Shopify vs Spring (Teespring) (2026): Which Pays Better?
Both are popular e-commerce & print-on-demand platforms. Here is how Shopify and Spring (Teespring) stack up on requirements, what you keep, payout terms, strengths and weaknesses, and which one we would pick.
Shopify
The hosted store platform for merch, print on demand and physical products, from $29 a month plus a tiered card fee.
8.8 /10
Pricing: Paid from $39/mo
Pros
- Checkout, hosting, shipping and tax handled out of the box, with a huge app ecosystem
- Print-on-demand apps (Printful, Printify) integrate in minutes
- Transaction fee drops as you move up plans, and a 400-day cookie affiliate program pads awareness
Cons
- Monthly fee plus app costs add up fast for a small store
- 2% (or more) surcharge if you skip Shopify Payments for another gateway
Spring (Teespring)
Free creator merch platform with YouTube and TikTok integrations; you set the price above a base cost.
6.6 /10
Pricing: Free
Pros
- No cost to start, integrated with YouTube merch shelf
- Simple design and listing flow
Cons
- Base costs leave modest margins
- Store customisation is limited
Shopify vs Spring (Teespring) at a glance
| Shopify | Spring (Teespring) | |
|---|---|---|
| Editor score | 8.8 / 10 | 6.6 / 10 |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free |
| Starting price | $39/mo | Free |
| Web rank | #176 | #360k |
| Minimum traffic | None | None |
| Revenue share / fee | Basic $29/mo (billed annually) / $39 month-to-month, Grow $79/$105, Advanced $299/$399, Plus from ~$2,300/mo; Shopify Payments 2.9%+30c (Basic) down to 2.5%+30c (Advanced); +2%/1%/0.6% surcharge on external gateways | No fee; profit is retail minus base cost |
| Commission | – | – |
| Payout | Rolling payout to your bank, typically 2-3 business days after a sale | On request (weekly) |
| Methods served | ecommerce merch, digital products, memberships subscriptions | ecommerce merch |
| Niches accepted | General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail | General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail |
| Reader upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Best for | ecommerce, merch, print on demand | merch, youtube, free |
Our pick
Shopify edges it with a score of 8.8 versus 6.6. Shopify is the better fit if you value: checkout, hosting, shipping and tax handled out of the box, with a huge app ecosystem, print-on-demand apps (printful, printify) integrate in minutes. Choose Spring (Teespring) instead if you need: no cost to start, integrated with youtube merch shelf, simple design and listing flow.
Other e-commerce & print-on-demand platforms to consider
Full ranking →PrestaShop 🧰 PlatformOpen source
One of the world's most established open-source e-commerce platforms, especially strong in Europe
nopCommerce 🧰 PlatformOpen source
Free, open-source ASP.NET Core e-commerce platform you install and host yourself
Vendure 🧰 PlatformOpen source
Popular open-source headless commerce platform built with TypeScript, NestJS, and GraphQL
Printful 🧰 PlatformFree
Print-on-demand fulfilment: you design, they print and ship each order; no inventory, margin is the difference.