Bear Grips Pro ShopsBest Apliiq Alternatives in 2026 for Custom Apparel Sellers
- Apliiq alternatives fall into two groups: other Shopify-app POD tools, and hosted all-in-one storefront platforms.
- Bear Grips Pro Shops is the hosted option: branded storefront included, 63 products from $19.88, free shipping.
- Printful and Printify are Shopify-app alternatives similar in structure to Apliiq, with wider product catalogs.
- The right pick depends on whether a seller wants deep garment construction or a fast, all-inclusive branded shop.
Sellers searching for an Apliiq alternative are usually solving one of two different problems: either they want another Shopify-app fulfillment tool with a different specialty, or they want to skip the Shopify-plus-app stack entirely and run a hosted storefront instead. Both paths are legitimate depending on the business. Here is an honest rundown of where each alternative fits, starting with the hosted option built for gyms, studios, coaches, and small businesses.
1. Bear Grips Pro Shops (hosted, all-inclusive)
The only option on this list that skips Shopify entirely. Every vendor gets a hosted, branded storefront at signup, a 63-product apparel catalog from $19.88 for a VIP tee, and all-inclusive pricing that already covers printing, packing, and free US shipping. Best fit: gyms, CrossFit boxes, martial arts studios, personal trainers, and small businesses that want a live shop this week without assembling a platform first. Free plan available at $0 a month for 3 products, plus a Done-For-You VIP tier at $105 a month with full white-glove shop management.
2. Printful (Shopify-app, wide catalog)
Printful runs on the same Shopify-app model as Apliiq but with a much wider product catalog, including phone cases, mugs, and posters beyond apparel. It requires the same Shopify subscription overhead and typically charges shipping to the buyer separately at checkout. Best fit: sellers who need non-apparel products alongside apparel, or who already run Shopify for other reasons. Read the full Printful comparison for the line-by-line cost breakdown.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.3. Printify (Shopify-app, print network model)
Printify works through a network of independent print partners rather than a single fulfillment operation, which means quality and turnaround can vary by which partner fills a given order. Also a Shopify-app model requiring the same store subscription overhead as Apliiq and Printful. Best fit: sellers comfortable managing partner selection for cost and quality tradeoffs. Read the Printify comparison for more detail.
Table: quick comparison across all four
| Platform | Storefront model | Specialty | Shipping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Grips Pro Shops | Hosted, included | Fast, all-inclusive apparel shop | Free, in item price |
| Apliiq | Shopify app | Private label, cut-and-sew, embroidery | Typically charged at checkout |
| Printful | Shopify app | Wide non-apparel catalog | Typically charged at checkout |
| Printify | Shopify app | Print partner network | Typically charged at checkout |
Which alternative actually fits your business?
Three quick questions settle it. Do you need cut-and-sew or private label construction? Stay with Apliiq or a similar specialty provider. Do you need non-apparel products (mugs, phone cases)? Printful covers that ground. Do you want a branded apparel shop live this week with no Shopify subscription, no app stack, and free shipping already built into the price? That is Bear Grips Pro Shops. Most gyms, studios, and small businesses land in the third bucket.
Try the Hosted Alternative Free
No Shopify subscription, no app stack. Free to start, 63 products from $19.88, free US shipping on every order.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the closest alternative to Apliiq for embroidery specifically?
Bear Grips Pro Shops offers embroidery on its hat line (snapback, winter hat, youth cap) but not on apparel. For embroidered apparel beyond hats, a specialty embroidery provider or Apliiq itself remains the stronger fit.
Is there a free alternative to Apliiq?
Bear Grips Pro Shops has a Free plan at $0 a month for 3 live products with no Shopify subscription required, which removes the biggest hidden cost in the Shopify-app model.
Do any of these alternatives avoid charging the buyer for shipping?
Bear Grips Pro Shops includes free US shipping in the item price. Shopify-app POD tools including Apliiq, Printful, and Printify typically calculate and charge shipping to the buyer separately at checkout.
Can a business use more than one of these platforms?
Yes. Many sellers run a specialty Shopify-app tool for construction-heavy products alongside a hosted shop like Bear Grips Pro Shops for their standard printed team and fan apparel.
