The print-on-demand (POD) business model has revolutionized how artists showcase and sell their work. It lets creators produce high-quality prints of their designs on many products without managing inventory or shipping, drastically reducing the upfront costs of starting an artist shop.
This article explores the best print-on-demand sites for artists so you can make an informed decision based on each option’s features, pros, and cons.
Key takeaways
- Print on Demand lets artists display and sell their work without managing inventory or handling shipping logistics, reducing upfront costs.
- Using POD lets artists focus more on creating and promoting their art.
- When choosing a POD platform, artists should look at product range, printing quality control, integration capabilities, shipping costs, and prices.
- To sell prints using POD, artists must digitize their artwork, upload designs to a chosen platform, select products, set up online stores, and market their artwork.
Best print-on-demand companies for artists
Print-on-demand companies handle all production and shipping, taking the burden off artists so they can focus on creating. There are many great POD platforms out there, so we’ve narrowed it down to the ten best printing companies for artists who want to start their own shops.
1. Printify
Printify has the largest product range in the POD industry, the lowest prices, and a super beginner-friendly interface.
Thanks to Printify’s integrations, you can easily add your designs to bestselling custom products and sell your art on your chosen eCommerce platform. Printify’s partner network ships worldwide, letting you sell your art internationally.
Key features: Printify connects artists with a huge network of Print Providers, offers great mockup tools, has the best product selection in the POD industry, and integrates with major eCommerce platforms.
Pros:
- Product range: The largest selection of custom products, providing flexibility in how you sell your art.
- Design tools: The advanced Product Creator makes uploading and positioning artwork easy.
- Cost efficiency: Low production prices let you set higher profit margins.
- eCommerce integrations: Streamlined listing and order fulfillment thanks to integrations with the top eCommerce sales channels.
Cons:
- Quality control: Quality can vary between Print Providers, so you must check ratings from fellow merchants and order samples.
- Branding limitations: Less control over packaging and branding can impact the customer experience.
- Shipping variability: Costs and delivery estimates depend on the chosen Print Provider.
2. Fine Art America
Fine Art America specializes in high-quality art prints that let artists showcase their work. This platform is great for artists looking to sell everything from pillows and phone cases to more traditional art pieces like fine art paper prints, framed artwork, canvas prints, and more.
Key features: Fine Art America has its own fulfillment centers, provides marketing and sales tools, and offers a large online marketplace for the fine art niche.
Pros:
- Print options: Wide range of products from framed and canvas prints to accessories, apparel, and home decor.
- Community: Extensive artist community and marketplace, offering opportunities for networking and exposure.
- Marketing tools: In-platform marketing tools to help artists promote their work and increase sales.
- Retail integration: Partnerships with multiple fine art retailers across America, integration with Shopify, and custom API options for your own eCommerce site.
Cons:
- Commission fees: Higher commissions than other sites can reduce an artist’s profits.
- User interface: The somewhat complex interface requires a learning curve.
- Shipping: Fewer shipping centers than other platforms, resulting in longer delivery times.
3. Gelato
Gelato connects artists with Print Providers worldwide, reducing shipping costs and delivery estimates. Thanks to its focus on sustainability and quality, the platform is attractive to eco-conscious artists.
Key features: Gelato partners with a large network of Print Providers, allowing artists to start selling on multiple eCommerce platforms with local shipping in many regions.
Pros:
- Sustainability: Their environmentally friendly approach aligns with sustainable business practices.
- Product range: Tons of print-on-demand products with easy-to-use mockup tools for product design.
- Local production: Fast shipping with local production to over 30 countries ensures quick delivery and reduces carbon footprint.
- eCommerce integration: Several integrations with top eCommerce platforms and marketplaces.
Cons:
- Printing options: Fewer printing methods than competitors, which might restrict product expansion for artists.
- Quality variability: Quality depends on which Print Provider you use from Gelato’s fulfillment network.
- Premium restrictions: Many features are behind a paywall, such as mockup generation and branding options for packaging and inserts.
4. Society6
Society6 is a well-known print-on-demand site and storefront offering many products and a vibrant artist community. The site lets you reach a diverse audience with your designs, from framed prints and home decor to apparel.
Key features: Soicety6 manages its own shoppable online gallery and prints from fulfillment centers in multiple countries. Sellers can also join the site’s highly art-focused community.
Pros:
- Product range: The platform’s unique products let independent artists showcase and sell their work on everything from furniture to tech accessories.
- Community support: Strong community and promotional tools to help artists connect and grow their audience.
- Print quality: High-quality prints make the artwork look beautiful and professional.
Cons:
- Profit margins: Lower profit margins because of the platform’s pricing structure and transaction fees.
- Limited integration: There aren’t many integration options and or customization opportunities to really make your own store stand out.
- Analytics: The interface has limited shop analytics insights and may have slower loading speeds.
5. Redbubble
Redbubble is a platform for selling products, with a strong focus on apparel and accessories. This print-on-demand website is user-friendly and great for independent artists and small businesses.
Key features: Redbubble produces and ships products through a worldwide network of third-party partners, offers automated order fulfillment, and has useful design tools.
Pros:
- Product range: Features a wide range of customizable products and lets artists set their own retail prices.
- User-friendly: Easy to upload and adjust designs using Redbubble’s templates.
- Community support: Active community and support team available.
Cons:
- Lower margins: The pricing structure can reduce profit margins, requiring artists to set a higher retail price.
- Approval process: Getting designs approved can be difficult and lengthy.
- Quality variability: Shipping estimates and product quality depend on the Print Provider.
6. Saatchi Art
Saatchi Art is a platform where you can sell exclusive or limited-edition art pieces. The site has print-on-demand services for artists to offer open-edition fine art prints of their paintings, photographs, or drawings.
Key features: Saatchi Art operates its own fulfillment centers, connects artists with collectors through a curated gallery, and provides marketing and promotional tools.
Pros:
- High visibility: Large potential exposure and credibility within the fine art community.
- Quality standards: A quality-focused platform that ensures prints are super high quality.
- Artist support: Extensive Help Center providing marketing and promotional advice, tips for listing artwork, and more.
Cons:
- High commissions: The high fulfillment price tag may deter many artists.
- Product range: POD services are limited to fine art prints, which might not appeal to all types of creators and businesses.
- Onboarding difficulty: New or emerging artists can have trouble receiving approval and building a reputation on the site.
7. Zazzle
Zazzle is an online marketplace offering a wide range of products, from apparel to home decor, that you can customize with their art.
The site focuses on community building and features a section dedicated to gift recommendations. Items like cards and invitations sell exceptionally well on Zazzle, making it a great place for you to list your art.
Key features: Artists can sell on-demand products or pre-made physical products, set their own profit margins (called royalty percentages on the site), and take advantage of Zazzel’s great design tools.
Pros:
- Product variety: Huge product selection with no upfront costs to start selling.
- Design tools: Easy-to-use design tools featuring a graphics library, hundreds of fonts, and dozens of image filters.
- Customizable storefront: You can personalize your storefronts to create a branded experience.
Cons:
- No integrations: You cannot integrate your Zazzle accounts with other eCommerce sales channels.
- Quality: Low control over quality since Zazzle handles all production.
- Market saturation: With tens of thousands of sellers, Zazzle is becoming more competitive and requires larger marketing efforts.
8. Printful
Printful is a print-on-demand company known for its high-quality products and prints. It integrates seamlessly with multiple eCommerce sites, making it easy for artists to manage orders in their online stores.
Key features: Printful owns and operates multiple fulfillment centers globally. It offers seamless integrations for selling and provides design tools and branding options.
Pros:
- Quality control: In-house fulfillment centers provide consistent quality and fulfillment times.
- Branding options: Multiple branding features for a more personalized experience.
- eCommerce integration: Partnerships with many of the top eCommerce channels, simplifying order management.
Cons:
- Product range: There’s less product variety than on other print-on-demand services.
- Pricey: Your margins may be lower because of the site’s higher production costs.
- Shipping variability: Shipping costs and times depend on the fulfillment center location.
9. Displate
Displate specializes in customizable metal prints, providing artists with a unique and premium option for selling their creations. This platform is ideal for those looking to offer something different from traditional paper or canvas prints.
Key features: Displate manages its own production facilities, has a large marketplace with millions of customers, and gives artists the chance to sell wall art that’s not typically offered by other print-on-demand sites.
Pros:
- Unique product: Metal prints stand out from the competition and offer a special look.
- Niche market: The rarity of metal prints captures a niche market that enjoys more rustic-looking art.
- Easy-to-use: An extensive Help Center full of answers to commonly asked questions.
Cons:
- Product range: Limited to metal prints only, which might not appeal to all customers.
- Inflexible pricing model: Artists cannot set their own prices for their work like they can on most other POD sites
- No integrations: Displate does not provide integrations for other eCommerce platforms or your existing website.
10. Amazon Merch on Demand
Amazon Merch on Demand lets artists sell their creations on the world’s leading eCommerce marketplace, complete with FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) services and Prime shipping. This is a great option for artists looking to reach a large audience with minimal effort.
Key features: Amazon Merch on Demand uses Amazon’s extensive fulfillment network to handle printing, shipping, and customer service.
Pros:
- Large audience: Huge customer base, giving artists worldwide exposure.
- Easy to use: Setting up and managing a store is straightforward.
- Fulfillment network: Amazon handles everything with speedy fulfillment methods and fantastic customer support services.
Cons:
- Competition: A highly competitive market that requires stronger marketing efforts.
- Product selection: Variety is limited to items like t-shirts and hoodies – no art prints available.
- Inflexible pricing: Amazon’s product pricing structure doesn’t allow artists to set their own prices.
How artists can make money with Print on Demand
Print-on-demand services are the perfect solution for artists who want to make money without the hassles of inventory and shipping.
POD benefits include:
- No upfront costs: You don’t need to invest in bulk inventory, reducing financial risk and startup expenses.
- No inventory management: You’ll never have to find space to store unsold art prints.
- Scalability: Easily scale up as demand increases without printing and logistics challenges.
- Global reach: Sell to art lovers worldwide with speedy shipping.
- Automation: Streamlined order fulfillment means you can sit back, relax, make more art, and promote your brand.
Here’s how you can sell art prints with Print on Demand and Printify:
- Digitize your art: Take high-resolution photos or scans of your artwork to get it print-ready.
- Select products: Choose from a wide range of products in the Printify Catalog to customize with your designs. Upload them to the Printify Product Creator and adjust them as needed.
- Set prices: Price your product based on production costs, sales channel fees or subscriptions, marketing expenses, and desired profit margins.
- Set up a store: Integrate with an eCommerce sales channel like Shopify, Etsy, Wix, Amazon, or your own website.
- Market your art: Promote your store using social media, content marketing, email marketing, and other strategies. Check our blog for some POD marketing tips.
- Make sales: When a customer places an order, the POD service handles quality printing and shipping, and you receive the money that’s left after production and shipping costs.
Make it happen today!
POD product suggestions for artists
There are tons of amazing print-on-demand art products to sell. We guarantee you’ll find the perfect items for your target audience.
Wall art
Framed prints offer a sophisticated look, posters and wall tapestries are affordable and versatile, and canvas prints can be a great high-end option for showcasing art in a gallery-like setting.
T-shirts
Offer your designs on bestselling t-shirts, such as unisex styles, long-sleeve options, and even kids’ sizes. T-shirts are a staple POD item in everyone’s wardrobe, so why not turn them into walking advertisements for your art?
Stickers
Create fun and affordable stickers, from kiss-cut and die-cut to bumper stickers and sticker sheets. Stickers are super versatile and often used on laptops, notebooks, and other surfaces – highly visible places that’ll have others asking where they can buy a little piece of their art for themselves!
Phone cases
Design protective or flexible cases to keep customers’ phones safe in style. Our eco-friendly phone cases are super popular and great for nature-themed art.
Stationery
Artistic journals and calendars are perfect for those who enjoy sketching, planning, or keeping diaries, while personalized greeting cards can be an excellent way to let your art do the talking on occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.
Tote bags
Tote bags are practical and popular items that can feature large, eye-catching designs. From classic bags to colorful totes, they are a perfect option to sell to eco-conscious shoppers.
Where can artists sell print-on-demand products?
There are two main categories for print-on-demand sellers to set up online stores: your own website or a marketplace. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so the right choice really depends on your goals, skill level, budget, and how much branding flexibility you’d like.
Your own website or store
Creating your own website using eCommerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce offers full control over branding, pricing, and customer experience. Going this route will let you set higher profit margins, but you’ll need some technical skills and have to drive all organic traffic yourself.
Online marketplaces
Selling on marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy gives you access to a huge customer base and simplifies the selling process. You won’t need any technical skills, and there are usually great buyer and seller protection policies.
However, it comes with a cost. Marketplace fees can eat into your profits. There’s also high competition and limited control over branding and customer experience.
Final thoughts
Art is meant to be shared, and Print on Demand gives artists the opportunity to do just that!
Thanks to the huge variety of customizable products, there are more ways than ever to get your art out there in ways everyone can enjoy. Whether it’s apparel and home decor from Printify, limited-edition fine art prints through Saatchi, or metal prints on Displate, there’s a print-on-demand platform to suit every artist.
Write down your goals, budget, and priorities, and choose the print-on-demand service that best matches them.
