Zakeke vs Customily: which personalization app?
Zakeke is built around 3D and AR product configurators, and its entry plan was listed at about $29.99/month on its Shopify App Store page when we last checked. Some of its plans have included per-transaction fees, so read the current terms. Customily is template-first and popular with print-on-demand stores, with a well-known Printful workflow. Both sit in the mid-market price range.
If your products are 2D (text and photos on mugs, shirts, frames, jewelry), there is a third option. Print It My Way costs $0 to $24.99/month flat, with a Free plan for your first product and no per-sale fee.
Step-by-step setup
- Identify your product type. Products that buyers configure in 3D, such as bikes, eyewear or sneakers, point to Zakeke. POD stores selling ready-made design templates point to Customily.
- Compare current pricing. Both are mid-market apps, and fee structures differ by plan. Work out the yearly cost at your order volume, including any per-transaction fees.
- Test a 2D option alongside them. If you do not need 3D, Print It My Way runs $0 to $24.99/month with no per-sale fee and a Free plan for your first product.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Zakeke | Customily |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | About $29.99/mo listed (check current) | Mid-market (check current) |
| 3D configurator | Yes (differentiator) | No |
| AR preview | Yes | No |
| Template library | Limited | Extensive |
| POD integration | Yes | Deep (Printful especially) |
| Transaction fees | Some plans | Fee variants on some plans |
| Best for | 3D configurable products | 2D POD template stores |
When to pick Zakeke
- You sell products buyers want to turn around and inspect: eyewear, sportswear jerseys, jewelry, sneakers.
- Seeing the item in their own space through AR helps your buyer decide, as with furniture or decor.
- Your products are high-value and low-volume, so the extra cost of 3D models pays back per order.
When to pick Customily
- Your store runs mainly on Printful and you want a proven workflow for it.
- Customers pick from your ready-made designs and swap in a name or photo, rather than starting from a blank product.
- You plan to build a large library of templates. Our look at Customily templates, strengths and limits covers what that involves.
When to pick Print It My Way
Print It My Way at $0-$24.99/mo flat is the choice when:
- Your products are 2D: text, monograms and photos on flat or wrapped surfaces.
- You want a Free plan for your first product, with no credit card.
- You want flat monthly pricing with no per-sale fee as your order count grows.
- You work with POD partners such as Printful, Printify or Gelato, which read the personalization from the order's line-item properties.
- You want a live preview on the product image as the customer types, with 35+ fonts.
Skip 3D if you don't need it
Print It My Way covers 2D at $0-$24.99/mo flat.
Install Print It My Way. Free Zakeke alternatives →Do you need 3D?
Most personalized products do not. A name on a mug, initials on a necklace or a photo on a canvas look right in a flat preview, and a 3D model adds cost and setup time without helping the buyer decide.
3D earns its keep when the shape changes or the buyer needs to see every side: a shoe with different colors on each panel, a pair of glasses with a choice of frames and lenses, a sofa in different fabrics. Every 3D product also needs a 3D model, which you either build, buy or have made. Our guide on when 3D is worth it goes through the decision in detail.
Counting the real cost
The monthly price is only part of it. Before you choose, add up:
- The monthly plan at the tier you will actually need, not the entry tier.
- Any per-transaction fee, multiplied by your expected orders.
- Setup time: 3D models and large template libraries take days, not minutes.
- Any extra apps you would need alongside it.
For comparison, Print It My Way's plans are fixed: Free, Basic at $7.99, Pro at $13.99 and Unlimited at $24.99 per month, with no per-sale fee. Photo upload, logo upload and conditional logic start on Pro. Customily's structure is covered in Customily pricing explained.
Worked example: a pet portrait store
Take a store selling pet portraits on canvas, mugs and blankets. The buyer uploads a photo, types the pet's name and picks a background color. Every product is flat, so 3D adds nothing. That rules Zakeke's main strength out.
Customily works if the owner wants a library of illustrated templates. Print It My Way works if the store wants a simple photo upload (Pro plan), a name field with a font picker and a live preview, at a flat monthly price. In both cases the details land on the order for the print partner. If the store later adds 3D items, our three-way Customily vs Zakeke vs Print It My Way comparison helps it revisit the choice.
Common mistakes
- Buying 3D for 2D products. It costs more and slows down your product launches.
- Comparing entry prices only. The tier with the features you need, plus fees, is the real number.
- Skipping a test order. Always check that the print file or personalization details reach your fulfillment partner.
- Ignoring mobile. Heavy configurators can be slow on phones, where most shoppers browse.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Zakeke's 3D configurator?
Only if 3D helps your buyer decide, as with furniture, eyewear or custom bikes. For text and photo personalization, a 2D preview is faster to set up and cheaper to run.
Which is better for Printful integration?
Customily has a well-established Printful workflow. Print It My Way also works with Printful, Printify and Gelato, which read the personalization from the order.
Do either charge transaction fees?
Some plans of both apps have included per-transaction fees at different times. Check the current terms on each Shopify App Store listing before you decide.
Which has the better template library?
Customily. Its template-first approach suits POD stores that want customers to pick from ready-made designs.
Which is better for wholesale or B2B?
It depends on your B2B setup, so test with a real wholesale order. Print It My Way works on every Shopify plan and shows personalization fees as a separate cart line, which keeps wholesale pricing easy to read.
Is there a cheaper option for 2D personalization?
Yes. Print It My Way has a Free plan for your first product and paid plans from $7.99 to $24.99/month, with no per-sale fee.
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.