The Best Custom T-Shirt Stores

Saturday, January 18th

2025 Custom T-Shirt Store Reviews

Uber Prints

• Prices from $14.99
• Women's, men's, and children's shirts
• One-stop shop for custom products
• Free shipping on $100+
• Returns within 30 days
• Digital print, screen print, and embroidery
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Since 2005, Uber Prints has aimed to simplify, expedite, and enhance the process of designing and receiving personalized apparel. Over the years, they've delivered countless t-shirts across the nation, all uniquely designed by their customers, ranging from businesses establishing their brand to vacationing groups and trendsetting teenagers.

Fantastic design studio

The Uber-Prints custom t-shirt online design studio is-friendly and allows for 24/7 creativity and customizability. Uber Prints prides itself on exceptional customer service. They also receive high marks for rapid delivery and top-notch quality, ensuring customers have a hassle-free and satisfying experience.

Easy start with templates

In terms of their design process, Uber Prints offers convenient design templates that serve as a starting point, giving users the option to customize text and explore various topics. Alternatively, users can begin from scratch by either uploading their images or utilizing the platform's extensive collection of clip art graphics, which offers a multitude of choices.

From computer to fabric

When it comes to printing your shirts, there are three ways to get your designs from computer to fabric:

• Screen Printing:
• Traditional garment decoration method
• Design colors separated into screens
• Ink pushed through mesh onto fabric, bonded with heat
• Requires a 12-product minimum
• Digital Printing:
• Modern technology prints images from digital files
• Results in vibrant, durable, wash-resistant image
• Superior to iron-on transfers
• No minimums
• Embroidery:
• Logo or design is sewn directly into fabric
• Utilizes decorative needlework
• Creates lasting and detailed designs

Huge array of choices

On top of its t-shirt options, Uber Prints boasts an array of unique apparel styles that set it apart from its competitors. From cropped hoodies to wide-neck tees, sherpa vests, long-body tees, camo tees, baby blankets, onesies, hats, bags, dog t-shirts, and aprons, the platform offers an expansive selection that caters to everyone. Whether customers are drawn to trendy fits or classic t-shirts with timeless appeal, Uber Prints' inventory covers a wide spectrum.

Great search filters

When navigating through Uber Prints' wide array of shirt designs and styles, one can easily get lost in the abundance of choices. However, the website counteracts potential overwhelm by incorporating user-friendly filters that enable precise product discovery. These filters empower customers to narrow down products based on quantity, fit, features, color, fabric, and brand, allowing for personalized selections.

Fair prices with single purchase options

The pricing structure accommodates various order sizes, with the possibility of cheaper rates per product as the quantity increases. Depending on the print type and specific product, the platform either imposes no minimum purchase requirements or designates a minimum of 12 items. The pricing for a single shirt is the same across genders and starts as low as $`14.99 per item for both digital and screen printing. The price goes down marginally at each benchmark (12, 24, 48, and 72 items) if you order in bulk. Pricing and shipping terms vary between digitally printed items and screen-printed or embroidered products. Across-the-board shipping costs range from $5.99 to $23.99.

Free shipping on $100+

One standout feature is that you can qualify for free shipping at Uber Prints. The price minimum is $100, but if you order even the minimum option of 12 items for a bulk order, you'll easily meet the minimum. So, as long as you order a minimum bulk order, you'll get free shipping. On top of that, Uber Prints provides a customer-oriented approach to returns, with a designated email and phone number for inquiries and returns within 30 days of receiving the order.

Top of the list for customers

Uber Prints' impressive performance extends beyond its diverse product offerings. With positive customer reviews contributing to their reputation, the platform holds an average star rating of 4.7 out of 5 with over 11,000 total reviews to back up the scores. The company also boasts an "A+” rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Across the board, customers praise the quality of Uber Prints. From the fabric of the shirts to the processing times, customers love working with Uber Prints. Further, customers love the flexibility of the designs and the ability to use templates to make a unique tee that feels like it's their own. Basically, there aren't any downsides if you ask reviewers.

Uber Prints deserves the name

Considering all the benefits of high-quality fabrics and multiple ways to print, Uber Prints easily stands out as the top option on our list. The company offers competitive prices, items available for single purchase and bulk orders, and the massive array of clothing and other printables available on the site makes this a perfect one-stop shop for all your design desires. If you haven't already, hop on over to Uber Prints and check them out.

Design A Shirt

• Prices from $10 to $20 per shirt
• Shirts for women, men, and kids
• Free idea gallery for inspo
• Buy in bulk and single purchase
• 10-day returns
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Design A Shirt got its start in the early 1980s when John Anton decided to print 200 t-shirts for an upcoming ASU vs. USC football game before online shopping was even a thing. As the years went on, as he witnessed a surge in online sales, he engaged a software development company to create a web-based design system, offering customers control over the design process.

Recently upgraded website

Design A Shirt was launched in 2003, printing countless custom t-shirts and apparel across the U.S.A. With a two-decade commitment to excellence, they introduced an upgraded website version in 2022. The new design allows for a faster and smoother user experience in designing personalized merchandise.

Focuses on their flagship product: shirts

Considering the name of the company, it's no surprise that Design A Shirt primarily focuses on offering a wide range of customizable shirts as their flagship product, specializing exclusively in apparel customization rather than a diverse array of products. Their specialization extends to various categories, catering to men, women, juniors, children, athletes, business professionals, cold weather needs, and even specialty items like hoodies, hats, and drinkware. The user-friendly website serves as an easy-to-navigate platform, allowing customers the creative freedom to design their shirts according to their preferences and style.

Add your own touch or use theirs

Within the design studio, customers are guided through a step-by-step process. They begin by selecting the desired article of clothing for printing, followed by the option to incorporate clip art (provided by Design A Shirt) and/or images, and finally, adding text. The range of clip art choices is extensive, spanning categories like animals, holidays, interests, military, sports, and more. The platform offers flexibility in manipulating images - resizing, rotating, and relocating them on the shirt's front or back. Notably, for orders exceeding six items, customers can even opt for custom embroidery to achieve a more professional and polished design.

Pricing lacks transparency

One thing we didn't love about Design A Shirt, though, was their pricing. The site completely lacks transparency of pricing unless you make an account. There's no way to see the prices of the shirts until you've put together your item and hit "get quote”. According to verified third-party reviews, the shirts range from $10 to $15 per item if you buy in bulk or around $20 per shirt if you buy individually. Thankfully, most of their shirts don't require minimums, so if you only want to buy one that's easy to do at Design A Shirt.

Free idea gallery

For those seeking inspiration, the idea gallery is a neat feature at Design A Shirt. This gallery showcases the potential of their style functions, providing examples that encompass a variety of themes such as funny quotes, birthday sayings, family reunion prints, and casual wear options. This gallery acts as a helpful starting point for embarking on your t-shirt customization journey if you're not sure yet what you want to put together.

10-day return policy

There is a return policy at Design A Shirt, but it's one of the shortest return windows in our review. According to the site, should any concerns arise after receiving the purchased item, Design A Shirt considers refunds if you initiate the return within 10 days of receiving the item.

Good ratings but few customers

In terms of reputation, Design A Shirt holds an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, a testament to its user-friendly interface, diverse t-shirt options, and comprehensive design features. Plus, according to reviewers, the company has a 4.5 out of 5 stars on average. However, it may be important to note that this is from under 20 total reviews across different verified third-party review sites. So, there isn't a lot of buzz for Design A Shirt, but what's out there is good news. So, this might just be a hidden gem that customers haven't tried yet.

Focus on tees pays off

Design A Shirt stands out as a great service because of its focus on t-shirts more than any other kind of product. With great ratings from the BBB and customers, it's clear that this t-shirt design interface is a top competitor for ease of use and variety of designs. The combination of these attributes renders Design A Shirt a highly recommended destination for custom tee creation. So, it's a no-brainer for us (even with the lack of transparency on prices) to tell you this is one of the top options for t-shirt design on our list.

Canva

• Tees for $25
• Men's, women's, and kids' tees
• Unique design UI
• Free version includes templates
• Free shipping
• Free digital downloads and sharing

Established in 2013, Canva emerged as an internet-based design and visual communication platform, driven by a goal to provide global accessibility to design and seamless publication. Designers worldwide utilize this platform to craft innovative artworks, benefitting from its array of on-site templates and the option to upload personal images. Whether commencing with a Canva template or creating entirely original designs from the ground up, users can embark on their creative journey, all for free.

User-friendly design editor

Complete with a comprehensive array of features, Canva offers free drag-and-drop design tools that enable the effortless and swift creation of diverse T-shirt designs. This includes access to numerous customizable templates, millions of free images, icons, and graphics, as well as the convenience of real-time collaboration. Additionally, Canva provides free standard shipping for ordered prints, a font library with an option to upload custom fonts, access across various devices, easy sharing and exporting tools, and even a Brand Kit feature for seamless brand consistency.

Advanced customizations

Advanced customizations like a color palette generator, one-click background remover, and the ability to invite team members for collaborative work are included in the platform. Canva's range of functionalities caters to both beginners and professionals alike, making design tasks efficient and accessible.

Easy designs in 5 steps

Creating personalized T-shirts with Canva involves a straightforward process:

1. Initiate your design by either choosing a template from Canva's library or opening a blank t-shirt page.
2. Personalize your design by incorporating graphics, and text, or uploading your own images to make it uniquely yours.
3. Solicit feedback from acquaintances, family, or team members using a shareable link or social media platforms.
4. Finalize your design and place an order by specifying your desired T-shirt size, style, and quantity.
5. Enjoy the convenience of free standard shipping as your order is delivered to your doorstep.

Full range of tees and other design products

Canva is a one-stop shop for every kind of printmaking, not just tees. But for T-shirts, their options aren't too shabby either. The company offers women's, men's, kids', toddlers', and infants' T-shirts. There are 7 colors for the shirt fabric itself and a full range of adult and child sizes including XL and 2XL (without any extra charge for the size increase).

Variety of digital customizations

If you're interested in Canva's other items, you can easily browse their offerings on the main page. You can create fully digital items (like social media posts or video presentations), posters, drinkware, business cards, and hoodies. This is the ultimate one-stop shop for digital design and you can easily transfer your designs from one type of product to another. It's considered one of the top industry sites for creative professionals.

Flat-rate prices but premium adds more

There are two things you need to know before you get into Canva.

• First, all of their shirt prints are exactly the same price regardless of gender or size. No matter what you pick it will be $25 per shirt (even if you have multiple designs on one shirt). Once you start ordering more shirts, you can get discounted prices including:
• 10% off on 6-19 shirts
• 15% off on 20+ shirts
• Second, while you can design totally for free and print without incurring extra costs, there is a "pro” version of Canva that keeps some of its features behind a paywall. Canva Pro costs $119.99 per year, so that might be a steep price for customers looking for one or two shirts. However, you don't have to subscribe to Pro to use the Pro features. The only difference is that you will be charged per "premium element” you use in your design, and that price will be added at the end of your design process.

Free shipping

While the cost of $25 per shirt might seem a little high, the cost is offset slightly by the free shipping offered by Canva. The shipping cost is completely free no matter how many shirts you order, which means the price you see at checkout is the price you pay.

Rave reviews for design, but missing some tee styles

Customers across the web are raving about Canva. While the company doesn't have a page on the BBB, customer reviews make up for the missing content on the Better Business Bureau. There's hardly a site out there that hasn't reviewed Canva. The average star rating across different review sites is a solid 4.1 stars. Customers use it for a variety of design needs, so it's a little hard to find details about the T-shirts in particular. On that note, the reviews we found noted that the shirts were high quality with clear prints and comfy fabrics. However, since Canva is a one-stop shop for designing more than just T-shirts, customers complained in some reviews that there aren't many style options (like necklines, sleeve lengths, or fabric choices), which was a significant downside.

Top notch as a design site

The bottom line? Canva is a powerhouse for design, but the overall impression customers get is that it's a design site first and a shirt-printing service as an afterthought. While the fabric offered is soft and the quality is high, there just isn't a lot of customization available for the shirts themselves. On the design side, Canva is considered one of the industry powerhouses for creating artwork. So, if you're a design pro looking for a place to put your work onto fabric, Canva is an outstanding option. However, for someone who wants to focus all their effort on making unique and fun T-shirts, this might not be the site for you. It's totally worth designing on (and the design process is totally free to use), but as a service just for printing T-shirts, Canva comes a bit short of being our top choice.

Custom Ink

• Prices from $11.98 to $118.98 per shirt
• Free shipping
• 15-day return window
• Options for adults and kids
• Move text and images anywhere on the shirt
• Buy in bulk and individual items
• "A+” rating and accreditation with the BBB

The Custom Ink journey traces back to 1999, initiated by three former college peers who embarked on the path of entrepreneurship about a year after their graduation. In 2003, one of the founders, Marc Katz, convened a company-wide assembly to formally introduce the core values of The Golden Rule, Ownership, and Innovation, an action that led to a daily contemplation and embodiment of these principles.

Fundamental business approach

The embodiment of Custom Ink's core values is evident in the annual "Inkademy Awards" ceremony, which celebrates individuals exemplifying each core value. The company's dedication to these principles is not mere rhetoric, but rather a fundamental business approach that defines Custom Ink's ethos. This is refreshing in the business world.

Fully custom design UI

To design in Custom Ink, customers just need to start by selecting a product for customization. Then, customers are directed to the online design lab where users can add text, art, and graphics of their choice, including emojis, symbols, animals, mascots, and more. A distinctive feature is the flexibility to position symbols, text, and graphics freely on the shirt, rather than being restricted to predefined areas. Certain products even allow for personalized names and numbers on the back, commonly utilized for sports teams or company attire.

Tons of options but some require a purchase minimum

In the realm of customizable products, Custom Ink stands out for its extensive range catering to bulk buyers seeking personalized items. The diversity of Custom Ink's offerings extends to unique apparel categories such as workwear, pants, corporate attire, and uniforms. Focusing on T-shirts, a comprehensive selection of 11 categories is available, encompassing options like long sleeve shirts, performance wear, soft tri-blend tees, women's shirts, raglan-style tees, kids' apparel, and even items made in the USA or tailored to Canadian preferences. It's worth noting that a minimum purchase requirement of six items exists unless you opt for designated "no minimum" products. This could potentially pose a challenge for individuals seeking to design single pieces of renowned brands like Nike, North Face, Champion, Under Armor, Adidas, or Carhartt, all of which mandate a minimum purchase.

Minimums make the prices very high

To compare Custom Ink with other companies in this review, we checked out the price ranges for men's and women's tees at this retailer.

• Unlike many other services, Custom Ink doesn't have a dedicated "men's” section for T-shirts. Instead, they offer women's and unisex. So, when we talk about the unisex tees, those include the styles for men. On that note, there are 345 different tees in the unisex section and the prices range from $11.95 to $118.98 per shirt. It's important to note that many of the options do require minimums. For example, the $118.98 item (a brand-name Quarter Zip Performance Shirt) requires a minimum purchase of 6 items, which makes it much less affordable.
• The women's items range from $11.98 to $68.52 per item. However, again, the minimums make this much less affordable as the minimum for the $68.52 item (an Adidas quarter zip shirt) is 25 products. While many of the products require no minimums, these are usually the cheaper "standard” items which means cool products like quarter zip jackets or button-down henley tees aren't available for single-purchase. But if you're willing to stick to the basics, you can get a single tee for just over $11, which is a great deal.

Free shipping and 15-day returns

The advantage of free shipping reduces overall costs. Should a received item fall short of expected quality, Custom Ink provides peace of mind with a money-back guarantee. A full refund can be obtained within 15 days by initiating the return process. This is a shorter return window than many of this store's competitors, but we're glad you are able to send back your tees if something goes wrong with them.

Top-rated for quality and UI

Custom Ink has a fantastic reputation. The company holds a stellar "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau along with full accreditation. On top of that, customers have left 10,000+ reviews for the company, and the average star rating is a solid 4.4 out of 5 across different sites. In general, the reviews covered how pleased customers were with the auto-save feature and the design UI in general. Customers also loved the quality of the items. Many reviews were from companies who bought large numbers of shirts for work events. The only complaint that was regularly included in the reviews was that shipping took longer than expected for some. So, if you need your custom order for a particular date, it might be good to keep that in mind and order a bit earlier.

Top competitor for bulk orders

Overall, Custom Ink has a lot of great features that make this a competitive site. While many items require a minimum purchase of 6-25 products, there are a few basics out there that you can buy one shirt and check out. However, given how many of the products are only purchasable in bulk, Custom Ink is best used for customers or companies who are looking for massive orders rather than single-unit purchases. Thus, while Custom Ink's bulk ordering is a boon for certain shoppers, those seeking individual items might need to explore other top-rated T-shirt customization platforms to stay within budget.

VistaPrint

• Prices from $7.23 to $88.97
• Options for men, women, and kids
• 3-8 day shipping
• Four printing methods
• One-stop shop for custom items
• "A+” from the BBB

VistaPrint stands out for catering not just to individual custom tee designs, but also assisting small business proprietors in crafting tailored marketing materials. Since 1995, the company has earned a positive reputation for its creation of business cards and other custom stationery. Now, their inventory includes T-shirts to help you customize every aspect of your life or business.

Long load times in designer

When you start creating a tee with VistaPrint, you'll find both pre-made templates and the option to upload your own artwork. If you choose a template, some of the sections will automatically open as editable in the designer. This way, if you want to add custom text or names, it's easy to put it right into the template. Further, you can add and delete elements to completely customize the look. The same features apply if you want to upload your own art; you can easily stack or add elements to your design. The only downside to the VistaPrint editor? Long wait times. Yep, unlike some of its more streamlined competitors, VistaPrint's site takes ages to load. So, once you click on an element, you might need to sit back and wait for it to fully load in.

Four print methods

If you can imagine it, VistaPrint can help you make it. From stationery like business cards, posters, signs, and banners to a variety of clothing items and bags, VistaPrint has a huge inventory of custom items. Specifically in tees, you can find options for men, women, and kids as well as different cuts and lengths to make it the ideal shirt and fit for you. Plus you can choose from a variety of print methods including:

• Direct-to-Garment
• Heat Transfer
• Screen Printing
• Embroidery

Total cost varies based on the number purchased

To compare the prices at VistaPrint with other companies in this review, we checked out the price ranges for tees made for women and for men. For example, the women's T-shirts have 52 different options which range in price from $7.29 to $76.59 which includes tees that you can purchase without worrying about any minimums. For the men's shirts, there are 111 different products which range in price from $7.23 to $88.97 including single purchase. However, like many places that offer bulk orders, the more items you order together here, the cheaper the shirts will be per unit.

Ships within 3-8 days

When it comes to the delivery of your newly designed T-shirt to your doorstep, the shipping cost at VistaPrint is determined by the total value of your cart. Additionally, there are three distinct shipping options available, allowing you to opt for an 8-day, 6-day, or 3-4-day delivery period. The cost breakdown is outlined as follows:

• Order total of $0 to $35: Shipping costs $8.99 to $25.99
• Order total of $35.01 to $150: Shipping costs $11.99 to $34.99
• Order total of $150.01 to $500: Shipping costs $17.99 to $44.99
• Order total over $500: Shipping costs $25.99 to $59.99

Mixed reviews for VistaPrint

Many people like the tees made by VistaPrint and the company has a solid rating of "A+” from the Better Business Bureau. However, there are some mixed opinions about VistaPrint. Some customers have had problems with getting their prints delivered on time, and many complaints were about shipping or the order in general. On the other hand, other customers noted that the VistaPrint customer service stepped up to quickly solve the problems they had. On average, VistaPrint gets about 3.9 out of 5 stars from reviews on different websites.

Great quality and solid designs

There's a lot of fun stuff with VistaPrint, especially since they have a competitive number of items that don't require customers to buy a minimum number of units. For those seeking pre-designed themes and unique image uploads, VistaPrint will help you out. However, with long load times, the platform is a little slower than using some of the other companies on our list. So, if you get impatient with technology, you might want to keep searching for a different option.

Underground Printing

• Prices from $8.66 to $30.16
• Options for men, women, and kids
• Tons of items produced every year
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Free shipping
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Underground Printing distinguishes itself by offering a one-stop shop for customization services. This includes a range of options such as screen printing, digital printing, embroidery, personalization, online group ordering, and promotional products.

User friendly design tools

The online design tools at Underground Printing are intentionally designed to be user-friendly and uncomplicated, which resonates with the preferences of the majority of their customers. Established in 1992, Underground Printing prides itself on providing a holistic solution for anyone seeking to create a unique T-shirt or other personalized items.

Jump right into design

Concerning design, Underground Printing caters to diverse preferences by offering ready-made templates for quick solutions and complete customization for those seeking a personalized touch. Users can upload images, add text, and choose from a wide selection of clip art to create the perfect tee design. The designer is easy to use and doesn't require a learning curve to jump right in and start making something new. Collaborations with major brands like Nike, Champion, and The North Face further enhance their reputation and product variety.

2.4 million products created annually

The expansive catalog of products available at Underground Printing is impressive. The fact that they produce more than 2.4 million+ custom products annually speaks volumes about the breadth of their offerings. Beyond just custom T-shirts, they present an array of products like branded items, outerwear, athletic apparel, sweatshirts, business clothing, pants, hats, bags, accessories, drinkware, office supplies, and novelty items. Additionally, their commitment to supporting American-made products is evident through their "Made in America" category, reflecting their dedication to promoting domestic craftsmanship and production.

Transparent pricing

Underground Printing stands out for its transparent pricing model, where individual product costs are determined based on factors such as garment choice, quantity, printing location, and the number of colors involved. Remarkably, the quoted price already includes shipping costs. To compare the pricing at Underground Printing with the other businesses in our review, we checked out the plain tees section of the products and the total price ranges for men's and women's T-shirts.

Too hard to find single purchase prices

It's important to note that the prices on Underground Printing are listed "by shirt”. For example, the listed prices of men's and women's shirts range from $8.66 to $30.16 per unit. In order to see how much a shirt costs by itself, you have to first pick a shirt that doesn't have a minimum, then a color that doesn't require a minimum, and finally put in your contact information, so they can send you a quote. This process is unnecessarily complicated just to see the prices for different shirts.

100% satisfaction guarantee

One thing we loved about Underground Printing was its commitment to customer satisfaction. The company offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee to reassure customers that if their received custom T-shirt significantly differs from the designed concept, Underground Printing will take the necessary steps to rectify the situation. In order to take advantage of this guarantee, customers must contact customer service within 15 days of receiving the order. Once the request is processed, you can expect either a full replacement or a refund depending on your particular case.

Too "underground” for reviews

Underground Printing has a great score with the Better Business Bureau, which is exciting. The "A+” rating speaks to the company's customer service dedication. However, when it comes to customer reviews, there just isn't any buzz for this vendor. The company doesn't have any reviews on verified third-party review sites like Trustpilot or Sitejabber, which raises some questions. When they named it "Underground”, we didn't think that meant this kind of underground. While having no reviews doesn't mean the service is bad, it does raise some questions about why more people aren't using the platform.

Good, but not enough chatter

In a nutshell, Underground Printing's comprehensive suite of services underscores its dedication to catering to a diverse customer base with varying customization needs. Their user-friendly design tools and extensive product catalog position them as a one-stop shop for creating personalized items, beyond just custom T-shirts. Whether customers opt for pre-made templates or opt for full-fledged customization, the platform offers a seamless experience to bring their creative visions to life. However, with no reviews, it's hard to see how other custom shirt enthusiasts feel about the service as a whole. It's still worth checking them out, especially with the easy designer and their satisfaction guarantee, but Underground Printing doesn't score one of our top spots due to the lack of customer reviews.

4Imprint

• Prices start as low as $63 for a bulk order
• Free shipping
• Free samples
• 30-day return window
• "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB

Available to customers in the US, UK, Ireland, and Canada, 4Imprint stands out as one of the oldest print options on our list of custom T-shirt vendors. The company was founded in 1985 in London and now serves international customers with fair prices and a heavy focus on customer service.

Lot s of t-shirts to choose from

With tons of T-shirts to choose from, there's a design style here for almost any customer. Plus, for those looking for extras like mugs, home decor, or even custom-made awards, 4Imprint has a full inventory of customizable products available.

Design the full shirt

Crafting a custom shirt is hassle-free and value-packed here. Unsure about the artwork? No problem. Even if you lack art, convey your concepts to the Customer Care Rep, and 4Imprint will design it for you free of charge. Additionally, the company will store your artwork for future orders and other product uses to streamline the process. Submit your artwork conveniently by attaching it to your order confirmation email or directly emailing it to your Customer Care Representative. For building your shirt, you can place your design in one of five different locations on the shirt: full front, full back, left chest, right sleeve, and left sleeve. While this may seem limited, you can add multiple images and print on multiple locations on the same shirt, so you could feasibly have designs in all 5 locations if you like.

Huge inventory of custom items

There are thousands of items for sale at 4Imprint. So, if you're worried about the inventory, don't be. There are over 2,000 items available in just the T-shirt section which includes babies and toddlers, men, women, and youth options. The site also offers a variety of items in categories like drinkware, auto and home tools, bags, outdoor, food and candy, technology, signs, awards, and stationery. If you can imagine putting a logo or design on it, 4Imprint probably has it.

Buy in bulk only

To accurately compare the prices at 4Imprint with other retailers in our review, we checked out the price ranges for men's and women's custom T-shirts. Before we get started with those ranges, it's important to know something right off the bat: 4Imprint has a minimum purchase requirement. You need to buy at least 18 tees to be able to order anything at all. Now, for men's options, the prices range from $3.50 to $85.50 per shirt. This means your actual cost would start at $63 minimum with the 18-item requirement. For the women's items, the prices range from $3.99 to $84.50 per shirt. This puts the minimum cost at $71.82 to meet the 18-shirt requirement. Please note that some items have different minimums, but the standard T-shirt minimum is 18 items and shipping is totally free, so you don't have to worry about that added cost.

360 degree guarantee

Customers can find reassurance in the extensive 360 Degree Guarantee at 4Imprint, ensuring comprehensive coverage from all angles. This guarantee encompasses various aspects, including the assurance of timely delivery - if an event is missed due to shipping delays, the order becomes free. The guarantee extends to value as well - if, within 30 days of purchase, customers identify a lower cost elsewhere, the difference will be refunded twofold. Furthermore, customer contentment is also assured - if satisfaction isn't fully met, the company will manage return expenses and reprocessing, or provide a refund based on the customer's preference.

Free is the name of the game

4Imprint offers complimentary perks to get your attention. Simply click "request a free sample” on any product page to receive a free sample of your design. On top of that, you can also take advantage of the 4Imprint design professionals with no extra cost, so you can get a pro's eyes on your design before it goes into production. Whether you're working with a finished design or a conceptual sketch, the 4Imprint team will take a look at it free of charge and manage the design work for you. Plus they'll provide you with a free "e-proof" for your approval.

Customers aren't happy

User reviews of 4Imprint are a little sparse with only 6 total reviews on one of the most popular third-party review sites, and the reviews are a little mixed on the ones with more total reviews. With a 2.7 star average out of 5 stars, customers noted that orders came with the wrong colors despite only ordering white shirts, and customers also complained that the site itself is confusing to use and doesn't make it simple to create designs. Others had trouble with payments and billing. While the company does have an "A+” rating and accreditation with the BBB, the reviews don't agree with this high rating, so you might want to use caution and try another company before you spend money at 4Imprint.

Reviewers are usually right

It seems crazy with all the free stuff and guarantees offered by 4Imprint that their reviews would be so negative. However, customer experience speaks louder than the company promises. So, while 4Imprint might be worth checking into if you need a bulk order and want free samples, it isn't the best if you're looking for high-quality and reliable service. For these reasons, we recommend you check out one of the higher-rated custom T-shirt retailers on our list instead.

Spreadshirt

• Prices from $9.99 to $44.99 per shirt
• Shirts for men, women, and kids
• 30-day returns for in store credit
• "A+” rating and accreditation with the BBB

Spreadshirt stands out as a modern and youthful take on the T-shirt design market. It provides a platform for custom creations or the exploration of a marketplace brimming with designs by various artists. Noteworthy trends on Spreadshirt include templates like humor, vintage, gym, geek culture, couple aesthetics, science enthusiasts, milestone birthdays, vegan ideals, and pet-themed designs. The company was opened in 2002 in Leipzig, Germany and it offers a unique blend of modern and minimal designs along with more youthful and funky fun ones that would be appropriate for a goofy gift or something less professional.

Design interface is all in one place

Creating a shirt at Spreadshirt is super easy. All you have to do is click the "Make Yours” button and the site will open a window where you can browse all of their shirts, hoodies, and other printable products all in one screen. Once you've picked out what you want to design, you have the option to use some of their template clipart or upload your own design. As a note, the clipart at Spreadshirt is particularly exciting with lots of colorful and modern designs to choose from. You can easily move the design around the shirt as well as resize and rotate the objects you place. Plus, with the ability to design the front, back, and both sleeves, you have full control over the final product.

Full range of products on top of shirts

The products at Spreadshirt span gender-specific attire, children's apparel, group-oriented products (suitable for bachelor parties, college graduations, family reunions), accessories, and home items. Catering to modern shoppers, Spreadshirt offers trendy options including high-low shirts, knotted designs, as well as major brand names like Champion and Adidas.

Fair prices, but listings show bulk order numbers

Spreadshirt adopts a fair pricing structure for both custom t-shirts and marketplace items, positioning it in line with competitors. To compare their prices with other options in this review, we checked out the ranges for men's and women's shirts at Spreadshirt. To start with, the men's shirts range from $9.99 to $34.99 if you buy them in bulk (though the site doesn't say what the minimum is for this. If you want to buy a single shirt, the cost ranges from $19.99- $44.99. So, while you can buy all the items in bulk or as a single purchase, the company lists the bulk pricing while you browse, which could be upsetting to some customers when they get to the "add to cart” portion of their design work.

30-day returns for in-store credit

Shipping costs, which typically range between $5.99 to $11.99 per order, present an additional consideration when shopping at Spreadshirt. Since many of its competitors offer free shipping, Spreadshirt is a little behind the pack with this one. On the bright site, Spreadshirt does offer a 30-day return guarantee. However, the company doesn't usually offer full refunds. Instead, unhappy customers can opt for product exchanges or in-store credit to be used towards future purchases.

Reviewers are saying "yikes”

The Better Business Bureau offers high praise for Spreadshirt with an "A+” rating and accreditation. However, when we checked out the verified consumer reviews, it's clear that Spreadshirt isn't at the top of the list for most customers. According to our research, Spreadshirt only has a 2.9-star average out of 5 stars across four different verified third-party review sites. Customers complain about the material of the tees and hoodies and have noted that the shipping prices on the site are only estimates, and several customers paid much higher costs in shipping than they were quoted. Even artists who wanted to sell on Spreadshirt's marketplace aren't happy with the company and warn potential artists and customers to stay away.

Clip art is its saving grace

While Spreadshirt has some pros, like its easy-to-use design interface and the way it allows you to change shirt types and product types during the design process, the customer reviews wave a huge red flag for the company. Given that and some of the confusion with the pricing at Spreadshirt, it falls much lower on the list than it would have. However, if you're looking for a place that has modern and colorful clip art designs, you might still want to check out their designer. Otherwise, the quality just isn't there according to reviewers, so you might want to keep shopping and get your custom T-shirts elsewhere.

Cafe Press

• Pricing from $19.99 to $49.99 per shirt
• Men's, women's, and children's designs
• Image upload included in price
• 30-day returns
• "A+” rating from the BBB

CafePress is a site that offers a unique way to create and sell original designs. With its online marketplace featuring an extensive range of designs suitable for numerous products, including soft T-shirts and contemporary home decor, CafePress provides a platform for pro artists, fans, and major companies to create custom items. The company opened in 1999 and includes pre-made designs as well as the flexibility to create your own tees.

Good for text, but images are limited

The T-shirt customization process is straightforward. Customers begin by selecting their desired T-shirt style, color, and size before embarking on personalization. While it's fairly easy to upload custom images and use the text editor on the site, the placement of images is restricted to the front and center of the shirt or solely to the pocket area. For the text, you can place that anywhere around the image with a range of fonts, colors, and text sizes to choose from. You also get access to a quick preview before you finalize the purchase, so you can make updates if the text is cut off or the colors don't look right on the shirt you choose.

Competitive variety of custom items

CafePress offers a range of T-shirt options tailored to different demographics, including men's, women's, kids', and babies' T-shirts. The assortment encompasses various styles such as v-neck, scoop neck, long or short sleeves, and even specialized styles like maternity shirts and long nightshirts. Although some T-shirt styles initially seem to have a limited color palette, the actual selection often comprises around seven colors. On top of shirts, CafePress offers a competitive variety of other items as well including home decor, drinkware, bags and accessories, stationery, stickers, and phone cases.

Good prices for single-purchase tees

To compare prices for CafePress against other custom T-shirt services, we researched two items that we compared across all companies: women's and men's tees. The base price range for tees at CafePress for women goes from $19.99 to $49.99. While there doesn't appear to be any upcharge for adding images or text, there is a price increase if you choose the 2XL size which increases the cost by around $3. For the men's range, the prices are exactly the same and also include the upcharge for 2XL+ sizes. The only difference between the two is that men's sizing offers sizing up to 3XL and includes "Tall” sizes. Plus, with no minimums, you can buy a single shirt easily from CafePress. However, if you want to buy in bulk it could quickly get expensive.

30-day returns and exchanges

CafePress extends a 30-day satisfaction guarantee for its products where you can return or exchange your items within a 30-day window. We love that they have a "no-questions-asked” policy. However, it doesn't say in the return policy if CafePress covers return shipping, or if there are extra costs involved in getting your return processed.

Shipping costs vary

Speaking of shipping, you can expect to receive your custom T-shirt within 3-12 days. Manufacturing spans 1-2 days and shipping times range from 1-9 days within the US based on chosen options. Shipping costs approximately $6 for a single item, increasing with the cost of the item you choose and the total number of items in a single shipment.

Mixed reviews, but positive reputation overall

There are a few more reviews out there for CafePress than there used to be, with some reviews as recent as 2023. However, the reviews are somewhat polarized on different verified third-party review sites. For example, at Sitejabber, CafePress only has a 2.7-star average out of 5, with a lot of reviewers leaving a 1-star score. On the other hand, CafePress has an average of 4 stars out of 5 from Trustpilot. According to the lower-rated reviews, the quality of the prints leaves something to be desired. Customers complained that the placement of the images and text was correct on the preview, but not correct when the item arrived home. The reviewers who loved the site noted that the T-shirts were soft and that customer service was very responsible at CafePress. To support the positive reviews, it's important to note CafePress holds an "A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Best for customers looking to sell designs

While CafePress boasts an extensive product inventory, its design features fall short of delivering a fully customizable experience. This could disappoint individuals seeking a more versatile design process with different image placement and more reliable final products. For a wider array of apparel styles, colors, and design options, opting for one of our higher-rated T-shirt customization platforms may be in your best interest. But if you're looking to create designs and sell them to others from the CafePress marketplace, this service may still be worth checking out.

Zazzle

• Prices from $14.90 to $28.70
• Men's, women's, and kids' shirts
• Returns within 30 days
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Zazzle, open since 2005, offers a diverse array of pre-printed shirt categories, providing an alternative avenue for customers who prefer not to embark on designing their own T-shirts. Considering Zazzle's design interface might not be as user-friendly as you'd expect, exploring their pre-existing designs could be a better choice. However, Zazzle's forte doesn't appear to lie in custom T-shirt creation, resulting in a somewhat limited and overly complex design interface.

Design options are too basic

The process at Zazzle involves uploading images and inputting text, yet the assortment of pre-loaded graphics tends to lean towards cartoonish aesthetics, encompassing fewer relevant choices compared to T-shirt platforms we prefer. Some of the design features like "elements” are fairly limited to basic shapes without any cool or unique options. You can upload your own artwork that is complete, which might be the way to go for most users, but there aren't any templates or creative clipart that stand out at Zazzle.

Minimal selection of tees

On top of pretty basic designs, Zazzle also offers fairly simple options for tees. While they do include products for men, women, and kids, the actual fabrics and styles are generally ordinary. Most of the tees are crew-neck (with one exception), and other than a few differences in sleeve length or fabric, all the tees look about the same. While Zazzle has custom gifts of other varieties including mugs, skateboards, and stickers, as a place to get tees, it doesn't stand out for its selection.

High prices and not much inventory

In terms of pricing, Zazzle's basic T-shirts are slightly more expensive than those found on competing websites. While we usually compare prices by looking at men's and women's shirts, the tees on Zazzle are all in one place, and there aren't enough options to split them out. So, including infant shirts, the prices here range from $14.90 to $28.70. Notably, T-shirts in sizes larger than XL come with an additional $5 charge, which makes this vendor even less competitive.

No transparency with shipping costs

Unfortunately, Zazzle's calculation of shipping charges occurs during the checkout process after an account has been created, which lacks transparency. It would be better for Zazzle to be more upfront about their shipping costs. As it is, our research confirmed that they do charge for shipping, so the high unit prices will increase further once you add your items to the cart.

Returns accepted within 30 days

One redeeming quality is that Zazzle offers customers a 100% satisfaction guarantee so that if something is wrong with your tee, you have the option to return it for a refund or replacement. The window to send back your items is 30 days, which is competitive with top return policies from other companies on our list. Specific return restrictions that are applicable to certain products are noted, including the inability to return items that have embroidered designs on them. So, it's important to keep that in mind if you're planning to use an embroidered design for your custom T-shirt.

Thousands of top-notch ratings

Despite the less-than-stellar features of making T-shirts at Zazzle, the company has an outstanding reputation. So, while it might be our lowest-rated service for making a custom tee, keep Zazzle in mind for other print services. The company has a stellar "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau and a high 4.5 out of 5-star rating on average from verified third-party review sites. This includes tens of thousands of individual reviews to back up the rating, which is extremely impressive. However, almost none of the reviews were for tees, and most focused on the quality of stationery items or novelty items that can't be found at other companies.

Not ideal for T-shirts

Owing to Zazzle's expansive repertoire of customizable items extending beyond T-shirts, numerous customer reviews praise their products. While the reviews are great for their general products, there isn't much out there about the T-shirts. With some very lackluster features regarding the T-shirts in general, Zazzle still sits at the bottom of our list, but it might be worth considering if you have other printable and design needs in the future.