Top 8 Embroidery on Demand Companies (2026): Colours, Size, 3D Puff and DST Compared

Updated October 2026

Which embroidery on demand company should you use?
For most Shopify and Etsy clothing brands the shortlist is PODpartner, Printful, Printify, Apliiq and Gelato: all embroider apparel one piece at a time with no minimum. They differ on detail and size. Printful, Printify and Gelato allow up to 6 thread colours and digitize your artwork themselves; PODpartner allows up to 15 colours, embroidery areas up to 12″×12″, 3D puff on hoodies as well as caps, and accepts your own DST file. If fast local delivery in the US or EU matters more than embroidery detail, Printful and Gelato are the stronger fit; PODpartner ships from its own factory in China.

We make apparel and run embroidery ourselves, so we are one of the companies compared here. Every competitor figure below comes from that company's own website or help centre, checked in October 2026.

The 8 Embroidery on Demand Companies Compared

"Not stated" means we could not find the figure on the company's own pages. Check directly before you decide.

What Is Embroidery on Demand?

Embroidery on demand means a design is stitched only when an order comes in. You hold no inventory, pay nothing up front, and can test a design with a single piece. Because the design is real thread rather than ink, it reads as premium, lasts through washing and adds texture, which is why brands use it for logos, small text and chest marks on hoodies, caps, tees and jackets.

What actually separates one company from another

• Thread colours: 6 is the usual ceiling; detailed logos and gradients need more.
• Embroidery area: most chest areas are about 4″×4″; large back or front pieces need a bigger frame.
• 3D puff: raised stitching is widely offered on caps but rarely on garments.
• File control: whether you can upload your own DST file, or must accept the company's digitizing.
• The garment: embroidery puckers on thin fabric; heavier blanks hold dense stitching better.

1. PODpartner

PODpartner is a print-on-demand manufacturer that knits, sews and decorates its own garments, then fulfils orders through Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix and Squarespace. Embroidery runs in-house on Tajima machines with up to 15 thread colours per design, on apparel and caps.

• Colours and size: up to 15 thread colours per design with no colour surcharge; areas up to 12″×12″ on garments.
• 3D puff: 1.5mm or 3.0mm foam on hoodies, crewnecks, tees and caps; puff and flat can mix in one design.
• Files: upload a DST file and pay no digitizing fee, or upload an image and we digitize it for $5.99 per frame.
• Pricing: a 3″×4″ frame (15,000 stitches) is $1.99, a 12″×12″ frame (25,000 stitches) is $4.99, puff adds $0.98.
• Combined methods: embroidery can sit with DTG and heat transfer vinyl on one garment through the Hybrid Process.

Pros

• Up to 15 thread colours per design and a 12″×12″ area, the largest embroidery area in this comparison
• 3D puff on garments, not just hats
• Your own DST files accepted
• Heavyweight 100% cotton blanks made in-house, so the garment can carry dense stitching

Cons

• Ships from China (about 7–12 days standard, 3–5 days express), slower than US- or EU-produced options
• A tighter catalog (about 150 products) than the large networks
• Embroidery on apparel and caps only; no bags or home goods

2. Printful

Printful is one of the largest print-on-demand fulfilment companies, with embroidery on shirts, hoodies and hats and production in the US and Europe.

Pros

• Fast local production and delivery in the US and EU
• Wide catalog and mature integrations
• Unlimited thread colours available as a $3.50 add-on

Cons

• Up to 6 thread colours per design by default
• 3D puff on hats only
• Does not accept your own digitized files; digitizing is $6.50 per file unless you order 25+ items

3. Printify

Printify connects your store to a network of print providers, several of which offer embroidery on shirts, hoodies and hats.

Pros

• Free digitizing
• No minimum order; integrates with Shopify, Etsy, Amazon and more
• Large 10″×6″ embroidery area on select products

Cons

• Up to 6 thread colours per design
• Does not accept DST or other stitch files
• Quality and options vary by print provider

4. Apliiq

Apliiq focuses on brand building, with private labels and woven tags alongside embroidery, and connects to Shopify and Etsy.

Pros

• Strong branding options such as woven labels
• No minimums
• 3D puff for larger, simple shapes

Cons

• Up to 5 thread colours on online orders
• Default embroidery area 4″×4″
• Digitizing is $11 per artwork, or $49.99 per month for unlimited

5. Gelato

Gelato produces through a global network of partners, so orders are made close to the customer in many countries. Embroidery covers t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and hats.

Pros

• Local production in many countries for faster international delivery
• No minimum order; Shopify and Etsy integrations

Cons

• Up to 6 thread colours per design
• Flat embroidery only, no 3D puff
• Does not accept outside digitized files; digitizing $6.50 for images, $3.95 for text

6. Spring (formerly Teespring)

Spring is built for creators selling merch to their audience, with integrations for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Twitch. Embroidery is available on items such as hoodies and caps.

Pros

• Built-in storefronts and creator-platform integrations
• Easy to launch merch for an existing audience

Cons

• Less control over branding than a store you own
• Limited published embroidery specs; its hat guide suggests no more than 6 colours

7. Spreadconnect (formerly SPOD)

Spreadconnect is Spreadshirt's fulfilment service for your own store, integrating with Shopify, WooCommerce, Squarespace, TikTok and others.

Pros

• Simple setup for small logos
• Several store integrations

Cons

• Up to 4 thread colours
• Small embroidery area of 8×5 cm (3.1″×1.9″)
• Vector files only; €4.99 per design

8. Zazzle

Zazzle is a large marketplace. It reintroduced embroidery on shirts, hats and bags in November 2025 with a palette of 15 thread colours.

Pros

• Built-in marketplace traffic
• Easy to list products

Cons

• A marketplace, not a fulfilment partner for your own store
• Little control over branding
• Stitch conversion charged at $5 per 1,000 stitches

How to Choose an Embroidery on Demand Company

1. Start from your logo. Count its colours. Up to 6 works almost anywhere; more than 6, or gradients, narrows the list.
2. Decide the size. A 4″×4″ chest mark is standard. Large back or front embroidery needs a supplier with a bigger frame.
3. Decide flat or raised. If you want 3D puff on a hoodie rather than a cap, check that the supplier offers it on garments.
4. Check file control. If you already paid for a professional DST file, use a supplier that accepts it.
5. Weigh delivery. US- or EU-produced options deliver faster to those markets; overseas manufacturers can offer more embroidery capability.
6. Order a sample. Look at stitch density, colour matching and how the fabric holds the design before you launch.

FAQs about Embroidery on Demand

What is the best embroidery on demand company for a clothing brand?

It depends on the design. For detailed, multi-colour logos, large chest or back embroidery, or 3D puff on hoodies, PODpartner supports up to 15 thread colours, areas up to 12″×12″ and puff on garments and caps. For fast US or EU delivery with simpler logos, Printful, Printify and Gelato are strong options, typically with up to 6 thread colours per design.

Can I upload my own DST file for print on demand embroidery?

At PODpartner, yes, and there is no digitizing fee when you supply your own DST. Printful, Printify and Gelato state on their help centres that they do not accept files digitized elsewhere and digitize your artwork themselves.

How many thread colours can print on demand embroidery use?

Six is the common ceiling: Printful, Printify and Gelato all allow up to 6 thread colours per design (Printful sells unlimited colours as a $3.50 add-on). Apliiq allows 5 online and Spreadconnect 4. PODpartner allows up to 15 per design with no colour surcharge.

Which print on demand companies offer 3D puff embroidery on hoodies?

Printful offers 3D puff on hats only, and Gelato offers flat embroidery only. PODpartner runs 3D puff on hoodies, crewnecks, tees and caps, at 1.5mm or 3.0mm, with no minimum order.

How much does embroidery on demand cost?

Pricing combines a base embroidery fee, a digitizing fee and sometimes a puff or colour surcharge. At PODpartner a 3″×4″ apparel frame with 15,000 stitches is $1.99, puff adds $0.98, digitizing is $5.99 per frame or free with your own DST. Printful and Gelato charge $6.50 to digitize an image; Printify digitizes for free.

Is there a minimum order for embroidery on demand?

Most of the companies in this list, including PODpartner, Printful, Printify, Apliiq and Gelato, have no minimum order, so you can order one embroidered piece to test a design.

Conclusion

Embroidery on demand removes inventory risk, but the companies are not interchangeable. If your logo is simple and local delivery matters most, Printful, Printify or Gelato will serve you well. If your brand depends on detailed, multi-colour logos, large embroidery, 3D puff on garments or your own DST files, PODpartner was built for that job. Order samples from two companies and compare them side by side.

Related Reading

• Embroidery on PODpartner · product page
• How much does custom embroidery cost?
• What is a DST file and how to get one
• 3D puff embroidery: which logos actually work
• Puff embroidery hoodies: pricing and 1.5mm vs 3.0mm
• Custom hat and cap embroidery, no minimums