Spreadshop vs Spreadshirt: Which Print-on-Demand Platform Wins for Ecommerce?

Original Source: https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/spreadshop-vs-spreadshirt

If you’re trying to decide between Spreadshop and Spreadshirt, you’re not alone.

Both platforms are part of the Spread Group family, but they serve two very different types of online sellers. Whether you’re looking to test designs passively or build a brand with long-term growth, your choice here matters.

After researching and testing both platforms, I found Spreadshop is the better option for entrepreneurs looking to scale, build a brand, and control their online store.

Meanwhile, Spreadshirt is ideal if you’re just starting out or want a low-maintenance way to sell your designs without doing any marketing.

Quick Verdict: Spreadshop vs Spreadshirt

Spreadshop – Best for building a brand and running your own ecommerce store

Spreadshirt – Best for casual sellers or beginners looking to test designs

In this breakdown, I’ll cover pricing, customization, SEO, earnings potential, and overall fit based on your business goals.

Quick Comparison Table: Spreadshop vs Spreadshirt

Here’s a side-by-side summary of what each platform offers:

FeatureSpreadshopSpreadshirtBest ForEcommerce brands & creatorsCasual or beginner sellersPlatform TypeCustom storefront (white-label)MarketplaceBranding ControlFullLimitedSEO OptimizationYes (titles, meta, custom domain)NoBuilt-in TrafficNo (you bring it)Yes (they provide it)Profit MarginsHigherLowerCustomer Data AccessYesNoDomain OptionsCustom domain allowedSubdomain onlySetup Time30–45 minutes10–15 minutesIntegration ToolsGoogle Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc.NoneIdeal Use CaseBuilding a long-term brandSelling designs passively

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Best for Pricing: Spreadshop (Better Profit Potential)

Both platforms are free to join and don’t charge monthly fees. But what you can earn per sale varies dramatically.

Spreadshop Pricing Structure

Base product prices are set by Spreadshop (e.g. a standard t-shirt might be $12.99)

You choose the retail price, meaning you set your own profit margin

No transaction fees or monthly subscription fees

You can offer discount codes and bundles

Example:

Base cost: $12.99

Retail price: $24.99

Your profit: $12.00

Spreadshirt Pricing Structure

Spreadshirt controls the base prices

You earn a design commission, usually between $2 and $5 per product

Optional affiliate bonus (up to 20%) if traffic comes through your own referral link

Example:

Base cost: $17.99 (set by Spreadshirt)

Design commission: $3.00

Affiliate bonus (if applicable): $2.00

Your profit: $3.00–$5.00 per sale

Winner: Spreadshop

Spreadshop gives you full pricing control, better margins, and more flexibility. Spreadshirt’s earnings are capped and less favorable for anyone serious about ecommerce growth.

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Best for Building a Brand: Spreadshop

If your goal is to create a branded store that you own and grow over time, Spreadshop wins without question.

What You Can Customize on Spreadshop:

Storefront theme, layout, and navigation

Store colors and branding (logo, header, favicon)

Custom domain (e.g. yourbrand.com)

Homepage banners and featured collections

Product categories and descriptions

Checkout experience (partially customizable)

Add your own tracking (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel)

Spreadshirt Limitations:

You cannot change the layout of your store

You get a subdomain (e.g. spreadshirt.com/user/yourstore)

Your designs are listed alongside thousands of other sellers

No access to buyer email addresses or marketing tools

In practice, having your own storefront allows you to craft a seamless experience that reflects your brand identity. You can align every visual and written element — from product categories to promotional banners — with your brand’s tone and style.

That level of consistency helps build trust with customers, improves conversion rates, and makes it easier to stand out from generic POD sellers. If brand equity is important to you, Spreadshop gives you the foundation to grow it.

Winner: Spreadshop

The ability to fully customize your storefront, use a custom domain, and build a recognizable brand makes Spreadshop the better option for serious sellers.

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Best for Ease of Use: Spreadshirt

Spreadshirt is designed for beginners. It takes just minutes to set up an account and start selling.

What You Can Expect With Spreadshirt:

Upload a design

Choose the product type (t-shirt, hoodie, etc.)

Set your commission amount

Your product is listed in Spreadshirt’s marketplace

They handle the marketing, fulfillment, and customer service

Spreadshop Setup Requires a Bit More:

Build your store (layout, branding, navigation)

Add your products and write descriptions

Set pricing and profit margins

Drive your own traffic

It’s not hard, but it does take more time and effort upfront.

That said, Spreadshop still offers a user-friendly backend for anyone who’s used other ecommerce platforms. You don’t need coding experience to set up your store, and the platform provides pre-designed themes that simplify the process.

The difference is more about time and intent — Spreadshirt is plug-and-play, while Spreadshop is structured like a starter kit for entrepreneurs who are ready to invest a little more effort.

Winner: Spreadshirt

If speed and simplicity are your top priorities, Spreadshirt gets you online faster with less setup.

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Best for SEO and Marketing: Spreadshop

Spreadshirt doesn’t offer any SEO customization or direct access to your store’s analytics. That’s a major drawback if you’re planning to use content marketing, search engine optimization, or ads.

Spreadshop SEO Features:

Custom meta titles and descriptions

Editable URLs

Alt text for images

Ability to connect Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel

Blog integration (hosted on your store)

Custom domain support (yourstore.com)

Spreadshirt Limitations:

No SEO customization

No analytics access

You cannot connect your own domain

Traffic is based entirely on Spreadshirt’s marketplace rankings

Spreadshop’s marketing features are also better suited for growing stores. You can promote your products through email marketing, integrate with Meta Ads or Google Shopping, and run traffic campaigns with detailed performance insights.

This level of access is key when testing messaging, optimizing product descriptions for search engines, or running seasonal promotions. Spreadshirt, in contrast, leaves your products buried in a crowded marketplace with little room to maneuver.

Winner: Spreadshop

For anyone building an ecommerce strategy around SEO, Google rankings, and analytics, Spreadshop gives you the tools you need.

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Best for Control Over Customer Data: Spreadshop

If you’re trying to build an audience or grow an email list, owning the customer journey is essential.

With Spreadshop:

You collect emails (through integrations or lead forms)

You can run retargeting ads

You build a customer base for repeat purchases

With Spreadshirt:

You never see customer emails or contact info

You can’t follow up with past customers

You can’t build a long-term marketing strategy

Having access to your customer data not only allows for repeat sales but also supports customer lifecycle marketing. With the right integrations, you can trigger email sequences based on user behavior, offer loyalty programs, and track which products generate the most engagement.

This opens the door to building true customer relationships — something that’s impossible on a marketplace where the platform owns all the data.

Winner: Spreadshop

Access to your customer data is what allows you to grow your business. Spreadshop gives you that access.

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Best for Passive Selling: Spreadshirt

Not everyone wants to build a brand from scratch. Sometimes you just want to upload designs and see what happens.

Spreadshirt is Great for:

Testing designs with zero marketing

Earning passive income from existing traffic

Selling casually with minimal commitment

Artists and creators who don’t want to handle marketing

Spreadshop is More Work:

You’re responsible for bringing visitors

You’ll need to learn basic ecommerce marketing

More time investment upfront

Spreadshirt’s model works well for artists, hobbyists, and anyone dipping their toes into ecommerce without a big commitment.

Since you don’t need to set up your own marketing or manage a website, it’s ideal for side hustlers who want low effort and low risk.

You can use it to test product ideas and validate demand before moving to a platform with more control, like Spreadshop or Shopify.

Winner: Spreadshirt

For hobbyists or casual creators, Spreadshirt is easier to manage and less demanding overall.

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Best for Long-Term Growth: Spreadshop

Once you start building traffic, content, and customer relationships, Spreadshop becomes a far more scalable platform.

Here’s why:

Better profit margins let you reinvest in ads or product expansion

SEO tools help you rank organically over time

Direct control over branding boosts trust and conversions

You can collect emails and build long-term customer relationships

Unlike a marketplace, your Spreadshop store becomes an asset that gains value over time. Whether you’re creating evergreen blog content that drives search traffic or building a customer base for seasonal campaigns, everything you do adds momentum to your business.

You’re not just selling products — you’re building equity in a brand that could grow into something much bigger.

Winner: Spreadshop

For sustainable growth and a real ecommerce business, Spreadshop has the edge.

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Final Verdict: Spreadshop vs Spreadshirt

Here’s a summary of how both platforms stack up across key categories:

CategoryWinnerWhy It WinsPricingSpreadshopHigher margins and flexible pricingBranding and CustomizationSpreadshopFull storefront control and domain useEase of UseSpreadshirtFaster setup, no traffic requiredSEO and AnalyticsSpreadshopSEO features + analytics integrationsCustomer Data OwnershipSpreadshopYou control the customer relationshipPassive Income PotentialSpreadshirtGood for testing with zero effortLong-Term GrowthSpreadshopScalable and brand-friendly

While both platforms offer value depending on your goals, Spreadshop consistently comes out ahead for anyone serious about building a business.

The ability to customize your brand, control your customer data, and scale your store gives you more freedom and long-term upside.

Spreadshirt fills a very specific need — making it easy for creators to list products without having to manage marketing or setup — but it limits your control and growth potential.

If you’re looking for a starting point, Spreadshirt is simple and quick. If you’re building something bigger, Spreadshop gives you the foundation to grow on your terms.

My Recommendation

If you’re planning to build a serious ecommerce business — even if you’re starting small — Spreadshop is the better platform.

You get more control, better margins, and all the tools you need to grow over time. The learning curve is slightly steeper, but the long-term payoff is worth it.

Spreadshirt is a decent starting point if you’re just testing the waters. But if you’re in this to build something sustainable, go with Spreadshop from day one.

Ultimately, it comes down to your goals.

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