The Best Print on Demand Tools to Grow Your Etsy Shop
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This post is all about the best print on demand tools to grow your Etsy shop.
If you’ve ever found yourself deep in design files, drowning in mockup folders, or Googling “how to find Etsy keywords that actually work,” — I see you. I’ve been there.
One thing I’ve learned since starting my own Etsy print on demand shop? The tools you use really matter. The best print on demand tools don’t just make your life easier — they help you create better products, save time, and grow faster with less stress.
Not every tool is necessary from day one, but when you’re ready to scale or invest in your business, having the right ones in your corner makes a huge difference. Whether you’re just getting started or you're ready to level up, here’s a breakdown of the tools that have helped me (and countless others) build a profitable, streamlined Etsy POD shop.
1. Fulfillment & Integration Tools: The Core of POD
Your POD platform is your foundation — it’s where your products get printed, fulfilled, and shipped. And while there are a lot of options out there, here are three of the best pod companies to consider:
🥇 Printify — My #1 Pick for Etsy POD
Printify is hands-down my most recommended platform. It’s super easy to use, integrates seamlessly with Etsy, and has tons of product options from different print providers. Pro tip: create reusable product templates (with pricing, description, and product variations already added) that you can reuse for all of your listings. Saves so much time when you’re creating your products.
Plus, with their Premium Plan, you get up to 20% off every product, which increases your margins in a big way — especially once the sales start rolling in. If you're looking for the best POD for Etsy, start here.
🧵 Printful — High Quality & Scalable
Printful is another strong option with great branding tools and high-quality products. If you’re looking to create a brand with custom packing slips, logo placement, or inside-label printing, Printful has great features to support you.
🌎 Gelato — Fast Global Shipping
If your target audience is spread out across the globe, Gelato is worth considering. Their fulfillment network is massive, which means faster delivery times (especially in Europe).
All of these platforms double as a print on demand automation tool, syncing directly with Etsy so that orders are automatically fulfilled once a sale comes in. Less manual work = more time for designing and scaling.
2. Design Tools for Standout Products
Having great product ideas is one thing — bringing them to life is another. Whether you’re creating from scratch or customizing existing assets, these print on demand design tools are your new best friends:
🎨 Canva – Beginner-Friendly & Powerful
Perfect for beginners, but still powerful enough for pros. I use Canva Pro and highly recommend it — mostly because of the transparent background export feature (huge time-saver), and access to premium fonts and graphics. I use it for everything from t-shirt designs to Pinterest pins.
✏️ Photopea – Free Image Editor
Photopea is my go-to girl. It’s completely free and lets you open and edit your design files right in your browser. It’s been my go-to for quick design tweaks since I opened my POD shop.
🤖 Artistly – AI-Powered Designs
Artistly is a newer tool I’ve been experimenting with — it offers pre-made templates and even AI-generated design ideas. A great way to overcome creative blocks. It can take a bit of playing around with to get the hang of it, but it’s a really powerful design tool that you could use to your advantage if you’re looking to level up your designs.
🖋️ Creative Fabrica – Fonts & Commercial Assets
Be mindful when using design assets from here — some people upload stolen work and then sell it as their own. But Creative Fabrica can be a goldmine for fonts (which you can upload into Canva), SVGs, and commercial-use elements. I highly recommend always checking the licensing and then editing designs that you get from them to make them more original.
3. Research Tools: Find Profitable POD Niches
Here’s the truth: a cute design doesn’t mean it will sell. You need to understand what people are actually searching for. That’s where print on demand research tools come in.
🔍 EverBee – My Favorite Etsy SEO Tool
This is the one I personally use and recommend the most. EverBee lets you analyze competitors (their shops and individual listings), check keyword volume, and get SEO-insight on top-selling products. I highly recommend upgrading to the paid plan when you’re ready to take your SEO seriously — the insights are totally worth it.
📊 eRank – Keyword Trends & Timing
eRank is especially helpful for seeing seasonal keyword trends, so you know when to start listing certain products. It tells you what months a keyword is most searched for so you can plan when to list products in that niche accordingly. The free plan gives you 5 keyword searches per day, and their basic plans are super affordable - as of now, their basic and pro plans are still under $10 per month. It also has a lot of similar features to Everbee!
✨ Etsy Search Bar – Don’t Overlook It
Type in your niche or product idea and look at what autocomplete suggests. This shows you real searches from real buyers. It’s free, easy, and surprisingly helpful when brainstorming.
Using these tools will help you uncover profitable Etsy niches and steer your shop in the right direction from the start.
4. Mockup & Listing Tools: Boost Clicks and Conversions
Your listing images are everything on Etsy — they’re the first thing customers see and what helps them click “add to cart.”
🖼️ Simply Listed – My Favorite Mockup Tool
This is the only mockup tool I recommend right now. Simply Listed connects with your Printify account, pulls in your product designs, and automatically places them into reusable mockup templates that you’ve created in a matter of seconds.
It has saved me hours of time and has completely streamlined my listing process. Invaluable, especially when you’re listing lots of new products regularly.
5. Automation Tools: Work Smarter, Not Harder
The more you can automate, the faster you grow.
🤖 ChatGPT – Your Secret Sidekick
I use ChatGPT all the time to brainstorm niche ideas, write listing descriptions using my chosen keywords, and generate Etsy tag lists for my listings. It’s one of the best print on demand automation tools to keep in your toolbox - and it’s free.
6. Free Print on Demand Tools to Start With
Just getting started or on a tight budget? These are my go-to free print on demand tools that pack a punch:
Canva (Free) – Basic features are solid, but Canva Pro is 100% worth it for serious sellers.
EverBee (Free) – top-tier SEO tool for Etsy; upgrade when ready for more keyword searches & SEO tools.
Photopea – Always free, no sign-up required.
Etsy Search Bar – Instant market research.
Printify (Free) – The paid plan saves $$ per sale once you’re getting steady orders.
ChatGPT (Free) – I still use the free version and it works great!
eRank (Free) – 5 keyword searches per day; upgrade for deeper insights & more keyword searches! Super powerful SEO tool for Etsy!
7. My Personal Favorites (and Most Recommended)
When you’re ready to invest in your POD business, I have my personal favorites. When I think about the tools I rely on every single time I list products in my shop— these are my top four:
EverBee (Paid) – SEO insights that actually make a difference.
Simply Listed – Game-changer for product mockups.
Printify Premium – 20% product discount = more profit.
Canva Pro – My go-to design studio.
eRank (paid) - Another powerful SEO tool - helps me to timely list in the right niches.
When you’re ready to invest a little money back into your shop, these are the tools that will save you time, stress, and help you grow.
8. Final Thoughts: Stack the Right Tools, Grow Smarter
At the end of the day, the best print on demand tools won’t build your shop for you — but they will make the process faster, easier, and way more profitable.
Start simple. Test a few free tools. When you're ready to grow, invest in the ones that help you create faster, research smarter, and sell more.
You don’t need to do everything manually — you just need the right support systems.
🎁 Ready to Grow Your Etsy POD Shop?
Grab my free tools and resources below to get started:
Let’s make your Etsy shop your favorite side hustle yet.
