Is Printify Legit? Here's the Truth About This Print-on-Demand Platform
Let's cut straight to it: Yes, Printify is a legitimate print-on-demand platform. It's been around since 2015, has over 10 million registered users, raised $50+ million in funding from investors like Index Ventures, Virgin Group, and H&M, and recently merged with competitor Printful in November 2024.
But "legit" and "right for you" are two different things. So let's dig into what Printify actually delivers, where it falls short, and whether it makes sense for your business.
What is Printify?
Printify is a print-on-demand (POD) platform headquartered in Riga, Latvia with offices in San Francisco. Founded by Artis Kehris, Gatis Dukurs, and Jānis James Berdigans, the company connects sellers with a network of 140+ print providers worldwide.
Here's how it works: You design products, list them on your online store (Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.), and when someone orders, Printify's print partner handles production and shipping. You never touch inventory.
The platform currently offers 1,000+ customizable products—everything from t-shirts and hoodies to mugs, phone cases, pet beds, and even supplements.
Printify's Reputation: What the Reviews Say
Let's look at actual customer feedback across multiple platforms:
- Trustpilot: 4.6-4.7 stars from 6,800+ reviews
- Shopify App Store: 4.8 stars from 7,400+ reviews
- G2: Generally positive ratings with verified business user reviews
Those are solid numbers for a POD platform. For comparison, Printful (now merged with Printify) holds a 4.5/5 on Trustpilot.
What Users Love
- Easy-to-use interface and design tools
- Massive product selection
- Seamless integrations with Etsy, Shopify, and other platforms
- Competitive base pricing
- No upfront costs to get started
Common Complaints
- Inconsistent quality: Since Printify works with multiple print providers, quality can vary depending on which one fulfills your order
- Customer support delays: During peak seasons (Q4), response times can stretch to 24+ hours
- No phone support: Only chat and email available
- Variable shipping times: Depends heavily on which print provider you choose
Printify Pricing: What You'll Actually Pay
Printify offers three pricing tiers:
Free Plan
- $0/month
- Up to 5 stores
- Unlimited product designs
- Access to all products and integrations
- 24/7 chat support
Premium Plan
- $29/month (or $24.99/month paid annually)
- Up to 10 stores
- Up to 20% discount on all products
- Access to Printify Connect (customer service for reprints/refunds)
Enterprise Plan
- Custom pricing for businesses doing 10,000+ orders/day
- Custom API integrations
- Dedicated account manager
Here's a real example: A bestselling Bella+Canvas 3001 unisex t-shirt costs around $9.11 at base price, or $7.95 with Premium. Factor in $4-6 for shipping, and you're looking at roughly $13-15 total cost per shirt. Most sellers price these at $20-25, netting $7-10 profit per sale.
For a deeper breakdown of costs, check out our Printify pricing guide.
The Quality Consistency Problem (And How to Solve It)
Here's the elephant in the room: Printify doesn't own printing facilities. They're a marketplace connecting you with 140+ independent print providers. This means your mug from Provider A might look different than the same mug from Provider B.
Some users report receiving products that are "faded" or "off-center." Others say quality is excellent. The difference? Which print provider fulfilled the order.
How to Avoid Quality Issues
- Order samples before selling: This is non-negotiable. Test 2-3 providers for your hero products.
- Check provider ratings: Printify shows ratings and review counts for each print provider
- Use Printify Choice: Their auto-routing feature that selects providers based on quality scores and location
- Stick with proven providers: Once you find a provider that delivers consistent quality, route orders to them specifically
Printify vs Printful: Quick Comparison
Since these two merged in late 2024, you might wonder about the differences. Here's the quick breakdown:
| Feature | Printify | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| Base product prices | Lower | Higher |
| Quality consistency | Variable (multi-provider) | More consistent (in-house) |
| Product selection | 1,000+ products | Smaller catalog |
| Branding options | Limited | More extensive |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
For a detailed head-to-head, see our Printify vs Printful comparison.
Is Printify Safe to Use?
From a security and business legitimacy standpoint:
- Registered business: Incorporated in Delaware, US with headquarters in Riga, Latvia
- Backed by major investors: Index Ventures, Virgin Group, H&M Group, and others
- Financial stability: Raised $50M+ in funding; reported profitability in 2023
- No inventory risk: You only pay for products when customers order
- No hidden fees: What you see in the dashboard is what you pay
The company has processed tens of millions of orders and serves users across 200+ countries. This isn't some fly-by-night operation.
Who Should Use Printify?
Printify is Great For:
- Beginners: Zero upfront cost to start, free plan has no limitations on designs
- Budget-conscious sellers: Lower base prices than most competitors
- Etsy/Shopify sellers: Seamless integration, products sync automatically
- Niche product sellers: Huge catalog means more options for unique products
- Multi-store operators: Manage up to 10 stores from one dashboard (Premium)
Printify May Not Be Right For:
- Brands demanding perfect consistency: Multi-provider model means variable quality
- Custom branding priority: Limited packaging customization options
- Need phone support: Chat/email only
- Ultra-fast shipping requirements: Production + shipping can take 1-2 weeks depending on product and provider
Real Success Stories
Printify highlights several sellers who've built real businesses on the platform:
- Gina Van De Voorde generated $100K in her first year selling Western-themed apparel, reaching $500K in revenue after two years
- Rileigh Richardson earned $30K in her first year focusing on teacher and nurse t-shirts
These aren't guarantees—they're outliers. But they show the platform can support serious revenue when you nail your niche and marketing.
Getting Started with Printify
If you've decided to give it a shot, here's the smart approach:
- Start free: There's no reason to pay $29/month until you're making 15-20 sales monthly (where the 20% discount covers the subscription)
- Pick 2-3 hero products: Don't list 500 items. Master a few first.
- Order samples: From at least 2 different print providers per product
- Check shipping times: Factor this into your product descriptions and customer expectations
- Start with one sales channel: Get profitable on Etsy or Shopify before expanding
The Bottom Line: Is Printify Legit?
Printify is 100% legitimate. It's a well-funded, established company that's been operating since 2015 and serves millions of sellers worldwide.
Is it perfect? No. Quality inconsistency between print providers is a real issue. Customer support during busy periods can be slow. And you'll need to do your homework choosing the right providers for your products.
But for most people starting a print-on-demand business—especially if you're budget-conscious and want maximum product variety—Printify is one of the best options available.
Start with the free plan, order samples, pick reliable print providers, and scale from there.