Which options app is best for apparel Shopify stores?
For most apparel stores selling 2D personalization (names, numbers, short text, logos), Print It My Way is our pick. It handles front and back print fields with a separate fee for each, color swatches, size and fit choices, character limits, rush delivery fees through Cart Transform, and it connects with print partners such as Printful, Printify and Gelato. Plans run from a Free plan for your first product up to $24.99/month, with no per-sale fee.
Step-by-step setup
- Install Print It My Way. Free plan for testing your first apparel SKU. Pick your best-selling tee or hoodie and build the setup on that one product first.
- Configure color swatches + size dropdown. Real color chips, tap-friendly on mobile. Keep size and color as Shopify variants so stock and blank costs stay accurate, and get the grid right first; our guide to setting up multiple sizes and colors covers it.
- Add multi-side print options. Front + back with per-side upcharges via Cart Transform. Add a "Back text" field with its own fee so shoppers who only want the front pay the base price.
Most merchants have a first personalized product live in about 15 minutes. Place a test order and check that the personalization shows on the order before you roll the setup out to other products.
Apparel-specific features
Apparel has its own set of needs that general options apps don't always cover well. These are the ones we set up most often for clothing stores:
- Multi-side prints. Separate fields for front, back, sleeve or hood, each with its own upcharge. A typical setup charges nothing for the front and $5 to $8 for the back.
- Color swatches. Real fabric colors as chips instead of a text dropdown, so "Heather grey" and "Charcoal" look different before the shopper picks.
- Size-specific text rules. A youth size may only fit 10 characters across the back while an adult XL fits 15. With conditional logic on the Pro plan you can show a different text field, with a different limit, for each size group.
- Rush delivery upcharge. For example $10 for 3-day production and $25 for 24-hour, shown as a separate cart line.
- Print partner connection. The personalization is saved on the order as line-item properties, which Printful, Printify and Gelato setups can read. Our help guide on connecting Printful walks through it.
A field plan for a custom hoodie
Here's a setup we'd use for a team or family hoodie. Size and color are variants; everything else is a personalization field. For hoodie-specific app picks, see our best Shopify hoodie personalizer guide.
| Field | Type | Example price |
|---|---|---|
| Front text | Text, 12 characters, live preview | Included |
| Font | Font picker | Included |
| Back name | Text, 15 characters | +$6 |
| Back number | Number, 0 to 99 | +$3 |
| Sleeve text | Text, 10 characters | +$5 |
| Rush production | Dropdown: Standard / 3-day / 24-hour | $0 / $10 / $25 |
Prices are examples; set them from your print partner's per-placement cost plus margin. If your partner prints multi-side text differently from the front, our guide to custom text on multi-side products covers layout and preview.
Apparel shortlist
- Print It My Way: multi-side text fields, swatches, add-on pricing through Cart Transform, live preview and print partner connections. Free plan, then $7.99, $13.99 or $24.99 per month. View →
- Zakeke: strong 3D product visualization for apparel and sportswear; generally priced above simple options apps.
- Customily: template-driven personalization with print-on-demand workflows and deep design libraries.
Check each app's current listing for pricing and plan limits before you decide, since competitor plans change often.
Which one
Choose Print It My Way for 2D apparel personalization at any store size, especially if you want a free start and flat monthly pricing. Choose Zakeke if your products truly need 3D, such as sportswear where shoppers rotate a jersey to see numbers and logos from every side. Choose Customily if you're already built around its templates and want a large library of designs.
For a wider comparison across clothing apps, see our best Shopify apparel personalizer roundup.
Common apparel setup mistakes
- Making the name a variant. Names, numbers and messages belong in personalization fields. As variants they multiply your SKUs for nothing.
- No character limit. A 30-character name won't fit across a child's back. Set limits per print area.
- Hiding the back-print fee until checkout. Show the price next to the field so the cart total never surprises anyone.
- Skipping the test order. Always confirm the personalization reaches your print partner before you launch.
Set up apparel options
Print It My Way covers apparel personalization on every tier including Free.
Install Print It My Way. Free Apparel personalizer roundup →Frequently asked questions
Can I offer front + back prints with different prices?
Yes. Each side is its own field with its own fee, applied through Cart Transform. Shoppers who only personalize the front pay the base price.
Do color swatches show mobile-friendly?
Yes. Swatches display as tappable color chips on phones, and the selected color name shows next to them so shoppers know what they picked.
Can size affect the field limits?
Yes, with conditional logic on the Pro plan. You can show a 10-character back text field for youth sizes and a 15-character one for adult sizes.
Does it integrate with Printful?
Yes. Print It My Way connects with Printful, Printify and Gelato, and the personalization is saved on each order as line-item properties. Setup guides are in our help center under POD integrations.
Can rush delivery be an option?
Yes. Add a rush delivery field with tiers such as $10 for 3-day and $25 for 24-hour production. The fee shows as a separate cart line.
Sources & further reading
Primary sources referenced in this article. We link to official platform documentation and standards bodies rather than secondary summaries so you can verify claims directly.