For those who’ve ever thought of launching a enterprise with print on demand, you’ve most likely heard of Threadless and Redbubble.
Each platforms make it simple to begin promoting customized merchandise. You don’t even want your individual ecommerce storefront. You’ll be able to merely create an account and begin importing merchandise to promote on marketplaces already visited by 1000’s of consumers.
Whereas these platforms are related in plenty of methods, there are some main variations between them that would sway your choice on which to make use of.
That will help you make the appropriate selection, I put each of those platforms to the check, discovered about their options, and even researched their reputations to create this comparability information.
We take a hands-on strategy to reviewing each platform we examine on this guides. Study extra about our research strategy here.
Fast Verdict
Each Redbubble and Threadless supply simple methods to get began with print on demand promoting, however in my view, Threadless is the higher software for established artists who need extra management over retailer customization, and entry to a wider vary of distinctive merchandise.
Redbubble, alternatively, is likely to be the higher choice should you’re in search of a user-friendly resolution that offers you entry to a variety of shoppers, because of it’s high-traffic market.
Nevertheless, it does have a smaller product assortment, and product high quality can range.
Threadless Execs and Cons
Execs 👍
- Big selection of high-quality and distinctive merchandise
- Helpful free instruments, like a revenue calculator
- Choices for premium companies and help
- Free to affix for novices
- Offers you full rights to your art work
- Extra in depth retailer customization choices
Cons 👎
- Product sizing and knowledge may be inconsistent
- Customer support is usually sluggish
- Barely greater studying curve
Redbubble Execs and Cons
Execs 👍
- Extraordinarily user-friendly for novices
- Full management over pricing
- Enormous, thriving on-line market
- Helpful design instruments (with watermark choices)
- Account tiers with advantages for high sellers
- World achievement companies
Cons 👎
- Product high quality can range
- Numerous competitors on {the marketplace}
- Restricted retailer customization
Threadless vs Redbubble: Deep Dive Comparability
On the floor, Threadless and Redbubble are fairly related. They each permit firms to create primary “storefronts” they’ll use to advertise and promote personalized merchandise with out investing in an ecommerce platform.
Additionally they each offer you entry to a pre-built market (with 1000’s of tourists), helpful design instruments, and international achievement.
Each choices additionally mean you can set your individual revenue margins (which is a pleasant contact), and neither choice costs any month-to-month subscription charges.
However, as I examined each of those platforms, I observed a number of key variations of their merchandise, options, and total profitability potential.
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Product Choices, Customization, and Product High quality
Let’s begin with the issues that I feel matter most for any POD service provider – product choices and high quality. Each Redbubble and Threadless offer you plenty of product choices to select from.
Choices on each platforms vary from top-selling attire like t-shirts, to stickers, equipment, stationary, and workplace provides.
Threadless gives a number of barely extra distinctive selections, resembling customized sneakers, however the selection on each platforms is great.
Each of those firms appear to prioritize primary printing methods like DTG printing – I couldn’t discover any choices for issues like embroidery from both platform.
Nevertheless, Redbubble gives all-over-print, which is an effective way to distinguish sure merchandise.
A slight draw back is there aren’t any superior “branding” choices from Redbubble or Threadless, so you’ll be able to’t use customized packaging or labels in your designs.
The standard of the merchandise from each firms appears to be comparatively variable too. Nevertheless, Threadless has a barely higher status total.
Although some clients have complained about occasional print defects and shrinking points with attire, Threadless nonetheless has a good 3.8 out of 5 star score on Trustpilot.
Redbubble has a barely decrease score of three.7 out of 5, and many shoppers appear to complain that high quality from the corporate isn’t constant, and the merchandise they produce look a bit “low-cost”.
Product Design Instruments and Ease of Use
Though there are some limitations on how a lot you’ll be able to customise your merchandise on each web sites, they do have moderately simple design instruments.
The design uploader interface on Threadless is usually a little sluggish and clunky at instances. One factor I disliked was the truth that there’s no “computerized tiling” perform for creating seamless patterns with a single picture.
Moreover, you’ll want to decide on particular file sorts for the various kinds of merchandise you wish to create, like t-shirts and stickers, to get the very best outcomes.
On the plus facet, you do get comparatively detailed customization choices for scaling and design placement.
Redbubble’s design resolution is quite a bit simpler to make use of. The uploader works rapidly, and you may generate product previews with a picture in seconds.
Plus, you need to use an computerized tiling perform to create seamless patterns for throughout print. You additionally get a barely simpler approach so as to add product descriptions and tags to your merchandise earlier than you add them to your market retailer.
Artist Shops and Market Choices
As talked about above, Threadless and Redbubble don’t combine with ecommerce platforms and current marketplaces like Amazon to enable POD selling.
They as a substitute mean you can construct your individual “storefront” and record merchandise on a free market.
In my view, Threadless has the a lot better storefront builder total. You get much more artistic management over your storefront’s design, banners and logos, and navigation menus. This implies you’ll be able to actually make your storefront stand out.
Nevertheless, Threadless appears to be rather less well-liked than Redbubble, which might imply you find yourself with much less visitors from {the marketplace} (should you select to make use of it).
Redbubble, alternatively, advantages from a lot better natural visitors. {The marketplace} receives thousands and thousands of tourists because of the corporate’s ongoing advertising efforts.
The issue is, it’s a lot tougher to face out as a vendor on Redbubble. Not solely is {the marketplace} extra aggressive, however you’ll be able to’t do a lot to customise your storefront.
You’ll be able to actually simply record merchandise, and add a profile photograph or banner picture. On the plus facet, this does imply it doesn’t take a lot time to get your Redbubble enterprise up and operating.
Included Advertising Options
Each Threadless and Redbubble work to advertise their very own marketplaces, to extend traffic to your store.
Nevertheless, Threadless does require creators to place a bit extra effort into their very own marketing strategies. You’re liable for driving consideration to your retailer via social media, and different channels.
Nevertheless, you do get built-in instruments for amassing e mail addresses and sending newsletters.
Sadly, there aren’t plenty of analytical instruments that will help you monitor how properly your campaigns are working to drive conversions.
Redbubble, alternatively offers you entry to robust visitors insights and studies you need to use to doubtlessly enhance your gross sales.
Plus, all Redbubble customers have the chance to be included in advertising packages, and should you’re a high-volume vendor, you get much more advertising advantages.
As an example, Redbubble Premium and Professional tier customers get entry to superior market insights, new PR alternatives, and e mail newsletters with tailor-made suggestions and insights for conversion charge optimization.
Threadless vs Redbubble: Pricing Plans and Payouts
As I discussed above, you received’t have to pay a month-to-month subscription to make use of both Threadless or Redbubble.
You solely pay for the bottom value of your merchandise, and some other extras you would possibly want. Moreover, each of those firms sometimes run gross sales on base costs for particular merchandise.
Nevertheless, Redbubble does cost an “account charge” primarily based on the variety of gross sales you make in a sure month – in order you earn, you’ll begin to incur additional prices.
Threadless has its “Artwork Retailers Premium” service, for firms who wish to entry VIP help with product and web site design, digital advertising, and even offline retail placement. The staff may even enable you design and launch product collections across various sales channels.
Nevertheless, pricing for this service begins at a large $2,500 monthly, so it’s unlikely to attraction to novices.
Redbubble doesn’t have any premium plans, however it does supply account tiers. This principally means the extra traction you get on the location, the extra advantages you’ll be able to entry.
As an example, Premium degree retailers get superior discover of gross sales dates, and don’t should pay any account charges.
Professional account retailers get the identical advantages because the Premium degree sellers, in addition to superior insights and analytics, alongside different options.
Payouts on each platforms work a bit in another way too. Threadless supplies entry to a constant earnings movement, permitting you to entry your earnings each month, no matter how a lot you make.
Redbubble, alternatively, requires sellers to achieve a minimum of $20 earlier than they’ll request a payout, which is usually a downside for smaller sellers.
Buyer Assist and Service
From a buyer help perspective, Threadless gives entry to a variety of sources and guides for all retailers.
It’s also possible to textual content the staff, ship them an e mail, or get in contact by way of Fb or X (Twitter) in case you have technical issues.
Redbubble has its personal, comparatively helpful assist middle, in addition to the choice to contact help by way of e mail.
Sadly, there aren’t any choices for dwell chat or telephone calls, and the “chat” button on the web site solely lets you converse to a chatbot, not a human consultant.
In my view, this makes Threadless a a lot better choice for retailers that need extra in depth help and steering.
Nevertheless, it’s value noting that the simplicity of Redbubble might imply that you simply don’t have to achieve out to the help staff as usually within the first place.
MORE: Redbubble Evaluate
Threadless vs Redbubble: The Verdict
Total, each Threadless and Redbubble have their advantages, significantly for brand new POD retailers who wish to begin promoting rapidly.
Nevertheless, I do assume Redbubble is the extra simple choice total, and I like the truth that you’ll be able to entry premium options as you promote extra.
Alternatively, Threadless is the extra dependable choice for extra established artists who need extra management over store customization, and entry to a couple extra distinctive options.
It additionally delivers a greater high quality of buyer help, and has a barely higher status for product high quality.
