If you’re using CafePress to sell custom products online, you’ve probably hit a wall – the usual suspects – limited store customisation, higher base prices, slow shipping, or a product catalog that just doesn’t cut it anymore in the ecommerce world.
That’s exactly why many sellers have jumped ship to other print-on-demand (POD) platforms.
Whether you’re looking to build a fully-branded Shopify store, you’ve got a side hustle on Etsy, or you need faster global fulfillment, there’s probably a better fit for you out there.
Let’s break down the top CafePress alternatives that are worth your time – and see which one suits your business best.
5 Best CafePress Alternatives for Print-on-Demand Sellers
| Platform | Best For | Starting Cost (USD) | Free Plan | Integrates With |
| Printify | Budget-friendly scaling | $7.23 (with Premium) | Yes | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce |
| Printful | Brand-focused ecommerce | $13.25 | Yes | Shopify, Etsy, Amazon |
| Redbubble | Passive marketplace selling | Free | Yes | None (standalone) |
| Gelato | Fast global fulfillment | $9.95 | Yes | Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce |
| Spring | Creator and influencer merch | Free | Yes | YouTube, Twitch, TikTok |
1. Printify – Best for Budget-Friendly Scaling
Printify Pricing: Free or Premium (20% discount on products) for $24.99/month
If you want low base prices and a wide product selection, Printify is one of the top choices.
You’ll get access to hundreds of print providers all around the world, which helps keep costs low and shipping times down, depending where your customers are.
I’ve used Printify with Shopify and Etsy – the integration process is pretty straightforward.
What Printify Does Well
- Base costs are among the lowest out there
- Premium plan gives some serious discounts
- They’ve got a massive product range (800+ items)
- You can choose your print partners, which lets you control quality and shipping
Where Printify Falls Short
- Print quality and fulfillment speeds can vary depending on the provider
- Limited branding features compared to Printful
- No native marketplace or customer service for buyers
Example Pricing (Printify Premium)
| Product | Base Price (USD) |
| Bella+Canvas 3001 T-Shirt | $7.23 |
| Gildan 18500 Hoodie | $12.25 |
| Ceramic Mug 11oz | $4.21 |
Printify is best if you’re all about volume and margins. If you know how to drive traffic (SEO, ads, email marketing), this one’s really hard to beat.
2. Printful – Best for Building a Branded Store
Printful Pricing: Free to use, with optional upgrades for warehousing and branding
Printful is more expensive than Printify, but you get what you pay for. They offer top-notch products, custom branding options, and more reliable fulfillment with global coverage.
I’ve found that customers tend to rate the packaging and product quality higher when orders come through Printful.
What Printful Does Well
- Top-tier product quality and consistency
- Custom branding options, including white-label packaging and inserts
- Fast shipping with fulfillment centres in the US, EU, and beyond
- Syncs with most ecommerce platforms
Where Printful Falls Short
- Base costs are higher than other platforms
- Limited variety in certain product types
- No automatic volume discounts
Example Pricing
| Product | Base Price (USD) |
| Bella+Canvas 3001 T-Shirt | $13.25 |
| Gildan 18500 Hoodie | $21.25 |
| 11oz Mug | $7.95 |
If you’re running a brand and care about customer experience, Printful is one of the best alternatives to CafePress out there.
3. Redbubble – Best for Passive Income from Marketplace Traffic
Redbubble Pricing: Free to use
If you’d rather not run your own store, Redbubble handles everything – customer service, fulfillment, and traffic. You just upload your designs and earn royalties.
It’s a solid choice if you’re more of an artist or designer and don’t want to manage a full business.
What Redbubble Does Well
- Built-in traffic (millions of monthly visitors)
- No upfront costs or subscriptions
- Easy to upload designs and launch products
- Focus on artists and creative work
Where Redbubble Falls Short
- Limited control over pricing and branding
- Payouts are royalty-based, so you can earn less
- No integrations with Shopify or other stores
Typical Royalties
| Product | Retail Price | Estimated Earnings |
| T-Shirt | $24.90 | ~$4.00 |
| Sticker (3″) | $2.50 | ~$0.35 |
| Hoodie | $44.00 | ~$6.00 |
Redbubble is a great platform if you just want to upload your designs and forget about it — but it’s not the best choice if you want to build a business.
4. Gelato – Ideal for Fast & Eco-Friendly Global Shipping
Gelato Pricing: The free option is available, or you can upgrade to Gelato+ for $14.99 a month (which comes with some extra branding features)
Gelato focuses on speed and sustainability by using a network of local fulfillment partners in 32 countries to print your orders closer to your customers.
This is probably one of the best options if you’re selling to an international audience or care about the carbon footprint of your shipping.
What Gelato Does Well
- It’s got local fulfillment which means faster delivery and lower emissions
- They put a lot of effort into their eco-friendly packaging and supply chain
- Great integration with Shopify, Etsy and WooCommerce
- And the print quality is pretty top-notch
Where Gelato Falls Short
- Their product catalog is slightly smaller than Printify’s
- Some of the branding features are only available on their paid plans
- They still need to grow their presence in North America
Global Shipping Times (Just an Estimate)
| Region | Delivery Time |
| North America | 3–5 business days |
| Europe | 2–4 business days |
| Asia-Pacific | 5–7 business days |
If you’re looking for speed and sustainability, Gelato is a modern alternative to CafePress that’s definitely worth looking at.
5. Spring – The Best Option for Influencer Merch
Spring Pricing: This one’s free – no need to spend a dime upfront
Spring is designed for creators and influencers with a following on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram.
You don’t need to manage a store or handle fulfillment – just set up your products, promote them through your social channels, and earn a profit on every sale.
What Spring Does Well
- It’s built specifically for creators and influencers
- It’s free to use with no upfront costs
- It integrates seamlessly with YouTube Merch Shelf and TikTok
- And the product creation and storefront tools are super simple
Where Spring Falls Short
- It’s not ideal for standalone business stores
- It’s got limited ecommerce features for scaling
- You’ve got less product customization options than with other platforms
If you’ve got a following, Spring is a great way to get started – but for a real business with a brand, it’s probably not the best choice.
Comparison of CafePress Alternatives (Side by Side)
| Platform | Best For | Product Catalog | Branding Control | Global Shipping | Starting Cost |
| Printify | Cost-effective scaling | 800+ | Medium | Yes | $7.23 |
| Printful | Branded stores | 300+ | High | Yes | $13.25 |
| Redbubble | Passive selling | 70+ | Low | Yes | Free |
| Gelato | Eco-conscious sellers | 100+ | Medium | Yes | $9.95 |
| Spring | Creators/influencers | 30+ | Low | Yes | Free |
Which CafePress Alternative Is Right For You?
The right choice depends on how you plan to sell and grow your business.
Go with Printify if you:
- Want to keep costs low and margins high
- Need flexibility with multiple print providers
- Are looking for a wide range of products
Choose Printful if you:
- Value premium product quality
- Want to create a custom brand
- Need seamless integrations
Use Redbubble if you:
- Don’t want to manage your own store
- Just want to upload designs and earn royalties
- Want access to built-in marketplace traffic
Pick Gelato if you:
- Sell internationally and care about fast, eco-friendly shipping
- Want to reduce your carbon footprint
- Need quality products
Try Spring if you:
- Already have a following on social media
- Want to launch merch quickly
- Don’t want to handle logistics yourself
Final Thoughts
CafePress had its day in the sun, but for today’s ecommerce sellers, there are many better options available.
Whether you’re building a real business, launching a side hustle, or growing your audience into a business, these platforms offer more flexibility, better shipping, and higher profit potential.
Try a few out, check the integrations with your platform (Shopify, Etsy, etc), and find the one that fits your workflow.
If I had to pick just one platform for serious sellers building a real store? For me, Printify with Premium is the best value.
