Printful vs InkThreadable

Printful and Inkthreadable are two of the most popular print-on-demand platforms on the market. Printful, with its global reach and diverse product offerings, has become a popular choice for businesses worldwide. On the other hand, Inkthreadable, a UK-based service, has advantages for sellers in the UK.

In this comparison, we’ll look at the features, pricing and fulfillment processes of both platforms to help you choose the right one for you. 

Let's explore what each has to offer.

Printful Overview

Printful is a popular print-on-demand (POD) platform, launched in 2013. The platform lets you add custom designs to a range of products including clothing, home decor, accessories, wall art and more. Simply upload your designs into Printful's Mockup Generator and start designing your own range of unique products. 

Since launch, Printful has established itself as a leading print-on-demand service, fulfilling over 90 million orders to date. The platform’s popularity is a testament to its overall reliability and wide range of product options. 

Over the years, Printful has expanded its services beyond direct-to-garment (DTG) printing to include embroidery and sublimation printing. These options give businesses the flexibility to create unique and eye-catching products that stand out from the competition. The platform also offers plenty of branding options, including custom labels, packaging and branded packing slips. These help create a branded unboxing experience for your customers. 

One of Printful's key strengths lies in its extensive network of fulfilment centres, strategically located in North America, Europe and other regions. Covering a wide area helps Printful ensure fast and reliable shipping worldwide.

Key Features of Printful

• Product variety: Printful offers an extensive catalogue of products, including clothing, accessories, home decor and wall art. 
• Global fulfilment centers: With fulfilment centers across multiple continents, Printful offers fast shipping times and reduced shipping costs, especially for international orders. 
• Integrations: Printful integrates seamlessly with major ecommerce platforms, including ShopWired. Connect your online store to enable automatic order processing and simplified product listing to streamline operations.
• Mockup Generator: Printful’s user-friendly mockup generator lets you create and see your designs in real-time before listing them online. 
• Custom branding: The platform offers plenty custom branding options, including custom labels and packaging. 
• No upfront costs: Printful operates on a no-upfront-cost model. You only pay for products when customers place orders. 
• Sustainability: The platform offers eco-friendly products made from organic and recycled materials, and uses water-based inks to reduce environmental impact. 

Printful Pros:

• Extensive product selection.
• Global reach with multiple fulfilment centers.
• Seamless ecommerce platform integration.
• No upfront costs, making it accessible for new businesses.

Printful Cons:

• Prices can be higher than some competitors.
• Longer shipping times for some regions outside the US and Europe.

Inkthreadable Overview

Inkthreadable is a UK-based print-on-demand (POD) service that also launched in 2013. The platform offers a wide range of customisable products, including clothing, accessories, homeware and wall art. 

Like Printful, Inkthreadable also offers Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, embroidery, sublimation printing and Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing. There’s plenty of choice for creating unique and high-quality products. 

One of Inkthreadable’s core values is its commitment to sustainability. The company uses eco-friendly inks and offers products made from organic cotton and recycled materials. This emphasis on ethical production may be particularly appealing to eco-conscious brands. 

Key Features of Inkthreadable

• Product Variety: Inkthreadable provides a solid selection of products, including clothing, accessories and homeware items. 
• Sustainability: Inkthreadable are committed to eco-friendly practices. Products are printed using water-based inks and sustainable materials are used. 
• No Minimum Order Quantity: Like many POD services, Inkthreadable operates on a no-minimum-order model, allowing businesses to produce and sell products on demand without the need for large upfront investments.
• Product Designer: Inkthreadable’s design tool allows users to create and preview product designs before listing them online.
• UK-Based Printing and Fulfillment: Inkthreadable’s UK-based printing and fulfilment centers provide advantages for businesses targeting a UK audience. 

Inkthreadable Pros:

• Strong commitment to sustainability and ethical production.
• Faster shipping and lower costs within the UK due to local fulfilment.
• Extensive custom branding options available.
• No minimum order requirements, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes.

Inkthreadable Cons:

• Slightly smaller product range compared to some global competitors.
• Primarily serves the UK market, which might be limiting for businesses with a broader international focus.

Printful vs Inkthreadable: Product Quality

When choosing a print-on-demand platform, it’s important to consider the quality of products available. After all, it's your brands reputation on the line. 

Printful

Printful is known for offering consistent quality across its range of apparel, accessories, home decor and wall art. Their advanced printing methods create detailed, sharp prints that pop with colour. Their clothing items are known for being durable, even after repeated washing. Customers frequently note how well the prints hold up over time

Printful’s commitment to quality is underscored by their multi-step quality control process. Each product is reviewed at various stages, from design to production to shipping. This stringent process ensures any potential quality issues are caught before the product is finally shipped. 

Inkthreadable

Like Printful, Inkthreadable is well-regarded for delivering consistent and reliable quality across its product range. Direct-to-Garment (DTG), sublimation and embroidery prints are clear, durable and maintain their vibrancy after repeated washes. 

Inkthreadable takes an active approach to quality control at all stages. From low-resolution images and misalignments issues being flagged on the design editor, to stringent quality control checks during manufacturing and shipping. Customers often praise the care and precision that Inkthreadable applies to each order. 

Winner? 

While both Printful and Inkthreadable deliver high-quality products with stringent quality control measures, Printful gets the slight edge due to its more rigorous multi-step quality assurance process. However, if you’re based in the UK and prioritise local production, Inkthreadable offers a comparable level of quality with a focus on sustainability.

Customisation 

Both Printful and Inkthreadable offer plenty of customisation options to help you create unique, branded items. Let’s take a look at each platform's customisation options. 

Printful

Printful offers an array of customisation features across its product range. At the core of the creative process on Printful is the Mockup Generator. This tool allows you to preview how your designs will look on products in real-time. Whether you're designing t-shirts, mugs, tote bags,  phone cases or anything else from Printful's product range, the Mockup Generator makes it easy. 

Users can choose from different mockup styles such as lifestyle shots, flat lays and model images to enhance the design process and see their designs in different ways. The tool is intuitive, making it accessible for those without much design experience, and it supports the upload of custom design files or the use of Printful’s built-in design elements

Beyond the design process, the flexibility in printing techniques, Direct-to-Garment (DTG), embroidery, sublimation, and direct-to-film (DTF) gives you control over how detailed or bold your designs can be. Want a logo embroidered onto a hat? An all-over patterned print on a hoodie? Printful can do it. This variety open ups an array of design possibilities to take your products to the next level. 

Printful also excels in helping businesses build a complete branded experience. From adding custom labels and packaging to inserting pack-ins like thank-you cards, the platform helps you create a branded unboxing experience for your customers. 

Inkthreadable

Inkthreadable provides a solid set of customisation features largely similar to Printful. Much like its counterpart, Inkthreadable has DTG printing, sublimation and embroidery, however, it does lack Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing. Whether you're designing apparel, customising homeware items, or creating wall art, Inkthreadable provides the flexibility to create a range of products. 

Similar to Printful’s mockup generator, Inkthreadable has a Product Designer tool. This lets users visualise their designs before production. The tool gives you a real-time preview of how the final product will look, making it easy to fine-tune designs to perfection. 

Whether you’re making adjustments to a graphic t-shirt or refining the placement of an embroidered logo on a cushion, the Product Designer ensures that you have full control over the customisation process. If the system detects issues like low-resolution images or design misalignment, it will flag the issue to inform you. 

Unfortunately, unlike Printful, Inkthreadable doesn’t offer packaging customisation options like branded labels or pack-ins. Businesses can still use custom labels on their products, but the level of branding options available on Inkthreadable is not quite on par with Printful. 

Winner?

Printful takes the lead in customisation due to its extensive options, including branded packaging, labels, and thank-you pack-ins, which enhance the customer unboxing experience. Its Mockup Gnerator also provides a wide variety of product mockups and customisation options, giving users more flexibility. Inkthreadable offers solid customisation tools, but it lacks some of the branding packaging features available with Printful. 

Shipping

Printful

Printful’s global network of fulfilment centres located in North America, Europe and the UK makes it a good choice for most sellers on both a local and international level. 

For UK customers, Printful’s facility in Wolverhampton typically guarantees shipping within 2 to 5 business days. For international orders, Printful can produce and dispatch orders from fulfilment centres closer to the customer, meaning shipping tends to be relatively fast, depending on precise location. Of course, for customers outside Printflul’s core regions, longer delivery times might be expected. 

On the tracking side of things, Printful provides reliable real-time tracking and shipping notifications. Both seller and buyer are kept informed throughout the delivery process,  helping manage expectations to keep customers satisfied. The platform also provides a shipping calculator to estimate delivery costs and times based on the product and destination. 

Inkthreadable

With its fulfilment center located in Blackburn, England, Inkthreadable's fulfilment process primarily benefits businesses selling in the UK. Shipping is both fast and cost-effective for businesses targeting a UK audience, with orders usually arriving to the customer within 2-5 business days. 

Unlike Printful, Inkthreadable’s fulfilment network is more localised, but it does offer shipping across Europe. Orders sent overseas, however, may take longer to arrive compared to domestic ones. 

Inkthreadable also provides full tracking for all orders, whether they are shipped within the UK or internationally. Tracking information is provided via Royal Mail, DPD, or EVRi for UK shipments, and Asendia or DPD for European and international orders. 

Winner?

Printful edges it for shipping due to its global network of fulfilment centres, allowing for faster and more efficient delivery for international orders. This makes it a suitable choice for businesses targeting a global market. However, if your business is primarily focused on the UK market, Inkthreadable offers a more localised and cost-effective solution, with reliable UK shipping options that are beneficial for businesses targeting these regions.

Pricing

Printful

Printful operates on a no-upfront-cost model, meaning sellers only pay for products when customers place orders. While this is beneficial for cash flow, it must be remembered that Printful takes a cut for the service. This includes the cost of your product, chosen design aspects, shipping and other potential costs.

For instance, before profit, a t-shirt may cost:

• Base Cost: £10 (for a basic t-shirt, unprinted)
• Printing Fee: £5 (for a standard print design on the front)
• Shipping Cost: £3 (standard UK shipping)

The total cost to the seller per t-shirt is £18. If the seller sets the retail price at £25, the profit per sale would be:

• Retail Price: £25
• Total Cost: £18
• Profit: £7

However, it’s important to note that additional fees like taxes, platform fees (if using an ecommerce platform) and promotional discounts can further impact this margin.

Inkthreadable

Inkthreadable also follows a no-minimum-order model, which is ideal for businesses looking to minimise upfront costs. Pricing is competitive, and the platform often offers discounted costs for growing businesses, usually at around 10%. 

Inkthreadable also has a “CORE Products” line, which includes frequently ordered items like t-shirts and sweatshirts, kept in stock to avoid delays, and these are offered at reduced rates to encourage volume sales.

Winner?

For UK-based businesses, Inkthreadable just edges out Printful due to its competitive pricing and additional discounts for growing businesses. However, for those who want to sell internationally or need a broader range of products, Printful may be the better choice due to its global reach and overall wider variety of offerings.

Customer Support and User Reviews

Printful

Printful is known for solid customer support. Users can get in touch via live chat or email. Live chat is available 24/7. Printful also have a dedicated Help Center with walk-through articles and tips. Users can also interact with Printful via their social media pages, which include Instagram, Facebook and X. There is no phone support, however. 

Printful's Help Centre 

According to Trustpilot, Printful has an "Excellent" rating of 4.6/5 based on over 5,492 reviews, with many customers praising the quality of its products and responsive customer service. The platform's integration options and ease of use are frequently highlighted as strengths. 

Inkthreadable 

Inkthreadable also offers solid customer support. Like Printful, they have an in-depth knowledge base that walks you through a range of topics, from getting started with print-on-demand and setting up a store to designing your products. Unfortunately, Inkthreadable does not offer live chat or phone support, but users can leave a message by filling out an enquiry form on the website. 

Inkthreadable also scores highly on Trustpilot, with 4.6/5 based on over 700 reviews at the time of writing. 

Winner?

Printful wins this category due to its 24/7 live chat support, a wider range of customer service options, and high ratings based on a larger sample size. If immediate assistance and multiple channels for support are important to your business, Printful’s availability and responsiveness make it the better choice. Inkthreadable does offer email enquiries. However, if you are UK-based and prefer a more localised service, Inkthreadable remains a solid option if you don’t need immediate support.

Conclusion: Which Platform is Right for Your Business?

When choosing between Printful and Inkthreadable, the decision largely depends on your business’s specific needs and target market. Printful’s extensive product range, global fulfilment network, and seamless integrations make it an excellent choice for businesses with a diverse customer base across multiple regions. 

However, if your business is UK-based or you prioritise sustainability and ethical production, Inkthreadable could be for you. With reliable and fast shipping times within the UK and a strong focus on eco-friendly practices. Both platforms provide valuable tools for businesses looking to enter the print-on-demand market, but the best choice will ultimately depend on your business’s priorities and market focus.

FAQ: Printful vs Inkthreadable

1. Which platform is better for UK-based businesses, Printful or Inkthreadable?

If your business is UK-based, Inkthreadable may be the better option due to its local fulfilment centre in Blackburn, England. This can lead to faster delivery times and reduced shipping costs within the UK. Printful, however, has fulfilment centres based around the world, making it a better option for businesses that sell internationally. 

2. Does Printful offer eco-friendly product options?

Yes, Printful provides eco-friendly products made from organic and recycled materials. They also use water-based inks to reduce environmental impact. However, Inkthreadable places a stronger emphasis on sustainability, offering a broader range of organic and eco-conscious products, as well as 100% plastic-free packaging. This may appeal more to environmentally focused brands.

3. Are there any setup costs for using Printful or Inkthreadable?

Both Printful and Inkthreadable operate on a no-upfront cost model. You only pay when customers place orders, making them accessible options for businesses looking to minimise initial investments.

4. How does product quality compare between Printful and Inkthreadable?

Both platforms are known for high-quality products. Printful has a rigorous multi-step quality control process that ensures consistency, while Inkthreadable offers similar reliability and quality checks. The choice ultimately depends on your preference and location, as both provide durable, high-quality products.

5. Which platform has more product variety, Printful or Inkthreadable?

Printful offers a wider variety of products, including clothing, accessories, home decor, and wall art, with multiple customisation options like embroidery, DTG, sublimation, and DTF. Inkthreadable provides a solid selection as well but does have fewer overall options compared to Printful.

6. Does Inkthreadable support international shipping?

Yes, Inkthreadable offers international shipping, mainly across Europe. However, its fulfilment network is more localised to the UK, which may result in longer delivery times for orders outside of the UK. If your business has a global customer base, Printful’s broader international reach may be more suitable.

7. Can I integrate Printful and Inkthreadable with my ecommerce store?

Both Printful and Inkthreadable support integrations with popular ecommerce platforms. Printful offers a wider range of integrations, including ShopWired. Inkthreadable also integrates with major platforms but may have fewer options than Printful.

8. Which platform offers more customisation options for branding?

Printful provides more extensive branding options, including custom packaging, labels, and pack-ins like thank-you cards, enabling businesses to create a full branded experience for customers. Inkthreadable allows for custom labels, but it doesn’t offer as many branding features as Printful, which might be a limitation for businesses seeking a complete branded unboxing experience.