The 17 Best Suppliers for Print-On-Demand Journals
Here are the best suppliers for the best print-on-demand journals and more.
Omar's Take
Printify is arguably one of the most trusted print-on-demand companies in the world today. They have a vast network of printing and fulfillment partners and a large selection of print-on-demand products.
Best:
Overall
Price:
Starts at $29 monthly
Annual Billing:
Starts at $299.88 annually
Promotion:
Free Plan
Printify lets you sell over 850 products through print-on-demand, including custom print-on-demand notebooks and journals.
The company has some of the most competitive printing prices and shipping costs, allowing you to sell dropshipping journals at a maximum profit.
You can print custom notebooks, journals, and stationeries. They also provide spiral notebook products and hardcover journals with custom pages.
Advantages
Here are some of Printify’s advantages.
- A large resource knowledge base
- Product quality is tested and proven
- Over 90 order fulfillment facilities
- Provides reprints and refunds
- Vast customization options
Cons
Printify’s slow and sometimes unresponsive customer service can sometimes be challenging. There are also limited platform integrations.
Pricing
These are Printify’s pricing plans.
- Free plan
- Premium – $29 monthly
- Enterprise – Custom pricing
Omar's Take
Printful creates beautiful journals and paper-based products for you or your customers. I also like that they don’t charge subscription fees.
Best for:
Beginners
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Printful is another popular print-on-demand site and a go-to option for selling print products online via dropshipping. The company provides over 230 print-on-demand products, including journals and notebooks.
Advantages
Here are some of Printful’s advantages.
- No monthly subscription fees
- A vast collection of custom notebook and journal-type products to choose from
- Custom payment gateways through PayPal and credit cards
- Custom packaging
- Accurate product and shipping costs for better profit margin calculation
- iOS and Android apps for mobility
Cons
Printful has slow customer support and limited customization options for printing.
Pricing
Printful doesn’t charge monthlyly or annual subscription. You pay for product printing and shipping only.
Omar's Take
Moo has the best print quality for journals and other paper-based products. The output is always stellar, meaning your customers get the best output always.
:
Its high print quality
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
Starts at $99 annually
Promotion:
N/A
Moo has made its mark as the top print-on-demand supplier of business stationery. However, the company also has great POD journals, planners, and notebooks.
Advantages
Here are some of Moo’s advantages.
- Great quality printing
- Responsive and helpful customer service
- Excellent shipment packaging
- Great for creating hardcover journals and notebooks
Cons
Some business owners and designers might find Moo’s printing too expensive. Also, some designs don’t let you customize your dropship journals and notebooks enough.
Pricing
Here are Moo’s pricing plans:
- Free plan
- Business Boost – $99 yearly
- Reseller – $149 yearly
- Business Advanced – $299 yearly
Omar's Take
Blurb is one of the best platforms for non-professionals due to its easy-to-use platform and free templates you can choose and customize easily.
Best for:
Non-professional users
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Blurb is an easy-to-use platform and print-on-demand service for entrepreneurs without extensive design knowledge. They already have templates, so you don’t have to design from scratch.
Advantages
Here are some of Blurb’s advantages.
- Easy to use
- Efficient and customizable templates
- Cheap photo printing services
- Has book styling guidelines to improve design consistency
- Provides overnight shipping
Cons
If you use templates, there’s a high likelihood your product might have a close copy. The design placeholders are also limited, given that the platform focuses on beginner designers.
Pricing
Blurb is free to use and doesn’t charge any subscription fees. You only pay for printing and fulfillment.
Omar's Take
Redbubble is a great print-on-demand company for artists who want to monetize their creativity and capitalize on Redubble’s solid reputation.
Best for:
artists
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
No subscription costs
RedBubble is a marketplace and store with a lot of highly talented artists. This option might be your best bet if you want to sell on a platform with a large audience.
Over 700,000 creatives sell through RedBubble, proving how many designers and sellers trust the site.
Advantages
Here are some of Redbubble’s advantages.
- An existing platform with over 38 million visitors monthly
- Platform handles payment processing, printing, shipping, and customer service
- Complete control over profit margins and prices
Cons
Redbubble’s over 700,000 designers means you’ll have a lot of competition on the platform.
Pricing
Redbubble doesn’t have a subscription cost. Instead, you pay a flat fee for every product sold. You can get more info on the site’s pricing tiers and fee table.
Omar's Take
Bookblock is a fully managed service for custom and bespoke notebooks in the UK. It’s a great option for those who want eco-friendly products.
Best for:
Eco-conscious sellers and customers
Price:
£7.99 monthly
Annual Billing:
£71.88 annually
Promotion:
Free plan
Bookblock is a print-on-demand company based in the UK, making it a reliable supplier for UK-based sellers. They also offer beautiful personalized boxes, giving your journals a wow factor.
Advantages
Here are some of Bookblock’s advantages.
- Great print quality for print-on-demand spiral notebooks, journals, and cards
- Ability to personalize boxes
- Offers return within 14 days
- Takes payments from major credit cards
Cons
Bookblock currently only ships within the UK.
Pricing
Bookblock charges £7.99 monthly. They also have an annual plan set at £71.88 yearly.
Omar's Take
Teelaunch’s wide integrations allow you to easily connect your store to your print-on-demand supplier so that you can sell on more platforms.
Best for:
Multi-platform sellers
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
No subscription fees
Teelaunch is well-known for being a reliable and top-quality t-shirt printing dropshipping company. It’s also great at creating other products, including hardbound journals, notebooks, spiral paper products, and more.
Advantages
Here are Teelaunch’s advantages
- UPS mail innovations for domestic shipping and Ascendia for international shipping
- Integrations with several eCommerce platforms (Etsy, Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and API integration)
- Takes PayPal and Payoneer payments
Cons
Teelaunch only ships to Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain. Moreover, their order processing takes longer, generally around three to six days before shipping.
Pricing
Teelaunch doesn’t charge subscription fees to use its platform.
Omar's Take
With Contrado, you can access thousands of products you can sell through a Shopify store or on Contrado’s site.
Best for:
Shopify sellers
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Contrado is another print-on-demand company with its own marketplace. The company has been around since 2002 and has become a top one-stop-shop production company for printing.
Advantages
Here are some of Contrado’s advantages.
- The company has its own marketplace
- You can upload layouts in TIFF, JPEG, or PNG
- Their paper is extremely high quality
Cons
You can only create journals with 80 pages or fewer. The profit margins are also relatively small, only 25% of your total sales.
Pricing
Contrado is free. you don’t have to pay monthly or annual fees.
Omar's Take
Lulu is a great option for people looking for a place to buy print-on-demand planners, notebooks, and journals in bulk.
Best for:
Shopify print-on-demand
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
No subscription fees
Lulu Direct has been around since 2002. The company has print facilities in strategic parts of the world, including France, Australia, Poland, Canada, the US, and Poland.
Advantages
Here are some of Lulu Direct’s advantages.
- They have express and expedited shipping methods
- Discounts for bulk orders reach up to 15%
- Free guides and templates for printing books, notebooks, and journals on Lulu Direct
Cons
Lulu’s production times can take longer, reaching up to five days. Their shipping can also be slow due to some delivery restrictions.
Pricing
Using the platform is free. You only pay for the products you order.
Omar's Take
StationeryHQ provides some of the best wholesale prices, saving you a lot of money when ordering journals in bulk.
Best for:
Wholesale ordering
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
No subscription fees
StationeryHQ is a popular place to get journals and notebooks at highly affordable wholesale prices. They also offer blind dropshipping, which is great if you want your identity to be anonymous.
Advantages
Here are some of StationeryHQ’s advantages.
- Wholesale discounts reach up to 50% when you spend $400 or more
- They’re one of the best for blind dropshipping
- You can request paper sample packs
Cons
StationeryHQ doesn’t have any integrations with other eCommerce platforms. They also don’t customize packages and labels.
Pricing
This supplier doesn’t charge a monthly subscription fee. You only pay for the products you create and sell.
Omar's Take
Prodigi arguably has one of the best mockup generators, so you can create visual materials to promote your books.
Best for:
mockup generation
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Prodigi has a highly vast shipping network that can widen your shipping reach. They’re also well-known for vegan notebooks, which can be a selling point if your niche serves the vegan community..
Advantages
Here are some of Prodigi’s advantages.
- The company has a wide shipping network.
- They offer vegan notebooks.
- You can request free product samples.
Cons
Processing times can take up to three days, and Prodigi’s print costs can be high for some sellers.
Pricing
Prodigi doesn’t charge users any subscription fees. You only pay for printing and shipping.
Omar's Take
Zazzle’s marketplace has grown over the past few years. The company also promotes their business on social media and search.
Best for:
Sellers who need marketing help
Price:
$19.95 annually
Annual Billing:
$19.95 annually
Promotion:
N/A
Zazzle is a marketplace for print-on-demand products, with great options for journals and notebooks. They’re superb at marketing the platform and some of their select sellers and dropshippers.
Advantages
Here are some of Zazzle’s advantages.
- High-quality products
- Environment-friendly options
- Opportunity to become a Zazzle affiliate
Cons
Zazzle is a saturated marketplace with much competition. Setting up your account also takes longer than other options on this list.
Pricing
Zazzle’s platform is free, but you can upgrade to a plus account with additional features for $19.95 yearly. You must earn at least $100 to qualify for the pro plan.
Omar's Take
GearLaunch provides top-level customer service and processes orders relatively fast (within 24 hours). You’ll appreciate them most if you need orders to go out quickly.
Best for:
Fast order processing
Price:
$4.99 monthly
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
GearLaunch’s biggest selling point is its fast order processing. They promise to start producing your products within 24 hours or less.
Advantages
Here are some of Gearlaunch’s advantages.
- Fast order processing
- Responsive customer service
- Seamless Shopify integration
Cons
Gearlaunch lacks other major third-party integrations outside of Shopify. Also, shipping rates can be quite expensive for dropshippers outside the US.
Pricing
GearLaunch’s platform is free to use. You only pay for products you print and ship.
Omar's Take
CafePress is one of the few print-on-demand companies with a bonus structure, making it more motivating to sell more products.
Best for:
Its performance bonus structure
Price:
$6.95 monthly
Annual Billing:
$59.95 annually
Promotion:
Free plan
CafePress is an award-winning platform for entrepreneurs. It won the People's Voice Webby Award in the Commerce category in 2001 and is still a trusted platform for people who sell online products, including journals.
Advantages
Here are some of CafePress’s advantages.
- A generous performance bonus structure
- Relatively easy to set up
- They have their own marketplace
Cons
CafePress doesn’t provide branding options. Some users have also indicated some issues with print quality.
Pricing
Here are CafePress’s pricing plans.
- Free plan
- $6.95 per month
- $18.45 for three months
- $34.95 for six months
- $59.95 for one year
Omar's Take
Minted’s spiral binding options are some of the most beautiful among printers. They also provide top-quality printing for other journal formats and sizes.
Best for:
Spiral notebooks and journals
Price:
$4.99 monthly
Annual Billing:
$38 annually
Promotion:
Free plan
Minted is a highly popular marketplace and print-on-demand company. They provide great quality paper that will wow your customers.
Advantages
Here are some of Minted’s advantages.
- You can order journals in multiple colors
- Minted can print up to 160 pages per journal
- Designers will receive credit for their work
Cons
Minted’s journals have excellent print quality, but the price also increases. Joining the platform can also be hard because of the screening process.
Pricing
It’s free to join Minted, but you can also subscribe to Minted More for free shipping and printing discounts for $4.99 monthly.
Omar's Take
Bags of Love is another option for journal creators in the UK. The site has several customization options.
Best for:
UK-based sellers
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
No subscription fees
Bags of Love is a UK-based print marketplace specializing in photo prints and providing good-quality journals and notebooks.
Advantages
Here are some advantages of Bags of Love.
- They offer next-day delivery in the US
- Their prints last a long time and don’t fade easily
Cons
Some customers have reported that printing can be off-center at times.
Pricing
Using the Bags of Love platform is free. You only pay for products you print and ship.
Omar's Take
Threadless is a well-known artist’s marketplace for t-shirts, bags, and journal notebooks. The site's designs are superb and push you to make amazing product designs.
Best for:
talented artists
Price:
Free
Annual Billing:
N/A
Promotion:
N/A
Threadless is a community of t-shirt designers and artists with some of the most beautifully designed items you’ll find online. What most people don’t see much are the wonderful blank, dotted, and lined journals on the site.
Advantages
Here are some of Threadless’ advantages.
- Many talented designers you can draw inspiration from
- Easy setup
- Marketplace within the site
Cons
The marketplace is saturated with designers, so it can be hard to stand out. The royalties are also only 20%, which is lower than many other marketplaces.
Pricing
Joining Threadless is free. However, the company takes a portion of your sales.
How To Make Money Selling Print-On-Demand Journals
Here’s how to make custom journals to sell.
Find a Profitable Journal Niche.
One key to selling journals is to find a high-demand niche. I recommend using keyword research tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to determine the types of journals people search for on Google or Amazon.
Here are examples of journal niches.
- Art Journals
- Travel Journals
- Gratitude Journals
- Dream Journals
- Fitness Journals
- Pregnancy Journals
- Prayer Journals
- Garden Journals
- Wine Tasting Journals
- Recipe Journal
- Reading Journals
- Business Idea Journals
- Leather-bound Journals
- Guided Journals
- Mindfulness Journals
Look for Design Pegs.
Study design pegs to know what already works and why people like them.
How does one look for great pegs for journal inspiration? Here’s a simple strategy you can follow.
Let’s say you want to create a personalized notebook to sell on Etsy.
Go to the Etsy website and type “custom notebooks” in the search bar. Look for the products with the highest number of positive reviews and read people’s feedback.
Note the great features that past customers praise about their purchases and see which ones you can do for your journal.
I recommend looking through Amazon print-on-demand journals. Several successful dropshipping businesses are already getting great feedback from their customers.
There is no shortage of design pegs and inspirations when conceptualizing your journal. It will take time and effort, but you should have a lot of ideas after following this process.
Create Unique Features and Selling Points.
You should consider making your product stand out when creating journals. I recommend developing unique selling points to set your journal apart.
From the list of design pegs and niches you’ve researched, start brainstorming features and contents that will make your product attractive to journalers. Highlight all the benefits that one might enjoy when using your journal.
Design Your Journals.
You can start designing your journals once you’ve found a profitable niche. You can use the best digital art software to create the contents of your journal.
Here are the components you need to design when creating your journal design.
- Branding
Create and incorporate unique branding elements like logos, color schemes, unique artwork, or a specific tone in text.
- Cover
The cover is arguably the most important part of the journal, as it’s the first thing people see. Create a design that leaves a lasting impression. Also, make it clear what people can do with your journal.
- Pages
Choose a layout (e.g., lined, dotted, etc.), paper quality, color, and special features (calendars, quotes, etc.).
- Packaging
Design a packaging experience using eco-friendly materials, considering protection and extras like stickers.
- Binding
Choose a binding type (e.g., spiral, stitched, etc.) for durability and usability.
- Extras
I recommend adding features like a ribbon bookmark, elastic band, back pocket, or pen holder.
- Promotional Materials
Design consistent materials, like bookmarks or stickers, with a call-to-action for your brand.
Choose a Print-on-Demand Supplier.
Once you have your journal design, find the best print-on-demand company to create and ship your journals. Find one that matches your budget and has high print quality.
Research two to three suppliers before deciding on your preferred one. Try ordering a sample print and compare the output. You can also keep the others as backup suppliers if your main print-on-demand service has problems.
Promote Your Journals.
Once you have a product and a supplier, you can promote your journals online. Here are some tested and proven ways to get the word out about your amazing new product to people who will buy it:
- Social Media
Social media is important for any business. Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to showcase your journals. Regular posts, stories, and live videos can be effective.
- Influencer Marketing
Collaborate with influencers who can promote your journals to their audience.
- Content Marketing
Write blog posts or create videos about journaling tips featuring your products.
- Email Marketing
Send newsletters with new products, offers, and engaging content to your email list.
- SEO
Optimize your website for search engines to increase organic traffic.
- Online Ads
Use Google Ads or social media ads to target your desired audience.
- Guest Blogging
Write for popular blogs in your niche to gain exposure.
- Online Marketplaces
You can set up a Shopify store. Alternatively, you can sell on platforms like Amazon or Etsy to reach a wider audience.
- Collaborations
Partner with other brands to create co-branded journals or bundles.
- Webinars and Online Workshops
Host online events where you teach journaling techniques, showcasing your journals.
- Online Communities
Engage in communities and forums like Reddit, Quora, or niche Facebook groups, providing value and subtly promoting your journals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is a Journal?
A journal is a personalized notebook you can use for personal or professional reasons. It’s great for tracking diary entries, learning notes, and business ideas.
Here are some ways to use a journal.
- A private diary or a written account of an individual’s thoughts, experiences, and reflections
- A collection of ideas and learnings you might want to reference back to at some point
- A record of daily activities, emotions, personal growth, and reflective insights
- A collection financial transactions made for personal or professional reasons
- A written record of a traveler’s journey, documenting their experiences, observations, and memories during trips and vacations
- A visual diary where artists, designers, or creative individuals document their artistic process, ideas, and inspirations through drawings, sketches, collages, and writings.
What Is the Difference Between a Journal and a Notebook?
A journal is like a personal diary where you write about your experiences, thoughts, and feelings. It’s often more creative and specialized in design and function, used for self-reflection and creative expression.
Meanwhile, a notebook is a more practical tool for organizing information and taking notes. It has blank pages to write class notes, to-do lists, and plans. Unlike journals, notebooks are more general.
Does Printify Offer Journals?
Yes. Printify offers print-on-demand journals with the best quality and service. The next best option will be Printful, depending on your needs and preferences. Look at Printify vs. Printful comparisons to see which option is better.
What Is the Best Print-on-Demand Supplier for Notebooks and Journals?
Printify is one of the best print-on-demand suppliers for notebooks and journals.
They have the best print quality, prices, customizations, and shipping options for stationery products. The app also provides the tools needed to create stunning designs.
The best option for some might not always be the best option for you.
Where Can I Find Journal Publishing Companies Online?
You can opt for a journal publishing company if you don’t want to print custom journal notebooks. There are many of these companies online. The best place to start is Google, but you’ll have to do your research.
Another great place to ask around are communities like Facebook Groups and Quora forums. You can talk to people with experience with journal publishing.
How Do I Start a Business Selling Notebooks and Journals?
Learning how to sell digital art like custom journals or notebooks is now easier with the help of print-on-demand companies.
Follow these steps to start.
- Conduct market research to understand your target customers and competitors. Figure out what types of notebooks and journals are in demand.
- Create a business plan outlining your goals, products, pricing, and marketing approach.
- Find reliable suppliers for your products. Any of the companies mentioned above should be a great place to start.
- Create a catchy brand name and design. You can embed your branding into attractive packaging for your products.
- Choose the online platform or platforms for selling your journals and notebooks. Choose only one or two maximum to keep your operations streamlined.
- Promote your business through social media, content, and collaborations.
- Register your business, handle your taxes accordingly to avoid legal issues, and set up payment systems.
- Get feedback on your designs, customer service, and marketing from friends and customers, and continuously improve your journal business.
How Much Does It Cost To Make a Notebook or Journal?
The cost of a notebook or journal can vary greatly depending on your print providers, shipping services, and product design. You’ll need to consider all these before considering your product pricing.
For a more precise cost estimate, gather quotes from print-on-demand suppliers for the specific materials and quantities you plan to use.
The Bottom Line
Working with any of these reliable print-on-demand suppliers can help streamline the process so you can focus on developing more journals that will delight your customers.
Selling journals can be both a lucrative venture and a creatively fulfilling one. You can have fun designing your journal if you love creating beautiful products.
Don’t hesitate to create journals showing your unique character.
However, you can consider other print-on-demand niches if you’re not interested in creating custom journals.
