Spreadshop vs Spreadshirt

What's the Actual Difference?

Spreadshirt and Spreadshop are both owned by Spread Group. Same factories, same products, same fulfillment system. But they work in fundamentally opposite ways.

Spreadshirt is a marketplace. Think Etsy for custom merch. You upload designs that appear alongside millions of others. Spreadshirt sets the retail price and pays you a fixed commission—typically $5.50 per t-shirt. They bring the customers. You upload and wait.

Spreadshop is your own storefront. You get a branded shop at shop.spreadshirt.com/yourname. You control pricing and branding. Instead of earning a commission, you set your retail price above the base cost and keep the entire markup—usually $11+ per t-shirt. The catch: you start with zero traffic. Every visitor comes from your own marketing.

The critical insight: Spreadshirt trades lower earnings for marketplace exposure. Spreadshop trades higher profits for total marketing responsibility.

Feature	Spreadshirt Marketplace	Spreadshop Storefront
Traffic Source	Built-in (100,000 daily visitors)	You drive all traffic (start at zero)
Profit Per $25 T-Shirt	$5.50	$11+
Pricing Control	None	Full control
Effort Level	Passive	Active (daily marketing)
Competition	16 million designs	Only your products

The Profit Reality

Forget vague promises. Here's what you'll actually earn.

Spreadshirt Marketplace: You earn $5.50 per $25 t-shirt. No pricing control. During frequent sales (15-30% discounts), your commission drops proportionally. If you achieve 10 sales monthly, you're earning $55 before promotional cuts.

Spreadshop: You set the price. Base cost is $13.99. Price it at $25, you keep $11.01—exactly double the marketplace. Sell 10 shirts monthly, you earn $110. Hit higher volumes, and base costs drop further through tiered pricing (sell more, pay less per shirt).

Monthly earnings comparison:

• 10 sales: Spreadshop $110 vs Marketplace $55
• 50 sales: Spreadshop $550+ vs Marketplace $275

Both platforms charge zero fees—no subscription, no listing costs, no transaction fees. Minimum payout is $25 (US shops: $10), paid monthly via PayPal or bank transfer.

Products, Quality & Traffic: What You Need to Know

Both platforms offer 250+ identical products (same company, same factories)—t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, tote bags. Base prices range from $8.98 to $49.99. Quality is solid but not premium: 4.7 stars on Trustpilot from 16,000+ reviews. Production takes 2-5 business days. Most orders meet expectations, though quality can vary between production facilities.

The Traffic Problem

Spreadshirt Marketplace delivers 100,000 daily visitors. Real traffic, not hype. But you're competing with 16 million existing designs, plus 8,000-10,000 new designs uploaded daily. Your work disappears unless it hits trending topics or very specific niches. Visibility is unpredictable. Time to first sale: 6-12 months for most beginners using a passive approach.

Spreadshop launches with zero visitors. You must drive every customer through social media, content marketing, paid ads, or existing audiences. The platform has limited SEO tools and basic social media integration. For creators with existing audiences (YouTube, Instagram, email lists), conversions happen quickly. For beginners without followers, expect 3-6 months of audience-building before meaningful sales.

Who Should Use Which?

Choose Spreadshirt Marketplace if you:

• Want passive income without marketing
• Have zero marketing experience or budget
• Are testing print-on-demand before committing
• Have patience for 6-12 months to first sale
• Lack an existing audience
• Prefer low-effort side income over building a business

Choose Spreadshop if you:

• Already have an audience (YouTube, Instagram, email list, podcast)
• Want maximum profit per sale (2-3X higher margins)
• Have marketing skills or willingness to learn
• Are building a brand, not just earning commissions
• Can invest time daily/weekly in promotion
• Need pricing control

Use both if you:

• Want to hedge your bets
• Can test designs on marketplace while building your branded shop
• Want to discover which model fits your strengths

Many successful sellers use the marketplace for discovery—see which designs get organic sales—then promote winners through Spreadshop for higher margins.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Expecting passive income from Spreadshop. It requires active marketing. Zero traffic means zero sales without your effort.

Ignoring niche selection. Generic "dog lover" designs compete with thousands of others. "Golden retriever owners who camp" is specific enough to stand out while still reaching buyers.

Giving up too early. Both platforms require 6-12 months of patience. Success comes from consistent uploading, testing, and promoting past the point where most quit.

Overcomplicating the start. You don't need 1,000 designs or perfect branding on day one. Start with 20-50 quality designs and improve based on real feedback.

The Bottom Line

Neither platform is universally "better." They serve different purposes.

Spreadshirt Marketplace works as a low-effort testing ground. Upload and forget, but expect $100-$300 monthly after a year of consistent work. It's genuinely passive but with matching returns.

Spreadshop works for creators who can drive traffic. Profits are 2-3X higher, but only if you generate the sales. It rewards marketing effort with real brand-building potential.

For beginners with no audience: Start with Spreadshirt Marketplace. Upload 50-100 quality designs across specific niches. Learn print-on-demand without financial risk. Expect 6-12 months before consistent sales.

For content creators with existing followers: Launch Spreadshop immediately. Your audience already trusts you. Mention your shop in content and sales follow. With 1,000+ engaged followers, expect sales within weeks.

For people testing print-on-demand seriously: Use both. Let marketplace validate designs organically while building Spreadshop marketing skills. Double down on what works.

The platforms aren't broken. The opportunity is real. Success comes from matching the model to your reality—not chasing someone else's highlight reel. Choose based on what you have: time or traffic. Then show up consistently for six months.

For more on print-on-demand, check out Is Print on Demand Worth It?, Printify vs Gelato, and Zazzle vs Redbubble.

Start today.

FAQ

Can I use both platforms at the same time?

Yes. Both are owned by the same company with identical products and fulfillment. Upload the same designs to both. Use Spreadshirt marketplace to test what sells, then promote winners through your Spreadshop for higher margins.

Which platform pays more per sale?

Spreadshop pays 2-3X more. On a $25 t-shirt, Marketplace pays $5.50 commission while Spreadshop lets you keep $11+ profit with full pricing control. The gap widens with volume bonuses.

Do I need marketing experience for Spreadshop?

Not if you have an existing audience. Just mention your shop regularly to followers. Starting from zero? Expect 3-6 months learning social media, content marketing, or paid ads before meaningful sales.

How long until my first sale?

Marketplace: 6-12 months for beginners using a passive approach. Spreadshop: Days to weeks if you have an audience. Several months if building from zero.

Is Spreadshop worth it for complete beginners?

If you're willing to learn marketing and build traffic, yes—margins are substantially better. For truly passive income with minimal effort, start with Spreadshirt Marketplace instead.