For Canadian print-on-demand sellers, the main difference is who prints. Printful runs its own fulfilment centre in Ontario, so domestic orders ship without customs or duty fees, in about 2 days to Ontario and 4 days to most other provinces. Printify is a marketplace of independent print providers, including Canada-based ones, so price and speed depend on the provider you pick. Both are free to start; Printful Growth (24.99 USD a month, free at 12,000 USD a year in sales) cuts product prices by up to 33%, and Printify Premium (from 39 USD a month, or 24.99 USD a month billed yearly) gives up to 20% off all products. Choose Printful for consistency from one Canadian facility, and Printify for provider choice and price shopping.
For the full business, see the print-on-demand side hustle guide, Shopify vs Squarespace vs Wix, and Etsy vs Shopify.
How do Printful and Printify compare for Canadian sellers?
Printful is one company printing in its own facilities; Printify routes orders to partner print providers. Prices loaded in USD on October 4, 2026, and are converted at the Bank of Canada daily rate of 1.4246 CAD per USD for October 2, 2026; conversions are approximate.
| Factor | Printful | Printify |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free, no monthly fee (pricing) | Free, 5 stores per account (pricing) |
| Paid plan | Growth: 24.99 USD/mo (about $35.60 CAD), free at 12,000 USD/yr in sales; 14-day trial | Premium: from 39 USD/mo (about $55.56 CAD), or from 24.99 USD/mo billed yearly |
| Paid-plan discount | Up to 33% off product pricing | Up to 20% off all products; up to 33% on new products |
| Who prints | Printful’s own Ontario (Toronto) facility for Canadian orders (Canada) | Partner print providers, including Canada-based ones (Canada) |
| Customs on domestic orders | None for orders fulfilled in Ontario | Avoided when you choose a Canada-based provider |
| Delivery inside Canada | About 2 days to Ontario, 4 days to most other provinces | Depends on the provider |
| Branding extras | Inside labels 0.99 USD, outside labels 2.49 USD | Up to 33% off custom branding on Premium |
| Billing currency | Shown at checkout | Cards charged in USD, EUR, CAD, GBP, or AUD |
What does each platform cost per order?
On both platforms you pay the product cost and shipping when a customer orders, and your margin is your retail price minus those costs. Paid plans only make sense once the discount outweighs the monthly fee.
- Printful: product price includes the item and one print design; extras such as additional placements, labels, and premium images cost more. Growth becomes free at 12,000 USD in yearly sales.
- Printify: product prices vary by provider. Premium’s 20% discount applies across products.
- Shipping: Printful’s Canadian page highlights domestic shipping from Ontario; with Printify, compare providers’ shipping rates and locations.
Illustrative example
Assume a t-shirt with a 15 USD product cost and 30 monthly orders. The product cost and order count are assumptions; actual prices vary by product and provider.
- No paid plan: 30 × 15 = 450 USD in product costs.
- Printful Growth at a 20% discount on this product (within its “up to 33%”): 450 × 0.80 = 360 USD, plus 24.99 USD = 384.99 USD, saving about 65 USD (about $92.60 CAD) a month.
- Printify Premium yearly at a 20% discount: 360 + 24.99 = 384.99 USD; on monthly billing at 39 USD the total is 399 USD.
At 5 orders a month, 20% of 75 USD is 15 USD, less than either plan’s fee, so the free tiers win.
Which platform should a Canadian print-on-demand seller choose?
Choose on how much you value one facility versus provider choice. This is a decision rule from the published features, not a ranking.
| If you… | Lean toward | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the same printer for every Canadian order | Printful | Its own Ontario facility |
| Want to compare prices between providers | Printify | Multiple print providers per product |
| Sell mostly in Canada and want fast domestic delivery | Printful, or Printify with a Canadian provider | No customs on domestic orders |
| Run several small stores | Printify | Free plan includes 5 stores |
| Want branded inside labels | Printful | Per-label pricing listed |
If you choose Printful, you can sign up through Printful TODO-AFFILIATE. Mockups and designs can be made in Canva TODO-AFFILIATE, subject to its licence terms; see Canva vs Adobe Express.
What mistakes do Canadian print-on-demand sellers make?
The common mistakes are ignoring currency, customs, and sales tax on fulfilment orders.
- Choosing a US provider for Canadian buyers. Cross-border orders can add delays and customs; pick Canadian fulfilment where possible.
- Pricing in CAD from USD costs without converting. Convert product and shipping costs before setting retail prices.
- Paying for a plan too early. The discount must exceed the monthly fee.
- Forgetting the tax on your fulfilment bill. Printful charges sales tax on (Printful price + shipping) based on the destination province (sales tax help).
- Not adding your GST/HST number. If you are registered, add it in Printful’s dashboard under Billing.
Which tax rules apply to print-on-demand income in Canada?
Print-on-demand profit is generally business income, and product, shipping, and plan costs are generally deductible. Once your taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, you generally must register for GST/HST and charge it to customers; see GST/HST registration. For where to keep store payouts, see Wealthsimple vs a bank business account.
This is not tax or legal advice.
Which guides sit next to Printful vs Printify?
This comparison sits beside print-on-demand startup costs, your first print-on-demand sale, Shopify vs Squarespace vs Wix, and Etsy vs Shopify.
What are the common questions?
Is Printful or Printify better for Canadian sellers?
Printful prints Canadian orders in its own Ontario facility, which avoids customs and duty on domestic orders. Printify offers a network of print providers, including Canada-based ones, and more price choice. Both are free to start.
Does Printful have a Canadian fulfilment centre?
Yes. Printful's Canada page says it fulfils Canadian orders from its facility in Ontario, with no customs or duty fees on domestic orders and delivery in about 2 days to Ontario and 4 days to most other provinces.
How much does Printify Premium cost?
Printify's pricing page lists Premium from 39 USD a month, or from 24.99 USD a month billed yearly, with up to 20% off all products.
Does Printful charge sales tax on Canadian orders?
Yes. Printful's help centre says orders fulfilled and shipped within Canada are subject to Canadian sales tax, calculated as the Printful price plus shipping times the destination province's rate. Registered sellers can add their GST/HST number in the dashboard.
Do I need a GST/HST number for print on demand in Canada?
Generally only once taxable sales pass $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, though you can register voluntarily. This is not tax advice.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- Printful pricing — Printful
- Print on Demand Canada — Printful
- How does sales tax work for my Canadian orders? — Printful
- Printify pricing — Printify
- Print on Demand Canada — Printify
- Daily exchange rates — Bank of Canada
- When to register for and start charging the GST/HST — Canada Revenue Agency