CustomInk alternative for small businesses and startups

CustomInk is one of the largest custom apparel websites in the United States, with a big catalog, a full design lab and phone support. Merch to Order is a smaller, simpler printer for people who need a batch of shirts for a business, a launch or a team. There is no minimum, every order gets a free digital proof before printing, shipping is free over $150, and every box has a tracking number.

Start designing See custom t-shirt pricing

CustomInk is a trademark of its owner. Merch to Order is not affiliated with or endorsed by CustomInk. Competitor details are from their public website as of September 2026 and may change; check their site for current terms.

What will it cost?

Garment

How many

Or type a number

$11.45 a shirt

$274.80 for 24, shipping free

Design this

What does CustomInk do well?

CustomInk does 4 things well, and none of them are small. Credit where it is due.

A design lab with a large library of clip art, fonts and templates, so you can build a design from nothing without a designer.
Group order forms that let each person on a team pick their own size and pay separately.
A wide catalog spanning many brands, styles and accessories beyond shirts.
Live customer service by phone, which matters if you prefer to talk an order through.

How is Merch to Order different from CustomInk?

Merch to Order differs from CustomInk in 4 ways: published prices versus a quote flow; small orders without the catalog overhead; front and back print priced per shirt; a proof, a saved design and a tracking number, every time. Our side comes from our price tables; their side is from their public site as of September 2026.

Published prices versus a quote flow

Merch to Order publishes the per-shirt price for every garment at every quantity on one page, and the studio shows the total as you type sizes. CustomInk shows pricing inside its design lab once you have chosen a product, ink colors and quantity, so the number moves as you change the design. If you want to know the cost before you start, our pricing page answers it: $11.45 a Classic Cotton Tee at 24, $7.45 at 250+.

Small orders without the catalog overhead

Merch to Order sells four garments in up to 14 colors, chosen because they cover what small businesses, startups and teams actually order. One shirt is $19.95, and the price steps down at 12, 24, 50, 100 and 250 with mixed sizes counting toward the same break. CustomInk's much larger catalog is a real advantage if you need a specific brand or a polo, a jacket or a tote, but it also means more decisions before you reach a price.

Front and back print priced per shirt

On Merch to Order, a second print side is a flat add-on per shirt ($3.50 each at 24+), and text plus a logo on the same side count as one side. CustomInk prices back prints and additional ink colors inside its design lab and the effect on the per-shirt price is shown there. Both approaches work; ours is easier to budget from a spreadsheet.

A proof, a saved design and a tracking number, every time

Every Merch to Order order gets a digital proof within 24 hours, is saved to your account for one-click reorders, ships with a carrier tracking number, and can be paid by invoice on request. CustomInk also reviews artwork and provides order tracking; the difference is that the reorder button and the tracking link sit on one order page, and the proof comes from a person by email within 24 hours.

Merch to Order vs CustomInk: side by side

Our column is the same on every comparison page because it is generated from the pricing data. Their column is from their public site as of September 2026 and may have changed, so check it for current terms.

Feature	Merch to Order	CustomInk
Minimum order	None. One shirt is $19.95; the price drops at 12, 24, 50, 100 and 250.	No minimum on many items; some products carry a minimum.
Published pricing	Every garment at every quantity is on the pricing page. $11.45 a Classic Cotton Tee at 24, $7.45 at 250+.	Shown in the design lab after you pick a product, colors and quantity.
Proof before printing	Always. A digital proof of every print side within 24 hours, nothing printed until you approve it.	Artwork is reviewed by their team; ask them how proofs are sent for your order.
Front and back print	Yes. A back print adds $3.50 a shirt at 24+, shown live in the studio.	Yes, priced in the design lab.
Turnaround	7-12 business days door to door standard, 5 business days door to door rush.	Standard and rush options published on their site; about one to two weeks standard.
Free shipping	Free standard shipping on orders over $150.	Free standard shipping is advertised on their site.
Account and reorders	Every design is saved. Open a past order, click Reorder, adjust sizes. Invoices and purchase orders on request.	Saved designs and reorders through an account.
Best for	Small businesses, startups and teams who want the price up front and a simple reorder.	Big groups, group order forms, phone support and a very wide catalog.

Pick CustomInk if

→You need a garment we do not carry, such as polos, jackets, hats or a specific brand.
→Each person on your team should pick their own size and pay separately through a group order form.
→You want to talk the order through with a person on the phone before paying.

Pick Merch to Order if

→You want the price before you design: $11.45 a shirt at 24 is on the pricing page, not behind a quote.
→You are ordering between one and a few hundred shirts and want a proof within 24 hours, then a tracking number.
→You will reorder for new hires and want the design saved with a Reorder button, plus invoices on request.

What does a typical order cost at Merch to Order?

A Classic Cotton Tee with a one-side print is $11.45 a shirt at 24 and $8.25 at 100, with standard ink colors included and no setup fee. Shipping is free over $150, and a proof arrives within 24 hours. Every garment is on the pricing page (see custom t-shirt pricing), and the price calculator gives a total for any quantity without an email address. Get the same shirt quoted at CustomInk and compare the two totals.

CustomInk vs Merch to Order questions

Is Merch to Order cheaper than CustomInk?

Sometimes, and you can check in two minutes. For orders of 24 or more our published price is $11.45 a Classic Cotton Tee with a one-side print, $9.45 at 50, and $7.45 at 250+; a back print adds $3.50 a shirt at 24+. CustomInk prices depend on the garment, ink colors and quantity you enter, so get their live quote for the same shirt and compare the two totals including shipping. We do not quote their prices here because they change.

Does CustomInk have a minimum order?

Many items on CustomInk have no minimum, while some products and print methods do. Merch to Order has no minimum on any garment: one shirt is $19.95, and mixed sizes count toward the same price break.

Can I get a group order form on Merch to Order?

Not yet. We take one order with a size breakdown you enter, which suits a business buying for staff. If each person must pay for their own shirt, CustomInk's group order forms are the better fit today.

Which has better design tools, CustomInk or Merch to Order?

CustomInk's design lab has a larger clip art and template library. Merch to Order's studio is built for people who already have a logo: upload a PNG or SVG, add text in four fonts, place it front and back and see the price update. If you are designing from nothing, their library is deeper; if you have a logo, ours is faster.

Does Merch to Order review my artwork like CustomInk does?

Yes. Every order gets a digital proof of every print side within 24 hours, and we flag low-resolution files, off-center placement and text that will be too small to read. Nothing is printed until you approve it.