Starting a print on demand business?

Two popular options are Teelaunch and Scalable Press. But which one is right for you?

Quick Answer: What is the difference between Teelaunch and Scalable Press?

The main difference is that Teelaunch gives you a broader product range and is easier to start with, while Scalable Press focuses on shirts but offers multiple brands at competitive prices.

Whether you're just starting or looking to switch platforms, this comparison will be a helpful guide for you.

So, let's get's go more in-depth now!

Teelaunch vs. Scalable Press: Which One to Pick?

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Overview: Teelaunch vs. Scalable Press

When we look at Teelaunch and Scalable Press, we'll be comparing them in these areas:

  1. The pricing plans
  2. The profit margins of products
  3. The print quality
  4. The branding services
  5. The order fulfillment experience
  6. The shipping times
  7. The integrations to your store
  8. The customer support quality

Here's the information presented in a simple table format:

TeelaunchScalable Press
ProsConsProsCons
Beginner friendlyLonger production timesFast and reliable customer supportLow print quality
Unique productsFew productsThe best price for bulk ordersShipping times can vary
Templates ready to useCustomization limitationsGenerous free planOnly integrate with API and direct orders

To sum up, here are a few examples of when to choose which supplier:

Teelaunch is an excellent choice if:

  • You're just starting. It's accessible, user-friendly, and perfect for Shopify store owners new to the scene.
  • You're looking for unique products. While their selection might be smaller, the quality and appeal are remarkable.
  • You prefer a hassle-free design process. With their ready-to-use templates, you can create merchandise without getting bogged down in technicalities.

Scalable Press is an excellent choice if:

  • You prioritize swift customer service. Their responsiveness and support are commendable.
  • You're looking at bulk orders. Their pricing for large quantities is very competitive.
  • You only want to design and sell shirts. Scalable Press focuses on shirts.
CategoriesTeelaunchScalable Press
Best pricing plans
Best profit margins
Best print quality
Best branding services
Best order fulfillment experience
Best shipping times
Best integrations to your store
Best customer support quality

What is Teelaunch?

Teelaunch is a print on demand company that partners with major ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, enabling you to create and sell products without needing inventory storage.

teelaunch homepage

Don't let the name fool you. You can put designs on all kinds of items: clothing, mugs, and even rare art print materials that you won't easily find elsewhere.

So what sets Teelaunch apart? Its printing techniques. They can laser-mark products and print a design all over a piece of clothing. You won't find that at many other suppliers.

Plus, Teelaunch offers art prints on materials most suppliers don't touch. Think natural cotton, clay, and ceramics. Even metal. And they ship worldwide.

Teelaunch's pros

  • Beginner friendly. Teelaunch is cost-free and user-friendly, making it a top pick for Shopify store owners just starting.
  • Unique products. Teelaunch offers distinctive items like the Basketball: Full-Size Single Panel and the 32oz Water Bottle Tumbler. Despite a smaller product range, these products set them apart from other POD suppliers.
  • Ready-to-use templates. Companies can benefit from Teelaunch's pre-made designs to create products quickly without needing extensive technical expertise in merchandise design.

Teelaunch's cons

  • Longer production times. Teelaunch has longer production times than other companies, with an average production time of four to seven days, leading to extended shipping times.
  • Few products. While Teelaunch offers a large selection of apparel and accessories, its selection of other categories pales compared to some larger companies.
  • Customization limitations. Teelaunch allows design customization but has restricted product features and material options. For example, limited t-shirt material choices might impact those wanting specific offerings.

What is Scalable Press?

Scalable Press is a US-based print on demand company that's been around since 2012. Its pricing is hard to beat. Canvas shirts start at just $9, and that includes the shipping fees.

Scalable Press hompeage

The catch? Delivery times vary a lot, so it's hard to know exactly when your customers will get their orders.

Scalable Press mainly competes by focusing on large orders and well-known brands rather than small, independent ones.

Scalable Press's pros

  • Fast and reliable customer support. According to customer feedback, their response times for emails and phone calls have been consistently quick.
  • Top-notch pricing for bulk orders. Their products are competitively priced when ordered in large quantities.

Scalable Press's cons

  • Low print quality. Scalable Press uses a DPI of 200, which can result in images being less precise compared to the competition's average of 400 DPI.
  • Shipping times can vary. Scalable Press has more customer complaints about their order arrival times than their competitors.
  • Only integrate with API and direct orders. If you want Scalable Press to work on your website automatically, you'll need to set up an API, which requires knowledge of JSON coding.

Which one has a better pricing plan?

Let's start by comparing Teelaunch and Scalable Press's pricing plans.

A women throwing money in the air

Pricing of Teelaunch

Teelaunch is free to use. No other tiers are available.

Pricing of Scalable Press

Scalable Press follows a free-to-use model without any tiered plans.

Pricing plans final verdict: It's a tie! Both are simple and free to use, and neither one has separate pricing plans.

Which one has better profit margins?

Pricing can make or break a profitable POD business.

Here are the differences between the pricing of Teelaunch's and Scalable Press's products:

Teelaunch's products

Teelaunch shirt
Source

Teelaunch keeps its product pricing simple. A shirt starts at $11, for example.

Scalable Press's products

Scalable Press shirt
Source

Scalable Press keeps its pricing simple and upfront too. Shirts start at just $6.80, which is hard to beat.

They focus on shirts in all their variations, and nothing else. That focus keeps things simple.

Profit margins final verdict: Scalable Press edges out Teelaunch here. With shirts starting at $6.80, it leaves you more room for profit if shirts are your main product.

Which has better print quality?

Let's look at which supplier offers superior print quality for your products.

Teelaunch's print quality

Teelaunch-products
Source

Reviews of Teelaunch's product quality are mixed.

Some users are disappointed with the shipping fees, the print quality, and the occasional damaged product. Others love the quality and the range of products.

Scalable Press's print quality

Scalable Press technology
Source

Scalable Press has had issues with its print quality at times. Plenty of customers mentioned that products like t-shirts and posters came out at a lower dpi than expected.

To be fair, they have consistently committed to addressing feedback and improving their production process.

Print quality final verdict: Teelaunch takes this round. Its reputation for print quality is more consistent and more positive than Scalable Press's.

Which one offers a better branding service?

Apparel branding from Teelaunch
Source

Next up: branding. Let's see which supplier serves you better here.

Teelaunch's Branding

Teelaunch doesn't offer specific branding services. If you want a unique brand touch on your products, that's a real limitation.

Scalable Press's Branding

Scalable Press doesn't offer branding services either. So if you want custom branding on the products your customers receive, neither supplier has you covered.

Branding final verdict: It's a draw! Neither supplier offers branding services.

Who has faster order fulfillment?

Order fulfillment is the time between the supplier receiving your order and the product being printed and shipped to your customer.

The order fulfillment time of Teelaunch

The shipping times map from Teelaunch
Source

Is Teelaunch quick? It's a mixed bag. The website claims a fulfillment time of one to two days, but their own support has said it can take around four to seven days.

Teelaunch ships internationally to all major countries, but some products can't cross borders. Metal signs and outdoor mats are two examples. For more info, check out their fulfillment page.

The order fulfillment time of Scalable Press

Scalable Press shipping times
Source

Scalable Press runs a tighter ship on order processing.

They typically fulfill orders in two to three days, so your customers won't be left waiting.

That's a bit slower than some competitors. But it's consistent, and consistency is exactly what you want when you're promising customers a delivery date.

Scalable Press ships internationally too. Just know that its fulfillment centers sit in the US, Mexico, Taiwan and Vietnam. So orders to Europe will be slower than average.

Order fulfillment verdict: On paper, Teelaunch is slightly faster, if you trust its website's claim. Your experience could vary, though. For dependable fulfillment times, Scalable Press is the safer bet.

Who has the fastest shipping?

Packages falling on the US

Fast shipping isn't optional anymore. Amazon has trained your customers to expect their orders quickly, and they'll hold your store to the same standard.

So, any advantage you can have over the average store will be noticeable.

Teelaunch's shipping speeds

Teelaunch handles shipping well. Domestic orders usually arrive within four to five days.

International orders are a different story. Packages typically take around 21 days to arrive.

Scalable Press's shipping speeds

Scalable Press delivery times are reasonable, but they can fluctuate. Orders within the US should arrive in two to five business days.

International shipping is where it gets unpredictable. Deliveries can take anywhere from ten to 30 business days.

In short: your US customers get their orders fairly quickly, while international buyers will need more patience.

Shipping time verdict: Domestic speeds are close, with both suppliers landing between two and five days. Internationally, Teelaunch is the more predictable one, while Scalable Press can occasionally be faster. Still, Scalable Press takes this round.

Who has more diverse integrations?

Integrations are necessary because not all suppliers work with every ecommerce platform.

Teelaunch's integrations

Teelaunch integrations page
Source

Teelaunch integrates smoothly with popular ecommerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce.

That means you can sync your store, manage products, and handle orders without any hassle. It works no matter which of those platforms you sell on.

Scalable Press's integrations

Scalable Press API Overview page
Scalable Press's API support page

Scalable Press takes a different approach to integrations.

Instead of direct integrations with ecommerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, they offer connections via API or immediate orders.

If you've got the technical know-how, that's good news. You can hook Scalable Press into your own systems and customize a lot more. If you don't, it can get challenging.

The integrations verdict: Teelaunch wins. It connects directly to popular platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce.

Which one has the better customer support?

When things go wrong, your supplier's customer support becomes your lifeline. Not all support services are created equal. Some go the extra mile to help you.

The customer support of Teelaunch

Teelaunch contact page
Source

Opinions on Teelaunch's customer service are mixed. Some people have reported horrible experiences: no email responses, limited contact options and hidden fees.

Others say the opposite. On the Shopify App Store especially, people praise the responsive support and helpful staff. So your experience can go either way.

The customer support of Scalable Press

Contact page of Scalable Press
Source

Scalable Press handles support through email. There's no phone number listed, but email will get you a reply.

Customer feedback is a mix of positive and less happy experiences. A lot depends on your specific problem, but overall their support is more consistent than Teelaunch's.

The customer support verdict: Scalable Press wins this one. Teelaunch's support swings between high praise and harsh criticism. Scalable Press only offers email support, but that support is consistent.

Teelaunch vs. Scalable Press: Which is the right choice for you?

Just starting out with print on demand? Teelaunch is your pick. The interface is beginner-friendly, and it connects easily with the popular ecommerce platforms.

It's also a great fit if you run a small or medium-sized store and want to offer unusual products with quick delivery.

Scalable Press is the better pick for bulk sellers who feel at home with tech. You get competitive pricing on large orders, and the API-only integration rewards that know-how.

Its shipping isn't the fastest on the market. It is predictable, though, and that consistency counts for a lot when customers are waiting.

Compare other print on demand companies

Not sure if Teelaunch or Scalable Press is the right fit for your business? Take a look at our other comparison articles:

And for more comparisons, visit the comparison hub!

Final verdict

So, which one is best?

Final Verdict: Teelaunch is the better choice for most people. You get a broad product range, easy integrations, and quick order fulfillment.

Scalable Press ships reliably, but it asks for more tech skills and its print quality can occasionally fall short.

For most print on demand sellers, Teelaunch is simply the more complete option.

What are your thoughts on Teelaunch and Scalable Press?

Let us know in the comments below, and have a great rest of your day!

Want to learn more about print on demand?

Ready to move your print on demand store to the next level? Check out the articles below:

Plus, don't forget to check out our in-depth how-to start a print on demand business guide here!

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Nick is a Content Strategist specializing in print on demand at DoDropshipping. He has written over 50 articles to help businesses navigate the industry successfully.

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