The 11 Best UK Print-On-Demand Companies To Use In 2024

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Find The Most Suitable and Best Print-On-Demand Service For Your Art Business

 

Looking to start your own creative business from the comfort of your own home? You might want to check out some of the best UK print-on-demand companies to help you get started.

 

With the rise of e-commerce and the online marketplace, there’s been a notable increase in artists trying and successfully making an income off of their creations. First-time art buyers can ease into purchasing art by buying prints, which are significantly more affordable than buying an original piece of art. Additionally, some artists struggle to find affordable studio spaces in the UK where they can create, store and ship their artwork from, resulting in a higher number of artists making art from their homes with much less workable space.

 

 

What is print-on-demand?

Print-on-demand refers to the process and business model of manufacturing products made to order. Production of the item (printed goods in this case) will not begin until the order has been placed. A company will have stock or supplies of blank, white-label products that can then be personalised and printed with your designs. Popular items to print your designs on include t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, notebooks, cushion covers, canvases and of course, paper prints. Some print-on-demand companies also fulfil the packaging and shipping aspect of your business, saving you time and money. There are many out there, with the best UK print-on-demand companies sharing a lot of the production. 

 

As an artist or creative person, your job is to set up what products you want to sell and using what designs. Certain choices you might have to consider include art print sizes, product finish, colours and prices. Everything else, including production and shipping, is sorted for you.

 

Benefits for artists

For artists just starting out, print-on-demand acts as a gateway to making money as an artist without the costs and risks that normally accompany business ventures. It can all be done from home, without having to ever step foot in a print factory or post office. All the artist needs is a design, a shop (sometimes) and a print-on-demand company that meets their needs and circumstances.

 

It’s also a great way to increase art’s accessibility, giving audiences a budget-friendly way to support an artist’s work. Not everyone will want to purchase an original piece, whereas a printed design on a tote bag is much more marketable and affordable for the average consumer. 

 

 

Best UK Print-on-Demand Companies for Artists

1. Printify

 

☝Best for artists who want to easily sell high quantities of products at competitive prices, with room for business expansion.

 

A well-known business amongst the best UK print-on-demand companies include Printify. They work with a collection of partners to give you an extensive range of product options all with varying base prices depending on quality. The mockup generator allows you to see your designs for free, with the option of subscribing and paying for their business plans to unlock more access and features. And as with most print-on-demand companies, they easily integrate with your existing ecommerce shops through eBay, Etsy, Shopify and more.

 

✔  Wide variety of products to choose from.

✔  Work with a collection of reputable partners and providers.

✔  You can easily integrate your shop website for seamless automation. 

✔  Option of paying for advanced features, ideal for larger businesses.

✔  Clear and easy website to work around and use.

 

✖  There isn’t as much information readily available about their sustainability compared to others.

✖  The quality of some products can vary.

 

★★★★☆ (4.4 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 244 reviews

2. Printful

 

☝ Best for artists at any level who want to give their customers a great shopping experience, down to the customisable packaging.

 

Perhaps one of the most popular and best UK print-on-demand companies, Printful can operate all over the world due to their dedicated fulfilment centres, of which the UK has its own. These are not managed by outside companies, so Printful has direct control over the products produced, ensuring quality and speedy shipping times. Their easy, free, start up process makes them a great option for new, smaller businesses but also a risk-free avenue to explore for more established brands. 

 

✔  No initial cost or monthly fee (only charged base cost when a sale has been made, taken off your profit margin)

✔  Free, easy and useful design tools and product mock-ups.

✔  Wide range of products with individual variations.

✔  They have control over their fulfilment centres to ensure quality.

✔  They have a line of eco-friendly products, as well as a sustainability and responsibility section on their website.

✔  You can customise the packaging that your product gets sent in, to match your branding and theme.

 

★★★★☆  –  (4.1 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 1,201 reviews

 

3. The Print Space

 

☝ Best for artists looking to produce high quality, giclee art prints rather than a wide variety of printable items.

 

Boasting an impressive collection of positive reviews, The Print Space is an excellent choice when it comes to professional art prints and photographs. They ensure that the correct paper is used to ensure high quality fine art prints and promise a speedy process to go with it. Amongst their services, they include 3D printing and framing too. However, if you’re looking for a company that will print onto anything and everything, this might not be the one. The Print Space is for those sellers focused on the highest quality art prints sent out to their customers automatically without having to be involved in the production and shipping.

 

✔  Easy integration with e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and Etsy.

✔  Reliable and friendly service backed up by many customer reviews

✔  Have a physical studio that you can visit to get involved in the process.

✔  Free to make an account on the website.

✔  High quality ensured.

 

✖  Limited to art prints and 3D printing technology only.

✖  On the more expensive side of our options when considering the shipping and optional subscription fees.

 

★★★★★ (4.9 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 9,314 reviews

 

4. Gelato

 

☝ Best for artists who enjoy using Canva for designs and who value speedy production and delivery services.

 

With production operating in 34 countries, Gelato’s main selling point is their swift turnaround times, as the product can be made and shipped local to its intended customer. This also has a positive effect on reducing their carbon emissions, helping to make them a more sustainable brand. Despite their lack of design features, Gelato is linked with the popular design website ‘Canva’, to provide their sellers with an easy to use tool for all creative projects.

 

✔  Easily supports and integrates with ecommerce stores, or through API’s. 

✔  Sign up is free with no monthly fees.

✔  Integrated with Canva to replace their own design tools.

✔  Sustainable approach with production and shipping carried out locally.

✔  Pride themselves on reliability and quality over quantity.

 

✖  They have a limited variety of products when compared to other UK print-on-demand companies.

✖  May have to pay for added customisations.

 

★★★★★  –  (4.8 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 281 reviews

 

5. Contrado

 

☝Best for artists who don’t mind spending a bit more money for high quality and aesthetic products.

 

Based and producing in London, this print-on-demand company is a great choice for UK based sellers who want an added sense of style to their items. Their line of products are perfect for artists looking to monetise their creations as Contrado is one of the more aesthetically focused companies when it comes to print-on-demand. Being a bit more upmarket and sustainable, they are not the cheapest option, but you do pay for the higher quality.

 

✔  Free to set up

✔  High quality through their hand-sewn and printed production.

✔  Vast range of products including homeware, clothing and accessories.

✔  Design features allowing personalisation and control.

✔  Allows you to add your own branding to your products.

✔  Can sell directly on their site or link to your own.

✔  Sustainably made and a company dedication to being better for the environment

 

✖  More expensive than alternative print-on-demand companies.

 

★★★★★  –  (4.6 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 1,614 reviews

 

6. Spreadshirt

 

☝Best for artists who are new to print-on-demand and want the reassurance of a helpful, reliable company.

 

Despite the name, Spreadshirt can create more than clothing with an impressive catalogue of products including accessories and home items too. Their prices align with the competitive rates of other companies, making them a good option if you’re on a budget. The actual company is very helpful too, providing step by step guides on how to get started or general advice from the team themselves. Another factor which makes them stand out is their environmental stances, which are easily accessible and documented on their website.

 

✔  Large selection of products to choose from other than just clothes.

✔  Good environmental and sustainability commitments.

✔  Helpful and responsive customer service.

✔  Easy website to get around and design products.

✔  Have the option of accessing their own Spreadshirt marketplace.

 

✖  Pricing can become expensive depending on where you’re shipping and the level of customisation.

✖  There is sometimes a delay with waiting for your design to be approved, which can slow the process of uploading and selling.

 

★★★★★ (4.6 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 7,576 reviews

 

 

7. Inkthreadable

☝Best for artists who value sustainability and are predominantly shipping within the UK.

 

Inkthreadable has a ‘core’ range of top selling products that are always stocked, meaning quick turnaround times. The ease of their order automation is a bonus, meaning you don’t have to do anything during the whole efficient process. Once the customer proceeds through checkout on your own site, they receive the order and get to work straight away. Inkthreadable is also one of the more environmentally friendly print-on-demand companies out there.

 

✔  They have sustainable and environmental commitments that extend to their recyclable packaging and eco-friendly apparel. 

✔  Fulfilment centre is based in the UK, completed in-house.

✔  Available design tools and free mockups of products.

✔  Easy to use website and checkout process for the customer and seller.

✔  Core collection of products that come with extra fast shipping.

 

✖  Some items can be more expensive when you add customisations.

✖  Shipping outside the UK can take a little longer, as their fulfilment centre is based here.

 

★★★★☆ (4.3 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 538 reviews

 

8. Two Fifteen

 

☝Best for artists who want to link to their existing shops, and provide customers with reliable and real-time shipping updates.

 

Two Fifteen, is a printing service with a strong UK presence. Much like the other companies mentioned, integrate with your existing ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, Squarespace and so on. Its website is free to use and allows you to see the full cost of the item beforehand, so there are no hidden fees. Their turnaround times are fairly fast too, with orders being produced and shipped within 1-5 working days.

 

✔  In-house production and fulfilment centre, based in the UK.

✔  Easy integration with your existing shop on ecommerce sites. 

✔  Fast and affordable shipping handled by Royal Mail.

✔  Real time insights into the process of an order for customer and seller peace of mind.

✔  The company takes an ethical and environmentally conscious approach to production.

 

✖  Limited product variety in comparison to other big print-on-demand companies.

✖  Can be difficult to ship to places outside the UK.

 

★★★★☆ (4.2 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 320 reviews

 

9. Zazzle

 

☝Best for artists who don’t have an ecommerce store and want to sell to an existing consumer base that they might not have.

 

Although this print company is American, it has international bases including the UK, making it a viable option for sellers outside the US. Like some other examples, Zazzle has their own marketplace that customers can shop directly from, giving you access to their consumer audience even when you’ve just started out. This can limit your business if you wish to sell from your own site, as no integration features are available. However, their catalogue is fairly large and they keep prices low for sellers, so Zazzle could be a great option if you’re only just getting started with print-on-demand.

 

✔  Access to their own marketplace and consumer base.

✔  Wide variety of products to customise including clothes, accessories, stationary and electronics.

✔  Free to use the site and easy to get around.

✔  They partner with trustworthy brands to ensure good quality products.

 

✖  Slower shipping options compared to other print-on-demand companies.

✖  No integration features available, which limits your business in terms of growth and expansion. 

 

★★★★☆ (4.2 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 1,278 reviews

 

 

10. Snuggle

 

☝Best for artists who are more focused on high quality garment printing over other items.

 

Despite being a lesser known company, Snuggle ensures the highest quality printing through their state of the art equipment. They’re also very good with their customer service, something that is hard to find amongst large print-on-demand companies. Their main focus is printing garments, ideal if that’s what your business consists of. If you require more variety, you might want to go with an alternative.

 

✔  State of the art equipment for high quality garment printing.

✔  Relatively competitive, low costs when it comes to base products.

✔  No minimum order number, can work on a one off product or large quantities.

✔  Can be integrated with ecommerce sites, including eBay and Amazon.

 

✖  Not a lot of reviews to go by.

✖  Slower turnaround and shipping times, but express shipping is an payable option.

✖  No mention of their commitment to sustainability and the environment.

 

★★★☆☆ (2.9 Rating on Trustpilot) out of 2 reviews

 

11. Pwinty

 

☝Best for artists who are good with technology and want to make use of their advanced API.

 

Based on speed and increased consumer reach; this service works slightly different to the other options in this list. Pwinty has access to a global network of on-demand partners who fulfil their orders for them, letting you reach customers from all over the world in a fast and effective turnaround. With their labs operating 24/7, Pwinty has the selling point of being a fast and easy option. It’s worth noting that Pwinty is part of Prodigi Group and they are gradually removing the separation to come under one name.

 

✔ No signing up fees, and their costs are relatively low compared to other options.

✔  Very fast production and shipping times.

✔  Can deliver globally with their vast number of fulfilment centres.

✔  Use’s white labelled products as if the item has come straight from you.

 

✖  Not yet linked with the Shopify app, instead you can send your orders across manually or by using the Pwinty API. Not the best if you’re inexperienced with tech.

✖  Not a lot of reviews to go by

 

* No reviews can be found on Trustpilot for Pwinty as an independent company as of writing*

 

Making your choice on the best UK print-on-demand companies

When it comes to finding the best UK print-on-demand companies for your business, make sure you consider all your needs and browse reviews to see what customers think. You may also need to consider if the company you choose will allow your business to grow and expand accordingly. The only real way to assess how well the company works for you is to try one, get samples, and receive feedback from your customers. Don’t be afraid to change who you’re working with if necessary. The print-on-demand business is rapidly expanding and improving, so it’s always good to keep an eye out for better options as time goes on.

 

What are the best UK print-on-demand companies that you’ve used for your business? Let us know in the comments below.

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NEED MORE ADVICE?

ARTICLES TO HELP:

How To Turn Your Artistic Passion Into A Profitable Stream Of Income

How To Make Professional Art Prints (Budget Friendly Guide)

Is Selling Your Art On Society 6 Still Worth It In 2022?

SITES TO HELP:

Print-On-Demand: A Low Risk Way To Sell Custom Products | Shopify

What Is Print-On-Demand? | Printful

Working Towards Sustainable Fashion In The Print-On-Demand Industry | Printful

COURSES TO HELP:

E-commerce For Artists: Selling With Print On Demand

Print On Demand For Artists: Earn Whilst You Sleep

Print On Demand Course For Beginners