What Print on Demand Shopify Stores Actually Use
The themes and apps of Print on Demand stores in our dataset of 3,500,000+ Shopify stores — from live scan data, refreshed daily.
Print on Demand Shopify stores in our dataset run a distinct mix of themes and apps. Below are the most-used themes, the most-installed apps, and the average app-stack size for Print on Demand stores — all from live storefront detection, not self-reported data.
Print on Demand stores by the numbers
Print on demand lets you sell custom-printed products without holding any stock. A shopper orders a t-shirt, mug, poster, or phone case, and a supplier prints it and ships it under your brand, only after the sale is made. That removes the upfront cost and inventory risk that stop most people from starting a merch business. It draws in artists, designers, creators, and niche brands who have an audience or an idea but no interest in a garage full of boxes.
The trade-off is that you control the design and the storefront, but not the product or the shipping. Margins are thin, since a base cost comes out of every sale before your markup, so pricing and volume matter. You often sell from mockups rather than real photos, which puts extra weight on trust: clear sizing, honest previews, and reviews that show the actual print. Fulfillment and delivery times are set by your supplier, so picking the right one is half the business. The panels below show which themes and tools print-on-demand stores actually run.
Pick your supplier like a partner: The print house is your product and your shipping, even though it is not your logo on the box. Compare print quality, blank options, production time, and where they ship from before you commit. A cheaper base cost is no bargain if the prints fade or the parcel takes three weeks.
Sell the design, back it with proof: When the photo is a mockup, buyers need another reason to trust it. Show reviews with real print photos, spell out sizing and fabric, and be upfront about production and shipping times. The clearer you are, the fewer refunds and chargebacks you deal with.
Mind the margin: Every sale starts with a base cost, so your markup is the whole game. Price for a real profit after fees and the occasional reprint, and lean on bundles or higher-value items to lift order value. Chasing sales at a razor-thin margin just moves money around.
Test fast, keep the winners: The upside of carrying no stock is that a design that flops costs you nothing but the time to make it. Launch often, watch what sells, and pour your effort into the few designs that take off. Treat the catalog as a set of experiments, not a commitment.
Most popular Shopify themes for print on demand stores
| # | Theme | % of stores | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dawn |
17.1% | |
| 2 | Horizon |
10.8% | |
| 3 | Impulse |
4% | |
| 4 | Prestige |
2.7% | |
| 5 | Impact |
2.3% | |
| 6 | Concept |
2% | |
| 7 | Be Yours |
1.8% | |
| 8 | Motion |
1.6% | |
| 9 | Refresh |
1.5% | |
| 10 | Minimog OS 2.0 |
1.4% |
Most installed Shopify apps on print on demand stores
| # | App | % of stores | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Printful: Print on Demand
Print on demand (POD) |
92.4% | |
| 2 |
 Klaviyo
Email Marketing |
43.4% | |
| 3 |
 Judge.me Product Reviews App
Product reviews |
35.4% | |
| 4 |
 Loox ‑ Product Reviews App
Product reviews |
21.8% | |
| 5 |
 Recharge
Subscriptions |
15.6% | |
| 6 |
 Countdown Timer
Countdown timer |
11.7% | |
| 7 |
 Yotpo
Product reviews |
11% | |
| 8 |
 Rebuy Personalization Engine
Checkout - Other |
9.3% | |
| 9 |
 PageFly ✦ Landing Page Builder
Page builder |
9.2% | |
| 10 |
 Gorgias
Support - Other |
7.6% |
What print on demand stores sell
- Apparel & Accessories 71.4%
- Arts & Entertainment 56.9%
- Home & Garden 22.3%
- Food, Beverages & Tobacco 15.1%
- Health & Beauty 10.2%
- Media 5.9%
- Toys & Games 5.7%
- Electronics 4.5%
- Animals & Pet Supplies 3.8%
- Baby & Toddler 3.2%
- Sporting Goods 2.9%
- Vehicles & Parts 2.8%
How this data works
Every figure comes from live detection: we scan Shopify storefronts, read the theme and apps each one actually runs, and classify the store by product category and business model. We report what is currently detected, not historical installs or Theme Store download counts.
Independent by design: rankings are determined solely by live detection data. Affiliate relationships never affect what ranks or how stores are counted. Read the full methodology →
