Looking for sites like Redbubble where independent artists can sell their designs? This guide explores the top 5 Redbubble alternatives for on-demand printing and merchandising in 2023.
What is Redbubble?
Founded in 2006 and based in Melbourne, Australia, Redbubble is an online marketplace connecting independent artists with customers looking for unique designs on everyday products.
With a catalog of over 1 million works of art, Redbubble allows artists to upload designs that get printed on demand on t-shirts, stickers, phone cases, wall art, and more. When a customer places an order, Redbubble handles printing, shipping, and customer service while the artist earns a commission.
Redbubble’s key features and services include:
- Print on demand fulfillment for over 70 product types including apparel, home decor, electronics accessories, stationery, and more.
- A marketplace of over 1 million independent artists and designers.
- A streamlined upload process for artists to get designs ready for sale quickly.
- Tools to help artists market and track performance of designs.
- Global production and shipping to over 30 countries.
Redbubble is recognized as one of the largest print-on-demand marketplaces with over 6 million customers worldwide.
What makes Redbubble stand out is:
- The immense breadth and variety of original art from independent creators around the world.
- High-quality printing and fulfillment services managed entirely by Redbubble.
- An easy way for artists to monetize their talents with zero upfront costs.
- Vibrant artist community with opportunities for collaboration and inspiration.
Why To Look For Redbubble Alternatives?
Although Redbubble leads the print-on-demand space, there are still good reasons shoppers and artists may want to look at alternatives:
- Higher base product prices – Redbubble’s t-shirt and sticker pricing is generally higher than competitors.
- Limited selection of basic everyday items – Redbubble carries fewer options for simple blank t-shirts, tote bags, hats, mugs compared to some other sites.
- Production and shipping times can be slow – Orders can take 1-2 weeks to be delivered depending on the product.
- Commission rates less favorable for some artists – Redbubble’s base commission rate is slightly lower than some competitors.
- Lacks integrations with major ecommerce platforms – Redbubble currently does not integrate with platforms like Shopify which some artists use.
TOP 5 Sites Exactly Like Redbubble
Looking for the sites most similar to Redbubble? Here are 5 of the top contenders:
- TeePublic – Similar to Redbubble, TeePublic allows artists to upload their designs and sell them on a variety of products. They handle printing and shipping, and the artist earns a commission from every sale.
- Society6 – Another platform for artists to sell their artwork on products like art prints, phone cases, and home decor. Society6 is known for its high-quality products and wide variety of unique designs.
- Zazzle – While Zazzle is more of a create-your-own product site, it still offers a platform for designers to sell their creations. From custom business cards to apparel, Zazzle offers a broad range of products to customize.
- Threadless – Originally a t-shirt design competition site, Threadless evolved into a marketplace for artists. Designers can submit their work, and if chosen, it gets printed on various apparel and accessories.
- Design By Humans – Focusing on apparel like t-shirts and hoodies, Design By Humans provides a platform for artists from around the world to share and sell their artwork. They emphasize unique and intricate designs, often promoting collaborations and special collections.
We’ll explore each of these Redbubble alternatives in more detail below.
TeePublic
Founded in 2014, TeePublic has quickly grown into one of the largest players in artist merchandise and print-on-demand ecommerce. The company is based in Cleveland, Ohio and operates production and shipping facilities globally.
With a catalog of over 1 million original designs, TeePublic allows independent artists to upload their work and sell it on t-shirts, hoodies, phone cases, stickers, and other products. They handle printing and order fulfillment while artists earn a commission on each sale.
What makes TeePublic a leading Redbubble alternative:
- Comparable base prices on popular products like t-shirts and smartphone cases.
- 20% commission rate provided to artists from the first sale.
- Integration with Shopify allowing artists to centralize online shops.
- Faster estimated shipping times, often under one week.
However, Redbubble still holds some key advantages over TeePublic including:
- A larger product selection including wall art, home decor, stationery, and accessories.
- An established brand with higher global recognition and trust.
- More artists and unique designs to discover in its marketplace.
TeePublic is ideal for independent artists interested in selling merchandise like t-shirts, hoodies, and phone cases while maximizing their commissions. The smaller product range makes it better suited to graphic artists compared to fine artists or photographers. Customers will appreciate the lower prices and faster shipping times on everyday basics.
Society6
Established in 2011 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Society6 is an e-commerce platform and online community focused on art prints, home decor, accessories, and apparel showcasing independent artists.
With a portfolio of over 300,000 artists, Society6 offers a more curated marketplace compared to Redbubble, with an emphasis on bold and vibrant designs. Artists upload their work which gets printed on demand on art prints, wall tapestries, pillows, duvet covers, and other home decor as well as phone cases, apparel, and stationery.
Society6 handles production and shipping through facilities in the US while artists earn commission on sales.
Key strengths of Society6 as a Redbubble alternative:
- Specialization in wall art, prints, and home decor vs primarily apparel and electronics accessories on Redbubble.
- Free shipping on orders over $50 in the US. Redbubble charges for shipping.
- Sophisticated site design and art curation creating a premium feel.
- Generous commission rates starting at 30% for independent artists.
However, Redbubble maintains some advantages like:
- Significantly larger product selection with over 70 types of merchandise.
- Larger artist community with open uploads vs curation on Society6.
- Global production and shipping from Australia vs primarily US-based for Society6.
Ideal for independent artists interested in home decor, art prints, and wall art. The curated designs and sophisticated site attract urban millennials and art lovers looking to decorate their spaces with unique art. Society6 stands out most in wall decor compared to Redbubble.
Zazzle
Founded in 2005, Zazzle is an American online marketplace for customizable on-demand products spanning apparel, accessories, signs, invitations, business cards, stamps, and more.
While Zazzle operates on a print-on-demand model similar to Redbubble, its focus is on user-generated content and customization vs marketplace of independent artists. Users can choose from existing templates and layouts which they can customize with text, images, and design elements of their choosing.
Key strengths of Zazzle as a Redbubble alternative:
- Extremely broad product selection with over 300 customizable products.
- Lower prices on popular items like t-shirts, mugs, stickers due to bulk manufacturing.
- Integration with Shopify, Etsy, and other major ecommerce platforms.
However, Redbubble offers some advantages like:
- Curated marketplace of original art vs user generated content on Zazzle.
- Positioned as a platform for independent artists to earn income.
- Higher quality printing and fulfillment driven by artist designs.
Ideal for creative entrepreneurs interested in custom merchandise, business products, invitations, packaging, and more. The expansive product range and seamless integration with Shopify make it easy for small business owners to create branded collateral and merchandise.
Threadless
Threadless is an American online community and ecommerce site focused on artist competition and limited-edition graphic t-shirts.
Founded in 2000, the platform initially operated by allowing artists to submit t-shirt designs with the most popular chosen for printing based on community votes. Today, Threadless works with over 200,000 artists and holds regular design competitions, while also offering posters, art prints, phone cases, and accessories.
Competitive advantages of Threadless over Redbubble include:
- Artist competition model that builds an engaged community.
- Specialization in graphic tees spanning pop culture, music, gaming, and humor niches.
- Youthful alternative brand appeal. Most users are teens and 20-somethings.
However, Redbubble offers more:
- Broader product catalog beyond apparel and accessories.
- Larger international artist community with open participation.
- More mainstream brand recognition.
Ideal for graphic designers and illustrators interested in pop culture and gaming-inspired apparel and accessories. The competitions and niche appeal attract young creatives looking to break into designing merchandise.
Design By Humans
Design By Humans, based out of San Francisco, is a leading online destination for indie art apparel, accessories, and gear. The platform is home to over 12,000 artists.
Design By Humans differentiates itself through specialization in t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other apparel highlighting intricate and imaginative artwork. Products are manufactured on-demand, and artists earn a 20% lifetime commission on sales after passing an application review.
Reasons to choose Design By Humans over Redbubble:
- Curation of artists produces highly detailed and stylized design aesthetic.
- Focus on clothing and gear fills a niche beyond wall art and home decor.
- Artist retention programs and exclusive collaborations.
However, Redbubble still offers more:
- Significantly larger product selection spanning multiple categories.
- 7x larger artist community with open uploads.
- Global production and distribution from Australia.
Perfect for artists with distinctive design styles interested in selling specialized apparel and gear to express creativity and individuality. The tight-knit artist community fosters inspiration through collaborations.
