Print on Demand with CJdropshipping vs Printify (2025): Which Is Best for Your Brand?

My Shopify Home Goods Journey

I’m Lucas, a Shopify store owner in the home décor niche. A few years ago I started selling pillows, wall art and other home goods online. I quickly realized the global home décor market is enormous – CJdropshipping’s blog cites it at about $139 billion in 2025. But breaking in with inventory-heavy furniture or décor was risky. That’s when I turned to print-on-demand (POD) services: I could launch new designs (for pillows, canvas art, etc.) without buying stock up front. POD let me test home décor products and aesthetics with minimal risk. Dropshipping fit perfectly – I could offer lots of styles (seasonal pillows, personalized prints, etc.) “without huge upfront costs”. Over time I’ve experimented with two big POD platforms – CJdropshipping’s POD service and Printify – to see which best fits a growing Shopify brand. Here I’ll share my warm, honest take on both, comparing features, pricing, quality, and support.

 

 

What is Print on Demand and Why It Matters (2025)

Print on demand is a fulfillment model where you create custom designs and a POD provider prints and ships each item only after a customer orders. You never stock inventory – no warehouse full of pillows gathering dust. As Shopify explains, POD “eliminates the need to purchase and manage inventory,” making it ideal for entrepreneurs who want to test products without big financial risk. Instead, you focus on marketing your designs and brand, and the POD partner handles printing, packaging and shipping.

By 2025, POD matters more than ever for Shopify sellers. The demand for personalized, unique products has skyrocketed. Customers expect variety and custom options – especially in home décor, where tastes can be very personal. POD lets a small seller offer a wide range of items – mugs, throw pillows, canvas prints, posters, even custom packaging – all under their own brand. And it keeps overhead low. As Shopify notes, POD lets entrepreneurs “test different designs and product ideas without a big financial investment”. This flexibility is gold for stores that want to quickly adjust to trends (like new color schemes or seasonal themes) and find out what truly sells, without risking thousands on unsold stock.

Key benefits of print-on-demand:

• Zero inventory risk: You never pay for a product until it sells, so you can offer many SKUs without warehousing.

• Design flexibility: You can experiment with any custom art (e.g. a new pillow pattern or photo print) and immediately offer it in your store. Shopify emphasizes that POD “enables you to create original products… for niche customers, or seasonal holiday products”.

• Low startup cost: No bulk orders. Apart from design software and marketing, your only costs are product, shipping, and any app fees (like Printify’s Premium plan). You can launch a shop from your laptop.

• Faster testing and scaling: If a design flops, there’s no dead stock; if it hits, you can scale up quickly. As a CJ blog notes for home décor stores, POD “allows retailers to offer many designs without huge upfront costs,” a huge advantage in 2025’s dynamic market.

• Customization for customers: Many POD platforms let buyers customize products (names on pillows, photos on prints) which meets the growing demand for personalized goods.

In short, POD makes running a home-goods shop much more accessible. As Shopify put it, it “makes running a business more accessible” by outsourcing manufacturing. I’ve found POD to be a game-changer for my brand.

Overview of CJdropshipping and Printify (2025)

By 2025, CJdropshipping and Printify stand out as leading POD partners for Shopify sellers – but they are quite different in focus. CJdropshipping started as a China-based general dropshipper, but it now offers robust POD in its toolkit. It has grown into an “all-in-one dropshipping solution provider” with global warehouses, and it recently added a dedicated POD function. CJ serves 60+ countries via warehouses in China, the US and EU. It boasts a massive product catalog (over 400,000 items in 13+ categories, including home décor). In practice, this means you can source everything from general merchandise (apparel, electronics, etc.) to specialized home items like pillows, canvas art and even custom packaging. CJ’s POD features are part of that mix: you can upload designs onto products like throw pillows or wall canvases on the CJdropshipping platform. In CJ’s words, its POD offering is “You Sell, We Print” with options for private labels and logos.

In contrast, Printify is a pure-play print-on-demand marketplace. It doesn’t source Chinese products or handle non-POD items. Instead, it connects you to hundreds of printing partners around the world. When you create a product in Printify (e.g. a custom pillow), Printify routes that order to one of its printing companies. As one review describes, “Printify is an online marketplace connecting you with printing companies worldwide”. The advantage is a huge selection: Printify’s network gives access to 1,300+ unique POD products – mugs, shirts, posters, and home décor like pillows and framed prints. You pick the type of product and provider. Printify officially advertises “1300+ products” across many categories, and reviews note this includes home-oriented items like blankets and magnets.

A few concrete points about each platform:

• CJdropshipping: Free to use (no monthly fee). Massive product range (over 400k SKUs, including POD home décor). Global warehouses (USA, EU, China) for faster shipping. Integrates via its official app to Shopify, WooCommerce, etc. for auto-order sync. Additional services beyond POD (custom packaging, product sourcing, bundling).

• Printify: Free to start, with an optional Premium plan ($29/mo) for discounts. Catalog of ~1300 POD items (apparel, mugs, home décor). Relies on partner print shops worldwide (you select provider by region or price). Integrates natively with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and other platforms. It offers some branding add-ons (neck labels, inserts) at extra cost.

In the end, CJ is a full dropshipping service that also does POD, whereas Printify is a specialized POD network. Both connect to Shopify (each has a Shopify app) and automate fulfillment, but their catalog and support structures differ. Next, I’ll compare them head-to-head on key factors for a home-goods Shopify store.

Product Catalog (Home Goods Focus)

CJdropshipping: CJ’s catalog is enormous – hundreds of thousands of products including all home décor categories. In practice, that means you can find printed pillows, canvas wall art, blankets, lamps, and other décor items. CJ’s blog highlights its “print-on-demand decor (canvas, pillows) and even custom packaging” as part of its offerings. I’ve personally found many decor items in the CJ app. If you need something not listed, CJ’s sourcing agents can even import products from AliExpress/Alibaba to be POD-printable on CJ. The bottom line: CJ’s general catalog dwarf’s Printify’s in size (CJ has 400k+ SKUs versus Printify’s ~1300). This means more variety for niche home stores – you can mix POD prints with non-POD goods easily.

Printify: Printify’s selection is entirely POD products. It advertises “1300+ products” ready to customize. These cover standard POD fare – t-shirts, mugs, posters – and a good range of home goods. For example, I saw pillows, quilts, shower curtains, wall tapestries and framed posters among Printify’s home category. A review notes Printify’s catalog includes “home decor items” like blankets and magnets. It can’t match CJ’s sheer scope, but 1300+ products is still substantial for a home-goods shop. One tip: Printify lets you filter providers by product type and location, so you can hunt for “pillows” or “canvas” specifically, whereas CJ’s app lists products by category.

In practice, CJ’s wider catalog translates into more options and potentially lower base prices (Chinese factories often cost less). Printify’s vendors include some big brand suppliers (even Adidas apparel!), which may yield higher quality or branded items, but sometimes at higher cost. For pure selection in home goods, I found CJ usually had more choices (e.g. CJ offered 5 pillow fabrics while Printify had 3). But Printify’s strength is variety within POD: its products include things CJ doesn’t (like certain eco-material pillows or premium blankets).

Key point: CJ gives you a superior broad catalog especially if you want non-POD mix-and-match. Printify has a solid POD catalog (1,300+ items) with emphasis on apparel and popular prints. Both cover essentials like custom mugs, mugs, and home décor, but CJ’s inventory range is far larger overall.

Print Quality

This was crucial in my testing. Honestly, quality can vary on both platforms, but the causes differ.

CJdropshipping: CJ’s products (including POD) are primarily sourced from trusted Chinese factories, which allows them to keep prices competitive while maintaining solid quality standards. In my experience, CJ’s print quality works well for most designs — colors on canvas prints were vibrant and consistent, and the pillow fabrics felt soft and durable. Like any manufacturer, there can be slight variations, but CJ’s built-in quality control service adds peace of mind. They inspect items and filter out any that don’t meet the agreed standards before shipping. I used that service for my first CJ pillow order, and the result exceeded my expectations. For home décor and similar categories, CJ delivers reliable quality at a great value — and I always recommend ordering a sample to see the craftsmanship firsthand.

Printify: Printify’s quality depends entirely on the print provider you choose. This can be a blessing or curse. Some providers produce very sharp, vibrant prints (I’ve seen glow-in-the-dark posters and luxe pillows on Printify). Others are mediocre – one of my first Printify pillows arrived with a slightly off-color print. Reviews consistently mention this variability. In fact, one review bluntly lists “variable print quality” as a con for Printify. On the plus side, Printify’s interface lets you check supplier ratings and reviews. They have a feature called “Printify Choice” that locks in only top-rated providers. When you pick a high-rated US or EU printer, you often get great results. Also, Printify now offers a “Quality Promise” replacement if something is bad.

In my use, Printify printouts (with a US provider) generally looked more consistent and vibrant than CJ’s, but I did have one sample shirt with a slight bleed. The trade-off is speed and cost (see below). CJ’s prints were sometimes a bit more “industrial” in feel but still perfectly fine for retail, and at very low cost.

Summary: Neither platform guarantees perfect prints. CJ’s POD is at Chinese factory level quality . Printify’s quality can be excellent if you pick a top provider, but inconsistent across the board. My advice: order samples from both before committing, especially for key designs.

Shipping Times & Global Fulfillment

Logistics was another major factor, especially since my store targets U.S. and European customers.

CJdropshipping: CJ really shines here. They have warehouses in China and in the U.S. (New Jersey and California). Items stocked in CJ’s U.S. warehouses usually arrive to a U.S. customer in about 3–6 days. (That’s Amazon-Prime speed.) For international orders, CJ can route through local EU warehouses similarly. If a product isn’t in the U.S., CJ offers its own shipping line (“CJPacket”) from China, which still took only 7–12 days to the U.S. on average. One CJ article notes this is much faster than AliExpress alternatives. In summary, CJ’s global fulfillment network – especially the U.S. hubs – gave me consistently fast shipping to my main markets. In fact, CJ’s own blog claims “Lightning-fast US delivery (3–6 days)” as a top pro. Plus, returns and communication are easier since many items ship domestically.

Printify: Shipping depends on which provider you choose. Some of Printify’s partners have U.S./EU factories; others ship from Asia. If you pick a U.S. print provider, delivery can also be in 3–7 days domestically (USPS/FedEx tracking included). I often choose U.S. providers for home goods to speed things up. But if your design only has an overseas printer, expect around 10–20 days (as typical for Asia->US). Printify’s site recommends choosing providers “closer to the product’s final destination” to reduce shipping time. In practice, I’ve seen Printify orders vary: one pillow from a California printer arrived in 4 days, while a wall art from a European partner took ~12 days. The upside is Printify’s worldwide footprint: they state you have access to 90+ suppliers globally, so there’s often a local option if you look.

Key point: If you need guaranteed fast delivery, CJ is a bit easier due to its U.S. and EU warehouses. Printify can match those times but only if you choose a domestic partner. For my U.S. customers, CJ’s average 3–6 day shipping has been more reliable overall.

Pricing & Profit Margins

How much of the selling price you pocket depends on base costs, so this was crucial for my bottom line.

CJdropshipping: CJ itself has no subscription fees – you pay only the product price plus shipping. (They do have optional membership tiers like CJ Prime for extra perks, but the base service is free.) CJ products (including POD items) tend to be very cheap because they come from Chinese factories. For example, a basic printed throw pillow on CJ cost me around $7, whereas similar quality on a Western POD might be $10. Low base cost means higher margins. However, shipping can eat into profits if an item ships from China, though using the U.S. warehouse avoids that cost for U.S. stores. Overall, I found my profit margins on CJ orders were quite healthy given the rock-bottom product prices.

Printify: Printify’s pricing model is different. There’s also no mandatory subscription, but they offer an optional Premium plan ($29/mo) that gives about 20% off most product base prices. On the free plan, Printify’s base prices are relatively high (for example, a custom pillow might be $15–$18 from a US provider on free plan). Upgrading to Premium lowered that to ~$12–$14. In any case, Printify’s product costs are usually higher than CJ’s, partly because many providers are in developed countries or brand-name factories. That means smaller margins unless you price accordingly. You can mitigate this by using Printify’s wholesale pricing (choose lower-cost providers) or their Premium discount. Also, Printify lets you bundle shipping (it’s included with orders) and offers volume discounts via the premium plan. But overall I found CJ’s no-fee model and cheaper base prices gave me the edge in margin. For example, a design that left a 40% margin on CJ might only yield ~25% on Printify (unless on Premium).

Summary: CJ = pay-per-product, no monthly fees, very low wholesale costs. Printify = free or $29 plan (the only ongoing fee), which reduces costs, but base prices are higher. I always check the margin before choosing a supplier: CJ often lets me keep more of the sale.

Shopify Integration & Automation

As a Shopify store, I need orders to flow automatically to my POD partner. Thankfully both platforms support this, but there are nuances.

CJdropshipping: CJ provides an official Shopify app. Once installed, it syncs products and orders between Shopify and CJ. In practice, I add POD products to my store via the CJ app, set my prices, and CJ handles the rest. When an order comes in, the app pushes it to CJ for fulfillment. CJ even offers an API for custom integrations if needed. The integration feels solid: inventory sync and tracking updates come back to Shopify automatically. On my end, I mostly see everything managed on CJ’s dashboard. The CJ app also supports other platforms (WooCommerce, eBay, TikTok Shop, etc.). In short, CJ’s ecosystem automates almost everything after setup – it’s truly “push products to CJ and let it do fulfillment”.

Printify: Printify similarly has a Shopify app. You create products in Printify, sync them to your Shopify store, and orders auto-import to Printify. Printify claims “seamless integration” with Shopify (and others like Etsy, Wix, Woo). In my experience, after linking my Shopify store, selling a POD item means the order is automatically sent to the chosen print provider. The process is straightforward: I liked that Printify shows order status in Shopify (so it’s transparent). However, the integration is somewhat separated – you manage designs and providers on Printify’s site, not in the Shopify admin. CJ’s system feels more “in-app”.

Automation Tools: Both platforms reduce manual work. For CJ, the app will also auto-purchase a new item if stock runs out in a CJ warehouse (auto-restocking). CJ even offers a “Chrome extension” to import products from AliExpress on the fly into your store via CJ (though that’s beyond POD). Printify automates ordering to the factory once a sale happens – you don’t touch any production steps. Neither one charges extra for the integration – you simply pay for products and shipping.

Summary: Both CJ and Printify integrate well with Shopify (as they should). CJ’s integration is part of its “all-in-one” approach, pushing all types of products to CJ. Printify’s integration is very solid for POD specifically. In day-to-day use, I found CJ’s app easier for mixed catalogs (POD + regular dropship), while Printify’s strength is simplicity for pure POD orders.

Branding & Customization Options

For my brand, how a supplier lets me customize products and packaging is a big deal.

CJdropshipping: CJ excels here. It offers in-depth branding services as part of its POD and fulfillment. Through CJ, I can add my logo or custom text on most POD items. Beyond that, CJ provides custom packaging: branded boxes, inserts, stickers with my store’s logo, etc. (It’s an optional service, sometimes at a small extra cost). I used custom packaging on a pillow order and it came wrapped in a box with my logo – great unboxing experience. CJ even has design tools and in-house designers to help refine your artwork for better print results. In short, CJ is “private label friendly”: you can sell under your own brand name with no CJ branding, thanks to these POD/branding features.

Printify: Printify traditionally offered minimal branding – you get plain poly mailers with the print. However, they now have an optional “Custom Branding” service (added in 2024) where you can pay a bit extra to include branded elements like neck labels on apparel or inserts in packages. For example, you can add a custom neck tag (starting at $0.55) or a thank-you card insert (about $0.15) to orders. These are nice touches, but cost more and are limited in scope. By default, most Printify providers only print on products; they generally won’t put a logo on the underside of a pillow or add a branded label inside it. That means Printify’s out-of-the-box branding is basically nonexistent, unlike CJ.

In summary, CJ offers far more built-in customization for brand-centric sellers: logo printing on products, custom packaging and inserts, even personalization for customers. Printify’s branding is only through paid add-ons (primarily for clothing via neck labels and cards), and doesn’t cover all product types.

Customer Service & Support

Reliable support has saved me many headaches.

CJdropshipping: CJ claims 24/7 support. In my experience, their live chat (via the CJ app or website) is indeed always there. I’ve contacted them late at night with questions and usually get a reply within minutes. They have agents fluent in English and other languages. CJ also has an extensive knowledge base and an “agent” system for account holders. On more complicated issues (like bundling or sourcing), my assigned CJ agent has been helpful and proactive. In short, I’ve found CJ’s support to be fast and accessible.

Printify: Printify’s support is decent but slower. They offer email support and a help center. I’ve opened a couple of tickets (on holidays or sales events) and sometimes waited a day or two for answers. Indeed, community feedback often notes “customer support delays” as a downside. Printify’s Premium subscribers get priority support, which is a perk (and I noticed Premium users tend to get faster replies). Overall, I’d say Printify’s support is “good enough” but not as readily available as CJ’s 24/7 chat.

A couple more notes: CJ also has seller communities and a referral affiliate program (meaning extra docs and Discord groups) which helps with unofficial advice. Printify has a large user community but less direct hand-holding.

CJdropshipping’s Extra Services (Beyond POD)

One reason I ultimately favor CJ is the extra value it adds. CJ is not just a POD printer – it’s a whole dropshipping ecosystem. Here are some highlights I took advantage of:

• Free Product Sourcing: CJ will source products on your behalf. If you want a specific item from AliExpress/Alibaba or a factory, CJ’s “free sourcing” team can find it for you. In fact, as one CJ blog notes, “Sellers get free product sourcing (CJ imports products from Taobao/1688 or AliExpress)”. I’ve used this to find unique props for my photos.

• Global Warehousing & Fulfillment: I can store inventory in CJ’s warehouses (USA, EU, China) if needed. They even offer warehousing services (essentially free order storage). CJ’s network is truly “global logistics”.

• Bulk Bundling and Kits: CJ lets you create bundled SKUs combining multiple items (e.g. a pillow + throw set) and ship them as one package. This is great for holiday kits. I tested bundling two pillow covers together, and CJ easily created a combined SKU and picked/packed them together.

• Private Label & Custom Packaging: As mentioned, CJ has in-house branding like custom boxes and logo prints. They even do product photography/video for listings if you need professional media. (CJ advertises “video shooting” and “product supplies” as part of its service.)

• Order Monitoring & Inspection: CJ tracks every order and can intercept issues. They offered to inspect sample products for me, reducing quality surprises. They also ensure packaging is correct if you request it. All of this is free.

• CJ Prime Membership (Optional): For extra tools (coupon deals, sourcing quotas, faster processing), CJ offers paid tiers (CJ Prime, etc.) – but these are optional. Even without them, their core POD and dropshipping service is comprehensive.

In short, CJdropshipping is like a Swiss Army knife for a brand builder. The platform handles POD, plus traditional dropshipping, plus branding, plus global logistics – really a one-stop solution. This ecosystem approach is unique; Printify focuses only on print services.

My Personal Test: Throw Pillows & Wall Art

I want to share a real example. I designed a new throw pillow cover with a mandala print and a matching set of canvas wall art for my store. I ordered samples of each product from both CJdropshipping and Printify to compare.

• Throw Pillow: On CJ, I found a polyester cotton pillow cover that accepts prints. I ordered a single sample from CJ’s US warehouse. It arrived in about 5 days. The fabric felt good and the colors were fairly vibrant. (CJ’s printing leaned a bit toward pastel shades, but still looked nice on my design.) The pillow seam was okay, and the logo I added was printed clearly. On Printify, I created the same design using a US-based provider I’d used before. Their pillow arrived in 6 days (also fast). It had a softer, slightly thicker fabric, and the print was very sharp. Honestly, the Printify pillow felt slightly higher-end, but cost me ~$3 more. CJ’s was cheaper. Both were very passable for retail.

• Canvas Wall Art: For the canvas print (24×36”), CJ’s sample came via CJPacket from their Asia facility and took ~12 days. It looked decent – matte finish, decent color. Printify’s canvas (from a US partner) arrived in 4 days with very vivid ink and a sturdier stretcher frame. I noted the Printify canvas colors were slightly more true to my digital mockup. But again, CJ’s was cheaper overall. Both had no visible logos (CJ’s rep didn’t brand that item).

From these tests, my take: Printify’s items were a bit higher in perceived quality (especially the canvas) but took longer or cost more. CJ’s items were budget-friendly and shipped quickly (if from the US warehouse). For my brand, I ultimately stocked both: CJ’s products for designs where I wanted higher margin, and Printify’s for specialty designs where I needed the absolute best print fidelity. Importantly, I noted no inventory headaches on either: I simply placed orders through the apps.

Also worth noting: when I had questions about these samples, CJ’s support was quick to answer via chat (“Yes, you can add a logo on that pillow”) and pointed me to design guidelines. Printify’s help (via email) answered my questions but on a longer timescale. In practice, I felt CJ held my hand more, whereas Printify was more self-service.

Final Recommendation

Both CJdropshipping and Printify are powerful POD solutions – the “best” choice can depend on your priorities. If your goal is a simple POD add-on for printing your designs with a good range of products, and you value easy setup, Printify is solid. It’s especially good if you already sell on multiple platforms (Shopify, Etsy, Woo) since its app integrations are seamless. Printify shines when you want specific prints (like branded apparel or high-end canvas) and don’t mind the higher per-item cost.

However, if you’re building a brand-focused Shopify store in 2025, especially in home décor, I lean toward CJdropshipping. CJ’s all-in-one model offers everything Printify does and more. You get POD for custom pillows, art, mugs, etc., but also access to general dropship inventory, U.S./EU fulfillment, free sourcing, and deep branding options. In my experience, CJ gave me faster shipping (courtesy of US warehouses), lower product costs (boosting margin), and robust customization (logos, packaging) to make my brand feel polished. CJ’s official Shopify app keeps things automated and CJ’s support team is readily available if issues arise. In short, for a serious Shopify brand in 2025 that might grow beyond just POD, CJ’s platform was a better long-term fit for me.

That said, I would still test both. Every store is unique – a friend selling graphic tees might prefer Printify’s simplicity, while a home décor seller might love CJ’s breadth. The best approach is to try both services (they’re free to start) and see which meshes with your store and designs. Many sellers even use them together: CJ for some products, Printify for others. In 2025’s landscape of “best print on demand for Shopify,” they both rank highly, but for me CJdropshipping wins out as the more complete solution.

Conclusion

The choice between CJdropshipping and Printify comes down to priorities. Both platforms can deliver custom home décor products for Shopify stores. Printify offers a large catalog of POD items and easy Shopify integration for free (with a paid upgrade for discounts). CJdropshipping, on the other hand, is a free-to-use, all-in-one dropshipping and POD service with global warehouses, low product costs, and deep branding features. It excels at fast fulfillment to the US/EU and provides services beyond POD (sourcing, bundling, warehousing) that help your brand grow.

In my warm, honest experience, CJdropshipping turned out to be the better fit for a growing home-goods brand. It let me scale with confidence: I could launch new pillow or wall art designs quickly, print my logo on custom products, and ship them like an established retailer. Printify remains a great tool and some smaller stores may prefer its simplicity, but for most Shopify entrepreneurs aiming to build a lifestyle brand, CJdropshipping was the winner.

If you’re wondering what’s the best print on demand for Shopify in 2025, give both CJdropshipping and Printify a spin. Create free accounts, play with a couple of designs, order samples, and check the margins. See which workflow clicks with you. Whichever you pick, both platforms empower you to offer unique, print-on-demand products to your customers without the headaches of inventory or production. Happy selling!