Teelaunch Review: How Does this POD Platform Differ?

Are you an entrepreneur or designer feeling lost with all the steps involved in starting a print on demand business? Choosing from so many platforms can feel overwhelming and leave you even more uncertain. 

Picking the right POD business is an important choice, and this blog is here to guide you. We'll go over Teelaunch's detailed review, offering clear, helpful tips on using this popular platform. Our blog can help you bring your creative ideas to life with less hassle since Teelaunch will surely make print on demand easier.

Brief Overview about Teelaunch

Teelaunch, founded in 2012 and based in South Dakota, is a print on demand and order fulfillment service. When a customer buys one of your custom products, Teelaunch handles the printing, packaging, and shipping, so you don’t have to do a thing.

You only pay for Teelaunch items after a customer makes a purchase, so there's no need for upfront inventory, storage costs, or big investments.

On its website, Teelaunch describes its mission as helping people achieve their dreams and financial freedom by allowing them to set up a shop quickly without extra overhead.

You can use Teelaunch on a tablet, mobile device (with the app), or laptop, and it connects easily with platforms like BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Etsy, and Shopify to automatically sync your products and orders. Note that for Etsy, you’ll need a Shopify store first and must link it with your Shopify dashboard.

How Teelaunch Works

Teelaunch is a print on demand app that connects with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy. With Teelaunch, you can design and sell custom products in various colors and sizes, offering options for all types of customers.

Once all your products are ready, you can add them to your store. When someone places an order, Teelaunch automatically manages the whole process by:

• Creating the order in the system
• Adding it to your store
• Printing the product
• Shipping it directly to the customer
• Updating the tracking details on your Orders page
• Sending shipping updates to you and your customer

The process is fully automated, so after setting up your store, adding Teelaunch, and designing products, there’s little else required from you. This simplicity makes print on demand a great way to earn passive income without handling tasks like packing or shipping.

Teelaunch Features Review

There are several things to think about when deciding if Teelaunch is the right print on demand service for you. Let’s go over all the key areas to keep in mind.

Product Variety 

Despite the name, Teelaunch offers far more than just t-shirts. They have a large selection, including:

• Accessories
• Crystal
• Drinkware
• Home Goods
• Jewelry
• Kitchenware
• Lifestyle items
• Monogrammed items
• Office Supplies
• Personalized products
• Pet items
• Combo Apparel
• Combo Mugs
• Wall Art

Within these main categories, you’ll find up to 300+ products to choose from, making Teelaunch ideal whether you want to focus on one product type with different designs or offer a wide range with a single design.  Teelaunch also sometimes releases limited editions or unique styles, so check back periodically for new options.

However, keep in mind some basics like socks and baseball caps aren’t included in their catalog. It’s a good idea to review their selection, and if it doesn’t meet your needs, you can remove your payment info and try a different POD app.

Here is a list of Best Print on Demand Products to sell that surely helps you to reach high profits, check it out.

Printing Quality

Teelaunch works with third-party suppliers, and each product type may come from a different source. Overall, the quality of Teelaunch’s apparel, accessories (like tote bags), and kitchenware is well-reviewed by both sellers and buyers. 

The DTG (direct-to-garment) printing Teelaunch uses provides high-quality prints with a wide color range, although it doesn’t embed ink as deeply as screen printing. Teelaunch also uses sublimation printing for fabric, which embeds dye into the material, and offers laser engraving for certain kitchenware, which is praised for its precision.

To feel confident in the quality, it’s recommended to order a sample before selling products through Teelaunch.

Shipping 

Shipping is a key factor for any print on demand service, especially in today’s fast-delivery world. With Teelaunch, here’s what you can expect for both domestic and international shipping.

First, once an order is placed, Teelaunch processes it within 24 hours. The product is then printed and prepared in about 3-6 days, followed by a shipping time of around 5 days for U.S. orders. So, most customers in the U.S. can expect their order in 1-2 weeks. International orders and holiday seasons may extend this timeline up to three weeks.

Teelaunch ships mainly through UPS Mail Innovations, UPS Surepost, and USPS. USPS also acts as the tracking provider for most items. However, some products, such as stickers and certain items shipped from the U.K. (like mugs and apparel), do not include tracking. Shipping costs vary, typically ranging from $2 to $10 within the U.S. and $2 to $20 internationally, with the exact amount displayed during product setup.

Teelaunch ships to many countries, but there are exceptions, including:

• UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
• India, Indonesia, Israel, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Russia
• Brazil, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia
• Reunion Island, Isle of Man, Latvia

Certain products have additional restrictions: Teelaunch doesn’t ship canvas wall art to Asia, and products like yard signs, metal signs, sports balls, pet pillows, and outdoor mats are unavailable for Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and international destinations.

During peak times, like Christmas or Valentine’s Day, processing can take longer, about 9-12 business days, while non-peak orders generally take 4-7 business days. Once an item is shipped, a tracking number is provided (usually available for tracking within 12-24 hours) so you and your customer can monitor the delivery status.

Design and Customization

Teelaunch offers various design and customization features to create a unique shopping experience for both sellers and customers.

1. Product Personalization

Teelaunch’s personalization feature lets customers upload their own images onto select products, allowing them to create customized items. 

Sellers can add products from the “Personalized” category to their stores, set their prices, and publish them. This feature enables customers to adjust their images as they place orders, making the shopping experience more interactive and tailored to each person.

2. Easy-to-Use Design Tools

The platform makes it simple for sellers to upload their designs. For those who prefer a blank canvas, there’s a “No Design” option that lets customers use the full print area with their own images, encouraging creativity and offering a range of unique products.

3. Custom Branding

To reinforce brand identity, Teelaunch allows sellers to add their store logo on packing slips and even include insert cards or stickers in customer orders. These custom branding options help create a cohesive experience and strengthen brand presence.

4. Helpful Design Resources

While Teelaunch’s design tools are straightforward, they provide design guides for various products, helping users create compatible and high-quality designs. By following these guides, sellers can ensure their artwork is ready for printing without issues.

💡 Pro tip: Try EComposer to build stunning store with these POD Products and share the heartwarming story of your business, along with adorable photos and behind-the-scenes moments online. Make them engaging to create a connection with you.

Integrations and Compatibility with Other Platforms

Currently, Teelaunch connects directly with Shopify, Etsy, Tiktok Shop and Woocommerce. While it's possible to sell on Amazon through Shopify as a middleman, this creates a three-step setup (Teelaunch - Shopify - Amazon), which can be complex and adds extra steps.

1. Teelaunch Shopify App

Shopify is the world’s leading eCommerce platform, so it’s no surprise that all print on demand companies focused on eCommerce businesses aim to integrate with Shopify. In fact, they all do.

To connect with Shopify, simply log into your Shopify account and install the Teelaunch Print on Demand app. This integration is free and gives direct access to Teelaunch products within the Shopify platform.

With Teelaunch on Shopify, you can easily stock your store with a variety of high-quality products, enjoy global production, and offer a smooth shipping process, all from one place.

2. Teelaunch Integration with other platforms

To start, you can log into your Teelaunch account as normal.

• Open the “Teelaunch” dashboard, and select “Stores”. Select “Add New Store”. 

• This will take you to choose any of the three platforms/marketplaces: Etsy, Tiktokshop or Woocommerce you want to connect with. 

• Click “Connect” on the one you want to opt for then it will navigate you to another page to create a new account or to log in your existing store.

Now, you just need to set up things including product information, shipping and payment.

Pricing and Profit Margins

When setting up a print on demand business, calculating profit margins is crucial. You’ll need to cover all costs, from product production to customer acquisition. Teelaunch offers fair pricing, one of the main reasons many sellers stick with them. Quality is important, but so is pricing—you need to balance setting competitive retail prices without overcharging, especially on basic items like cotton T-shirts.

Teelaunch’s prices are particularly good for clothing and accessories, though some categories, like jewelry and home products, may be a bit pricier. Typically, you’re looking at a gross profit margin of 80–100%. While customer acquisition costs can be concerning, offering upsells and cross-sells can help increase order value as consumers add more items to their cart.

For customized products, margins are often even higher, so guiding customers toward these options can boost profits. Teelaunch supports this with a growing selection of customizable items, which can make a big difference in your business’s profitability. For a complete look at Teelaunch’s pricing, you can check out their full pricing list.

Let’s also talk about costs on Shopify. Adding Teelaunch to Shopify is free, and using Teelaunch to design and sell products is also free. However, you’ll need a paid Shopify account, which offers three main subscription plans:

• Basic Shopify: $25 per month
• Shopify: $65 per month
• Advanced Shopify: $399 per month

With Teelaunch, you only pay when you make a sale—no extra or hidden fees. Their product prices are competitive in the industry:

• Shirts: $11–$15
• Phone cases: $8–$11
• Canvas art: $9–$65
• Mugs: Around $5
• Tumblers and glasses: Around $15
• Journals and notebooks: Around $7

If you offer free shipping, add shipping fees to these base prices for a full cost estimate. Shipping varies by product and location; for example, shipping a T-shirt in the U.S. is around $5, while international shipping is about $10.

For some products, there are “additional costs” (typically $1–$5), and there’s a $1 extra fee for apparel sizes over 2XL.

Now, let’s say you’re selling a tote bag. Here’s how the profit might look:

• Teelaunch tote bag cost: $10 on average
• Shipping (U.S.): $4.50
• Selling price: Around $25 with free shipping

So, $25 - ($10 + $4.50) = $10.50 gross profit per tote bag, assuming you don’t spend on design.

Customer Service

One of the best aspects of print on demand services is their all-in-one approach—they take care of everything, from fulfilling orders to handling customer support. Teelaunch does this for orders made through your Shopify store as well. You can choose to contact them by using an online form or the help center, where you can explain the issue and upload photos if needed.

When reaching out, you may get automated responses, which sometimes aren’t very helpful and can even have spelling or grammar mistakes. However, if you connect with a real customer service representative, they’re usually helpful.

Here are some common questions and solutions provided by Teelaunch:

• Lost Shipments: If an item’s tracking status is stuck or it’s confirmed lost, Teelaunch quickly replaces the order, provided enough time has passed for it to potentially arrive.
• Size Exchanges: Teelaunch used to offer exchanges for one size up or down, but recently they’ve changed this policy. Now, store owners need to cover any costs for size exchanges requested by their customers.
• Damaged Products and Misprints: Teelaunch will replace items that are damaged or misprinted, but customers now need to submit photos of the issue. While this extra step may seem unnecessary, it helps verify claims.

Teelaunch provides a 30-day refund period for customers in the US and a 60-day refund period for international customers. These policies are in place to help, though the new requirements can feel a bit strict for some sellers.

Teelaunch Pros and Cons

Now that you have a clear view on Teelaunch, here is some of the pros and cons to take into consider carefully:

Others also read

Comprehensive Guide To Start a print on demand Business

How to Sell With Print on Demand on Etsy 

21 Successful Print On Demand Websites To Learn From 

Real Reviews from Customers

Teelaunch has received mixed reviews from users. Here's a simplified summary of the feedback:

Positive Feedback:

(Image source: Shopify reviews)

• Easy Setup: Many users find it easy to get started, with a simple and quick store setup.
• Quality Products: Customers like the variety and quality of customizable products, with items like metal wall art and cutting boards being popular choices.
• Responsive Customer Service: Several users mention that customer support is helpful and quick to resolve issues.

Negative Feedback:

(Image source: Shopify reviews)

• Quality Control Issues: Users have reported some problems with product quality and differences between what they ordered and what they received.
• Shipping Delays: Complaints about slow shipping times and damaged items during delivery are common.
• Customer Service Challenges: While some praise customer support, others have had difficulty getting timely help or resolving issues.

Overall Impression:
Teelaunch is known for its user-friendly platform and wide range of products, but it also has to face criticism related to product quality and shipping reliability. Users should consider these factors when choosing Teelaunch for their print on demand business.

Top 5 Teelaunch POD Alternatives to Consider

Here are the top five alternatives to Teelaunch for print on demand services that you can consider:

1. Printful

Printful is a popular print on demand service that offers a lot of products to customize, such as t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and even bean bag chairs. They provide different printing methods, like direct-to-garment, cut-and-sew, sublimation, and embroidery.

Using Printful's mockup generator, it's easy to create your designs, and it integrates well with major platforms like Shopify and Etsy. You can also add custom tags, stickers, and inserts to your packaging. Once an order is placed, Printful usually ships it within two to five business days.

Key Features

• Product Variety: Large selection of products, including clothing, accessories, and home decor
• Quality Printing: High-quality printing for bright and durable items
• Order Automation: Automatic order processing and global shipping
• Platform Integration: Easy integration with top eCommerce platforms
• Branding Options: White-labeling options to add your brand to products

Pricing:

Although their prices depend on your plan and how many orders you place, they usually offer better prices than Printful for custom t-shirt printing.

2. Printify

Unlike Teelaunch, which typically handles production itself, Printify acts as a go-between, connecting you with different printing companies. It works with print providers in several countries, including the US and Europe, offering more flexibility for fulfilling orders.

Key Features

• Affordable pricing: Pick from various print providers to get the best prices.
• Simple integration: Printify easily connects with major platforms like Shopify, Etsy, eBay, and BigCommerce.
• Brand partnerships: Printify works with popular brands, so you can offer prints on well-known items like Adidas, American Apparel, and Gildan.

Pricing:

Although their prices depend on your plan and how many orders you place, they usually offer better prices than Printful for custom t-shirt printing.

3. Gooten

Next is Gooten, a flexible print on demand provider with a wide variety of products and dependable global shipping. Although Teelaunch offers more products overall, Gooten stands out with its unique items like scented candles, rugs, and puzzles.

These special products give sellers more creative options compared to the usual clothing and accessories offered by other platforms.

If you're looking to add something different to your store, Gooten's product selection is worth checking out.

Key Features

• Unique Product Range: Gooten offers customizable items like scented candles, rugs, puzzles, and pet accessories—products not commonly found on other platforms.
• Global Fulfillment: Gooten ships worldwide, with delivery usually taking 5–7 business days in the US and 10–14 business days to Europe and other countries.
• Easy Integration: Gooten connects smoothly with popular platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and BigCommerce, making it simple to link your store.

Pricing: Gooten is free to use with your subscription, so you can access all its features without paying for different pricing tiers.

4. CustomCat

CustomCat is a fast and high-quality alternative to Teelaunch, offering a wide range of products and quick shipping.

Key Features

• Large Product Selection: With over 550 items, including apparel and accessories, CustomCat has a bigger variety than Teelaunch.
• Quick Turnaround: Most orders are delivered within two to three business days.
• Affordable Pricing: CustomCat offers bulk discounts, making it a more budget-friendly option compared to Teelaunch.

Pricing

• Lite Plan: Free.
• CustomCast Plan: $30/month. This plan offers discounted prices, such as a $7 t-shirt (normally $9).

5. SPOD

SPOD is a fast and efficient alternative to Teelaunch, focusing on quick production and a wide range of products.

Key Features

• Quick Production: Most orders are made within 48 hours, faster than Printful’s usual production time.
• Wide Product Selection: SPOD offers products like t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more, similar to Printful’s variety.
• Easy-to-Use Design Tool: Customizing products is simple, just like with Teelaunch.

Pricing: SPOD is completely free to use, with no hidden fees or complicated pricing plans, making it a great choice for sellers.

To find out more options for the Print on demand industry, read our analysis on Top Print on Demand Companies of the Year!

Wrap Up – How Does Teelaunch Differ from Other POD?

This wraps up our review of Teelaunch. Hopefully, you now have a clearer idea of what it offers.

In summary, Teelaunch has a good range of products, and it also has the apparel includes branded options. Each product page also includes useful item details, which helps when creating product descriptions.

However, Teelaunch lacks some design features that competitors provide. For example, Printify lets you add text to apparel and access graphics from its Shutterstock library, which isn’t available with Teelaunch.

If you’re still on the fence about Teelaunch, consider signing up (it’s free!) to test it out. You might also want to compare it with the competitors mentioned above before making a decision. 

FAQs

1. Does Teelaunch work with Etsy?

Yes, Teelaunch has an option to integrate with Etsy, allowing you to easily sync products and fulfill orders directly through their platform. This streamlines your workflow and simplifies the process of running an Etsy store.  

2. Does Teelaunch cost money?

While Teelaunch offers a free plan, it has limitations. To unlock advanced features like product customization, bulk uploads, and premium support, you'll need to upgrade to a paid plan. The pricing will be varied depending on your specific needs and usage.

3. Does Teelaunch offer dropship services?

Yes, Teelaunch is a print on demand service, which essentially means they handle the dropshipping aspect for you. When a customer places an order on your Etsy store, Teelaunch prints and ships the product directly to the customer, eliminating the need for you to manage inventory or fulfillment.