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Dropshipping vs Print on Demand – Complete Guide for 2025

Vivan Z.
Created on November 26, 2024 – Last updated on February 6, 20253 min read
Written by: Vivan Z.

In 2025, the e-commerce industry continues to grow rapidly, and Dropshipping and Print on Demand (POD) are two of the most popular business models. Many entrepreneurs often find themselves torn between the two when deciding which type of e-commerce store to start. So, what are the key differences? Which model is better for you? In this article, we will thoroughly compare these two business models, discuss their pros and cons, and help you make a well-informed decision.

What is Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is an e-commerce business model. The retailer doesn’t keep inventory. Instead, they team up with a supplier. When an order comes in, the supplier ships the products straight to the customers. In this model, the retailer focuses on sales and marketing while the supplier takes care of product manufacturing, inventory management, and shipping.

For more details on dropshipping, check out our previous article on What is Dropshipping & How to Start.

how does dropshipping work

What is Print on Demand?

Print on Demand (POD) is a custom e-commerce model where the retailer does not need to purchase large amounts of inventory upfront. Instead, products are printed and produced only when a customer places an order. This model is often used for custom items like T-shirts, mugs, posters, and more. It allows retailers to offer unique and personalized products without the need for upfront inventory investment.

For more detailed information on Print on Demand, refer to our earlier article on What is Print on Demand? A Beginner’s Guide to the Growing?.

Dropshipping vs Print on Demand: A Comparative Analysis

feature Dropshipping

Dropshipping Pros & Cons
Dropshipping Pros&Cons

Print on Demand Pros & Cons

 

Dropshipping vs Print on Demand: A Comparative Analysis

Which One Should I Choose?

Instead of choosing between dropshipping and print on demand, the goal of this article is to help you gain a deeper understanding of both business models. By reading this guide, you should be able to make an informed decision about which industry or service is the best fit for you. Both models have their unique advantages, and your decision should be based on your business goals, target market, and product offerings.

Conclusion

As we discussed in the Dropshipping Pros section, services like DropSure can help streamline and enhance the dropshipping process. We encourage you to explore your options carefully and choose the model that aligns with your business vision and resources.

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Keep Learning

Selecting winning products is the backbone of every successful dropshipping business. Yet, for many beginners, choosing what to sell can feel like gambling—picking random categories, following trends blindly, or guessing based on intuition. But there’s a far more reliable method hiding in plain sight: Amazon’s Best Sellers list. Amazon is the world’s largest product search engine and the most data-rich retail marketplace. Millions of customers vote with their wallets every single day. When a product climbs Amazon’s charts, you’re not looking at a trend—you’re witnessing real market demand backed by global buyers. This long-form guide will walk you through exactly how to analyze Amazon Best Sellers, extract product insights, validate demand intelligently, and build a profitable dropshipping offer around it. To make everything practical, we’ll also break down a complete real-world case study where a dropshipping seller used Amazon data to pick, test, and scale a winning product—all through one-piece dropshipping (一件代发). Let’s get started. 1. Why Amazon Best Sellers Is the Most Reliable Product Research Tool Before diving into strategies, it’s important to understand why Amazon is such a powerful tool for dropshippers. 1.1 Real consumer demand Amazon is not social media. There’s no fake engagement, vanity metrics, or marketing hype. The products on Best Sellers move because customers buy them—period. 1.2 Huge sample size Google Trends tells you interest. TikTok shows viral topics.But Amazon tells you who actually spends money right now. 1.3 Transparent categories and rankings Amazon updates rankings hourly, and every product on the list is traceable: Listing age Review velocity Price fluctuations Competitor count Variation performance No other marketplace provides this level of visibility. 1.4 Direct inspiration for dropshipping Many Amazon bestsellers are simple, low-cost […]

Enterprise Steven Guo Brand Name Medjool Days Business Model Dropshipping Founded 2020 Revenue $12 million While most of his peers are still stressing over their first job, 24-year-old Steven Guo has already built 15 e-commerce businesses, generating $12 million in revenue. He didn’t come from a wealthy family, didn’t graduate from a top university, and wasn’t even a standout student in college. At this point, you might be wondering: In a world where Temu and SHEIN dominate global markets, how did an ordinary young entrepreneur carve out a space in dropshipping? While countless sellers are trapped in brutal price wars, how did he uncover hidden, high-profit niche markets? Today, we take a closer look at Steven’s entrepreneurial journey—diving into how he scaled multiple businesses to seven figures, his secrets to finding million-dollar products, and the biggest challenges newcomers face in e-commerce. The Path to Wealth: From Fidget Spinners to a Million-Dollar Empire     High School Beginnings  Steven’s entrepreneurial journey began in high school. At the time, he recognized the booming trend of fidget spinners, sparking an idea to earn pocket money by selling small toys online. He chose Reddit as his promotion platform, tirelessly spamming various subforums. Eventually, the “ding” on his Shopify platform signaled his first order. This small success made him realize the immense potential in e-commerce and fueled his passion to explore further. University Expansion  In his first year of university, Steven boldly entered a new market: selling anime figurines dressed in Nike sneakers. These creative collectibles quickly gained traction, even attracting celebrity buyers like Justin Bieber. Despite facing copyright issues, he managed to generate substantial income. Over time, he launched multiple brands—some thrived, while others faded—but […]

In the ever-growing world of e-commerce, dropshipping has become one of the easiest and most flexible ways to start an online business. You don’t need to rent a warehouse, manage inventory, or handle shipping yourself — your supplier does it for you. And with Shopify, one of the world’s most beginner-friendly e-commerce platforms, setting up your first store is faster than ever. This guide walks you through every step — from setting up your Shopify store, choosing products, connecting suppliers, to getting your first sale. Whether you’re a complete beginner or someone testing a new business idea, this tutorial gives you the practical roadmap you need to succeed. 1. What Is Dropshipping and How Does It Work? Before diving into Shopify, let’s understand how dropshipping actually works. In a traditional business model, you buy products in bulk, store them, and ship them to customers. In dropshipping, the process is reversed. Here’s the flow: You create an online store and list products from suppliers. A customer places an order on your store. You forward the order to your supplier. The supplier ships the product directly to your customer. You earn profit from the difference between your selling price and the supplier’s cost — without touching any inventory yourself. Key Advantages: Low startup cost – no warehouse or bulk inventory needed. Easy to scale – you can add products anytime. Location flexibility – you can run your store from anywhere with Wi-Fi. Common Challenges: Thin profit margins if you compete only on price. Shipping times vary depending on suppliers. Need to build trust and handle customer service professionally. 2. Why Choose Shopify for Dropshipping There are many platforms available, but Shopify stands […]

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