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Print on demand

Print on demand for your ecommerce business

Local production in 32 countries

Turn your passion into profit with the world's largest print-on-demand network.

Gelato offers an extensive catalog of custom products, a zero-inventory business model, and free design tools, all in one place.

90%

of all orders are produced locally

90%

of orders arrive within 5 days of ordering

140+

print providers across 32 countries

Your next bestseller? A personalized one

Personalized products sell for 2-3x more. Your customers add text and images, we handle the print files automatically.

Smarter tools. Bigger profits.

Gelato+ includes Personalization Studio, AI tools and up to 33% off products year-round. Subscribe now to access all benefits.

A couple smiles, holding a personalized mug. Text reads "Personalization Studio - Name: H&J" with H&J embroidery shown.

Why choose Gelato

▻ World's largest print-on-demand network

140+ print partners in 32 countries. Gelato is a truly global service.

▻ Sell globally, produce locally

Your products are produced close to your customers, wherever they are.

▻ 100% free editing tools

Create your custom products using our suite of free tools.

▻ 60+logistics partners

Our global network of logistics partners ensures your products are delivered fast.

▻ High-quality products

We partner with the world's leading brands to ensure the best quality products.

▻ Exclusive smart tools

From CreateAI to advanced design and management features, Gelato helps you start and grow efficiently.

▻ 1-click integration to the leading ecommerce platforms

Connect your store to Gelato's print on demand platform using our integrations with Shopify, Etsy and more.

What is print on demand?

Print on demand

Print on demand (POD) is a business model where products are created only after a customer places an order. Instead of holding inventory, each item is produced on demand, reducing waste and upfront costs.

POD is widely used in ecommerce to sell custom t-shirts, mugs, wall art, and other personalized merchandise. With Gelato’s platform, creators and entrepreneurs can launch global stores without managing stock, warehouses, or shipping.

Print on demand with Gelato

Gelato’s print on demand platform combines global reach with local production. When a customer orders, Gelato routes the job to the nearest certified print partner—minimizing delivery times, costs, and carbon footprint.

Curious about pricing? Our print on demand pricing guide breaks down costs, margins and tips for maximizing profit.

Start selling with Gelato—sign up and get 30% off your first order

Start selling today with no upfront risk. Sign up free and only pay when customers order.

1-click integration to the leading ecommerce platforms

Connect instantly with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and more.

Built for scaling

140+ print partners in 32 countries. Gelato is a truly global service.

24/7 customer support

Get expert support anytime you need it - 24/7, across every time zone.

Print on demand tips for beginners

1. Discover your niche

A successful print on demand business starts with focus. Rather than trying to sell to everyone, define a niche market (e.g., fitness apparel, pet-themed products, motivational wall art). Narrowing your niche helps with targeted marketing, better design decisions, and stronger brand positioning.

2. Request sample orders

It is crucial to conduct proactive quality control measures before launching your product in the ecommerce market. As your manufacturing will be outsourced to a third-party service provider, it is important to ensure that your customers receive the best value for their money and high-quality products. If you plan to sell t-shirts via print on demand, it is recommended that you request multiple samples from your print provider and inquire about the different printing options available. This will help you determine the appropriate print quality and set competitive prices. By requesting samples, you can also explore different material options and make well-informed business decisions based on your selling price and value proposition.

3. Determine the optimal pricing

The majority of print on demand businesses struggle to price their product. When you price your product too high, you might struggle with sales. Price your product too low, and you risk going out of business anyway. Determining the right price is not only important but vital for your business’s survival. Once you have your production and shipping costs figured out, you should price your product with at least a 30% profit margin. You can gradually increase your retail price as your sales go up. But keep in mind that your existing customers may not be willing to buy the same product at a higher price. So, consider customization options or make a few changes to your product to justify the heavier price tag.

4. Strategize shipping methods

Shipping is a crucial aspect of your print on demand business, as it can make or break your profit margins. Although you will not handle shipping operations on your own, it always helps to know your options. Start by researching available shipping options and find the best rates through comparisons. However, cost is not everything you should look for in a local or international shipping method; customer convenience is equally important. So, make sure your shipping arrangement offers order tracking and updates to customers. Also, customer support is necessary for addressing any issues related to delays or missed deliveries, as it plays a significant role in overall customer satisfaction.

5. Promote your merchandise

The success of your print on demand company hinges on your marketing strategies. Since Gelato will take care of manufacturing and order fulfillment, you can focus on promotional activities to generate leads for your business. There are many ways to promote your merchandise on a budget. Social media is the cheapest way to start. By consistently posting on social media, combined with paid advertising, you can spread awareness about your brand while boosting conversions. You can also reach out to niche-specific influencers and have them promote your quality products to their extensive audience base. As more and more people see your product, the chances of your product getting sold increase significantly. Also, if your customers love your product, they will likely recommend it to friends and family.

Custom print on demand products you can sell with Gelato

Apparel

Wall calendar open to January 2023, featuring abstract art with pink, orange, and purple squares on a pink background.

Calendars

Drinkware

Wall art

Open white envelope on blue surface with a card featuring abstract yellow and blue shapes.

Cards

Smartphone with a white case featuring an interlocking pink and blue ring design on an orange background.

Accessories

How print on demand works with Gelato

Connect your store to Gelato

Integrate easily with platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce.

List your products for sale

Add customizable items such as t-shirts, posters, mugs, or phone cases.

Customer places an order

Gelato automatically fulfills the order by routing it to a nearby print provider.

Producing your goods & shipping

The product is printed, packaged, and shipped directly to the customer by partner print providers running on Gelato Connect, our production software.

Easy store connection

Designed for creators and entrepreneurs, scaled for enterprises. Thousands of businesses use Gelato’s software and APIs to produce and deliver custom printed products anywhere in the world.

Connect your store to Gelato’s API directly or via our easy-to-use integrations with the leading ecommerce platforms.

Advantages of print on demand with Gelato

Cost saving

There’s no initial inventory needed, so this automatically saves you money upfront and can help increase profit margins. Plus, you can list a product and see if there’s an interest in it first before ordering it.

Low-risk online business

With print on demand, you can start an online business without renting a physical storefront or hiring staff. Gelato provides the technology, integrations, and logistics so entrepreneurs can operate lean businesses. This flexibility means you are your own boss, controlling product selection, pricing, and branding while Gelato powers the back-end fulfillment.

Your business can be global

Reaching a global client base is easy with on demand printing, as your custom products can appeal to your target audience all over the world while still being sold both locally and internationally.

Unique products

With Gelato's print on demand platform, you have many product categories and customization options to choose from. You can get creative in your designs and start selling custom merch, t-shirts, hoodies, wall art, and more. Browse our product catalog of hundreds of items.

Trusted by successful businesses worldwide

Your brand is built on trust. Our network operates on a single, rigorous quality standard. From paper stocks to garment prints, we ensure consistency, order after order. Don't just take our word for it—see what creators are saying.

A person in a red sweater, sitting on a cushioned chair in a sunlit room, writing on a tablet with a stylus.

Bad Botanist

"Working with Gelato has definitely helped me with reducing issues. I have way less damaged prints arriving or anything arriving at the wrong place. It has significantly reduced the amount of time I have to spend doing manual tasks."

Isabel Beard, Founder

RecombinantCulture

"The idea that I could have an easily run, global business in twenty-eight countries now around the world – the effortlessness and simplicity of that international scope is by far one of the things that I love the best about working with Gelato."

Charles Leech, Founder

A smiling couple stands close together in a room, with a framed bull skull drawing and a hanging plant in the background.

Brigz Tattoos

"The biggest thing that stood out bout Gelato was the ability to ship almost anywhere in the world within three to five days. That was crucial for us as we were starting to get orders from all over. The idea of local production really aligned with our values of sustainability."

Christina and Corbin Briggs, Founders

Gelato+ subscription: A real competitive advantage with our market leading creator tools

Hands holding a framed floral poster with pink and orange flowers; a digital mockup creation interface is visible beside it.

Magic Mockups

Generate stunning product images in seconds that convert, all while eliminating expensive photoshoots. Our AI creates photorealistic mockups with perfect lighting, shadows, and context.

Instant Collections

Launch entire product collections instantly across multiple platforms with AI. Scale your catalog from dozens to thousands of products in minutes, not months.

Price Navigator

Discover how Price Navigator can help you optimize your pricing strategy and increase your profitability. Turn your pricing into a growth driver with Price Navigator.

Creative Vault

Get unlimited access to professional stock images optimized for print-on-demand. Every image is commercially licensed, print-ready, and perfectly sized for Gelato products.

A woman with a backpack smiles, holding a phone displaying order details and payment statuses against a sunset background.

Gelato App

The Gelato app makes it easy for you to manage your business on the go. Track orders, create designs with AI, and manage your business — all from your pocket.

Velocity Switch

AI-powered migration tool that automatically maps your existing products from Shopify, Etsy and more to Gelato's catalog. Transfer your entire store without manual work, downtime, or lost sales.

Personalization Studio

Save time while Personalization Studio automates design tasks for you. No more manual adjustments, focus on creativity while we handle the customization.

Branded Packaging

Personalize your orders with custom packaging inserts and branded labels. A cost effective marketing channel with guaranteed reach. Inserts and labels start at $0.49 each.

Smiling person holding framed floral artwork with the text "Find Joy in the Ordinary," next to a screen showing a digital mockup tool.

Premium Mockups

Create high-resolution product mockups for T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters, canvas, phone cases and more - ready for store listings, ads, and social. Download premium scenes with Gelato+.

Why creators choose Gelato for print on demand

See how Gelato compares to other print-on-demand providers. From global delivery speed to sustainability and customer support, Gelato gives you the tools to grow faster

Feature	Benefit	Why it matters
Global production network (140+ partners in 32 countries)
Global production network (140+ partners in 32 countries)	Local production, worldwide reach	Sell globally while reducing delivery times and costs.
No inventory needed
No inventory needed	Zero stock risk	Products are made only when ordered, lowering upfront investment.
Sustainable production
Sustainable production	Lower carbon emissions	Eco-conscious customers prefer brands that minimize shipping waste.
Fast and reliable delivery (40+ logistics partners)
Fast and reliable delivery (40+ logistics partners)	2-5 day shipping in many regions	Competes with global retail standards like Amazon.
Wide product catalog
Wide product catalog	Apparel, wall art, mugs, stationery, and more	Expands revenue opportunities with diverse offerings.
E-commerce integrations (Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, TikTok and more)
E-commerce integrations (Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, TikTok and more)	Seamless store connection	Easy to start selling where customers already shop
AI-powered creator tools
AI-powered creator tools	Smarter design and faster setup	Creators can launch products quickly with professional quality.
24/7 customer support
24/7 customer support	Always-on assistance	Sellers get reliable help across time zones, reducing downtime.
	Benefit	Why it matters

The Gelato Network

140+ production partners in 32 countries.

Gelato makes the production and delivery of custom products simple, borderless, and programmable. Our teams are based in offices around the world and we process millions of print jobs each year for creators, startups, and large enterprises — all orchestrated through Gelato Connect, our software platform for print production.

For information about which products are produced locally in which countries, please consult our product catalog.

Print on demand for any business

Creators

As a creator, you are looking to sell products in your online store.

Ecommerce store owner

You want to start an ecommerce store online selling custom products across leading ecommerce platforms. You're in luck, Gelato pairs its print on demand services with many ecommerce platforms!

Global enterprise

You have an international print on demand company that needs a variety of printing options at competitive prices and allows for global shipping.

Join Gelato today and let us help you scale your business globally. Faster, smarter, greener

Print on demand FAQs

What is Gelato Print on Demand?

Gelato is a print-on-demand platform that connects ecommerce sellers to a global network of over 140 production hubs in +32 countries. Unlike centralized fulfillment providers, Gelato intelligently routes orders to the facility closest to the end customer, enabling faster delivery times, lower shipping costs, and significantly reduced carbon footprints.

How do you start selling with print on demand?

To start selling with print on demand, you first choose an ecommerce platform such as Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce. Then you connect your store to Gelato’s print on demand platform. After uploading your product designs—like t-shirts, mugs, or wall art—you can list them for sale in your online store. When a customer places an order, Gelato automatically routes it to a local production partner, prints the item, and ships it directly to the customer. This way you can start selling worldwide without managing inventory or logistics.

Is print on demand still profitable?

Yes, print on demand can still be profitable in 2025 when paired with the right niche and marketing strategy. Because you don’t need to invest in bulk inventory or warehouses, upfront costs are very low. Your profit margins depend on your retail price minus Gelato’s product and shipping costs. Many entrepreneurs run successful POD businesses by focusing on specific niches (e.g., fitness, pets, motivational art) and building a loyal audience.

How much do you make with print on demand?

Earnings in print on demand vary widely. Some sellers make a few hundred dollars per month as a side hustle, while others generate six-figure revenues. Profit depends on your product pricing, marketing, niche, and sales volume. Gelato provides transparent product costs, so you can calculate your margins easily—for example, if a t-shirt costs $10 to produce and ship, and you sell it for $25, your profit per sale is $15.

Which platform is best for print on demand?

The best platform depends on your business goals. Shopify is ideal for building a branded online store, while Etsy works well for reaching a marketplace audience. WooCommerce is good for WordPress users, and marketplaces like Amazon or eBay can extend your reach. Gelato integrates with all major platforms, so you can choose whichever ecosystem fits your strategy.

Is Gelato print on demand free?

Yes, Gelato’s basic print on demand service is free to use—you only pay when a customer buys a product. There are no upfront fees or monthly commitments required to start. Gelato also offers subscription plans with premium features like advanced analytics, branded packaging, and better shipping discounts for businesses that want to scale.

How does Gelato print on demand work?

Gelato works by connecting your online store to a network of over 130 local print partners in 32 countries. When an order comes in, Gelato automatically routes it to the closest facility to the customer. The product is printed, packed, and shipped directly to the customer under your brand. This ensures fast delivery, lower shipping costs, and reduced carbon emissions.

Is print on demand worth it?

Print on demand is worth it if you want to start an online business without risk or upfront investment. It allows you to test new product ideas, launch designs quickly, and expand globally without managing stock or logistics. While margins per product may be lower than bulk manufacturing, the flexibility and low risk make POD an attractive model for creators, entrepreneurs, and established brands alike.