CustomCat Print on Demand Reviews: Quality, Features, Alternatives and More

Looking to sell custom products without worrying about inventory or shipping? A print-on-demand (POD) platform like the CustomCat could be the perfect solution.

CustomCat print on demand lets businesses of any size create and sell personalized products like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and more. You can either design your own items or choose from ready-made designs. Once a product is ordered, CustomCat handles the printing and shipping directly to your customers.

In this blog, we’ll explore CustomCat’s quality, features, pricing, and even alternatives to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your business.

About CustomCat Print on Demand

CustomCat is a print-on-demand platform and app with over 20 years of experience in print fulfillment. So far, it has helped more than 20,000 Shopify businesses worldwide create custom products.

Located in Detroit, USA, CustomCat ships over 40,000 items daily and offers 231 customizable products for individuals and businesses.

The platform works with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, and also supports API integration. You can upload product data using CSV files. While integrations with Amazon and eBay are planned, no specific details were available at the time of writing.

CustomCat provides three printing methods:

• DIGISOFT™: A technique similar to direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film, mainly for clothing and fabric products.
• Embroidery: For adding stitched designs to apparel.
• Dye Sublimation: A process for transferring designs onto items like drinkware, blankets, and face masks using heat and dye.

How Does CustomCat Work?

(Image Source: CustomCat How it Works)

Here’s a quick overview of how CustomCat works:

1. Upload Your Design: Add your high-resolution designs (.png or .jpg) to the product you want to customize. CustomCat also supports .eps, .ai, .svg files, and phone images at 72 dpi. Check their Art Guidelines for detailed instructions for each product.
2. Sell the Product: List your customized product for sale.
3. Order Fulfillment: When someone places an order, CustomCat handles the printing and shipping—no minimum orders required.
4. Keep Your Profits: You keep all the earnings. CustomCat doesn’t take a cut and offers competitive pricing to help you maximize your profit margins.

Key Highlights about CustomCat

Product Catalog and Printing Quality

CustomCat is a great choice for anyone in this industry, offering excellent value and plenty of print on demand product options. With CustomCat, you can sell high-quality, unique items tailored to specific audiences without running out of ideas. 

Here’s an easy summary of what CustomCat offers:

• Apparel: Includes T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, hats, jackets, polo shirts, button-up shirts, tank tops, activewear, pants, and clothing for men, women, babies, and youth.
• Housewares: Items like rugs, mats, drinkware, mugs, blankets, ornaments, towels, and wall art.
• Accessories: Includes bags, footwear, masks, luggage tags, and more.

The catalog doesn’t specify the total number of products, but there’s a wide variety to customize. For instance, the Bella + Canvas 3001C Unisex Jersey Short-Sleeve T-Shirt comes in 29 colors and eight sizes, priced between $11.99-$15.99.

When you select a product, the details page shows:

• Material
• Print method
• Fulfillment speed
• Design guidelines
• Shipping rates

CustomCat also offers branded products from popular names like Adidas, Port Authority, Gildan, Bella + Canvas, and Hanes.

However, it doesn’t currently support custom labeling—all items retain the original brand tags. The company is working on this feature, so it may be available in the future.

CustomCat delivers reliable product quality, comparable to other platforms, with the final result depending on how designs are applied. The company also ensures customers receive high-quality items and provides free replacements for any products with manufacturing defects.

CustomCat uses its own technology to create some of the highest-quality products in the industry. To get the best results, you need to follow their artwork guidelines and specifications. They are the only POD provider in the US with technology that prints at 1200 dpi resolution on apparel, producing sharp, high-quality prints.

The Dashboard and Ease of Use 

You can quickly create a CustomCat account using my Google login, connect with existing eCommerce platforms and start creating products in just a few minutes.

The dashboard is simple and easy to use, though not as visually polished as some other platforms. It's straightforward to navigate through the product library and manage orders. You also have access to tools for running A/B sales campaigns to increase revenue.

The design tools are easy to use, allowing you to upload images, and customize colors, fonts, and basic graphics. However, there are no AI tools for generating images, and the free graphics are quite basic. Additionally, you’ll have limited options for adjusting and resizing your designs.

The mockup generator isn’t great for creating “lifestyle” images with models wearing your products. On the positive side, you can add product descriptions, sizes, titles, and pricing directly in the design tool, making it faster to set up new products in your store.

💡 Pro tip: Try EComposer to build stunning store with these POD Products and share the heartwarming story of your business, along with adorable photos and behind-the-scenes moments online. Make them engaging to create a connection with you.

Shipping and Delivery Times

(Image Source: CustomCat Shipping)

When a customer places an order in your store, it is automatically sent to CustomCat for preparation. You can track the order’s status on your dashboard, but it won’t show up until about two hours after the sale. 

• CustomCat updates orders every two hours, so your order will show as “Awaiting Production” until then. 
• Once production begins, the status changes to “In Production.” 
• After the shipping label is printed, it will be marked as “Shipped,” and a tracking number will be provided.

One of the biggest advantages of CustomCat is their fast production and delivery, especially for customers in the United States. They can produce most items in 3 business days or less, and deliver within another 3 days. For certain products, they even offer 2-day or overnight shipping.

However, for international shipping, delivery times can take longer, sometimes up to 28 days depending on the region, so it's important to consider if you're running a global business.

CustomCat offers the following shipping methods:

1. Economy: Affordable, 2-6 business days within the U.S., with potential delays during holidays.
2. Ground: UPS Ground with delivery times based on location; 2-day shipping for Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
3. Two-Day: Delivered within two business days, excluding weekends; not available for PO Boxes.
4. Overnight: Delivered the next business day after production, excluding weekends.
5. International: Delivery takes 1-4 weeks.

On average, orders are shipped within 2-3 days, with delivery times ranging from 1-8 days in the US and 1-4 weeks internationally. 

The Fulfilment

In dropshipping, it's crucial to work with a dependable fulfillment provider, as mentioned earlier.

With tools like CustomCat, you can connect with a wide range of local and international sellers, factories, and shipping partners. CustomCat bridges the gap between these providers, making communication easier.

If printing and shipping aren’t handled well, it can negatively affect the customer experience and delivery process.

It’s important to ensure that your partners meet your quality expectations and cover the geographical areas you need. For example, if a supplier serves the Middle East and Asia but you’re targeting the USA and Canada, they won’t help your business grow if they can’t deliver to those regions.

Besides quality, make sure your partners cover the locations you need, as this will also affect shipping times and customer satisfaction.

CustomCat takes care of this by partnering with 50,000 outlets and factories worldwide. So, as your business grows and you expand to new locations, you can easily find the right partners on their platform without needing to switch providers.

Sales Channels and Integrations

1. Integrations with eCommerce platforms

One drawback of CustomCat is its limited integration with sales channels. It works directly with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Etsy, but that’s about it. 

Compared to platforms like Printful, which support over 20 sales channels, this might feel a bit restrictive. Unlike tools like Printify, there’s no built-in option to create a “pop-up” storefront. 

However, CustomCat does offer an API for connecting with other applications, though this requires developer skills. Alternatively, you can manually submit bulk orders using CSV files, which is a helpful feature not offered by some other providers.

2. About API Integration

Another integration option is through API (Application Programming Interface), which requires programming knowledge, so you’ll need a developer for this. 

API integration is useful if you have your own mockups and want CustomCat to handle fulfillment. You can also use CustomCat’s mockups and have them fulfill your orders. 

With API, orders can be automatically sent to CustomCat for fulfillment, even if you sell through your own website. However, if you’re a beginner, it’s easier to use platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, or BigCommerce.

CustomCat Customer Support

CustomCat stands out for its customer support. While it doesn’t provide 24/7 service like some competitors, it does offer phone support for customers—something rare among print-on-demand providers.

They’re known for quick responses through live chat and email during business hours, though you may wait longer if contacting them outside those times. You can contact CustomCat’s customer service team in a few ways:

• Email: One email is for general inquiries, and another is for order-related questions.
• Dashboard: For order-related help, use the support button next to each order in your "processed orders" list.
• Phone: A phone line is available Monday-Friday, 8 am to 6:30 pm EST.
• Address: There’s also a Detroit-based postal address.

CustomCat also provides helpful resources, including selling guides, FAQs, design tips, blogs and YouTube tutorials covering topics like product creation and connecting to Shopify. Their knowledge base is frequently updated with new articles, complete with screenshots, GIFs, and videos, making it easier to find the answers you need.

CustomCat Pricing and Cost

1. Pricing Plan

CustomCat offers three pricing plans:

(Image Source: CustomCat Pricing Plan)

• CustomCat Lite (Free): Perfect for beginners, this plan includes DIGISOFT™ access, customer support, unlimited product creation, direct order fulfillment (no third parties), and a private seller forum.
• CustomCat Pro ($30/month or $25/month billed annually): Includes everything from Lite, plus 20-40% product discounts, special promotions, and early access to new products.
• Enterprise (Custom Pricing): Tailored for larger businesses, this plan offers 30-50% product discounts, custom API access, a dedicated account manager, and all features from the Pro plan. Contact CustomCat for pricing details.

2. Product and Shipping Cost

CustomCat's prices vary depending on the product, quantity, and customization options but they’re generally affordable, offering good profit margins. 

For example, you can easily mark up items like blankets by 100-150% and charge additional shipping fees. Apparel also allows for similar markup opportunities. 

Here's a simple breakdown of popular products:

• T-Shirts: Start at $12.99 each, with discounts for larger orders (e.g., $10.99 each for 10).
• Hoodies: Start at $24.99, with bulk pricing (e.g., $22.99 each for 10).
• Mugs: Start at $14.99, dropping to $12.99 each for 10.

There’s also a setup fee (typically $1.99 per item) and shipping fees, which vary by product weight and destination.

For example, selling 10 custom t-shirts:

• Product cost: $12.99 x 10 = $129.90
• Setup fee: $1.99 x 10 = $19.90
• Shipping: $5.99
• Total: $139.80

One advantage of CustomCat is its budget-friendly pricing for products and shipping. For example, a basic men’s t-shirt can cost as little as $5.50, depending on the print specifications, while shipping starts at just $3.99, which is fairly standard.

(Image Source: CustomCat Shipping Rates)

Here are shipping costs for some products:

• G500 (Lightweight apparel): $4.99
• 11 oz. White Mug (Light drinkware): $4.99
• Cozy Plus Blankets:
• 30×40 (Lightweight): $4.99
• 50×60 (Heavyweight): $7.99
• 60×80 (Heavyweight): $7.99

3. Profit Margins

When deciding on your retail price, consider product costs, shipping, taxes, and profit margins. Here are some simple tips:

• Account for your design time:
• Calculate design costs: Your hourly rate × time spent creating designs.
• Factor in shipping costs:
• If offering free shipping: Retail Price = Your Price + CustomCat’s Shipping Fee.
• Plan for taxes:
• CustomCat doesn’t charge taxes, but you’ll need to pay taxes based on your business location. You may also need to collect taxes from customers. Consult a tax specialist for advice.
• Set a profit margin:
• Price higher than average by adding extra value to your products.
• Match market prices to stay competitive.
• Price lower to attract customers, but ensure it covers all expenses.

4. Integration Cost

As mentioned before, CustomCat integrates with Shopify, Etsy, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and also offers a Gooten API.

• Shopify: A basic Shopify store starts at $5 with the Starter plan ($1/month for the first 3 months).
• Etsy: No monthly fee, but charges include $0.20 per listing, 5% transaction fees, 3% + $0.25 payment processing fees, and a 15% fee for offsite ads.
• WooCommerce: Free plugin, but requires web hosting. Hosting options like Siteground, Bluehost, Pressable, or WordPress start at around $3.95/month.
• BigCommerce: Pricing starts at $39/month for the Standard plan, which includes key features to run an online store.

CustomCat Pros and Cons

Every POD business has its advantages and disadvantages, it’s better to weigh up both and see whether it meets your demand or not. Let’s take a look at this table of CustomCat Pros and Cons to make a better decision:

Real Reviews from Customers

CustomCat has an overall rating of 4.3/5.0 on Shopify and 3.6/5.0 on Trustpilot. Here's a simple summary of what users are saying:

Positive Feedback:

• Helpful Customer Support: The majority of users say that CustomCat's customer service is great. One user shared how a support rep named Mike helped them solve a problem and gave clear instructions, making them feel happy with the service.
• Easy to Use App & Integration: Users like how easy it is to use CustomCat's app and integrate it with their Shopify store. The app is simple, and there are lots of resources to help, making it good for beginners.
• Fast Production & Shipping: CustomCat gets a lot of praise for quickly making and shipping products. Customers are happy to receive their orders fast, which makes them more likely to return.
• Good Product Quality & Service: Long-time users are happy with the quality of products and the service they get. Even when mistakes happen, the company fixes issues quickly.
• Great Overall Experience: Some users say CustomCat is the best POD service they’ve used. They like high-quality prints, variety of products, and friendly customer service.

Negative Feedback:

• Inconsistent Print Quality: Some of the customers reported that the print on their products faded or came off after washing and the print quality wasn’t great, even when using high-quality images. This has caused some frustration, and a few customers had to look for a different POD provider.
• Difficult to Reach Customer Service: A few users have trouble getting in touch with CustomCat. One user said they couldn't get anyone on the phone or by email, which made them think about switching to another company.
• Long Delivery Times: Some users said that even though the app is easy to use, it takes too long to receive their orders. They also felt that customer service wasn’t so active in solving these problems.

Overall Impression: CustomCat is liked for its fast shipping, helpful customer support, and easy-to-use app. However, there are some complaints about print quality, delivery delays, and difficulty reaching customer service. While many users are happy, others have had issues that affected their experience.

5 CustomCat Alternatives to Choose from

1. AOP+

AOP+ specializes in all-over-print products, allowing you to create unique designs on the entire surface of items. You can apply these designs to a variety of products like phone cases, hoodies, t-shirts, accessories, and home goods.

AOP+ offers a wide range of sublimation-ready products, giving creators the freedom to design without limits. They also provide customizable packaging options to enhance the overall brand experience for your customers.

Key Features:

• Over 140 high-quality products
• In-house production
• Ready-made design options
• Branding capabilities
• Worldwide shipping
• Automated order fulfillment
• Easy integration with e-commerce stores

Pricing Plan:

• Start-up member: Free
• Super Member: $11.99/month
• Hero Member: $19.99/month

Pros:

• All-over-print designs available
• Design tools for mockups
• Customizable packaging and labels
• White label option
• Large selection of sublimation-ready products
• No minimum order requirements

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Limited customization options for non-sublimation products

2. Print Aura

Print Aura offers a wide range of over 360 products, including t-shirts, masks, tank tops, drinkware, bags, wall art, and accessories.

The platform also provides several branding options, such as neck label removal, hang tags, and custom packaging. Additionally, it features a pricing tool to help you calculate costs and profit margins.

Print Aura includes a design tool for creating product mockups and integrates with platforms like Opencart, Storenvy, WooCommerce, Etsy, and Shopify.

Key Features:

• Worldwide shipping
• Design tool for mockups
• Multiple branding options (e.g., packing slips, return labels)
• Direct-to-garment printing for full-color designs
• Can print up to 500 items per day

Pricing Plan: Print Aura doesn’t have paid plans. Pricing depends on the product, print specifications, and shipping destination.

Pros:

• Wide variety of products
• No minimum order requirement
• Multiple customization options
• No paid subscriptions

Cons:

• The interface feels somewhat outdated

3. Teespring (now Spring)

Teespring lets you set up a free store or connect a custom domain. You can also link your social media accounts to sell your products directly.

The platform offers over 180 products and handles everything from production to shipping and customer service.

With production and shipping centers in Australia, Europe, and North America, Teespring POD ensures fast deliveries worldwide. It also provides marketing tools like the Teespring Booster Network and product design options through the Teespring Launcher tool.

Key Features:

• Easy-to-use design tools
• Integration with social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, Discord, Streamlabs, and Instagram
• Optional marketing services
• Customizable storefronts
• Optional fulfillment services, including inventory and warehousing management

Pricing Plan: Teespring is free to use. You can set your own selling price and keep all the profits. Product prices depend on your design and any discounts.

Pros:

• No subscription fees
• Simple in-app design tool
• User-friendly interface

Cons:

• Requires a minimum number of sales to keep the store active
• Designs made on the platform expire after a short period

4. JetPrint

JetPrint works with over 200 manufacturers to offer a large catalog of more than 400 products. It includes US-made merchandise from well-known brands like Delta, Gildan, and Bella+Canvas.

As a strong alternative to CustomCat, JetPrint provides unique embroidery options and a variety of merch items, such as doormats, bags, socks, and hats. It also supports several printing methods, including heat transfer, sublimation, screen printing, and direct-to-garment printing.

Key Features:

• Free mockup generator for designing products
• Option for automated order management
• Global shipping services
• Live preview to adjust product design placement
• Partners with delivery services like DHL, FedEx, and YunExpress
• Custom shoe labels
• Integration with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce

Pricing Plan: JetPrint is free to use, but the price of products depends on the product type, print method, order quantity, and fulfillment location.

Pros:

• No minimum order required
• Discounts for bulk orders
• Wide range of products
• Versatile design tools

Cons:

• Shipping costs vary by fulfillment center
• Fewer e-commerce platform integrations than some other providers

5. T-Pop

T-Pop specializes in apparel and accessories. It lets you customize and brand the packaging and packing slips for your products. You can also trademark your product labels after reaching 100 sales each month.

T-Pop is environmentally conscious, using recycled paper packing slips and plastic-free packaging to reduce its impact on the planet.

Key Features:

• Customizable packing slips
• Large product selection
• Direct-to-garment printing and sublimation options
• International shipping
• Automated order fulfillment

Pricing: T-Pop offers a free plan and two paid plans:

• Free
• Plus: $32.43 (€30)/month
• Pro: $75.68 (€70)/month

Pros:

• Free plan includes many features
• Automated shipping calculations
• Worldwide shipping options
• Easy-to-use interface
• Multiple language support

Cons:

• Limited integrations (only 3 external integrations available in the highest plan)
• Smaller product selection compared to other platforms

Others also read

SPOD Print on Demand: Is it The Best Choice?

Apliiq Print on Demand – All the Key Pros and Cons

How to Sell With Print on Demand on Etsy

Conclusion

In our view, CustomCat Print On Demand is one of the best options in the POD market. The company stands out for offering affordable prices and high-quality products. If you want a provider that can produce items in various locations around the world to speed up shipping, Gelato is a great choice.

With a reliable customer base worldwide, CustomCat is one of the leading POD companies. It’s a dependable partner for entrepreneurs and designers who are just starting out. If you're still unsure which POD provider to choose, we recommend checking out our other articles for more details.

FAQs

1. How much does CustomCat cost?

CustomCat has a free plan called CustomCat Lite, which gives you access to their full product catalog at regular wholesale prices. 

If you want better pricing, you can upgrade to CustomCat PRO for $25/month if paid yearly or $30/month if paid monthly, which offers 20-40% discounts on regular prices.

2. Does CustomCat work with Shopify?

Yes, CustomCat works perfectly with Shopify. It allows you to create and sell custom products directly through your Shopify store, helping you manage orders and inventory without needing to keep stock.

3. How long does CustomCat take to process?

CustomCat usually processes orders quickly, with 95% of items produced and shipped within 3 business days. However, delivery times can vary depending on the shipping method and destination.

4. Does CustomCat have an app?

No, CustomCat does not have a dedicated app. However, it has an app that integrates with platforms like Shopify. The app helps you manage your product listings, orders, and fulfillment processes easily.

5. Where is CustomCat based?

CustomCat is based in Detroit, Michigan, where they handle the production and shipping of custom products. This location helps them offer fast shipping across the U.S.