Spreadshirt is a print-on-demand company that prints your designs on t-shirts, hoodies, mugs and hundreds of other products. You can earn in two ways: by listing designs on the Spreadshirt marketplace, where you get a design price for each item sold, or by opening a free Spreadshop, a branded store where you earn a margin on every order. Spreadshirt handles printing, shipping and customer service in both cases.
At a glance
| What it is | Print-on-demand marketplace and free shop builder |
| Marketplace pay | A design price per item sold |
| Spreadshop pay | A margin per item, plus a possible performance bonus |
| Products | 300+ |
| Cost to join | Free |
| Fulfillment | Spreadshirt prints, ships and handles support |
How it works
You open a partner account, upload your designs and choose the products they appear on. On the marketplace, your designs sit alongside thousands of others and shoppers find them through search. With a Spreadshop, you get your own store with your branding, which you promote to your own audience. Many sellers use both.
What you earn on the marketplace
Marketplace designers earn a design price, also called the partner share, for each product sold with their design. Spreadshirt says the amount depends on the country of sale, the product category and the sales channel. Independent reviews put it at roughly $2 to $5 per product, but check the design price overview in Spreadshirt’s help center for current figures.
What you earn with a Spreadshop
In a Spreadshop, your earnings come from a margin made up of a base margin and a possible performance bonus. You keep a larger share than on the marketplace, but you bring the traffic yourself. Spreadshop also lets you use your own domain and control the layout of your store.
AI customization
Spreadshirt has added an AI tool that lets customers adapt marketplace designs by prompt. If a customer changes your design this way, Spreadshirt says you still receive the design price for that product category.
Getting started
Prepare high-resolution designs, ideally as transparent PNG files, and research niches before uploading. Start with a focused set of designs on the products that suit them, rather than every design on every product.
Common mistakes
Many sellers upload generic designs into crowded niches and never get found. Others use copyrighted characters or brand names, which leads to removals and account problems. A third mistake is opening a Spreadshop and never promoting it.
Marketplace or Spreadshop?
The marketplace brings shoppers you couldn’t reach alone, at a lower share per sale. A Spreadshop pays more per item, but only sells what you send to it. If you have an audience, a Spreadshop makes sense; if you don’t, the marketplace is the easier start.
Choosing products
Not every design suits every product. Text-based designs work well on shirts and mugs, while detailed artwork may suit posters or bags better. Check how each design looks on the mockups before publishing, and remove products where it looks cramped or cut off.
Is it worth it?
As a side income, Spreadshirt rewards patience. Most designs sell rarely or never, and a few carry the catalog. Upload consistently, watch which designs sell and make more in those niches.
Owen’s take
Spreadshirt is a low-risk way to test designs, with two routes in one account. Use the marketplace to find out what sells and a Spreadshop once you have people to send there.
Who it suits
It suits designers testing ideas and creators who want free branded merch. It suits less well sellers who want full control over pricing and products.
Similar options
- TeePublic pays a fixed amount per item.
- Redbubble is a large print-on-demand marketplace.
- Threadless offers free Artist Shops.
- Printful prints for your own online store.
More options are in Print on Demand.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free marketplace and free shop
- 300+ products
- Spreadshirt handles fulfillment and support
Cons
- Modest design price on the marketplace
- Crowded marketplace
- Spreadshop sales depend on your own traffic
FAQ
How much do Spreadshirt designers earn?
A design price per item on the marketplace, which varies by country, product and channel, or a margin per item in a Spreadshop.
Is Spreadshirt free?
Yes, both the marketplace and Spreadshop are free.
What is the difference between Spreadshirt and Spreadshop?
Spreadshirt includes a marketplace; Spreadshop is your own branded store.
Do I need to ship anything?
No. Spreadshirt prints and ships each order.
Can customers change my design?
Yes, with Spreadshirt’s AI tool, and you still earn the design price.
