5-Panel vs 6-Panel Hat: Differences and Use Cases
A 5-panel and 6-panel hat have subtle differences that can affect…
02 Oct 2023 | Nico
Zazzle is a well-known name in the Print On Demand (POD) industry, celebrated for its user-friendly interface and a wide array of customizable products. However, Zazzle’s pricing and design limitations make it unsuitable for many people.
This article is your comprehensive guide to the top Zazzle alternatives available today.
You’ll find an assessment of each platform based on factors such as product diversity, user experience, quality of the final product, and customer support, among others. Continue reading to discover which Zazzle alternative fits your business needs.
If you’re in the market for custom-designed hats or even contemplating launching your headwear brand, look no further than us at Acme Hat Co. We work closely with our suppliers to source the highest quality products. This focus on quality is why brands such as ARCH Motorcycle and Sneekis trust us.
Getting a quote from us is straightforward. Share your hat, design, volume, and project timeline, and upload your design via our user-friendly website. We don’t ask for money upfront. We’ll provide you with a comprehensive cost breakdown and a mockup for free.
Like Zazzle, we offer a broad range of customizable products. Our specialty, as our name implies, is hats. However, we can help you source clothing and accessories.
We only focus on bulk orders. That makes us an excellent choice for B2B companies searching for a long-term partner. Zazzle, however, is more geared toward selling directly to individual customers. We can ship directly to your chosen third-party logistics provider (3PL).
There are several key factors to consider when comparing SPOD and Zazzle. Both platforms offer a variety of customizable products. The services differ in several important ways, such as speed, product range, customization options, and customer service.
Printful is a great print-on-demand choice if you’re looking for customizable products. You can choose from clothes and accessories to things for your home and business.
Services offered by Printful:
One of the standout features of Printful is the intergrations with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy. That is super handy if you’re running an online business. Zazzle doesn’t have e-commerce integrations.
Printful handles inventory, packages your products and takes care of shipping. Zazzle provides a platform for designers and artists to sell their work. It doesn’t offer the same kind of full-service fulfillment that Printful does.
Printful does have limitations. Certain products can’t be shipped globally. Zazzle offers global shipping for a larger range of products.
The quality of the print for both platforms is top-notch. Printful uses advanced methods like direct-to-garment and embroidery to ensure your designs look amazing. Zazzle also offers high-quality prints. You can even work with independent artists for unique designs.
What sets Printful apart is its flexibility. You don’t have to keep an inventory; they print as orders come in. Zazzle doesn’t offer this kind of print-on-demand flexibility but makes up for it with features like digital downloads and a unique online marketplace.
Feature/Attribute | Printful | Zazzle |
---|---|---|
Product Range | Extensive (apparel, home decor, promotional items, etc.) | Wide variety (apparel, stationery, art, etc.) |
E-commerce Integration | Broad range (Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, etc.) | Various platforms |
Fulfillment Services | Full-service (printing, shipping, packaging, inventory management) | Printing and shipping |
Shipping Options | Global but may have limitations for certain products | Global with premium 2-day shipping available |
Print Technologies | Multiple methods (DTG, embroidery, sublimation) | Various methods |
Inventory Requirements | Low or zero upfront inventory | Print-on-demand |
Warehousing | Available | Not offered |
Design Tools | Versatile and user-friendly for a wide range of products | User-friendly with many customization options |
Customer Service | Generally positive, but varies | Generally positive reviews |
Target Market | Broad (personal use to business needs) | Broad (personal and business) |
Printify is a leading service in the print-on-demand market. Printify has a good reputation for quick and reliable printing and shipping, which makes it a go-to solution for people looking for quality custom products.
Services offered by Printify:
You can order a wide range of customizable products through Zazzle and Printify. They differ in their approach to order fulfillment and customer service.
Zazzle is known for its user-friendly interface and a marketplace that connects customers with independent artists and designers. It is a good platform for those looking for unique and creative designs.
Printify is known for quick printing and shipping. It automates the order process through smart order routing. That is handy for businesses that deal with smaller order sizes and want to optimize their operations. That fits with the print-on-demand model.
Both companies have positive reviews for customer service. Though Zazzle has a better reputation.
Another point of difference is in customization. You can include custom inserts in the packaging with Printify, a feature not commonly found in Zazzle. That can add a personal touch to your products and enhance the customer experience.
Zazzle might be the better fit if you’re looking for a platform that offers a creative marketplace and great customer service. Printify is the better option if speed and automation are your top priorities.
Feature/Attribute | Printful | Zazzle |
---|---|---|
Product Range | Extensive (apparel, home decor, promotional items, etc.) | Wide variety (apparel, stationery, art, etc.) |
E-commerce Integration | Broad range (Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, etc.) | Various platforms |
Fulfillment Services | Full-service (printing, shipping, packaging, inventory management) | Printing and shipping |
Shipping Options | Global but may have limitations for certain products | Global with premium 2-day shipping available |
Print Technologies | Multiple methods (DTG, embroidery, sublimation) | Various methods |
Inventory Requirements | Low or zero upfront inventory | Print-on-demand |
Warehousing | Available | Not offered |
Design Tools | Versatile and user-friendly for a wide range of products | User-friendly with many customization options |
Customer Service | Generally positive, but varies | Generally positive reviews |
Target Market | Broad (personal use to business needs) | Broad (personal and business) |
SPOD is a big deal in the print-on-demand world. Known for getting orders out the door fast and being easy to use, it’s a go-to option for many people in the industry. Here’s a quick overview of the Services Offered by SPOD:
Let’s dig into these things.
SPOD is known for its quick turnaround times, often completing orders within 48 hours. This speed can be a significant advantage for businesses that need to get their products to customers quickly. On the other hand, Zazzle may take longer to fulfill orders, especially if they involve complex customizations or a wide range of products.
Zazzle has more types of products than SPOD. Besides clothes, they also have home items, paper goods, and unique stuff like skateboards. Zazzle is better if you want a wide variety of products.
Customization is another area where Zazzle shines. It offers more in-depth customization options, allowing for more personalization of your products. SPOD has limited customization capabilities. That is a problem if you want highly unique or specialized products.
Customer service is a strong point for SPOD. The platform has built a reputation for responsive and helpful customer support, which can be a significant advantage for smaller businesses that require immediate assistance. The customer service team at Zazzle isn’t as good as SPOD.
Choosing between SPOD and Zazzle depends on what you need for your business.
Feature/Attribute | SPOD | Zazzle |
---|---|---|
Product Range | Wide variety | Even wider variety |
Design Tools | Intuitive platform | Intuitive platform with more customization |
Production Time | Within 48 hours | Varies, generally longer |
Custom Inserts | Limited or not available | Available |
Order Routing | Standard | Standard |
Customer Support | Strong reputation | Good but may vary |
E-commerce Integration | Selected platforms | Many platforms including Shopify, Wix, Etsy, etc. |
Shipping | Global with varying times | Global with varying times |
Price | Competitive | Competitive |
Target Market | Small to medium businesses | Good for all sizes, including individual sellers |
Gooten is a go-to option for print-on-demand, working with trusted makers to give you high-quality stuff. They offer a lot of things you can customize, from clothes to home items, and even things like pet gear and baby products.
What Gooten Offers:
There are some key differences to consider when comparing Gooten and Zazzle. These differences are critical for brands that care about product quality and operational efficiency.
Gooten offers the ability to place sample orders. That is a big plus for businesses that want to check product quality. Zazzle doesn’t have this feature.
Both Zazzle and Gooten offer end-to-end fulfillment services. That means they take care of everything from manufacturing the product to shipping it to the customer. However, while Gooten gives you a comprehensive service, Zazzle focuses on speed.
Zazzle is the better choice if speed is a critical consideration.
Lastly, you have integrations. Gooten has a Shopify integration, but Zazzle does not.
If you’re looking for a platform that allows for quality checks and has easy Shopify integration, Gooten is likely the better fit. Zazzle has the edge if speed of delivery is the primary factor.
Features/Services | Gooten | Zazzle |
---|---|---|
Product Catalog | Extensive: Fashion, Home Goods, Wall Art, Lifestyle Items, Pet and Baby Products | Even More Extensive: Apparel, Stationery, Art, Home Goods, and More |
Shopify Integration | Easy Plugin from Shopify App Store | Less Streamlined |
Fulfillment | End-to-End Including Production and Shipping | Quick and Efficient |
Quality Assurance | High-Quality Products with Rigorous Vendor Selection | Generally High Quality |
Sample Orders | Available | Not Emphasized |
Custom Branding | Available, Including Niche Categories | Limited to Product Design |
Design Customization | Highly Customizable | User-Friendly but Less Extensive |
Global Distribution | Multiple Manufacturing Partners Worldwide | Primarily U.S. Focused |
Customer Service | Not Specified | Generally Positive Reviews |
Target Market | Small to Medium Businesses | Broad (Personal and Business) |
CafePress is an online platform where you can create and buy custom-designed products like t-shirts and mugs. It’s easy to use with a wide range of customizable items you can purchase or sell to others via the CafePress marketplace.
What CafePress Offers:
CafePress and Zazzle both operate online marketplaces. They offer a wide range of customizable products. CafePress provides a space for designers to market products. Zazzle works similarly but with a larger product inventory.
Both platforms allow users to create their products using built-in design tools. CafePress offers specific templates to ensure design compatibility with their product catalog.
You can upload your designs to CafePress in PNG, JPG, and SVG formats. You can use a wider variety of file types with Zazzle.
CafePress uses advanced printing technologies, such as digital press and thermal wax resin printing, to ensure high-quality products. Zazzle has a similar approach.
Both platforms also offer affiliate programs to boost earnings for sellers. CafePress and Zazzle have similar offerings, but Zazzle has a slight edge in product variety and file format flexibility.
Feature/Attribute | CafePress | Zazzle |
---|---|---|
Product Range | Wide variety | Even wider variety |
Design Tools | Native designer with templates | Flexible design tools |
File Formats | JPG, PNG, SVG | More flexible |
Printing Technologies | Various (Digital press, thermal wax, etc.) | Various |
Royalty Payments | 5-10% | Varies |
Affiliate Program | Available | Available |
Marketplace | Yes | Yes |
Custom Branding | Available | Available |
Global Distribution | Limited | More extensive |
Customer Service | Varies | Generally positive |
Shipping Options | Standard | Standard and Premium |
Target Market | General public and businesses | General public and businesses |
Redbubble is an online marketplace that allows independent artists to sell their unique designs on a wide range of products, from clothing and accessories to home decor and stationery. The platform handles all aspects of order fulfillment, including printing, shipping, and customer service.
What Redbubble Offers:
Zazzle and Redbubble allow independent artists to sell custom-designed products. However, they offer different advantages and features.
Redbubble has built a large community by connecting over 700,000 artists worldwide with consumers. The platform offers a broader range of products compared to Zazzle, with more than 70 items available for customization and purchase.
Another point of difference between the platforms is the ease of setting up a shop.
Both platforms allow artists to open online stores for free. Redbubble simplifies the process by handling all aspects of printing and shipping. This makes it easier for artists to focus on their creative work.
Redbubble places a strong emphasis on socially responsible production. The company invests in programs that offset carbon emissions. Products are made in an environmentally friendly manner.
Both platforms offer secure payment transactions. Redbubble has a more streamlined payment process. Unlike Zazzle, Redbubble directly transfers the earnings from customer purchases to the artist’s account.
While both platforms have a lot to offer, Redbubble has a slight edge in terms of product variety and ease of payment.
Features/Services | Zazzle | Redbubble |
---|---|---|
Product Range | Wide but limited compared to Redbubble | More than 70 types of products |
Shop Setup | Free but requires more involvement | Free and handles all aspects of printing and shipping |
Social Responsibility | Not specified | Invests in carbon offset programs |
Payment Security | Secure transactions | Secure transactions with direct payment to artists |
Shipping | Worldwide but varies | Almost any location worldwide |
Payment to Artists | Not specified | Direct payment from customer to artist |
Return Policy | Varies | Money-back guarantee on all orders |
Design Tools | Available | Not required; artists upload their own designs |
Affiliate Program | Available | Not specified |
Choosing the right print-on-demand platform for your business or creative endeavors is a crucial decision. Each platform has its unique strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice ultimately depends on your specific needs. Whether it’s the extensive product range of Redbubble, the social responsibility focus of CafePress, or the all-in-one solution provided by Printify, the alternatives to Zazzle are abundant and diverse.
However, if you’re looking for a specialized, high-quality solution, particularly in the realm of custom-designed hats and headwear, Acme Hat Co stands out as a compelling option. With our focus on delivering top-notch products, easy quoting process, and the ability to handle bulk orders efficiently, we offer a unique blend of quality and convenience that’s hard to beat.
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