, integrations, and apps designed to assist with scaling operations efficiently.

Teespring

When it comes to scalability, Teespring has certain limitations when compared to Shopify. Although Teespring provides a platform for sellers to offer their products, it may not offer the same range of scalability options as Shopify. Teespring primarily focuses on enabling individuals to create and sell personalized merchandise, which may not fully support businesses with ambitious growth plans. 

As a result, for businesses with extensive scalability needs, Shopify is often the preferred choice due to its comprehensive scalability features and resources.

The Verdict

In the Shopify vs. Teespring comparison, Shopify takes the lead in terms of scalability. 

Help and Support 

Shopify 

Shopify offers a robust support system to aid sellers throughout their e-commerce journey. With support channels such as 24/7 live chat, email support, and phone support, Shopify provides sellers with multiple avenues to seek assistance. 

Sellers can rely on Shopify’s dedicated support team to promptly address their concerns, resolve issues, and answer any inquiries they may have. The availability of round-the-clock support ensures that sellers can access help precisely when they need it the most, making their Shopify experience more seamless and supported.

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Teespring

Teespring also offers support channels for sellers to seek assistance. They provide support through email and a comprehensive Help Center with resources and articles to guide sellers through various aspects of using the platform. 

However, live chat assistance available Monday to Friday 9AM-5PM (EST), and buyer support emails are responded to within 24-48 business hours. This means you’ll have to wait for so long to get your queries answered. 

The Verdict

When it comes to help and support, Shopify emerges as the winner. 

Security

Shopify 

Shopify prioritizes the security of its platform and takes measures to ensure a safe and protected environment for sellers and customers. They employ industry-standard security practices such as data encryption, secure payment gateways, and regular security audits. 

Additionally, Shopify provides built-in SSL certificates for secure transactions and protects against fraud and unauthorized access through advanced security features. These measures instill confidence in both sellers and customers, assuring them that their sensitive information and transactions are safeguarded.

With its comprehensive security measures, including data encryption, secure payment gateways, and regular security audits, Shopify demonstrates its commitment to providing a secure environment for sellers and customers. 

Teespring

Teespring places importance on the security of its platform, taking necessary precautions to safeguard user data and transactions. Although specific details about their security measures may not be readily available, Teespring likely employs standard security practices, including the use of secure payment gateways and encryption techniques. These measures are implemented to ensure the security and protection of sensitive information shared on the platform.

Also, Teespring has introduced a new email security check to enhance account protection, alongside two-factor authentication. Users will receive a verification email when changing their account email address, adding an extra layer of security.

While Teespring also prioritizes security, the lack of specific information about their security measures may raise concerns for some users. Therefore, for sellers who value a platform with proven security measures and a transparent approach to safeguarding sensitive information, Shopify is the recommended option.

The Verdict

When it comes to security, Shopify emerges as the preferred choice. 

Themes and Designs

Shopify 

Shopify provides a wide array of themes and designs that empower sellers to create visually stunning and professional online stores. Whether sellers choose from the available free options or invest in premium themes, they can easily customize them to match their brand image and personal style. With Shopify’s intuitive theme editor, sellers have full control over layout, colors, fonts, and images, allowing them to design sales pages that truly reflect their unique brand identity. 

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This level of customization ensures a seamless and engaging shopping experience for customers, enhancing their overall satisfaction and boosting conversions. Shopify’s commitment to offering robust theme customization features positions it as the top choice for sellers seeking to create captivating and tailored online storefronts.

Teespring

Teespring, on the other hand, focuses more on providing pre-designed templates specifically tailored for selling custom merchandise. While the platform offers some customization options within these templates, the level of design flexibility may be limited compared to Shopify. 

Sellers can choose from a range of pre-made designs and personalize them with their own text and images. However, the overall customization options in terms of layout and design elements may be less extensive compared to Shopify.

The Verdict

When it comes to themes and designs, Shopify emerges as the preferred choice for sellers seeking greater customization capabilities. 

Shopify vs Teespring: How to Create a POD Product

Step by step on how to create a POD product with Teespring and  Shopify 

Create POD product with Teespring

Here is the step-by-step guide to help you create fantastic POD products using Teespring design:

  • Step 1: Sign up for a Teespring account by filling out the necessary information
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  • Step 2: Choose your favorite product’s design and start the customization process.
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  • Step 3: Edit the design using main features like artwork, texts, and pictures. You can use the available artwork or your designs uploaded to the Teespring platform.
  • Step 4: Set up the price and quantity for your product. Teespring will suggest a workable selling price for your items if you have issues with this step.
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  • Step 5: Write 2-3 description sentences for each product you create. You should develop a catchy description that can grab your customers’ attention. After that, click the “Continue” button and finish the rest information > choose “Launch” to finish the process.
  • Step 6: Now is the time to promote your product on different channels. You can consult Teespring Training Center for ideas on promoting your product effectively.
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  • Step 7: Wait for someone to purchase your product; you will get paid through several gateways like Paypal or Payoneer.

Create POD products with Shopify

To create POD products on Shopify, merchants need to install a 3rd-party app specialized in creating POD items. For instance, we can use the Printful POD app on the Shopify App Store to design and add POD products to the Shopify store.

Continue reading to get the step-by-step on creating a POD product on your Shopify store using the Printful app:

Step 1: Create a Printful account for free
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Step 2: Install the Printful app on your Shopify store

Log into your Shopify account > Dashboard > Add apps.

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Find “Printful” and click the “Add” button to get the app into your Shopify store.

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Next, press the “Add app” button (the black button) to confirm the installation.

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Then, click the “Install app” button (the green button).  

Step 3: Connect your Shopify store with Printful
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Follow the required steps to log into both the Shopify store and Printful.

Step 4: Add your product using Printful
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At Printful dashboard > choose Stores > Add product > View Printful’s Product Catalog to see what products you want to sell or design.

Step 5: Design your Printful product
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You can use plenty of features to design your product here, like text, clipart, Quick Designs, etc.

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In case you want to upload an image into the design, you can click the “Choose file” button and it will appear in the mockup.

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Remember to add necessary components like product name, product description, and price on every product you design. 

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Once you have finished the design process, click the “View in Shopify” button to see how it appears on your Shopify store.

Step 6: Enjoy the result
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You have finished creating a POD product on your Shopify store using Printful assistance. The product will appear synced if you return to (or just refresh) your store page within the Printful dashboard.

Which platform is better for designing a POD product?

It seems that Shopify has a slight edge in designing POD products since Shopify merchants can add different 3rd-party designing tools and apps to support the process, including Printful, Zendrop, Printful, and ShineOn. Thousands of previous users have experienced those POD designing apps and left positive feedback. 

Even though Teespring is a good POD designing app for household items and custom clothing products, it still can not be as diverse as Shopify’s advantages. However, the variety of design functionality that Teespring provides is still one of its key strengths to draw users’ attention.

Shopify vs Teespring: Table Comparison

Comparison Factors    Shopify  TeespringWinner
Pricing$39 – $399 Fees are charged on the sales made.Sales caps for each pricing plan.Shopify
Sales FeaturesProvides a comprehensive set of sales features, including print-on-demand tools, shipping, warehousing and fulfillment, label printing, dropshipping, inventory management, product mock-ups, payment gateway, SEO features, and reporting and analyticsFocuses primarily on providing a platform for individuals to create and sell custom merchandise, with limited sales features compared to ShopifyShopify
Apps and IntegrationsOffers 8,000+ apps and integrations to enhance the functionality and capabilities of the platformIntegrates with a limited number of apps, with fewer options for expanding functionalityShopify
Ease of UseProvides a user-friendly interface and intuitive tools, making it easy for sellers to set up and manage their online storesEasy to useTeespring
ScalabilityOffers scalable solutions to support businesses as they grow, including the ability to upgrade pricing plans to increase capacity and handle larger volumes of salesMay have limitations in terms of scalability compared to Shopify, with a primary focus on individual sellers rather than extensive business growthShopify
Help and SupportProvides various support channels, including 24/7 live chat, email support, and phone support, ensuring sellers can receive prompt assistance when neededOffers support channels, but specific details may varyShopify
SecurityImplements robust security measures to protect user data and transactions, including secure payment gateways and encryption techniquesAlso emphasizes the importance of security measures, although specific details may not be readily availableShopify
Themes and DesignsOffers a wide range of themes and designs, both free and paid, that sellers can customize to align with their brand image and preferences using the user-friendly theme editorLimited capabilitiesShopify

In conclusion, Shopify emerges as the winner in the comparison between Shopify and Teespring. Shopify offers a more diverse range of features, including extensive e-commerce capabilities, integrations with various apps, and a user-friendly interface. It also provides scalability options and comprehensive help and support. 

Additionally, Shopify prioritizes security and offers a wide range of customizable themes and designs. 

Discover: Shopify Theme collections

While Teespring focuses on custom merchandise sales, it may have limitations in terms of scalability and the availability of integrations. 

Thus, Shopify proves to be the preferred choice for businesses looking for a robust and versatile e-commerce platform.

Who should use Shopify? And who should use Teespring?

Who should use Shopify? 

Shopify caters to a wide range of audiences, making it an ideal choice for:

  • E-commerce entrepreneurs: Individuals who want to enter the online business world and sell products, whether physical or digital, can benefit from Shopify’s extensive features and tools specifically designed for e-commerce.
  • Retail businesses: Brick-and-mortar stores or existing retail businesses seeking to expand their operations online can leverage Shopify’s platform to establish a strong online presence and reach a global customer base.
  • Boutiques and independent sellers: Shopify provides a user-friendly interface and customizable themes that empower boutiques and independent sellers to create visually appealing online stores and showcase their unique products and brand identity.
  • Artisans and craftspeople: Artists, artisans, and creators who produce handmade products or artwork can utilize Shopify’s platform to exhibit their creations, connect with a broader audience, and effectively manage their inventory.
  • Professional service providers: Consultants, coaches, and professionals offering services can use Shopify to sell digital products, courses, or memberships, diversifying their revenue streams and expanding their market reach.

And who should use Teespring?

Teespring caters to a specific audience niche, particularly those interested in custom merchandise and print-on-demand products. It is ideal for:

  • Graphic designers: Teespring offers a platform for graphic designers to showcase their artwork and sell custom-designed merchandise directly to their target audience.
  • Content creators: YouTubers, podcasters, bloggers, and influencers can use Teespring to monetize their online presence by creating branded merchandise for their fans.
  • Non-profit organizations: Teespring provides an opportunity for non-profit organizations to raise funds and create awareness by selling custom merchandise supporting their cause.
  • Social media entrepreneurs: Individuals leveraging social media platforms to build their personal brand or online community can use Teespring to offer merchandise that resonates with their followers.
  • Event organizers: Teespring allows event organizers to create custom merchandise for conferences, concerts, festivals, and other events, providing attendees with unique memorabilia.

Shopify vs Teespring: FAQs

Whether or not you require both Shopify and Teespring depends on the unique needs of your business. Teespring is an excellent choice if your primary focus is on selling custom merchandise and print-on-demand products. It offers specialized features in this area, catering to your specific requirements.

On the other hand, if you desire a more robust e-commerce solution that encompasses a broader range of features, customization options, and the ability to sell a diverse array of products beyond custom merchandise, then Shopify would be a valuable addition to your business toolkit. Shopify provides a comprehensive platform that can meet your needs and enhance your online selling capabilities. Ultimately, the decision should be based on evaluating your business requirements and selecting the platform that best aligns with your goals.

The main difference between Shopify and Teespring lies in their core offerings and target audiences. Shopify is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that allows businesses to build, customize, and manage their online stores. It offers a wide range of features, including inventory management, payment gateways, shipping options, and marketing tools.

On the other hand, Teespring is a platform focused on custom merchandise and print-on-demand products. It provides a marketplace for individuals to design and sell their own creations. While both platforms enable selling products online, Shopify offers more versatility and customization options beyond custom merchandise.

Yes, it is possible to make money with Teespring. Many merchants have found success and generated income by leveraging Teespring’s platform to design and sell custom merchandise. However, the profitability of your Teespring venture depends on various factors such as the quality and uniqueness of your designs, effective marketing strategies, target audience, and overall demand for your products.

To increase your chances of making money with Teespring, it’s important to invest time and effort into creating appealing designs, implementing successful marketing campaigns, and building a loyal customer base. Like any business, success on Teespring requires dedication, creativity, and strategic planning.

Yes, print-on-demand can indeed be a profitable business model on Shopify. The platform’s robust e-commerce features and integrations provide a strong foundation for establishing and managing a successful print-on-demand venture.

By partnering with reliable print-on-demand providers and leveraging Shopify’s extensive customization options, marketing tools, and scalability, sellers can create and sell unique products without the hassle of inventory management.

However, it’s important to note that the profitability of a print-on-demand business on Shopify relies on several factors, including the quality of the products, careful niche selection, effective marketing strategies, and the demand of the target audience.

To maximize profitability, sellers should approach their print-on-demand venture thoughtfully, employ consistent marketing efforts, and prioritize delivering value to customers.

The answer is No. Teespring can’t be integrated with Shopify due to the recent change in Shopify’s regulations. You can select other 3rd-party POD apps on the Shopify App Store to create your own POD products for your Shopify online store.

Shopify vs Teespring: Conclusion

When comparing Shopify vs Teespring, it’s evident that both platforms offer unique advantages for different business needs. Choosing between the two ultimately depends on the specific goals, requirements, and business model of the seller.


Sam Nguyen is the CEO and founder of Avada Commerce, an e-commerce solution provider headquartered in Singapore. He is an expert on the Shopify e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. Sam loves talking about e-commerce and he aims to help over a million online businesses grow and thrive.