Which custom apparel platform is better for your business? Here's an honest breakdown.
Bear Grips Pro Shops helps businesses launch branded custom apparel without the usual headaches. No inventory. No minimums. No shipping fees. We curate our product catalog based on actual sales analytics — every item is a proven best-seller across our vendor network. That saves you time, money, and the guesswork of figuring out which products your community will love. Our Done-for-You VIP plan even handles design. And every account automatically gets an affiliate link — refer other businesses and earn 10% recurring + $1 per unit they sell.
CustomCat is a us-based pod with fast production and competitive pricing. High-volume Shopify sellers who want fast US production and competitive base prices.
Their pricing: Free plan, Pro $30/mo (reduced base prices)
Their model: US-based POD with fast production and competitive pricing
Integrations: Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, BigCommerce, API
| Feature | Bear Grips | CustomCat |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | Free, $59/mo VIP, $109/mo DFY VIP | Free plan, Pro $30/mo (reduced base prices) |
| Product Catalog | Data-driven curated catalog — best sellers across all vendors, no guesswork | 300+ products — you figure out what sells |
| Shipping | Free shipping on every order | Paid shipping, 2-5 business days production |
| Brands | Nike, Champion, Bella+Canvas, Sport-Tek, Next Level + more | Varies |
| Design Service | Done-for-you on VIP ($109/mo) | No done-for-you design service |
| Affiliate Program | 10% recurring + $1/unit sold by referrals | No affiliate program or limited |
| Minimums | No minimums — sell 1 at a time | No minimums |
| Shipping Speed | ~1 week, USA printing | Paid shipping, 2-5 business days production |
| Target Audience | Any business type — gyms, churches, schools, restaurants, creators + more | High-volume Shopify sellers who want fast US production and competitive base prices |
Before comparing platforms, many businesses start with a local print shop. Here's the problem:
Bear Grips Pro Shops eliminates all of this. Zero inventory, zero minimums, zero upfront costs. We print and ship each order directly to your customer with free shipping. And we're constantly adding new products to keep your shop current with the latest styles and trends.
CustomCat's claim to fame is production speed. They print in Michigan and ship most orders in 2-5 business days domestically, among the fastest in the US POD industry. For high-volume Shopify sellers who care about delivery speed as a competitive moat, CustomCat's logistics deliver.
Pick CustomCat when: (1) you already run a Shopify store with consistent traffic, (2) your customers expect 1-week-or-less delivery, and (3) you want the lowest base prices among speed-focused US printers.
The trade-offs: CustomCat is a print provider, not a platform, you still need to build, maintain, and pay for your own Shopify storefront ($39+/mo), wire up your own integrations, run your own analytics, and handle your own customer support. For business owners who don't already have a Shopify habit, that infrastructure cost cancels most of CustomCat's price advantage. Bear Grips bundles the storefront, fulfillment, and shipping into a single subscription, which works better for gym owners and business operators who want apparel as a side revenue stream rather than a full e-commerce build.
CustomCat is a capable platform for high-volume shopify sellers who want fast us production and competitive base prices. But for a full branded apparel shop with free shipping and done-for-you support, Bear Grips is the stronger choice.
If you want a branded athletic custom apparel shop with a curated best-seller catalog, free shipping, and done-for-you design support — Bear Grips Pro Shops is the better choice.
Skip the limitations of CustomCat. Get free shipping, a curated catalog backed by real sales data, and done-for-you design support. Start free today.
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