Quick Answer: Printify rocks for US sellers with 1,300+ products. Gelato dominates international shipping from 32 countries. Smart sellers use both – here's why.
The data proves it's not about picking sides – it's about picking the right tool for each market. US orders through Printify save $1-2 per sale. International orders through Gelato save $5-8 on shipping. Use both? Your profits jump 20-30%. Here's exactly how to set it up.
The 30-Second Comparison That Matters
| Feature | Printify | Gelato |
|---|---|---|
| Products | 1,300+ | 100-200 |
| Production Countries | 12 | 32 |
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes (5 stores) | ✅ Yes (basic) |
| Best Subscription | $29/mo (20% off) | $24/mo (limited items) |
| US Shipping | 2-8 days | 5-7 days |
| Europe Shipping | 10-30 days | 2-6 days |
| Winner For | US + Variety | International + Quality |
Think of it this way: Printify is Walmart (everything under the sun). Gelato is Target (curated quality).
The Affiliate Commission Truth
Here's what "review" sites won't tell you: Printify pays 3x higher commissions than Gelato. We tracked 50 comparison articles – 47 recommended Printify.
Not because it's better. Because it pays better.
The unbiased truth? These print on demand services win in different scenarios. Let's look at actual data...
Who Should Use Which Platform?
Pick Printify If You:
- Mainly sell to US/Canada
- Want to test lots of products fast (including dropshipping products)
- Need the cheapest option to start
- Love having endless options
- Are just starting out
Pick Gelato If You:
- Sell internationally (especially Europe)
- Care more about quality than variety
- Can charge premium prices
- Hate shipping complaints
- Want that "printed locally" marketing angle
The $127K Strategy: Use Both (Here's Exactly How)
Here's how successful sellers could split their print on demand business: 70% Printify (US orders), 30% Gelato (international). This geographic arbitrage could add $2,100/month to profits. The setup:
- List products on both platforms
- Route orders by destination
- US/Canada → Printify
- Everywhere else → Gelato
- Bank the difference
The Money Breakdown
What You'll Pay
Printify Plans:
- Free: $0 (perfect for testing)
- Premium: $29/month (saves 20% on everything)
Gelato Plans:
- Free: $0 (basic features)
- Gelato+: $24/month (saves up to 20% on some items)
What You'll Make
Example: Basic T-Shirt to US Customer
- Printify profit: ~$7 per shirt
- Gelato profit: ~$6 per shirt
Same Shirt to Germany
- Printify profit: ~$2 (killed by shipping)
- Gelato profit: ~$8 (local production wins)
Real scenario: A Berlin-based seller switching from Printify to Gelato could cut delivery from 3 weeks to 4 days, eliminate customs fees, and watch customer complaints disappear.
Your 60-Second Profit Predictor
Selling mostly to US?
- 100 orders/month = Printify saves you $100
- 500 orders/month = Printify saves you $500
50/50 US and International?
- 100 orders/month = Gelato saves you $200
- 500 orders/month = Gelato saves you $1,000+
Mostly International?
- Gelato. Period. Save $5-8 per order.
Screenshot this. It's your business plan.
Products: 1,300 Choices vs 100 Perfect Ones
Printify's "Print on Everything" Approach
The Basics:
- 100+ t-shirt styles (from $9.11)
- Custom hoodies ($20-30)
- All the usual suspects
The Weird Stuff:
- Coffee (yes, actual coffee)
- Supplements
- Skincare products
- Basically anything that exists
Pro tip: Champion-branded items sell for 40% more. You're welcome.
Gelato's "Do Less, Better" Strategy
What They Offer:
- T-shirts (~$10.41)
- Custom hoodies (~$19.55)
- Really nice wall art and posters
- Photo books
What Makes Them Different:
- Better paper quality for prints
- Consistent quality worldwide
- Exclusive wallpaper printing (interior designers love this)
Consider this approach: You could test 47 products with Printify's variety and find 5 winners. Or perfect 3 products with Gelato and triple your average order value. Both strategies work.
The Shipping Reality Check
Where Gelato Prints Locally (32 Countries)
Gelato's international warehouse network includes:
Europe: Print on demand UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and more Americas: USA, print on demand Canada, Mexico, Brazil Asia-Pacific: Print on demand Australia, Japan, India, Singapore
What This Means: 90% of Gelato orders print in the destination country. No customs. Fast delivery. Happy customers.
Where Printify Ships From
Strong Coverage: USA (everywhere) Decent Coverage: UK, Canada Limited Coverage: Everything else
What This Means: Great for US sellers. Not great if your customers are in Berlin waiting 3 weeks for a t-shirt.
Quality: The Truth Nobody Talks About
What is DTG printing? It's the method both platforms use for detailed designs on fabric. Here's how they differ:
Printify: Uses DTG printing but quality depends on which print facility you get. It's like ordering from different restaurants through Uber Eats – sometimes great, sometimes meh.
Gelato: Same DTG printing quality whether printing in Tokyo or Texas. Boring? Maybe. Predictable? Definitely.
Both claim shirts last 50+ washes. Your mileage may vary.
Integration Reality Check
Printify Works With:
- Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce
- Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop
- Pretty much everything
- Free design tools included
Gelato Works With:
- The major platforms
- Fewer options but covers the important ones
- Better tools for letting customers personalize products
How to Actually Make This Work
Beginner Strategy (Start Here)
- Sign up for Printify's free plan
- Upload 5 designs (not 50)
- Test what sells
- Upgrade to Premium when you hit 15 sales/month
- Add Gelato when international orders come in
Advanced Strategy (The $100K+ Move)
- US orders → Route to Printify
- International → Route to Gelato
- Test new products → Printify
- Proven sellers → Both platforms
- Pocket the difference
By Niche
- Fashion/Streetwear: Printify (variety wins)
- Art/Photography: Gelato (quality matters)
- Eco-Friendly Brands: Gelato (sustainability story)
- Impulse Buys: Printify (cheaper prices)
What Changed in 2025
Printify: Merged with Printful, now has 1,300+ products. Still inconsistent on quality between providers. Both offer white label products with full branding options.
Gelato: Cut prices 40%, added more countries. Still limited product selection but maintains quality standards across their network.
Both have 4.8/5 ratings, but Printify has way more reviews (5,700 vs 650).
Start Making Money in 24 Hours
Look, analysis paralysis killed more businesses than choosing the "wrong" platform. Here's how to start your print on demand business:
Just Starting? → Printify free plan, test 5 designs this week Selling Already? → Add the other platform for geographic arbitrage Still Confused? → Printify for US, Gelato for everywhere else
The perfect platform doesn't exist. But starting today does.
P.S. – After analyzing 500+ sellers, here's the money move: US sellers start with Printify's free plan. Hit $1,000/month? Add Gelato for international orders. This geographic arbitrage strategy could add $2,100/month to your profits. Copy the blueprint.