Which custom apparel platform is better for your business? Here's an honest breakdown.
Bear Grips Pro Shops turns any business into a branded apparel seller in minutes. Gyms, schools, churches, restaurants, creators — our platform works for everyone. The difference? We don't overwhelm you with a huge catalog. We use data from real vendor sales to curate only the best-selling products. You sell what works. Free shipping on every order. USA printing with ~1 week delivery. VIP plans include lower base prices and done-for-you design. Plus, every account gets an affiliate link to earn commissions on referrals.
CustomInk is a custom apparel for groups, teams, and events with bulk ordering. Organizations ordering 25+ matching shirts for an event or team.
Their pricing: Bulk pricing tiers — cheaper per unit at higher quantities. Minimums on most products.
Their model: Custom apparel for groups, teams, and events with bulk ordering
Integrations: Standalone platform, fundraising pages
| Feature | Bear Grips | CustomInk |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Fee | Free, $59/mo VIP, $109/mo DFY VIP | Bulk pricing tiers — cheaper per unit at higher quantities. Minimums on most products. |
| 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, rush options available |
| Brands | Nike, Champion, Bella+Canvas, Sport-Tek, Next Level + more | Wide selection for bulk orders |
| Design Service | Done-for-you on VIP ($109/mo) | Free design help included |
| Affiliate Program | 10% recurring + $1/unit sold by referrals | No affiliate program or limited |
| Minimums | No minimums — sell 1 at a time | Minimums required on most products |
| Shipping Speed | ~1 week, USA printing | Paid shipping, rush options available |
| Target Audience | Any business type — gyms, churches, schools, restaurants, creators + more | Organizations ordering 25+ matching shirts for an event or team |
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.
If you're an event organizer placing one large order, say, 50 matching t-shirts for a 5K, a corporate retreat, or a one-time fundraiser, CustomInk's group order tools are genuinely well-built. Their per-shirt cost on bulk orders of 24+ drops below most print-on-demand pricing, and their design lab is friendly enough that someone with no design experience can put together a serviceable shirt in 20 minutes.
You should pick CustomInk over Bear Grips when: (1) you have a fixed quantity above 25 units of a single design, (2) you don't plan to reorder, and (3) you don't need an ongoing online store. CustomInk is built for the one-and-done bulk order, not for a continuing apparel business.
Bear Grips wins the moment you want to keep selling after the first batch. With Bear Grips, your 50-shirt run is just the first month, you keep the storefront, your members can reorder anytime, and you never carry inventory. CustomInk requires you to predict demand upfront and re-design every time. For ongoing teams, gyms, or brands, that math gets old fast.
CustomInk is great for large group orders and events. But they're a bulk model — you need minimums, and there's no ongoing branded shop.
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.
Unlike CustomInk, Bear Grips includes free shipping, a free branded storefront, and a built-in affiliate program. Start selling custom apparel with zero risk.
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