After reviewing dozens of print-on-demand services and analyzing their tools, product catalogs, pricing structures, and performance, CustomCat and Printful consistently stand out as two of the top platforms. They’re both reliable, widely used, and offer solid ecommerce integrations — but which one offers the best value for ecommerce store owners?
In this guide, I’ll compare CustomCat vs Printful based on all the key features ecommerce sellers need: product variety, print quality, fulfillment speed, pricing, branding, integrations, and customer support.
Let’s get straight into it.
Quick Verdict: CustomCat vs Printful
Printful – Best for sellers focused on branding, international fulfillment, and product range
CustomCat – Best for sellers prioritizing low-cost products and faster US fulfillment
CustomCat vs Printful: Key Takeaways
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Printful offers a larger catalog, stronger branding tools, and global fulfillment
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CustomCat has lower product costs and quicker turnaround times for US-based orders
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Both platforms integrate with major ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce
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Printful offers 24/7 customer support; CustomCat support is limited to business hours
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If you sell globally or care about branded packaging, Printful is the better choice
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If you’re US-based and want higher margins, CustomCat offers better value
A Quick Comparison of CustomCat vs Printful
| Feature | CustomCat | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| Fulfillment Time | 2–3 business days | 2–5 business days |
| Shipping Network | US only | Global (15+ fulfillment centers) |
| Product Catalog Size | ~200 products | 300+ products |
| Base Pricing | Lower (especially with Pro plan) | Higher |
| Monthly Fee | Optional $30/month (for lower costs) | None |
| Branding Tools | Limited | Full suite (labels, inserts, packaging) |
| Integrations | Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy | 15+ platforms including Amazon, TikTok |
| Support | Business hours | 24/7 via live chat |
1. Fulfillment Speed & Delivery: Printful Wins for Global Reach
How Fast Are Orders Fulfilled?
When it comes to order fulfillment speed, both CustomCat and Printful deliver within a similar range — 2 to 5 business days. But there’s a major difference in how quickly products arrive based on where your customer is located.
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CustomCat fulfills all orders from Detroit, Michigan, and usually ships products within 2–3 business days.
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Printful operates out of 15+ fulfillment centers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, which shortens delivery times significantly for international orders.
Fulfillment Speed Breakdown
| Location | CustomCat Fulfillment Time | Printful Fulfillment Time |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 2–3 business days | 2–5 business days |
| Canada | 7–15 business days | 3–7 business days |
| UK / EU | 10–21 business days | 3–6 business days |
| Australia / Asia | 14–30 business days | 4–8 business days |
If you serve a US-only customer base, CustomCat performs well with fast turnaround times. But if your audience is global, Printful’s international presence helps ensure customers receive their products faster and with fewer customs issues.
Winner: Printful, for its global fulfillment network.
2. Product Catalog & Print Quality: Printful Has the Edge
How Many Products Can You Sell?
One of the biggest differences between the two platforms is product variety.
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Printful offers 300+ products across categories like clothing, drinkware, accessories, home goods, tech accessories, and even pet products.
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CustomCat offers around 100–200 products, mainly focused on apparel, mugs, and wall art.
You’ll also find a wider range of print types with Printful:
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Embroidery
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Sublimation
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All-over print
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Cut and sew
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Engraving (select items)
CustomCat uses DIGISOFT™ printing technology, which is designed for detailed and vibrant apparel printing. It’s particularly good for t-shirts and hoodies, offering great print quality that holds up after washes.
Product Catalog Comparison
| Category | CustomCat | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, etc.) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mugs and drinkware | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| All-over print | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Embroidery | ❌ Basic | ✅ Advanced |
| Accessories (phone cases, bags) | ❌ Limited | ✅ Yes |
| Pet products | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Winner: Printful, for more variety and advanced printing options.
3. Pricing and Profit Margins: CustomCat is More Cost-Effective
Which Platform Offers Better Margins?
Pricing is where CustomCat comes out strong — especially if you’re trying to maintain healthy profit margins on every order. While both platforms charge per product plus shipping, CustomCat’s base prices are consistently lower than Printful’s.
Sample Product Pricing (USD)
| Product | CustomCat (Pro Plan) | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| Gildan 5000 T-Shirt | ~$7.50 | ~$8.95 |
| 11 oz White Mug | ~$4.00 | ~$7.95 |
| Hoodie (Gildan) | ~$18.00 | ~$22.00 |
| Tote Bag | ~$7.00 | ~$14.00 |
CustomCat also offers a $30/month Pro Plan that unlocks even lower prices. If you’re selling in volume, that monthly cost can easily be offset by the higher margins you make per order.
Winner: CustomCat, especially for budget-conscious sellers or high-volume apparel stores.
4. Branding & Packaging: Printful Delivers a Premium Experience
Can You Brand the Packaging?
For ecommerce brands looking to grow a recognizable presence, packaging and unboxing are critical. This is an area where Printful clearly leads.
Printful offers:
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Custom packing slips with your logo and message
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Custom neck labels for apparel
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Brand inserts like business cards or flyers
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White-label packaging with no Printful branding
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Custom packaging options (available with warehousing)
CustomCat, on the other hand, offers minimal branding support. Products are shipped in generic packaging, and no inserts or label options are available.
Winner: Printful, by a large margin.
5. Ecommerce Integrations: Printful Offers More Flexibility
Which Platforms Do They Work With?
Both platforms integrate well with popular ecommerce solutions like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy. But Printful supports a much wider set of platforms — including marketplaces and newer social selling channels.
Integration Comparison
| Platform | CustomCat | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| WooCommerce | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Etsy | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| BigCommerce | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Amazon | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| eBay | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Squarespace | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| TikTok Shop | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
Winner: Printful, for broader ecommerce and marketplace integration.
6. Shipping Costs: Very Similar, But Printful Has Global Advantage
Both platforms charge standard shipping rates, and they’re fairly close for US orders. Where they differ is in international shipping and delivery time reliability.
Example US Shipping Rates (First Item)
| Product Type | CustomCat | Printful |
|---|---|---|
| T-Shirt | ~$4.00 | ~$3.99 |
| Hoodie | ~$6.50 | ~$6.99 |
| Mug | ~$4.99 | ~$5.99 |
For international orders, Printful’s distributed fulfillment helps lower delivery costs and speeds up delivery — whereas CustomCat ships all international orders from Michigan, which takes longer and may cost more in the long run.
Winner: Tie for US sellers, Printful for international reach.
7. Support & Reliability: Printful Offers Better Support
Support response time can be the difference between a happy customer and a refund.
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Printful provides 24/7 live chat support, a detailed help center, and multilingual documentation.
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CustomCat limits support to business hours only, and doesn’t have live chat — you’ll typically reach them by email.
Winner: Printful, for better customer service availability.
Final Verdict: Should You Use CustomCat or Printful?
Here’s how to decide:
Use CustomCat if:
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You primarily sell to US customers
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Your store is apparel-focused
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You want to maximize margins
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You don’t need custom branding on packaging
Use Printful if:
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You sell globally
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Branding and customer experience matter
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You want more product variety and printing options
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You plan to scale across multiple marketplaces
Try Them Yourself
Both platforms are free to use — you only pay when an order is placed. If you’re on the fence, try launching test products on both and compare performance.
