About Printful
Printful is a leading print-on-demand (POD) and dropshipping service that allows users to create, print, and sell custom merchandise through their own online stores or marketplaces like Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, and eBay.
The company operates on a made-to-order model, meaning products are only created once a customer places an order. Printful handles the entire fulfillment process, including product printing, packaging, and shipping directly to the end customer.
This allows entrepreneurs, creators, and small businesses to focus on design and marketing without the need to hold inventory or manage logistics. Their product catalog is extensive, including clothing, accessories, home goods, and stationery, all customizable with the user’s designs.
Printful Affiliate Program Overview
The Printful Affiliate Program rewards partners for promoting the Printful platform, primarily targeting individuals and businesses looking to start or grow a print-on-demand e-commerce business. Affiliates earn a commission for a set period from the sales generated by the customers they refer who sign up and start selling with Printful.
| Factor | Detail |
| Industry | E-commerce, Print-on-Demand (POD), Dropshipping, Fulfillment |
| Product Type | Digital Service/Platform (B2B) for Custom Product Creation & Fulfillment |
| Affiliate Program Type | Revenue Share/Recurring Commission |
Printful Affiliate Program Offers
The program provides affiliates with the resources needed to successfully promote the platform and attract new users who will benefit from Printful’s services.
| Factor | Detail |
| Promotional Materials | Marketing materials, resources, affiliate marketing tips, and real-time tracking dashboard. |
| Affiliate Cookie Duration | Varies, commonly cited as 30 days or 9 months (270 days) in different sources. |
| Accepted Traffic Sources | Websites, blogs, social media platforms (YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook), online courses, email marketing. |
| Accepted Countries | Worldwide, as Printful offers global fulfillment and welcomes affiliates globally. |
| Explicit Content | Specific restrictions are not explicitly detailed for affiliates, but the content should be aligned with Printful’s general terms (focusing on e-commerce, entrepreneurship, and POD). |
| Religious or political content | Specific restrictions are not explicitly detailed, but content should generally focus on e-commerce and business growth. |
Printful Affiliate Commissions & Payments
The Printful affiliate structure is designed to provide long-term earnings from referred customers who become active sellers on the platform.
| Factor | Detail |
| MLM | Not a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) program. It is a standard affiliate/partner program. |
| Commission Rate | 10% commission. |
| Commission Structure | Affiliates earn a 10% commission on the fulfillment price (Printful’s base price for the product and printing) for 12 months from the referred customer’s first sale. |
| Payout Frequency | Upon request (monthly payments are common). |
| Payout Methods | PayPal (most commonly cited). |
| Minimum Payout | $25 minimum threshold to withdraw earnings. |
Suitable Affiliates for Printful Affiliate
The Printful affiliate program is highly suitable for content creators and professionals whose audience is interested in starting or growing an online business, particularly in the e-commerce and print-on-demand space.
- Bloggers/Content Marketers: Ideal for those running blogs or websites focused on e-commerce guides, starting a business, side hustles, design, or product reviews.
- YouTubers: Excellent for creating tutorials, review videos, or case studies on starting a POD store, design tools, or dropshipping.
- Influencers (KOL/KOC): Suitable for influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok who focus on fashion, design, entrepreneurship, or creative DIY projects, encouraging their audience to monetize their creativity.
- E-commerce Experts/Consultants: Those who teach others how to build online stores and recommend tools for success.
- Video Editors: While not a direct fit, editors who create content for other e-commerce creators or who have a community interested in creative monetization could be suitable.
- Livestreamers: Livestreaming content creators who discuss business, e-commerce, or design could promote Printful as a tool for their audience to sell their own merchandise.
Printful Affiliate Software
Printful appears to manage its affiliate program primarily using in-house affiliate management software through a dedicated affiliate dashboard. This dashboard provides affiliates with tracking tools, reporting, and access to promotional materials. Some historical or alternative sources mention the use of other networks like PostAffiliatePro, but the primary program is managed directly.
3 Alternatives for Printful Affiliate Program
Printful’s main competitors in the Print-on-Demand (POD) space also offer affiliate programs. Three popular alternatives are Printify, Redbubble, and Zazzle.
- Printify: Also a POD service, but it acts as a network connecting sellers to a wide variety of third-party print providers. Its affiliate program is very similar to Printful’s, offering recurring commissions for a year.
- Redbubble: Functions as an online marketplace where artists upload designs, and Redbubble handles the rest. Its affiliate program focuses on referring customers to the marketplace to buy the artist-designed products.
- Zazzle: Similar to Redbubble, Zazzle is a marketplace for customizable products. Its program offers a commission for every sale of a product, often with a bonus for referring new customers.
| Comparison Factor | Printful | Printify | Redbubble | Zazzle |
| Average Bill (Conversion Value) | Medium to High (New store owners placing multiple, long-term orders) | Medium to High (New store owners placing multiple, long-term orders) | Low to Medium (One-time customer purchases) | Low to Medium (One-time customer purchases) |
| Entry Fees | Free to Join | Free to Join | Free to Join | Free to Join |
| Withdrawal Threshold | $25 | $25 | $20 (varies by currency) | $50 (for check/PayPal) or $10 (for gift certificate) |
| Payment Frequency | Upon Request/Monthly | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
| Commission | 10% of fulfillment price for 12 months (recurring) | 5% to 10% for 12 months (recurring) | Up to 10% base (variable based on product) | Up to 15% (for referred sales) + Volume Bonus |
| Conversion | Focus on converting visitors into new store owners/e-commerce entrepreneurs. | Focus on converting visitors into new store owners/e-commerce entrepreneurs. | Focus on converting visitors into end customers buying unique designs/gifts. | Focus on converting visitors into end customers buying unique designs/gifts. |
| Marketing Materials | Provided (Dashboard, resources, tips) | Provided (Dashboard, banners, assets) | Provided (Banners, links) | Provided (Creatives, data feed) |