I tried and Tested Printify vs ShineOn: My Verdict for 2025

If you’re serious about print-on-demand (POD) you’ve probably heard of Printify and ShineOn.

Both allow you to sell custom products without holding inventory—but the question is which one really makes you more money?

I’ve been in eCommerce and print-on-demand for over 10 years, working with hundreds of sellers, testing both platforms and here’s the real deal:

Printify is good if you want variety. You can sell T-shirts, hoodies, mugs and more. But the profit margins? Thin because of competition. ShineOn is a high-profit machine. They focus on personalized jewelry and gifts—products that sell for $50+ per piece meaning much higher profits.

So, which one is right for you? Let’s dive in.

What is Printify?

Printify is a print-on-demand network that connects sellers with over 100 print providers worldwide. Instead of printing products yourself, you upload your designs, choose a supplier and Printify handles printing and shipping for you.

The biggest advantage of Printify is variety. You can sell T-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, mugs, posters, tote bags and more.

This is good if you want to test different product categories and sell worldwide.

However, because Printify uses third-party suppliers, shipping times and product quality can be inconsistent. Some suppliers offer U.S. shipping while others take weeks to fulfill orders.

This can lead to customer complaints and refunds especially during peak seasons.

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Go to the top What can you sell on Printify?

Printify has one of the biggest product catalogs in the print-on-demand space. Here are some of the top selling items:

Apparel: T-shirts, hoodies, leggings, tank tops Accessories: Phone cases, tote bags, jewelry, socks Home Goods: Mugs, posters, wall art, blankets, pillows Eco-Friendly Products: Recycled tote bags, organic T-shirts, bamboo phone cases

Because of the variety Printify is good for general stores and niche brands who want to sell different types of products without holding inventory.

Go to the top Printify Pros Huge product range (800+ items to choose from) Works with multiple platforms (Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, eBay, Walmart) Competitive pricing if you use Printify Premium ($29/month for discounts) Printify Cons Thin margins—too much competition in T-shirts & mugs Slow shipping—depending on the supplier (sometimes 2-3 weeks) Quality varies—different suppliers, different results Go to the top What is ShineOn?

ShineOn is not your average POD platform. Instead of generic T-shirts, ShineOn focuses on high-ticket jewelry and gift products.

Their products aren’t just printed—they’re customizable with engravings and personalized message cards.

Think about it: jewelry is a gift purchase. People buy it for anniversaries, birthdays, Mother’s Day, Christmas and Valentine’s Day. This means higher emotional value and willingness to pay more. While T-shirts have low margins, ShineOn sellers make $30-$50 per item.

Another big plus? U.S. fulfillment. Unlike Printify where some suppliers ship from China, ShineOn has U.S. based fulfillment centers so orders arrive within 2-5 days.

Faster shipping = fewer refunds and more repeat buyers.

MORE: Printful vs Printify

Go to the top What Can You Sell on ShineOn?

ShineOn’s product catalog is smaller than Printify’s but every item is high-value and personalized.

Jewelry: Necklaces, bracelets, pendants Watches: High-quality men’s and women’s watches Gift Packaging: Custom message cards, premium gift boxes Personalized Engravings: Customers can engrave names, dates or messages on products

Since most people buy these items as gifts they have higher perceived value—so you can charge more without resistance.

Go to the top ShineOn Pros High profit margins—$30-$50 per sale U.S. shipping (2-5 days) Premium branding—custom packaging & message cards ShineOn Cons Smaller product range (only jewelry & gifts) Limited integrations (Shopify & Etsy only) More work required—emotional storytelling sells best Go to the top Pricing: Which Platform Gives You Better Profit Margins?

Pricing is one of the biggest factors when choosing a print-on-demand platform. If your costs are too high, your profit margins shrink, making it harder to scale.

The key question is: Which platform lets you keep more money per sale?

Printify Pricing: What You Need to Know

Printify offers three pricing plans, each affecting how much you pay for products:

Free Plan – No monthly fee, but you pay full price for products. Premium Plan ($29/month) – Get up to 20% off product costs, which significantly boosts margins. Enterprise Plan (Custom Pricing) – For high-volume sellers needing bulk discounts and dedicated support.

If you’re on the Free Plan, your product costs are higher, meaning lower profit margins. For example, a Bella+Canvas 3001 T-shirt costs $10.87 on the Free Plan but $8.69 on the Premium Plan. That’s $2.18 extra profit per sale.

If you sell just 15 shirts a month, the Premium Plan pays for itself—anything above that is pure extra profit.

ShineOn Pricing: How It Works

Unlike Printify, ShineOn doesn’t charge a monthly fee—it’s completely free to use. You only pay for the product after a sale is made.

Here’s how the pricing model works:

Base cost of a ShineOn necklace: Around $20. Average selling price: $50-$70. Profit per sale: $30-$50.

Since ShineOn specializes in high-value jewelry, customers are willing to pay premium prices—meaning higher profit margins per sale compared to low-ticket items like T-shirts or mugs.

Cost Comparison: Printify vs ShineOn

Let’s break down the actual costs and profits:

ProductAvg. Sale PriceCost (Free Plan)Cost (Printify Premium)ShineOn CostProfit Margin (Free Plan)Profit Margin (Premium Plan)ShineOn ProfitT-Shirt (Bella+Canvas 3001)$25$10.87$8.69N/A$14.13$16.31N/AHoodie (Gildan 18500)$45$22.03$16.21N/A$22.97$28.79N/ANecklace (ShineOn)$60N/AN/A$20N/AN/A$40 Which One Makes You More Money?