Gelato vs Printful: Which Is the Best for POD

When choosing a print-on-demand (POD) partner, making the right decision can significantly impact your business's success. 

In this article, we dive deep into the gelato vs printful debate to help you understand the strengths, weaknesses, and unique features of both platforms. 

Whether you're a new seller or looking to optimize your existing POD operations, this comparison will guide you toward the best choice for your needs.

Gelato Overview

Gelato connects your online store to a global network of 140+ local print facilities. Instead of shipping from one central warehouse, items like posters, apparel, or mugs are produced and shipped closest to your customer. 

This model cuts international delivery times and carbon emissions. You integrate via Shopify, Etsy, or their API for automated order routing.

Gelato Pros

• Localized Production: Orders print and ship from facilities in your customer's region, slashing delivery to 3–5 days globally and reducing import taxes.
• Eco-Friendly Options: Access 70% carbon-neutral shipping, recycled packaging, and organic products (e.g., cotton tees, bamboo posters) to align with sustainability goals.
• Massive Product Range: Print on 190+ items beyond apparel, including wall art, phone cases, and acrylic décor—ideal for diverse product lines.
• No Upfront Costs: Pay only per fulfilled order, with real-time production cost visibility before listing items.

Gelato Cons

• Limited Brand Customization: This is usually limited to small logos on packaging and brand labels on certain products.
• Mockup Limitations: Fewer built-in mockup generators than competitors. It is necessary to rely on external tools to obtain more diverse and higher quality models.
• Higher Base Prices: Localized production reduces shipping fees but raises per-item costs (e.g., $20 for a hoodie vs. competitors' $13).

Printful Overview

Printful is one of the most established POD services out there, offering a solid range of products and decent global reach. 

It's built to connect easily with popular online stores, so once your designs are ready, orders flow automatically from your shop to Printful's fulfillment centers. 

The company handles printing, packing, and shipping, letting you focus on growing your brand.

Printful Pros:

• Extensive product catalog: You get access to a wide variety of items beyond just t-shirts, including hats, bags, and even home decor. This helps you test different products to see what sells best without committing to inventory.
• Multiple fulfillment locations: With warehouses in North America, Europe, and other regions, Printful can cut down delivery times for many customers, which improves satisfaction and reduces complaints.
• Reliable print quality: Most users find the printing sharp and durable, especially with direct-to-garment printing and embroidery options that add a premium feel to your products.
• Strong e-commerce integrations: Whether you use Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, or others, the setup process is straightforward. This is key if you want to avoid technical headaches early on.

Printful Cons:

• Pricing leans higher: Their base product and print prices are above average, so your profit margins might feel tight unless you price carefully.
• Shipping fees add up: Even with multiple warehouses, international shipping can still be pricey and eat into your margins.
• Few discount options: There isn't much room for bulk order discounts or running promos, which limits how competitive you can be on price.
• Fulfillment speed varies: At busy times, like holidays, orders can take longer to process and ship, so managing customer expectations is important.
• Support can be slow: When you run into issues, response times from customer service aren't always fast, which can slow down problem-solving.

Printful vs Gelato: An In-Depth Comparison

Product Range and Catalog

Gelato

Gelato's product selection is solid but focused. They shine with eco-friendly items and basics like apparel and stationery. 

If your niche is sustainability or you want to test out some less common products, Gelato can be a good fit. Keep in mind, their catalog isn't as massive, so if you want a super broad range, you might feel a bit limited.

Printful

Printful offers a huge variety of products—clothing, accessories, home decor—you name it. If you're looking to experiment with different styles or add unique items to your shop, Printful makes that easy. 

They also frequently update their catalog, which helps you stay on top of trends without hopping platforms.

Customization Options

Gelato

Customization with Gelato covers the essentials—you can pick print spots and materials on many package. 

But if you're after detailed branding like custom labels or inside tags, their options might feel a bit thin. Still, for straightforward designs or eco-friendly products, it's enough to get the job done.

Printful

Printful goes deeper with customization. You get multiple print areas, embroidery, and even inside labels. Plus, you can add branded packaging and inserts. 

If building a strong, consistent brand identity matters to you, Printful's tools will help you get there without juggling extra services.

Print and Production Quality

Gelato

Gelato uses a network of local printers to speed up delivery and cut down on shipping emissions. Quality is generally good but can vary depending on the printer. 

Ordering samples before selling widely is smart because subtle differences in color or fabric feel can happen.

Printful

Printful controls most of its production, which means their quality is usually consistent and reliable. You can expect sharp prints and professional finishes, which is important if you want customers to come back. 

They offer premium techniques like all-over prints and embroidery, which give your products a polished look.

Order Fulfillment

Gelato

Gelato's local fulfillment means your orders ship from printers closer to your customers, reducing wait times and costs. But the catch is delivery speed can vary by location. 

It's worth checking how well their network matches where your customers live, so you don't get surprised by delays.

Printful

Printful runs its own fulfillment centers worldwide, offering reliable and fast shipping. Their system tracks orders in real-time and keeps you updated. 

If you want peace of mind that orders get out quickly and smoothly, Printful handles this piece well, especially as your volume grows.

Pricing and Fees

Gelato

Gelato charges per order with no monthly fees, which is great if you want to keep costs simple. Shipping rates vary by location and printer, so it's key to factor that into your pricing. 

Gelato also offers subscription plans like Gelato+ and Gelato+ Gold, which provide discounts on products, premium mockups, and advanced tools for a monthly or yearly fee.

Printful

Printful also has no setup fees but usually higher base prices. Shipping fees are fixed, so it's easier to predict costs. Their branded packaging is nice but comes at an extra cost. 

They also offer a paid plan called Printful Growth ($24.99/month), which gives discounts on premium products and branding, sample order perks like free digitization, special promotions, and options for larger prints.

Integrations and Tools

Gelato

Gelato hooks up with popular platforms like Shopify and Etsy and keeps its dashboard simple. It doesn't overwhelm you with extras, but you might need other apps for marketing or detailed workflows. 

This straightforward setup can be a plus if you prefer keeping things lean.

Printful

Printful supports tons of integrations and packs in helpful tools like mockup generators and branding options. 

Whether you're just starting or scaling, these features save time and help polish your store. The convenience of all-in-one tools means fewer headaches juggling apps.

Customer Support

Gelato

Gelato's support is mostly email and chat during business hours. They're helpful but responses can be slow at times. 

If you run into urgent problems or work outside normal hours, you might need to be patient or look for answers in their knowledge base.

Printful

Printful offers 24/7 support via chat, email, and phone. Fast, around-the-clock help can make a big difference when issues come up unexpectedly. 

For sellers across time zones or with high order volume, this level of support reduces stress and downtime.

Profit Margins and Scalability

Gelato

Gelato's pricing and local shipping can help keep margins healthy, especially if your customers are near their printers. 

But juggling multiple locations means extra coordination. That flexibility can pay off if you manage it well.

Printful

Printful's higher prices are balanced by a wide product range and branding features that help you stand out. 

Their setup supports scaling smoothly without compromising quality or service. If you want to grow your business steadily, Printful offers solid infrastructure to back you up.

Read More:

• Gelato vs Printify: Which Is Better for Print on Demand?
• Redbubble vs Printful: Which POD Platform Fits Your Business?

Gelato vs Printful: Best Ways to Combine for Maximum Sales

When deciding between Gelato and Printful, you don't have to pick just one. Using both platforms together can actually boost your sales and help you reach more customers worldwide. 

Gelato connects you to a global network of local print partners. This means your products can be printed close to your customers, cutting shipping time and costs. It's great if you want to be fast and eco-friendly. 

Printful owns its own facilities and works with selected partners, so it offers more consistent quality and advanced customization. This makes Printful a perfect choice if you want a high-end brand feel with more product options.

• By combining these strengths, you can cover more ground. For example:
• Use Gelato for eco-friendly wall art or home decor that needs to ship worldwide quickly.
• Choose Printful for complex clothing items or branded merchandise where quality really matters.

Custom Gildan 5000 Unisex Cotton Tee Customized Services - Print on Demand Fulfillment - PrintKK

This mix helps you save on shipping by using local production via Gelato, while still offering higher-margin, custom pieces through Printful. Plus, it reduces risks like delays or stock shortages by not putting all your eggs in one basket.

Try these practical strategies to get started:

• Send European orders through Gelato and handle local sales with Printful.
• Assign product categories—home goods go to Gelato, apparel to Printful.
• Use Gelato for large, low-cost seasonal sales, and Printful for special limited-edition drops.

By blending both platforms smartly, you create a more flexible, cost-effective, and customer-friendly POD business.

Custom Large Round Framed Canvas Prints Wall Art - Print on Demand Fulfillment - PrintKK

Printful vs Gelato: Transparent Policies for POD Refunds

When you run a POD store, knowing how refund and return policies work is really important. 

Both Gelato and Printful have clear rules for handling problems like damaged items, lost packages, or unhappy customers. 

Understanding their policies helps you solve issues quickly and keep your customers happy.

Gelato

With Gelato, if your product is defective or damaged, you have 30 days from delivery to report it. 

Once they confirm the problem, Gelato will send a replacement for free. 

If a replacement isn't possible or your customer can't wait, you can ask for a refund instead. For lost packages, you must contact them within 30 days after the expected delivery date to get a replacement. 

However, since Gelato products are custom made, they don't accept returns, and you will need to pay if you want to place a new order after a return.

Printful

Printful also requires you to report damaged or misprinted items within 30 days. They have a set return address at their facility. If a shipment is returned to them, you get an email notification. 

Unclaimed returns are donated after 30 days, and you cover any extra shipping costs if you want the item reshipped. 

Printful doesn't accept returns on some sealed products, like face masks, due to hygiene reasons. 

Also, for buyer's remorse or size exchanges, you as the store owner decide if you want to accept those returns and cover the cost of new orders.

Here's a simple comparison to help you:

Knowing these differences helps you handle problems with less stress and keeps your customers happy.

So, Gelato vs Printful: Which Is the Best for POD?

When deciding between Gelato vs Printful, you need to think about what matters most to you. 

Gelato is great if you want a wide global reach with many local print partners. 

Printful stands out with its easy integrations and strong product quality. 

Both platforms let you start without inventory and handle printing and shipping for you. 

Your choice depends on your priorities—whether it's shipping speed, product range, or pricing. Focus on what fits your needs best. In the end, both Gelato and Printful offer reliable services to help your store grow smoothly.

FAQs

Is Gelato cheaper than Printful?

Gelato can be less expensive on some products because it uses local printers worldwide. However, costs vary by item and location, so it's good to compare prices for your specific products before deciding.

Does Printful have more products?

Printful offers a larger product range overall. You'll find more apparel styles, accessories, and home goods compared to Gelato's selection, giving you more options to build your store.

Does Printful have more integrations?

Yes, Printful supports more e-commerce platforms and marketplaces. This makes it easier to connect with popular stores like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce. Gelato's integrations are growing but still fewer.

Is Gelato more eco-friendly?

Gelato focuses on reducing carbon emissions by printing locally and minimizing shipping distances. This approach makes it a better choice if environmental impact matters to you.

Can I make money with Gelato?

You can definitely earn profits using Gelato. Pricing your products well and choosing popular designs will help you attract buyers and grow your business.

Is selling through Printful worth it?

Printful is a solid option if you want reliable quality and easy setup. Many sellers find it worth using for its smooth integration and product variety.