If you're starting a POD business, you’ve likely had to choose between Gelato vs. Printful.
They're both top POD platforms, but they work in different ways. Gelato focuses on local printing and fast global shipping. Printful offers more products and custom branding.
So, which one should you pick in 2025? In this post, we’ll discuss pricing, products, delivery, and support.
Let’s find the right pick for your ecommerce store in this Gelato vs. Printful breakdown.
Gelato vs. Printful at a Glance: Quick Comparison Table
Before we talk about the details, here’s a quick look at how Gelato vs. Printful compare. This table shows key differences in products, pricing, branding, and customer support.
Product and Fulfillment Comparison
Let’s look at how Gelato vs. Printful compare when it comes to what you can sell and how fast the item gets to your customers.
Product Variety and Categories
Choosing the right print-on-demand platform starts with what you want to sell.
Gelato sticks to a focused product list. You’ll find:
- T-shirts and hoodies
- Posters and wall art
- Stationery
- Tech gear like phone cases and laptop sleeves
Printful has more options. Its catalog includes:
- Bags, hats, and shoes
- Jewelry and home items
- Swimwear and pet gear
- Embroidered clothing and premium wear
If you want to start with popular, best-selling POD items, Gelato makes it simple. However, if you want to offer more products, Printful provides you with more options.
This is a key difference in the Gelato vs. Printful feature set.
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Global Fulfillment Capabilities
Shipping speed and delivery reliability can make or break your store. So, how do Gelato vs. Printful compare here?
Gelato works with 130+ print partners in 30+ countries. It prints orders in the hubs nearest to your customer. This means faster delivery and fewer customs delays.
Printful uses a network of owned facilities and third-party print partners. You don’t always control where a product ships from.
Here’s an example. Let’s say you sell phone cases:
- With Gelato, a phone case ordered in Spain will likely be printed right in Spain
- With Printful, that same case could ship from the UK, Germany, or even the US
If you care about fast and local shipping, Gelato is more consistent. But if you want control over print partners or cost, Printful is a good choice.
Pricing Breakdown: Gelato vs Printful
Understanding pricing is key in this Printful vs. Gelato comparison. It affects your own pricing and profit margins.
Product Base Costs
When it comes to Gelato pricing vs Printful pricing, the numbers vary by item and region. Here’s a quick look at common products:
So, which is more cost-effective?
When you compare Printful vs. Gelato on pricing, Printful often offers lower base costs. But you’ll need to compare each seller. The prices vary by product and seller location.
Gelato keeps pricing more consistent, especially for international orders. This makes Gelato print-on-demand a safer pick to avoid surprises.
Shipping Rates and Global Delivery
Shipping costs and delivery times matter for your store and customers.
Printful is often more cost-effective for US orders. Many of its printers are based in the US, which can help lower shipping fees for domestic deliveries.
However, delivery speed and fulfillment location vary by product and partner, so consistency still isn’t guaranteed in the US.
Gelato print-on-demand works differently. It prints items in hubs nearest to a customer, and it’s present in over 30 countries. That means faster delivery and fewer customs delays, especially for orders in Europe and Asia.
There’s another difference. Printful has a shipping calculator to check delivery costs. Gelato doesn’t. You’ll have to try placing an order or estimate based on location.
Printful is good for US orders. But for international buyers, Gelato offers faster and more reliable delivery.
Also Read:
- Print-on-Demand vs Dropshipping: The Essentials Explained
- How To Make Phone Cases And Start Selling Online
Sample and Bulk Discounts
Getting product samples is key for checking quality.
Gelato gives you 50% off your first order. This is great for new sellers. Printful offers a 20% discount on sample orders, no matter what plan you’re on. You can test your design on real items. You can order up to 3 items per sample order each month — and unlock more as your store grows.
Gelato is simpler for beginners. Many Gelato POD reviews mention how easy it is to test using its first-order discount. With Printful, you’ll have predictable savings and can order multiple samples monthly.
For bulk orders, both platforms offer tiered discounts, but Printful adds bulk pricing automatically upon checkout.
Branding and Customization Options
Your customer’s unboxing experience matters, but branding is more than packaging. It starts with how the product looks and feels, shaping your customer’s first impression. Customization helps your store stand out; it builds trust and boosts repeat orders.
White Label Support
When you compare Printful vs. Gelato here, Printful offers more white label features. You can add your logo and a custom message to packing slips. You can also include branded inserts like stickers or thank-you notes.
Gelato keeps things basic. You can display your store name on the shipping label, but there’s no option for branded slips or custom packaging.
If strong branding matters for your business, Printful is better. Gelato works if you’re fine with minimal packaging and don’t need custom elements.
Product Personalization
When comparing Gelato vs. Printful here, both allow the addition of names, dates, or custom text to products.
However, Printful gives you more flexibility. It offers built-in design tools and Canva integration, so you can create more detailed, custom layouts. This is perfect for stores selling personalized gifts.
Gelato print-on-demand is simpler. It supports basic edits but doesn’t offer advanced design features.
Also Read:
- How to Avoid Copyright Infringement in Print-on-Demand
- Digital Dropshipping: The Smartest Way to Sell
Ease of Use, Design Tools, and Integrations
Running your store should be simple. Here’s how Gelato vs. Printful compares when it comes to setup, design tools, and store integration.
Shopify and Etsy Integration
Both Gelato and Printful connect with major ecommerce tools like Shopify and Etsy. Setting up either one is fast, but there are a few key differences.
Printful offers deep integration with easy product syncing, automated order fulfillment, and tools to manage your store from one dashboard. It also lets you customize product listings and pricing within the app.
Gelato offers a beginner-friendly setup, but there are fewer customization options during setup. It’s great if you want to launch quickly with less complexity.
If you want more control over the launch of your Shopify print-on-demand store, Printful might be better. But if you prefer a simpler experience, Gelato is easier to manage.
In-App Design Features
Printful includes a powerful design tool that allows you to add text, logos, embroidery, and more. It also offers a mockup generator to create product images quickly.
Gelato focuses on speed, making it ideal for sellers who want fast, hassle-free product creation. But it has basic mockup previews and fewer editing features.
In this Gelato vs. Printful comparison, Printful stands out for design flexibility, while Gelato wins on simplicity and faster setup.
Sustainability and Local Fulfillment
When it comes to eco-friendly shipping, there are key differences in this Gelato vs. Printful comparison.
Gelato print-on-demand works with local printers in over 30 countries. They can print orders close to your buyer. This means less shipping time, less pollution, and faster delivery.
With Printful, this depends on the print partner. Some print nearby, others ship from far away, which causes more carbon emissions.
If you want to go green, Gelato is better. It’s built for local delivery and a lower carbon impact.
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Profit Margins and Scalability
Before you pick a platform, think about profitability and scalability. This aspect of the Gelato vs. Printful comparison looks at pricing control and long-term value.
Margin Breakdown
Profit margins matter, especially when you start to scale.
Comparing Gelato vs. Printful, both platforms let you set your prices.
But Printful gives you more freedom. You can pick lower-cost suppliers to boost your margin, which helps when selling in large volumes.
Gelato sticks to fixed pricing. It’s easier to manage but may offer slightly lower profits per item.
If you’re focused on scaling, Printful gives more pricing flexibility. Gelato is better if you want predictable costs.
Platform Fees and Subscription Tiers
Printful offers a free forever plan, with an optional Printful Growth subscription starting at $24.99/month. It gives you up to 20% off select products.
Gelato charges per order but also offers a Gelato+ Gold plan with advanced tools and support.
If you sell in high volumes, Printful Premium can cut costs. For simple pricing and easy setup, Gelato is better.
Best Use Cases: Who Should Use Gelato or Printful?
Trying to choose between Gelato vs. Printful? Here's a clear breakdown based on your store’s needs:
- Best for EU Sellers: Gelato prints closer to buyers, making shipping cheaper and faster in Europe.
- Best for Flexibility: Printiful provides more products and suppliers, perfect for testing new ideas.
- Best for POD Beginners: It’s a tie. Gelato is simple to use. Printiful gives more control once you learn the ropes.
But here’s the easier choice: Podbase gives you full control, fast support, and smooth setup. It’s built for POD beginners and creators who want less stress and more results.
When comparing Gelato print-on-demand vs. Printful, remember it all comes down to your goals: speed, variety, or simplicity.
Alternative to Printful and Gelato: Why Try Podbase?
Still unsure about Gelato vs. Printful? You’re not alone. Many sellers feel stuck between limited branding and complex setups. That’s where Podbase comes in.
It’s an all-in-one POD platform for creators, not tech experts. You get:
- Sample discounts to test quality
- Full control over product pricing
- Faster human support when issues come up
- Clean dashboard with no confusing menus
You don’t need to juggle different suppliers or pay to unlock basic features. With Podbase, it’s easier to start a POD business. It was also designed to fix pain points like limited branding and delivery options.
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Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
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