CustomCat Vs Printful for POD: Which is Better for 2024?
Choosing which is the best for your print-on-demand business needs an in-depth comprehension of CustomCat vs Prinftul. Both of these companies have proved themself as reliable print-on-demand companies. While CustomCat has boasted over 20 years of experience in this industry, Printful has successfully delivered 78M items over a decade. Let’s compare their key features, product, delivery, integration, pricing, customer services, and reviews.
An Overview: Pros and Cons of Two Companies
CustomCat and Printful are trustworthy print-on-demand companies. However, each has unique features that cater to specific needs. Understanding the advantages and drawbacks of each company is important in determining which one is best suited for your business.
Both companies share several similarities, such as:
- Excellent printing quality with DTG and embroidery
- The ability to reach customers worldwide
- Helpful resources offering invaluable tips and practices
- Beginner-friendly technical approach with intuitive tools and apps
On the other hand, each has its own distinct pros and cons.
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CustomCat Vs Printful Full Comparison: 7 Criteria
Let's delve into CustomCat vs Printful for 7 aspects to find which one is better to align with your POD business.
1. Key Features
CustomCat and Printful both work as middlemen, providing print-on-demand services for businesses and individuals. However, Printful also offers global warehousing and fulfillment for non-POD merchants. This company is renowned for diverse branding options, built-in design, and mockup tools, which are powerful tools for POD sellers.
On the other hand, CustomCat earns its reputation with fast turnaround time and excellent marketing tools. Features such as split testing, capturing customer data, and upselling functions enhance the effectiveness of marketing efforts and overall business operations.
Each POD company has its own strengths
2. Products
When comparing CustomCat vs Printful, there are four factors of products to consider: product ranges, printing methods, fulfillment time, and quality.
Product Range
Printful boasts a significantly larger product catalog than CustomCat, featuring 343 products, whereas CustomCat offers about 300 items. Both companies specialize in print-on-demand items including apparel, accessories, and household goods. However, Printful stays competitive with more unique items that CustomCat lacks, like phone cases, face masks, notebooks, etc.
Printing Techniques
Both companies offer top-notch printing techniques.
- CustomCat utilizes Digisoft, akin to DTG, embroidery, and dye sublimation.
- Meanwhile, Printful employs DTG, embroidery, sublimation, all-over printing, and DTF.
In the realm of printing efficiency, both companies deliver high-quality results. With Printful, DTG is known for its vibrant colors and cost-effectiveness, whereas DTF offers versatility for various printing materials. However, CustomCat's innovative Digisoft approach merges the strengths of both DTF and DTG without their limitations. This makes it a new start in the printing industry.
CustomCat vs Printful employs top-notch print-on-demand printing techniques
Production Time
CustomCat outperforms Printful with its fast fulfillment time, averaging just 3 business days. It imports POD orders every 2 hours to cater to quick production requirements. Printful, meanwhile, needs 2-5 business days for order production.
Product Quality
Printful’s quality has garnered global recognition, boasting a 76% positive review rate on Trustpilot for its product excellence. To address any confusion about “Does Printful make good products?”, it utilizes top-notch Kornit Digital printers and a 3-step process to ensure premium POD items. Keep in mind that quality may vary depending on the specific design and individual customer preferences.
Similarly, within POD communities, users also recommend the quality of CustomCat products. This company guarantees to deliver superior items to customers and offers a 100% free replacement for products with errors due to manufacturing faults.
3. Delivery
CustomCat offers faster shipping times for orders within the USA compared to Printful. However, international orders may experience extended shipping times.
On average, CustomCat delivers within 3 days, while Printful typically takes 5 to 10 days for orders in the US. Printful's extensive global facilities and partnerships enable international shipment within 1-20 days, compared to CustomCat's range of 1-28 days.
Note: The timeframe is specified in business days.
CustomCat offers fast delivery within 3 days on average for orders in the US
4. Integrations
Printful has a wider array of integration options than CustomCat. Sellers can connect Printful with 20+ e-commerce platforms and marketplaces, such as Shopify, Etsy, Wix, Walmart, Amazon, and more. Meanwhile, CustomeCat only offers integration with 4 partners, including Shopify, Etsy, Woocommerce, and Bigcommerce.
Both companies offer API integrations, simplifying connections with various print-on-demand apps and vendors. For instance, they have API connections with Teeinblue Product Personalizer – one of the best POD personalizers. With this integration, merchants can easily personalize products and send orders to them for fulfillment within Teeinblue, saving 50% effort.
5. Pricing and Cost
If you’re wondering “Are CustomCat and Printful free to use?”, the answer is both of them offer a free plan. When it comes to paid plans, it’s hard to compare which is more expensive:
- You can choose CustomCat Lite for free or upgrade to CustomCat Pro at $25 or $30 per month for 20-40% off standard wholesale prices across the entire catalog.
- With Printful’s Growth membership, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee of $24.99.
On the other hand, Printful tends to have higher product costs than CustomCat. For example, CustomCat offers a range of prices for men's t-shirts from $5.50-$29.95, typically averaging around $13-$17.
In contrast, prices for similar items on Printful often fall between $6.95-$29.95, typically averaging around $16-$29. Higher profit margins are an undeniable perk when considering CustomCat as a print-on-demand supplier.
Insights: Printful offers a 20% discount for sample orders, whereas CustomCat does not.
6. Customer Support
It's worth mentioning that both companies have insightful blogs, FAQs, and clear policies. Which enables print-on-demand merchants to effectively use and promote their business.
The CustomCat support team tends to be more responsive with phone support, which Printful does not. You can reach CustomCat via phone from Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6:30 pm EST. Email and contact forms are also available. In contrast, Printful offers 24/7 customer assistance via email or live chat in six languages with response times of two hours.
7. Customer Reviews
Currently (Feb 2024), Printful boasts a higher review score on the Shopify App Store than CustomCat, with a rating of 4.8 (5.243 reviews) compared to CustomCat's 4.2 (553 reviews).
Given its broader user base, it's understandable why Printful has gained more reviews and a higher score than CustomCat. People highly recommended Printful for its great product quality, extensive catalog, and intuitive interface.
CustomCat Vs Printful: Which Company Should You Choose?
The decision between CustomCat vs Printful ultimately depends on your specific needs and business goals. After comparing CustomCat vs Printful across 7 elements, here are some key takeaways to help you make an informed decision:
- CustomCat is an optimal choice for new sellers looking to easily sell POD designs within the USA domestic market. Its fast turnaround time, lower base costs, and higher profit margins are compelling reasons to get started right away.
- Printful is well-suited for both newbies and experienced sellers, who wish to sell to a worldwide customer. A global network, diverse integration options, and a large product catalog assist you in catering to broader potential buyers.
A comparison of CustomCat’s and Printful’s key services
Choosing the suitable POD supplier should be based on your specific expectations and business goals. This article aims to provide you with a comprehensive perspective to make an optimal choice between CustomCat vs Printful. Join Teeinblue Global Community today to access valuable tips and connect with fellow sellers who share your interests and goals!
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print on demand