Bear Grips Pro ShopsApliiq Alternative in 2026: Custom Apparel Without a Shopify App Stack
- Apliiq is a Shopify app for private label, cut-and-sew, and embroidered apparel, so sellers need their own Shopify subscription to run it.
- Bear Grips Pro Shops includes a hosted, branded storefront, no separate store platform required.
- Base prices start at $19.88 for a VIP tee and $36.88 for a hoodie, all-inclusive of printing and packing.
- Free US shipping is built into the item price rather than billed to the buyer at checkout.
Apliiq built its name on private label and cut-and-sew apparel for streetwear and boutique fashion brands, plus embroidery work that goes beyond basic tee printing. It runs as an app inside a seller's own Shopify store, which is the right setup for a brand that already has a Shopify site and wants deeper garment customization. It is the wrong setup for a gym, studio, or small business that just wants a branded shop live today without adding another monthly subscription. Bear Grips Pro Shops is built for that second group: a hosted storefront, a 63-product apparel catalog, and one flat per-piece price that already includes printing, packing, and US shipping.
What Apliiq actually is (and what it is not)
Apliiq is not a stand-alone store. It is a fulfillment app that installs into an existing Shopify account, similar to how Printful and Printify plug into Shopify. That means three things are true for anyone evaluating it:
- An active Shopify subscription is required in addition to the app itself
- The seller is responsible for building and maintaining the storefront, theme, and checkout inside Shopify
- Apliiq's strength is deeper garment work: private label neck labels, cut-and-sew construction, and embroidery, not a quick generic tee shop
None of that is a knock on Apliiq. It is simply built for a different job than a fitness business or small company that wants a shop live this week.
Do you need a Shopify subscription to sell custom apparel?
Not with Bear Grips Pro Shops. Every vendor gets a hosted storefront at signup, no Shopify plan, no separate theme builder, and no app-store stack to assemble. The tradeoff runs the other way for anyone who genuinely needs cut-and-sew construction or private label woven neck labels, since those are specialty capabilities Bear Grips does not offer. For a standard printed or embroidered apparel line (tees, hoodies, hats, joggers, leggings), the hosted model removes an entire monthly line item.
| Apliiq (Shopify app) | Bear Grips Pro Shops | |
|---|---|---|
| Storefront | Build your own in Shopify | Hosted, included at signup |
| Platform cost stack | Shopify plan + app | One flat plan price |
| Shipping to buyer | Typically charged at checkout | Free, built into item price |
| Specialty capability | Cut-and-sew, private label labels | Not offered |
| Catalog size | Varies by product line | 63 apparel products |
Where Bear Grips Pro Shops fits better
A gym, CrossFit box, martial arts studio, or small company that wants a branded apparel shop live in days, not a custom-construction fashion line, is the better fit for the hosted model. VIP tees start at $19.88, the Comfort Soft Hoodie runs $36.88, and the Champion Performance Hoodie is $45.88, all US printed with free shipping to the buyer and no separate Shopify bill layered on top. The Free plan runs $0 a month for 3 live products if a business wants to test the model before committing.
Where Apliiq still makes sense
If the brand genuinely needs private label neck labels, all-over cut-and-sew garments, or embroidery beyond hats and caps, that is real specialty work outside the standard apparel catalog most POD platforms (including Bear Grips) offer. A fashion label building a fully private-label line should stay on a platform built for that construction work. A gym, studio, coach, or small business selling branded team and fan apparel is better served by a hosted, all-inclusive model. See the full head-to-head comparison for the feature-by-feature breakdown.
Launch a Hosted Apparel Shop, No Shopify Required
Free to start, no Shopify subscription, no app stack. 63 products from $19.88, free US shipping, live in days.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Is Apliiq the same thing as Bear Grips Pro Shops?
No. Apliiq is a Shopify app focused on private label and cut-and-sew apparel. Bear Grips Pro Shops is a hosted storefront platform with an all-inclusive per-piece price and no Shopify subscription required.
Do I need Shopify to use Bear Grips Pro Shops?
No. The storefront is hosted at signup. There is no separate store platform, theme, or app stack to manage.
Does Bear Grips Pro Shops do private label or cut-and-sew?
No. That specialty construction work is outside the standard 63-product catalog. Bear Grips focuses on printed and embroidered apparel: tees, hoodies, joggers, leggings, and hats.
What does a Bear Grips Pro Shop cost to start?
Free to start with 3 live products. Self-Service VIP is $59 a month for 200 products with the lowest base prices, and Done-For-You VIP is $105 a month with full white-glove setup.
