Even as an artist or creator, you need extra sources of income. Why not use your popularity to make money off merchandise sales? Using the best merch websites will help you maximize profit. But before you begin, you must consider what, where, and how to sell.
If you don’t have this figured out, read this piece. This guide contains information that will help you make informed choices.
Best Merch Websites for Artists
| Website | Type of Website | Earning Potential | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Print on Demand | $10–$20/hour | Visit Gelato |
 | Instant Download | $15–$45/hour | Visit Zazzle |
 | Print on Demand | $15–$45/hour | Visit Printify |
What Kind of Merch Can You Sell?
There are various categories and types of merchandise. So, you can sell custom products online, including apparel, office items, and accessories. Always choose products that match your craft and suit your audience.
For example, a fashion enthusiast can sell custom merch, hats, sneakers, hoodies, or shirts. Items like phone cases or tote bags can be a hit for artists. For a more creative individual, throw pillows and mugs can work.
Digital products are great merch items for musicians. Beyond the usual stuff, niche market products are great sources of income. Examples include celebrity-themed products, custom socks, or band merchandise.
The key best way to decide is by conducting marketing research. User feedback will tell you what your fans like. Try using a social media poll to seek their opinion. When you find their best products, buy them in bulk.
You can then learn to make merch or pay someone to customize it. Brand these items with a unique logo or a write-up. Then, list and market them for sale. This way, you can be confident that your fans will buy custom products online.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Merch Website
Knowing where to sell your merchandise is as important as deciding where. The platform you sell can cause business success or failure. Hence, you must understand the basic factors for comparing platforms. Here are the factors that can help you identify the best merch websites:
1. Product Quality: Choose a website that offers high-quality products. Some platforms sell subpar items, which can negatively impact your reputation and lead to a decline in sales. Hence, it’s important to opt for platforms that sell standard products.
2. Pricing and Fees: Consider the platform’s payment plan. Discover how much you’ll have to pay to use their services. Some websites charge upfront costs as an initial investment. Though that sounds good, others take a percentage of product sales.
3. Shipping and Order Fulfillment: It’s important to confirm if the platform handles shipment. You may not want to deliver, so a print-on-demand service is the best choice.
4. Customer Service: Any platform that prioritizes customer needs and offers support is great. Good customer service encourages repeat business and boosts sales.
5. Marketing and Promotion: Look out for platforms that provide marketing tools. Inbuilt marketing features are game changers that influence sales.
6. Integration: Find out if you can divert traffic from the platform to your website. Some websites allow sellers to link to their business sites or social profiles. This act promotes brand visibility.
7. Control: Confirm if any price guides control what you can earn. If there is, find out whether it’s flexible. You should have control over pricing and profit.
8. Exposure: A platform with a large customer base can boost your reputation. If you aim to expand your fame and services, opt for platforms with large customer bases.
9. Target Audience: Ensure your target audience aligns with that of the platform. Your target audience’s presence determines the productivity of your business.
13 Best Merch Websites for Artists & Creators
Artists and creators are innovative individuals with an eye for fancy things. As an artist, you might know how to make merch and want to sell it. If so, here are the best merch websites that meet most or all of the factors above:
1. Gelato
Gelato offers print-on-demand services and delivers in 32 countries. This platform has a global presence. So, you can sell branded merchandise everywhere. Regardless of distance, orders always reach customers on time.
Buyers love Gelato because its shipping costs are minimal. As a merch maker, you’ll enjoy this platform, which offers many customizable products. Its offerings include office supplies, clothes, and home decor.
This platform’s scalable pricing plans and 24/7 customer support make it effective for sales. Hence, large and established businesses of all sizes use this website. Choose Gelato for a high-quality and reliable print-on-demand partner.
2. Zazzle
Zazzle is a hub for independent designers and creatives who sell their designs on products. With Zazzle, you can customize and sell anything, including electronics. The catch is that you have direct control of your profit without focusing on inventory management.
Being an already popular site, Zazzle has a large customer base you can tap into. Moreover, it covers marketing affairs and sales operations, so it’s easy to find buyers. From this platform, you can make a stable side income online.
3. Printify
Printify stands out as one of the top merch platforms thanks to its vast product selection, user-friendly design tools, and powerful global fulfillment network. With over 1,300 customizable products and partnerships with 90+ print providers worldwide, Printify empowers creators, entrepreneurs, and brands to launch and scale their own merch lines—without holding inventory.
Whether you’re selling through Shopify, Etsy, TikTok Shop, or WooCommerce, Printify’s seamless integrations and automated order fulfillment make it easy to focus on design and marketing while they handle printing and shipping. Its free plan lets anyone start risk-free, while the premium plan boosts profit margins with up to 20% discounts on base product costs.
For those looking to build a branded merch store with full pricing control, fast turnaround, and global reach, Printify is a top-tier choice.
4. Printful
Printful is a leading print-on-demand and fulfillment platform designed for creators and businesses who value brand consistency, premium quality, and end-to-end customization. With an in-house production model and facilities across North America, Europe, and beyond, Printful offers consistently high print standards and fast global shipping.
The platform supports over 340 high-quality products, from apparel and accessories to home decor and promotional items. What sets Printful apart is its white-label experience—merchants can add custom packaging, inserts, neck labels, and branding to elevate the unboxing experience.
Printful integrates effortlessly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, Wix, Amazon, and TikTok Shop, offering real-time syncing, automatic order routing, and a rich suite of marketing tools. While base costs are slightly higher than some competitors, users benefit from no monthly fees, bulk discounts, and robust warehousing services.
For businesses seeking a professional-grade merch solution with deep brand control and reliable fulfillment, Printful remains a top-tier, trusted platform.
5. Shopify
Shopify is among the major e-commerce platforms with worldwide usage. As an artist, you can create a Shopify store with complete control over your brand. Thus, you can form bonds with buyers and get them to leave reviews.
Positive reviews often impact conversion rates. Hence, it’s easier to earn through social proof. With a store catalog, you can explore Shopify and its special features to grow your merch brand.
So, whether you’re looking for the best website for hat merch, art, or decor, you’ll find one that suits your needs. The platforms above specialize in many products, so consider the factors above before deciding.
6. Redbubble
Redbubble is a popular online marketplace for print-on-demand products. As a seller, you can access a catalog of over 70 products. The quality of their clothing stands out. Thus, Redbubble is the best website for hats, t-shirts, caps, joggers, and more.
This website suits sellers who want to earn more without the stress of producing or shipping. It also meets the demand of consumers who want rare artist-designed products.
Moreover, this platform participates in projects that reduce the effect of carbon emissions. Being a socially responsible company, Redbubble is great for environmentally conscious artists.
7. Merch by Amazon
Do you want to partner with a platform that gives you time to create designs? If yes, try Merch by Amazon. This print-on-demand service handles customer service, printing, and Prime shipping.
So, you’re free to spend time creating beautiful designs on new products. You can even experiment with several ideas. While you’re at it, the company will attend to buyers and handle sales.
Amazon merch goes the extra mile to market your products. Thus, you can increase your reach without much work and earn royalties.
8. Big Cartel
Not everyone would like to handle only a few aspects of their business. Big Cartel caters to creators who seek more involvement in merch sales. The company provides an avenue for independent artists to set up online stores.
Hence, you can run your store and sell merch directly while enjoying complete brand control. With Big Cartel, you can build your online store and sell your products to your fans.
However, you’ll need to tailor and organize your product selections. A small curated product list allows for personalization and simplifies management. Hence, Big Cartel is the best website for a small but focused audience.
However, if you want to sell a wide range of merchandise to a large customer base, you can use Gelato or other global platforms.
9. CafePress
CafePress is another platform for selling custom products and designs. This website has more features that make it easy for new artists or sellers to adapt. For example, the platform has a user-friendly interface and a straightforward onboarding process.
However, you must note that CafePress thrives on novelty items and gifts. Examples are postcards, keychains, souvenirs, and other handmade items sold. So, if your products do not fall within this category, use another platform.
10. Spreadshop
Spreadshop is a low-risk print-on-demand platform. Like all other digital print-on-demand services, creators don’t need to pay any upfront cost. Thus, Spreadshop favors artists who run small businesses.
When using this platform, you must set up an online storefront. This store will act as a sales point and facilitate customer interaction. You only need to upload your digital designs to the website. When customers place their orders, Spreadshop will produce them on your behalf.
Next, the platform will start selling your custom merchandise. With this, you can channel your energy into creating attractive graphic designs. With design upgrades, you can effectively sell your products.
Hence, if you run a small-scale business and want to expand, list your merch items on Spreadshop.
11. Spring
Spring is perfect for content creators or influencers looking to explore merchandise sales. The platform is usable, has a wide customer base, and offers many products. You can choose colors, fonts, and patterns when customizing merchandise.
This platform ships goods cautiously to ensure they arrive in perfect condition. It also integrates with social media platforms. Hence, you can convert your followers into buyers.
12. Sellfy
As a creator or an artist, you might not have the time to store and track inventory. So it’s best to use a print-on-demand service like Sellfy. On this easy-to-use platform, creators sell merchandise, subscriptions, and digital products.
The platform’s singular dashboard makes it easy to monitor performance. With access to insight, you can analyze user behavior and other data anytime. Applying analytical results to marketing helps you enjoy the platform’s intuitive tools.
13. Society6
Consider Society6 if your merchandise revolves around art prints and decorative items. It’s a great online marketplace with an audience that loves rich, artistic products.
Despite the specialization, Society6 offers a vast category of products. Some of these are:
- Wall art
- Bed and bath items
- Accessories for tech gadgets
- Indoor decor
- Graphic tees and clothes
How to Get Started With Your Own Merch Store
Though merch websites are helpful, you may prefer creating an online pesonal store. Owning a store provides access to profits and valuable customer data. Also, owning a store means less dependence and limitations.
Starting your merch store is challenging if you don’t have prior experience or guidance. But with understandable steps, you can do it. So, the first step in opening a successful merch store is to decide on the products you’ll customize.
When deciding, consider the products that suit your brand’s aesthetics and that your target audience likes. You must also learn how to make merch and create designs for customization.
It’s important to choose memorable logos for your designs. Also, select write-ups that reflect your persona, brand tone, and style. If you find it difficult to create designs, you can hire a graphic designer.
You’ll also need a web developer to easily create and optimize a brand website. On your website, you can have a store, a blog, and a product page highlighting your services as an artist. You can also build the website yourself using one of the best website builders.
Hostinger
Hosting Your Merch Website
Providing a good user experience is the key to operating a successful website. To ensure optimal performance, you must choose the best web hosting service. Here are some advantages of using a great hosting service:
- Fast loading times ensure easy access.
- Limited server downtime.
- Protection of website and customer data from cybercrime.
- Flexible basic plans that allow easy upgrades
Combining all these makes it easy to grow your online presence and business.
Creating Publicity
Before launching your store, create awareness. Engage in social media campaigns, collaborations, and email marketing. Active marketing will inform your fans of your entrepreneurial agenda. Hence, they can prepare to shop from your website when you launch.
Here are tips to help you advertise your merch and boost sales:
- Promote your merch on social media with high-quality photos and videos.
- Engage with followers and hold contests or giveaways to attract customers.
- Build an email list for sharing exclusive deals, discount codes, and promos via newsletters.
- Partner with influencers to cross-promote products and access new markets.
- Conduct audience research to understand the needs of your potential customers.
- Write detailed product descriptions so your customers can make informed decisions.
- Offer discounted prices occasionally to attract new customers and encourage repeat business.
Conclusion
Artists and creators must know the best merch websites to boost sales. An alternative means of selling products is creating a personal website. Either option can help you monetize your passion and expand your brand.
However, you must choose the right products to sell and market your brand. So, go ahead and diversify your income stream with this idea!
Next Steps: What Now?
Before starting your merch business, remember to:
- Consider your customers’ preferences when choosing a product niche.
- Ensure your merchandise fits your brand’s image
- Get quality designs.
