This Gelato print on demand review will cover the most critical features, but first, here’s a quick overview of this POD solution.
User-Friendliness | Price | Features | Product Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
9.5/10 | 9/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.2/10 |
| ✅WHAT I LIKE + | ❌WHAT I DON’T LIKE – |
|---|---|
| Reasonable production time and fast shipping | Limited branding options |
| Excellent print quality | No warehousing and same-day fulfillment services |
| Extensive product catalog | Print quality may vary depending on the local production partner |
| 30-Day free trial | Slow customer support (Gelato is not consistent in this department.) |
| Lower printing costs than most competitors | |
| Intuitive website and design editor | |
| Advanced analytics for your print-on-demand business | |
| Integrates with popular ecommerce platforms like Etsy, Shopify, etc. |
I’ll cover Gelato’s most crucial factors to help you decide if this POD platform is right for you.
Here are the features I’ve evaluated for sellers like you.
- Gelato Print-on-Demand Products
- Direct-to-Garment Printing
- Shipping and Order Fulfillment
- Production Creation Tools
- Mockup Generator
- Ecommerce Integrations
- Gelato App
- Custom Packaging and Personalized Shipping Labels
- Gelato Academy
What Is Gelato and How Does It Work?
Founded in Oslo, Norway, in 2012 by Henrik Müller-Hansen, Gelato describes itself as a software company offering a print-on-demand platform that connects print providers with entrepreneurs and creators.
Today, Gelato POD produces locally in 33 countries and ships to more than 200 territories and countries worldwide.
The company offers one of the best POD solutions because it manages the entire process, from production and order management to packaging and payment.
However, the Gelato print-on-demand business model does not own a factory network or any type of printing infrastructure. In short, it only acts as an intermediary or platform connecting vendors with the best print providers.
With Gelato print-on-demand products, your online store can sell personalized items without investing in expensive printing infrastructure.
Gelato Print-on-Demand Review: Feature-by-Feature
Is Gelato worth it? Well, it depends on the features and products you need for your business.
Product Offerings
When you sign up on Gelato, you’ll get access to these print-on-demand product categories:
- Men’s clothing
- Women’s clothing
- Kids and baby clothing
- Tote bags
- Wall art
- Phone cases
- Mugs
- Photo books
- Calendars
- Cards
- Stationery and business
Each product category comes with different designs, colors, and sizes.
For example, the women’s clothing category includes sportswear, hoodies, long sleeves, tank tops, and three-fourths sleeve shirts, all available in varying colors and sizes (small, medium, large, and 3XL).
On the other hand, the wall art category offers different options regarding frames (wood and metal), dimensions, print types (acrylic, foam, and wood), and much more.
| Verdict |
|---|
| Even with the Free Plan, you can still access Gelato’s intuitive design editor and take advantage of its seamless integration. Because Gelato covers the entire process of print-on-demand business and offers high-quality products, it’s safe to say that it is one of the best POD solutions out there. |
Direct-to-Garment Printing
Direct-to-garment printing, or DTG, is a clothing production method that uses digital printers to transfer designs directly onto fabrics.
DTG printers use designs from digital files and spray them on the fabric. Cotton is one of the most suitable materials for this clothing printing method.
DTG printers need water-based inks and pre-treated fabric to ensure a flat printing surface and excellent color quality.
After printing, the production company must cure the fabric again to ensure the designs last longer.
The printing method is ideal for t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, and hoodies.
I listed its pros and cons to help you better understand DTG printing.
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DTG printing is suitable for 100% cotton garments, although it can handle cotton and polyester blends as long as they are at least 50% cotton. If not, the colors may appear dull and the design less intricate.
| Verdict |
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| DTG printing is an affordable method for printing on cotton or fabric blends with a high percentage of cotton. This allows you to offer high-quality, detailed prints to your customers. |
Shipping and Order Fulfillment
Gelato has over 130 production partners in 32 countries. With an extensive shipping network, this print-on-demand service delivers to 200 countries and territories.
The Gelato printing network makes its shipping costs and delivery time reasonable and carbon emissions low.
It also manages the entire fulfillment process, meaning once your customers buy from your online store, the platform routes the orders to the closest local production partner.
The company then delivers the products directly to your customers through fixed-rate shipping, express shipping, or whatever option you choose.
Additionally, Gelato offers live order tracking until the package gets to the shipping destination to keep your customers up to date.
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| Verdict |
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| If you want to focus on selling your design and avoid time-consuming tasks like printing and packaging, Gelato’s order fulfillment processes and shipping options can help you achieve your goals. |
Product Creation Tools
Gelato has drag-and-drop features to help you create professional-looking designs in an instant. The editing tools allow you to easily copy and paste existing designs on different product lines.
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| Verdict |
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| The product creation tools include drag-and-drop features and a vast library of mockups, stock photos, graphics, and fonts. Consequently, it’s quick and easy to create professional-looking designs with Gelato. |
Mockup Generator
Gelato has mockup tools and an extensive library of images and models to help you showcase your designs to customers.
High-quality mockups give customers a realistic view of your design on posters, t-shirts, or mugs.
With this program, you can add your design, background, text, and other graphics to Gelato’s products. You can also adjust for vertical or horizontal print, the size, and other customizations.
As you make adjustments and customizations, you’ll see a real-time mockup preview, helping you and your customers visualize your designs better.
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| Verdict |
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| You must sign up for Gelato’s subscription plans to access the Mockup Studio tool. However, the paid plan only makes sense if your orders reach at least 25 monthly. |
Ecommerce Integrations
You can connect your Gelato account to your Etsy store or any ecommerce platform compatible with this POD solution. That way, you can sell, create, and deliver your designs across multiple platforms and anywhere in the world.
Gelato’s multiple integrations are helpful if you’re using multiple marketplaces and platforms.
Each marketplace has its unique audience, geographical reach, and demographics. As a result, selling on multiple platforms can increase your brand exposure and sales.
Gelato said in a statement that it plans to add new integrations. However, if the solution does not support your online store’s platform, there is an option to fulfill via manual orders.
These are the ecommerce platforms compatible with Gelato:
- Etsy
- Shopify
- WooCommerce
- Wix
- Squarespace
- BigCommerce
| Verdict |
|---|
| The Gelato API is flexible and impressive because it allows you to connect to multiple ecommerce platforms or directly to your ecommerce business. Alternatively, you can order products manually in the portal. |
Gelato App
The Gelato app lets you manage your store anytime and anywhere. You can also fine-tune your marketing strategies and business performance, thanks to its data analytics for tracking store sales, orders by country and products, etc.
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| Verdict |
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| The mobile app makes it easy to manage orders and track shipments from anywhere. On the flip side, its editor is not very useful, so you have to open your website browser to use this tool. |
Custom Packaging and Personalized Shipping Labels
Gelato offers customized packaging inserts and labels for store owners looking to include their branding in their products.
However, you can only access this additional service, which starts at $0.49, if you sign up for a paid subscription plan.
These are the benefits of using customized packaging inserts and labels:
- You can add branding and personalization to your shipped products.
- You can offer promotions, discounts, and freebies to your customers.
- You can add QR codes to redirect your customers.
- You can increase brand value and brand recognition.
- You can enhance customer experience.
| Verdict |
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| Although this feature comes with an additional cost, it’s worth the investment. It can make a stellar first impression and allow you to give discounts and promos to your customers. |
Gelato Academy
When you visit the Gelato Academy page, you’ll find a wide range of learning materials, from webinars and videos to articles and tutorials.
Every Tuesday and Wednesday, Gelato Academy holds live webinars where experts share tips on scaling your business and giving it a competitive edge.
Additionally, every Wednesday, the website offers sales and marketing workshops.
| Verdict |
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| Gelato goes all the way in helping vendors scale their businesses and improve their sales performance through free tutorials, webinars, and workshops. |
Plans and Pricing: Gelato Review
Payments
Gelato accepts major credit cards such as VISA and Mastercard and allows you to pay by invoice.
You can also pay the POD solution provider using Wallets, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Payoneer.
Gelato does not charge upfront costs or commissions. However, you may consider signing up for one of its paid plans if you’re selling over 25 items per month. That way, you can take advantage of lower shipping costs.
One of the great things about Gelato is that it handles all the local taxes and VAT and reveals these at the checkout before you complete your order.
Subscription Plans
How much is Gelato?
Some plans are a bit higher when you compare them against other print-on-demand services.
The POD platform has one free plan and three paid plans. The right choice for you depends on your order volume and budget.
Here are their differences at a glance:
| Free Plan | Gelato+ | Gelato+ Gold | Platinum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free Forever | $14.99/month or $139/year | $99/month or $999/year | Custom Pricing |
| Best for | Sellers who are starting out | Sellers with over 25 monthly orders | Sellers with over 50 monthly orders | Sellers with over 500 monthly orders |
| Ecommerce and API Integration | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Access to Production Partners | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Design Editor | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Shipping Discount | ❌ | Up to 30% off standard shipping | Up to 50% off standard shipping | Up to 50% off standard shipping |
| Mockup Studio Tool | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Premium Mockups, Images and Graphics | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Branded Labels and Packaging | ❌ | ✔️ | 30% off branded labels and packaging inserts | 30% off branded labels and packaging inserts |
| Product Expansion Tool | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Dedicated Customer Success Manager | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Fixed-Rate Shipping Cost | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Consulting Team | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
| Dedicated Implementation Services | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Product Prices
If you compare Gelato prices with other popular POD solutions like Printify and Printful, you will notice it offers one of the most competitive prices in the market.
Its apparel and non-apparel pricing is on the low side, making this platform a good starting point for beginners.
Here are some examples of the current products and their prices.
| Category | Starting Prices |
|---|---|
| Men’s T-Shirts | $6 to $15 |
| Mugs and Water Bottles | $6 to $16 |
| Tote Bags | $11 to $16 |
| Women’s Hoodies | $18 to $40 |
Is Gelato Worth It?
Gelato print-on-demand is an excellent POD provider because of its reasonably priced paid plans, intuitive features, and impressive logistics that minimize upfront costs and carbon footprint.
Whether you already have a store or plan to create one, Gelato is worth considering.
Even if you already use a different POD platform, it won’t hurt to open a Gelato account. Many sellers use multiple POD providers to access more products and expand their market reach.
Advantages of Gelato
- Gelato dropshipping allows entrepreneurs and artists to sell POD products without the need to invest in printing infrastructure.
- The platform handles all the processes involved in order fulfillment, shipment, and payment.
- The Gelato print-on-demand platform has an intuitive and user-friendly website and design editor.
- Gelato takes some initiatives to reduce carbon emissions.
Disadvantages of Gelato
- It doesn’t have warehousing and same-day fulfillment services.
- Gelato drop shipping comes with low profit margins.
- You must sign up for its paid subscription plan to use premium images, mockups, and tools.
- It does not offer full coverage printing services.
- The POD solution provider does not offer embroidery, screen printing, sublimation, and other popular printing methods.
- Gelato’s customer support team is inconsistent and slow to resolve issues,
Gelato Reviews: What Do Sellers Say About Gelato
Although most users find Gelato’s features and processes helpful, you’ll occasionally see complaints about its glitchy app, unreliable customer support, and lack of communications regarding out-of-stock items.
These are some actual Gelato print-on-demand reviews I’ve found online.
5 Star Rating Aston H-S
I have used this app for at least a few months and I have had excellent and quick customer support. Very easy to integrate between websites. Definitely 5 stars so far. 100% recommend
(Source: Google Play)
2 Star Rating Choi Cheung
Having major issues with product availability and how to track availability.
I chose Gelato to supply art prints for my store but found that many of the products are out of stock after I spent a long time creating them. There is no indication of stock levels or when products will be back in stock again.
Support is poor, the agent is never available because of technical problems and no way of finding out if the products are out of stock and when they will be available again, or if they are in fact discontinue
Why have them in the product catalogue if they are discontinued or unavailable? , as it’s very time-consuming to upload products in the first place. Seriously thinking of changing suppliers and starting all over again. Need support!
(Source: Shopify App Store)
5 Star Rating The Last Otakus
I really enjoy Gelato’s integration with Shopify. It make it really easy to manage the business with:
– automated fulfillments which can be configured to fulfil after x hours and has an option for manual fulfilments
– automatically sends updates on order to customers (e.g. shipping info)
– the ease of importing and syncing products with shopify One thing I’d recommend they improve is the quality of their mockups. On Gelato, they look alright, but when imported into shopify, they are something not as clear especially when zoomed in.
(Source: Shopify App Store)
Who Should Use Gelato?
Gelato is a simple yet powerful print-on-demand provider that can help you reach your goals. After reviewing its features, I would recommend it to the following individuals and businesses:
- Entrepreneurs who want to start an Etsy shop with print-on-demand
- Creators looking for a less involved side hustle
- Print-on-demand businesses looking to reach more customers worldwide
Gelato Alternatives
Although Gelato has impressive features and streamlined processes, its limited printing options may not work for you. In this scenario, Printify, Customcat, and Printful are worth considering.
Here are other print-on-demand platforms that are worth considering.
Gelato vs. Printful
Gelato has a large fulfillment network, making it unbeatable in terms of production and shipping time. Also, it offers better integrations than Printful.
But when it comes to printing options and product selections, Printful is the clear winner, as it carries more than 220 items and offers cut-and-sew, embroidery, direct-to-garment, and sublimation.
Gelato vs. Printify
Although both print-on-demand platforms offer free plans and a wide range of POD products, Gelato has better integrations and editing tools.
Meanwhile, Printify is a great option if you don’t need a mobile app or only need basic printing services.
Printify is also an excellent choice if you want a more extensive product catalog or need custom-branded items.
Gelato vs. Sellfy
Gelato would be your best option if you already have an existing store, whereas Sellfy may be a great choice if you want to sell your own inventory or haven’t yet created your online shop.
Unlike Gelato, a POD and fulfillment service provider, Sellfy is a complete ecommerce solution that allows users to build their online stores.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Make Money Selling Print-On-Demand Products?
Yes, although you have to accept the lower profit margin. Nevertheless, some sellers have successfully turned their side hustle into a substantial income stream after a lot of hard work and learning.
Is Gelato a Good Print-On-Demand Supplier?
Yes, Gelato is a great print-on-demand company if you don’t want to do your own order fulfillment and shipping or invest in expensive printing infrastructure.
Do You Have To Pay To Use Gelato?
Not necessarily. You can check if this POD solution provider is right for you by signing up for its Free Plan. That way, you can test the waters before you invest in a paid subscription plan.
Can You Make Money With Gelato?
Yes. With hard work, non-stop learning, and market research, and constant fine-tuning of your marketing strategy, selling Gelato’s products can be profitable.
Is Gelato Good for Etsy?
Yes, you can start an Etsy print-on-demand business with this platform. Gelato offers seamless integration with popular ecommerce platforms and marketplaces, including Etsy.
Where Do I Find Suppliers for My Print-On-Demand Business?
Aside from Gelato, you can also check out the best print-on-demand providers I’ve found:
- Printful
- Printify
- SPOD
- Redbubble
- Sellfy
The Final Verdict
Now that you’ve read one of the most comprehensive Gelato print on-demand reviews online, you may decide whether this low-cost, low-risk solution is right for you.
I found Gelato to be one of the most reliable print-on-demand companies in the market. It has one of the most competitive prices, but I like the variety of printing suppliers the most.
With the local production hubs, you can offer express shipping to your customers, although it’s not as fast as Amazon’s Prime 2-Day shipping. Still, Gelato ships to the customer’s shipping address fairly quickly.
Although it does not have the most extensive product catalog, it still holds its own against other giants.
However, you must remember that your POD business’s success depends on you.
To be successful in the print-on-demand business, you must offer designs based on what your target customers want. Your marketing strategy, keyword research, and customer support can also help you stand out from the competition.
