Best Web to Print Software

The idea of web-to-print solutions was born around the 2000s when the Internet became ubiquitous and e-commerce emerged. Yet today, when everything happens online, and one of the keys to marketing success is fast customization, the web to print service is at its high.

This buyer’s guide explores the importance of web-to-print software, its different types, and provides a list of the top 5 web-to-print software that companies can consider.

What Is Web to Print?

The 'web to print' concept is just what it says. All operations needed for creating high-quality print materials are performed on the web, and then the final approved versions are printed directly from created templates. Typically, software tools for these operations are gathered under one roof in an online storefront and catalogs, and customers access them for a subscription fee or for free if it's open source.

In general, the web to print is a service that allows individual customers and print businesses to create and order all kinds of printables online. They can introduce template changes, customize everything online, and then deliver the printed items to their door.

The service's popularity means many vendors promise the best quality for your money, but we know that not all software is created equal. In this overview, we'll explore the idea of the web to print software in detail and look at the truly great software samples in this field to get you started.

What Is Web to Print Software?

As said, web-to-print software is a package of tools that allow customers to design, tailor and send into printing their products. Through a website, clients can upload images for printing, search for templates in vast databases, or build a print design from scratch. Clients do not need to collaborate or work closely with a designer or other technician to complete the job.

Types of Web to Print Software

Depending on several features, the software can be divided into categories that match different client needs. Although sometimes it's hard to differentiate software into clear segments, the general distinction runs along the following lines.

1. Standard Web-to-Print Software

   This is the basic web to print software type where the toolkit is functional but limited. Clients can upload their images for printing or pull a preferred design from a database and add their data, like in business cards or booklet templates. The approved versions are sent into print without any further customization possible. This software tends to be the cheapest.

2. Customizable Web-to-Print Software

   That's the next level of services where clients can build their designs and templates (and save them for the future). Custom invitation cards, presentation materials, merchandise, and whatnot, can be created using this dynamic type of web-to-print software. However, templates are created once and then printed in batches. In addition, this software can be integrated with shopping carts and CRM systems, thus forming a basic e-commerce system.

3. Variable Data Printing (VDP) Software

   This is the most sophisticated type of software. In addition to creating custom templates and unique print designs, it's possible to introduce changes to the design or template from object to object 'on the fly.'

   If clients need personalized letters, invitations, or other important materials, where content changes from item to item, VDP is right for them. It's unnecessary to design every individualized item, like a letter or card, separately and then put it into print; modification of separate content objects can be pre-programmed and will happen automatically during the printing. This software can be rather pricey.

4. Open Source Web-to-Print Software

   Open source usually means free of charge. Clients can find simple software that performs basic web to print tasks, but the toolkit may be narrow. However, if a client needs only a couple of uses and does not need commercial-grade software, or the budget of an emerging e-commerce is tight, open source may be enough.

Who Uses Web to Print Solution?

It's easier to say who does not use it, and the answer is that sooner or later, most businesses or individual users will use this kind of service at least once. As for now, every individual or entity that runs some business does need this service and may use it regularly.

Printing Companies - Not every order has to be custom-made by a team of designers. Many orders only benefit from being automated. It increases productivity and accuracy and reduces costs. So, printing companies regularly use the web to print simpler or more complex services.

Graphic Designers - Automating monotonous and precision-based tasks is a good idea so that graphic designers can benefit from web-to-print software. They can focus on creative parts of the work while the software will do the rest with the help of templates and available design modules.

Marketing and Advertising Agencies - Sometimes, the creative portion of the work is very narrow, while the scopes of printing and adding personal information like addresses or emails are huge. Speed and production volumes are the keys when preparing presentation materials for a big conference or promo event. Web to print software can help do it all in time and accurately.

Small and Medium-sized Businesses - Smaller businesses often cannot afford to hire a team of designers and publishers to handle the printing needs of an enterprise. Resorting to the web to print platforms helps them to do the printing job without breaking the bank and hiring more people.

E-commerce Businesses - E-commerces are based online and often feature a sole employee, a.k.a. business owner. For such micro-businesses, web to print is the only viable, affordable, and efficient solution. Besides, dropshipping of printed goods is another niche that can be successfully filled with the help of web to print software.

Benefits of Best Web to Print Software

Big publishing houses with unique equipment and teams of artists and experts can do outstanding things for any business. Yet their services cost a lot and are not required for most routine printing tasks. That's where the benefits of regularly using the web to print software become obvious.

1. Enhanced Customer Experience

   With the web to print design tool, customers can control and manage every step of the process, up to the tiniest one. They don't need to explain their vision and ideas to designers. Instead, using templates and simple graphic editing, they can mix and match designs and layouts and add or replace images until they know 'this is it.' User-friendly interfaces and controls allow people to do design in a fast and efficient way.

   Finally, web-to-print services work according to the principle WYSIWYG, which means that what is presented on the screen will be transferred to paper or other material without changes. Proofs are a great way to see this ultimate result – and approve it – before printing happens.

2. Increased Efficiency and Cost Savings

   Automation helps save costs in many areas, and printing is no exception. The only fee to pay is a subscription, and then users can deploy the software for any task they need, as many times as they need. Besides, automation increases the speed and efficiency of work because it can create and send to print various volumes of standardized products much faster than the average publishing team can do. People can focus on really creative and unique tasks instead.

3. Brand Consistency

   With web-to-print solutions, it's easy to use consistent design and visual patterns across all branding products, from business cards to conference banners and logos. Once the template is built, it can be saved, scaled, and reused when necessary. It significantly improves workflow and lets clients keep the overall message of printed products clear and recognizable.

4. Expanded Product Offering

   With automated designing and printing, the number of products possible to create is endless. Customers can design everything, from notepads to branding mugs, and send the ready templates for printing to vendors who perform the required job. Nothing is off-limits here.

5. Improved Order Management

   Web to print software can be integrated with customer relations management systems. It creates a consolidated control board convenient to customers and vendors alike.

   On the one hand, online ordering of print jobs allows customers to track their order from the initial upload of images (if any) to tracking the shipment of complete orders. On the other hand, if the web to print is your business, you can monitor everything online, from receiving orders to completing them to printing labels and shipping.

   Everything becomes streamlined and easy to manage. Accuracy, speed, volumes – all aspects are improved when automated processes are overviewed as complete chains.

6. Online Design Tools

   Graphics editors built into the web to print software are usually easy to use and don't require long learning and practicing. So customers can log in and start creating their print templates immediately, thus saving time and money.

   That's one of the greatest benefits of web to print tools. Photoshop may be more powerful, but it is too complex and expensive for inexperienced users who need standardized products. Web to print graphic tools are the best solution in this case.

Features of Best Web to Print Software

Choosing suitable software among the many available options may be hard, as all providers claim to have unique features. However, the basic aspects of the software decide if it's good or not. So here's what to look for in the best web to print solution.

1. Flexible Product Customization

   You should be able to create more or less custom templates depending on what you do. You may need to change emails or addresses or customize every second item. Business tasks can change daily, so your chosen software should accommodate these differing needs.

2. Predefined Templates

   To start designing, you need a catalog of ready templates; the bigger the catalog, the better. So before subscribing to some service, ask about their libraries of templates, how big they are, what can be done with templates, etc.

3. Print File Preparation

   The last thing you need is to create a print design and realize that you cannot send it into printing because it's done in an improper format. So clarify in advance if the designs are finished in print–ready format or if you need to take additional steps.

4. Real-Time Visual Previews

   Proofs are one the biggest advantages of the web to print because they let customers see the final result as it comes out of print. Any good web to print software should have the pre-print proofs close to real life. Never fail to ask about this option before choosing the software.

List of Top 5 Web to Print Software Comparison

Presenting the ultimate compilation of leading Web to Print software solutions, this list unveils the top five platforms that empower businesses to seamlessly integrate printing services into their online operations. Discover innovative tools tailored to enhance customization, streamline workflows, and offer an unparalleled user experience.

1. CHILI GraFx

This software powerhouse is built with agencies and brands in mind. The web to print cloud platform offers high scalability and consistency in boosting animated, print, and digital imagery across multiple channels. It can integrate large datasets from marketing research and translate them into high-quality individualized and branded print products.

The platform presents an impressive set of services and graphic toolkits that can be used immediately and do not require much learning. CHILI GraFx seeks to reduce the team's costs and time on manual imagery customization while maintaining brand consistency and maximizing output that will reach the brand customers. It has its API and can be integrated with several stacks for further workflow improvement.

Pricing

• On-request

2. Web To Print Shop

The software is a modular solution that covers all needs of printing businesses or other businesses needing printed products. It offers an extensive inbuilt design tool and a library of printed product templates, from cards to books. It offers printing services of various kinds (offset, large format, digital included) and cutting, binding, and shipping. You can design, order, print, bind, and ship a completed book with their assistance. In addition, they offer order tracking, reporting, and other features useful for printing businesses.

These web to print solutions are fully customizable, so you can provide the optimal service to your customers and get them yourself. The software integrates with all key e-commerce platforms, PayPal, and other tools for building and maintaining a business.

Pricing

• On-Request

3. Printify

Printify is the web-to-print ecommerce platform best suited to the needs of merchandise sellers and drop-shippers. It openly states that its goal is to help beginning entrepreneurs earn more money by delivering on-demand print services without investing lots of money into the launch. And it delivers on the promise. The platform connects its client to more than 90 printing agents and allows merchandise creation from 300+ types of products, from T-shirts, mugs, and bags to stickers and more.

The software may not be the best choice for creating elaborate one-of-a-kind printable art or branded paper products. Still, it works nicely in the selected niche, helping beginning entrepreneurs develop businesses and earn money. The platform easily integrates with all popular big e-commerce.

Pricing

• Free plan available
• Premium: USD 24.99 / month (Billed annually)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

4. Printful

Printful is an integrated solution that unites warehouse, shipping, and printing services. It can be described as a simple web-to-print service paired with order management and shipment provider. It's excellent for those growing small businesses and seeking to outsource shipping.

Printful does not offer a full-fledged designing kit or multiple templates, but it provides an assortment of items to put your designs on and takes care of the rest, from storing to shipping to closing the deal. The company even offers to store your goods that were not printed at Printful. It's as efficient as that.

The company does not offer a subscription plan because every order is unique, so you must negotiate the final costs of printing and storing individually. However, they offer a free version to use.

Pricing

• On-request

5. OnPrintShop

This cloud-based solution is a one-stop software for web to print tasks and order management. The service includes tools for automated product design, a design studio for creating templates and images from scratch, and is integrated with a CRM system. The company has a dedicated team of designers, marketers, and analysts who provide great customer support and can assist you directly with your printing goals.

OnPrintShop delivers tailored services to every customer, matching the requirements of B2B and B2C clients, from large print shop owners to individual printing agents and print drop-shippers. The software can be integrated with specialized printing solutions and platforms like Avanti Slingshot MIS and ePMS EPR.

Pricing

• On-Request

The Latest Trends in Web to Print

Web to print software does not stop developing, and several main trends and many smaller ones are leading the industry at any time. The leading trends all lean toward further digitalization and improvement of pre-print imaging. Here are the key trends to know now.

1. Mobile Optimization

   Since everything migrates to mobile devices now and many tasks are performed literally on the go, web to print solution is also adapting to be available in mobile form. Many browser-based storefronts have their light versions designed specifically for smartphones and tablets.

   So clients and vendors do not have to be tethered to their desktops to be able to run businesses or place printing orders.

2. Integration with E-commerce Platforms

   This is the logical step in light of the e-commerce boom. Web to print ecommerce solutions is a perfect niche for small to medium businesses. Once you've integrated the two, you can take orders, track orders, finalize orders and ship them from your print software web dashboard. Accuracy and speed of order fulfillment grow immensely in this case.

3. Augmented Reality (AR) and 3D Visualization

   When printed goods for regular use (like cups and T-shirts) are designed, it's necessary to see how the print will look in real life, shape and all. That's where 3D Visualization comes to help. Augmented reality is the next step in building life-like proofs, as it can help add context and environment to the printed object. The visual result can impact the initial design plans greatly.

4. Print-on-Demand and Dropshipping

   It's not necessary to run a dedicated print shop or hire a full-time designer anymore. Web to print software allows you to provide ad hoc printing services and offer custom designs to be printed on different items. Connect your software to a printing shop and let the customers directly choose designs and send them into print.

Average Cost of Web to Print Software

The pricing depends on the number of services available and the size of libraries of ready templates. The more features and templates are there, the higher the price. The average price begins at $20 per month, totaling $240 per year. As the functionality and toolkit expand, prices can go into thousands per year, starting at $1,000 and reaching $20,000 and $30,000 annually.

Before you choose software, be sure to read carefully about billing and pricing options. You don't need the premium level of the best web to print solution and will be fine with the starter pack, which is usually cheaper.

Conclusion

Web to print services are a developing industry and business niche that still offers plenty of business opportunities. You can do everything from creating brand products for your company to setting up your own drop-shipping business with their help. Such services integrate well with e-commerces and connect to print shops that fulfill and ship your orders. So often, you must set up an online shop, produce designs, and get things going.

We've covered different types of software that match different needs, so you can choose what suits you best. Yet it's only the beginning of your exploration. Read how to find a good print software web and settle on the best options that boost your print business and satisfy your creative needs.