Wayo vs. Printful: Which should you choose for company merch?

Finding the right merch partner can be surprisingly tricky. A lot of options out there are overpriced, painfully slow, or stocked with the same tired products everyone else is using. 

If you’re thinking about using Printful but wanted to explore some alternatives, Wayo might be worth a closer look. Whether you’re just getting started with branded swag or looking to upgrade from your usual go-to, we’ll break down how Wayo vs. Printful stack up – so you can pick the best partner for your brand, budget, and timeline.

Wayo vs. Printful: a quick overview

Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick breakdown of how Wayo and Printful differ:

What is Wayo?

Wayo is an AI-powered custom product sourcing solution that helps businesses design and manufacture high-quality custom merch at factory-direct prices. Wayo connects you with top-tier global suppliers and handles the messy middle part of the process – sampling, sourcing, pricing, logistics – so you can go from idea to swag in just a few clicks.

How does Wayo work?

We built Wayo to offer companies the pricing and product variety of overseas sourcing without the headaches. Here’s how it works:

1. Browse a curated catalog: No endless, low-quality product listings here. We’ve handpicked a selection of high-quality, on-trend products, so you don’t have to sift through thousands of options. You won’t have to worry about product quality either – our on-the-ground team evaluates every product carefully before including it in our catalog.
2. Customize your merch: Wayo Design Studio, our self-service design tool, makes custom merch effortless. Pick a color, choose your customization method, and easily upload your logo, artwork, or branding. Realistic previews help you get your design just right, while auto-quotes provide transparent pricing in real time.
3. Place your order: Once you’ve finalized your design, check out in just a few clicks. 
4. Enjoy your custom product: Sit tight – Wayo will handle the rest. We’ve partnered with trusted, export-ready factories overseas to produce your merch. Once quality control is complete, your merch will be packed and delivered to your door in just two to three weeks, with no messy coordination required on your end.

Pros of Wayo

Here’s why Wayo is becoming the go-to merch partner for companies of all sizes:

• Lower costs: Because we work directly with overseas manufacturers, there’s no hidden middleman markup. We offer factory-direct pricing on bulk orders – up to 30-50% lower prices than other platforms, making Wayo perfect for startups and small teams that need to stretch their budget without compromising quality.
• Product variety: While Printful offers a more standard catalog, Wayo’s catalog is packed with on-trend, premium-feel merch, from mini karaoke machines to trendy bucket bags and electric scalp massagers. 
• Advanced customization options: Wayo gives you more control over the details, including unique customization methods like puff printing, 3-D embroidery, heat stamping, and more. It's a far cry from the one-product, one-customization-method options you’ll find on many POD platforms.
• Premium products: We work with export-ready factories that also manufacture for globally recognized brands, which means our base products are higher-quality and better constructed – despite costing significantly less.
• Seamless process for ordering fully custom products: Looking for something that’s not in the catalog? Wayo’s AI sourcing agent, Nory, can track it down. Just tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll match you with the right supplier to bring it to life.

Cons of Wayo

While Wayo offers serious advantages in pricing, quality, and ease, here are a few things to keep in mind depending on what you need:

• Limited product count (for now): While we’re growing quickly, our catalog isn’t as extensive as some of the giants in the industry. We take our time to source quality, on-trend items instead of rushing to fill our catalog with 10,000 mediocre ones.
• Not ideal for one-offs: Wayo is optimized for bulk orders, not POD. So, if you only need one shirt or a handful of notebooks, Printful will be a better choice.
• Longer turnaround times: While Wayo’s delivery timelines are excellent compared to other overseas providers, most orders will still take at least 2 weeks to arrive. So if you need something ASAP, you may need to order from Printful or another POD platform based in your country.
• No direct e-commerce integrations (yet): Wayo doesn’t currently offer API integrations with platforms like Shopify or Etsy (but it’s on our development roadmap!)

Who is Wayo best for?

Choose Wayo to bring your custom product to life if:

• You need high-quality, bulk merch for your team, customers, or an upcoming event.
• You want unique, premium products without the premium price.
• You care about branding details and product quality.
• You want to order a fully custom product, but don’t want to manage sourcing, production, and logistics yourself.

What is Printful?

Launched in 2013, Printful is one of the most well-established players in the print-on-demand (POD) space. POD is a fulfillment method where designs get printed on pre-made “blanks” (like standard tees, mugs, or hats) only after someone places an order – so there’s no need to hold inventory or commit to bulk orders upfront. This model makes Printful especially popular among Etsy sellers, dropshippers, and small e-commerce brands.

How does Printful work?

Printful is all about convenience. Here’s how it works:

1. Choose your products: Printful offers a wide range of customizable items, like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, hats, tote bags, and more. 
2. Upload your design: Use their design tool to add your logo or artwork and generate mockups. It’s a quick, self-serve process that gives you a real-time preview of how everything will look.
3. Place your order: Whether you’re ordering a single item or a handful for your team, you can check out directly through Printful’s platform.
4. Printful makes your merch: Printful owns and operates production facilities in the U.S. as well as Canada, Mexico, Latvia, and Spain. They’ll assign the production location automatically based on availability, product type, and where they’re shipping your order.

Pros of Printful

Printful is one of the biggest POD platforms for a reason – here’s where it stands out:

• No minimums: This is great if you just need a few items, for example: sending a welcome gift to a new hire or printing one-off client thank-you boxes.
• Short turnaround time: Printful owns and operates its own domestic production centers. As a result, customers can expect their custom merch to arrive in just one to two weeks. That’s faster than most overseas options and quick enough for most event timelines, launch schedules, or seasonal campaigns – especially if you’re ordering at the last minute.
• Extensive e-commerce integrations: One of Printful’s biggest advantages is its plug-and-play compatibility with platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and more, which is why e-comm sellers love it.

Cons of Printful

Despite its convenience, there are plenty of reasons why companies look for Printful alternatives for producing their merch:

• Higher pricing per unit: When you use a POD platform, you trade convenience for pricing. Costs can quickly skyrocket if you're buying merch in any sort of volume, like when outfitting a team or planning giveaway goodies for an event.
• Not ideal for scaling: Once you're ordering at scale, Printful’s limited catalog and customization options can start to feel restrictive. You’re often working with the same generic blanks everyone else is using, which makes it harder to differentiate your brand or deliver merch that actually stands out.
• Standard product quality: While some Printful items hold up fine, quality can vary widely depending on the product and print method. Many products use basic blanks and lower-weight materials, which can feel cheap, especially compared to the more premium options you’d find on Wayo.

Who is Printful best for?

Printful is great if:

• You’re testing a few designs before committing.
• You need your merch ASAP.
• You only need a handful (<10) of items.
• You’re okay with paying more for convenience.

The final verdict: Wayo vs. Printful

When it comes to Wayo vs. Printful, both platforms have their place, with the choice between them boiling down to what you need.

If you need a no-fuss, low-volume solution – say, a few shirts for an event or quick swag for a new hire – Printful is a solid option. It’s especially useful for companies testing new designs without committing to bulk.

On the other hand, if you’re hunting for Printful alternatives that offer factory-direct costs, thoughtfully sourced products, and an easy design and ordering process, Wayo’s got you covered. Whether you’re designing tees for a company retreat or custom gifts for your next trade show, we’ve got everything you need to create company merch people want to keep.

Ready to bring your merch vision to life? Explore Wayo’s product catalog today.