POD Platform Research — T‑Shirt Seller Comparison
Date: 2025-06-25 Category: marketing Status: Research complete, awaiting design generation
Summary
Researched the top print-on-demand platforms for starting a T‑shirt business. Compared Printful, Printify, Gelato, Gooten, and Redbubble across pricing, quality, catalog size, shipping, and integrations.
Key Findings
| Platform | Best For | Base T‑Shirt | Monthly Cost | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printful | Quality & consistency | Bella+Canvas 3001 ~\$11.50 | Free / \$25 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Printify | Margins & variety | Gildan 5000 ~\$7.20 | Free / \$25 Premium | ⭐⭐⭐ (varies) |
| Gelato | EU/global shipping | Bella+Canvas ~\$10 | Free / \$15 Standard | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Redbubble | Passive income | Gildan mid-range | Free (marketplace) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
Verdict
Start with Printful Free for consistent quality, add Printify Premium for better margins on proven sellers, use Gelato for EU customers.
Next Steps
- Research T‑shirt design motifs (Japanese woodblock style) — in progress
- Generate design concepts based on the tanuki ukiyo-e reference
- Upload final designs as Printful product templates