Merch by Amazon and Redbubble are two of the most popular print‑on‑demand platforms, but they operate very differently. One is an invitation‑only marketplace tightly integrated with Amazon’s massive customer base; the other is an open, artist‑driven community with a global reach. In this 2026 comparison, we’ll dissect royalty rates, upload limits, product quality, approval processes, and long‑term earning potential. By the end, you’ll know which platform aligns with your goals—and whether using both makes sense.
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📋 Table of Contents
- 1. Platform Overview: How Merch by Amazon & Redbubble Work
- 2. Royalty Rates: Who Pays More per Sale?
- 3. Upload Limits & Approval Processes
- 4. Product Range & Print Quality
- 5. Pricing Control & Profit Margins
- 6. Traffic & Discovery: Built‑in Audience vs. Community
- 7. Payment & Payout Options
- 8. Pros & Cons Side‑by‑Side
- 9. Which Platform Is Better for Your Seller Type?
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions
1. Platform Overview: How They Work
Merch by Amazon is Amazon’s invitation‑only print‑on‑demand service. Sellers (called “Merchants”) upload designs that are printed on t‑shirts, hoodies, and a few other products. When a customer buys, Amazon handles printing, shipping, and customer service. You earn a royalty based on the product’s base price minus production costs. The catch: you must be accepted into the program (tiered system), and you have strict content guidelines.
Redbubble, in contrast, is an open marketplace where anyone can create an account and upload designs immediately. It offers a huge variety of products—from apparel to stickers, phone cases, home decor, and more. Artists set their own markup (called “artist margin”) on top of Redbubble’s base price, and Redbubble handles production and fulfillment. There’s no approval process for the account, but individual designs are reviewed for copyright/ trademark violations.
🔑 Key Difference at a Glance
Merch by Amazon: Limited catalog, strict tier system, Amazon traffic, fixed royalties.
Redbubble: Huge product range, instant upload, community vibe, flexible pricing.
2. Royalty Rates: Who Pays More per Sale?
Royalty calculations differ significantly. Let’s break them down with real numbers.
Merch by Amazon Royalty Formula
For standard t‑shirts, the royalty is: (List Price) – (Production Cost) – (Royalty Share for Amazon?) Actually, Amazon publishes a “Royalty Estimate” table. In 2026, for a standard t‑shirt priced at $19.99, the production cost is about $4.50 (including printing, materials, fulfillment). Amazon then takes a cut, leaving you with roughly $4–$6 per sale, depending on the shirt style and price. Higher‑priced items (premium shirts, hoodies) yield higher absolute royalties, but the percentage is similar—around 20–25% of the list price.
Redbubble Royalty Formula
Redbubble uses a “base price” for each product (covering production & Redbubble’s cut). You add your “artist margin” (a percentage you choose). Your royalty = your margin × (base price + your margin). For example, a standard t‑shirt has a base price of ~$15. If you set a 40% margin, your royalty is $6 (40% of $15). You can set margins from 0% to 100%+ (but too high kills sales). Many successful sellers aim for 20–50% margins.
| Product (Standard T‑Shirt) | Merch by Amazon | Redbubble |
|---|---|---|
| List Price | $19.99 (fixed, can’t change) | You choose: $15 base + margin |
| Your Royalty | $4.00 – $6.00 (approx) | $3 – $7.50 (depending on margin) |
| Royalty % of List Price | 20–25% | 20–40% (typical) |
| Can You Increase Royalty? | No, fixed by Amazon | Yes, by raising margin (but may reduce sales) |
In practice, Merch by Amazon offers more consistent, predictable royalties, especially for new sellers. Redbubble gives you control, but you must balance margin against conversion.
📊 Real‑World Earnings Example
Seller A sells 100 t‑shirts on Merch at $19.99 → royalty ~$500. Seller B sells 100 shirts on Redbubble with 40% margin ($21 final price) → royalty $600. But Redbubble’s higher price might reduce volume. Many sellers find that lower prices (and lower margins) on Redbubble drive more sales, so total revenue can be comparable.
3. Upload Limits & Approval Processes
Merch by Amazon operates on a tier system. When you’re accepted, you start at Tier 10 (can have 10 designs live). After you sell a certain number, you advance to higher tiers: Tier 25, Tier 100, Tier 500, and so on. This throttles growth but also filters out low‑quality sellers. Uploads are manually reviewed for copyright, quality, and adherence to Amazon’s content policy. Approval can take days to weeks.
Redbubble has no upload limits—you can upload hundreds of designs immediately. However, each design goes through an automated (and sometimes manual) review for IP infringement. If flagged, the design is removed, and your account may be suspended after repeated violations. For most artists, uploads go live within hours.
Tier Progression on Merch by Amazon
Amazon- Tier 10: initial slot – max 10 designs
- Need 10 sales to unlock Tier 25
- Need 25 sales to unlock Tier 100
- Need 100 sales to unlock Tier 500
- … up to Tier 20,000+ for top sellers
Each tier increases your upload limit, but also requires consistent sales. This can be frustrating for new sellers, but it also means less competition on the platform because not everyone can upload thousands of designs.
Redbubble: Unlimited Uploads, Instant Review
Redbubble- No tier system – upload as many designs as you want
- Designs are reviewed quickly; most go live in <24 hours
- Copyright strikes can lead to account termination
- Great for testing many niches rapidly
The upside: you can scale fast. The downside: the marketplace is saturated, so standing out requires quality and marketing.
4. Product Range & Print Quality
Merch by Amazon focuses primarily on apparel: t‑shirts, long sleeves, hoodies, sweatshirts, pop sockets, and a few accessories. Print quality is generally excellent—Amazon uses high‑quality direct‑to‑garment printing and rigorous quality control. However, the product selection is limited compared to Redbubble.
Redbubble boasts one of the widest product catalogs in POD: over 70 products including stickers, phone cases, tapestries, throw pillows, leggings, masks, and many home goods. Print quality varies by product; stickers and art prints are excellent, while some apparel printing can be less consistent than Amazon’s. Redbubble uses multiple print partners globally, so quality can differ by region.
| Category | Merch by Amazon | Redbubble |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel | T‑shirts, hoodies, long sleeves, sweatshirts | T‑shirts, hoodies, tank tops, leggings, dresses, more |
| Accessories | PopSockets, phone cases (limited) | Stickers, phone cases, pins, bags, jewelry, etc. |
| Home & Living | None | Tapestries, pillows, duvets, mugs, clocks, etc. |
| Print Quality | Excellent, consistent | Good, but variable by product/partner |
5. Pricing Control & Profit Margins
On Merch by Amazon, you cannot set the price. Amazon determines the list price based on the product type and market. You earn a fixed royalty per sale. While you can’t increase prices, you also don’t have to worry about undercutting yourself—everyone sells at the same price.
Redbubble gives you full control. You choose your artist margin (percentage) on top of Redbubble’s base price. This allows you to adjust for promotions, different markets, or to compete with similar designs. However, you need to find the sweet spot: too high, and you lose sales; too low, and you earn very little.
Margin vs. Sales Volume on Redbubble
(high volume) Medium margin
(balanced) High margin
(low volume)
Most successful Redbubble sellers target the middle ground: 30‑50% margin, balancing conversion and profit.
6. Traffic & Discovery: Built‑in Audience vs. Community
Merch by Amazon leverages Amazon’s immense traffic. Your products appear in Amazon search results, often with “Amazon’s Choice” badges. Customers trust Amazon, and the conversion rate is high. However, discoverability depends heavily on keywords, titles, and bullet points—SEO within Amazon is crucial. You don’t get a personal storefront; your designs are just product pages.
Redbubble has its own marketplace with community features: users can follow artists, like designs, and share collections. Redbubble also invests in social media and email marketing to drive traffic. But you’re competing with millions of other designs. Many sellers drive their own traffic through Pinterest, Instagram, or TikTok. Redbubble also has a strong internal search, so good tagging matters.
🌐 Traffic Sources Compared
- Merch: Primarily Amazon search & related products. High intent, high conversion.
- Redbubble: Marketplace search + external traffic (social, ads). Lower intent, but broader reach.
7. Payment & Payout Options
Merch by Amazon pays royalties monthly via direct deposit or Amazon gift card (with a bonus). Minimum payout varies by country; in the US it’s $10 for gift card, $100 for bank transfer. Payments are reliable and on time.
Redbubble offers multiple payout methods: PayPal, Payoneer, and bank transfer (in some countries). The threshold is $20 (or equivalent). You can request payment at any time once you reach the threshold. Redbubble also has a “Redeem” system for gift cards with lower thresholds.
8. Pros & Cons Side‑by‑Side
✅ Merch by Amazon Pros
- Massive built‑in Amazon traffic
- High conversion rates (trust factor)
- No need to drive your own traffic
- Reliable, consistent royalties
- Amazon handles customer service & returns
❌ Merch by Amazon Cons
- Difficult to get accepted (invitation only)
- Strict tier system limits growth
- Limited product range
- No pricing control
- Long design approval times
✅ Redbubble Pros
- Instant sign‑up, no approval needed
- Huge product variety
- Full control over pricing (margin)
- No upload limits
- Community features & external traffic potential
❌ Redbubble Cons
- Highly saturated marketplace
- Lower conversion rates
- Need to drive your own traffic for significant sales
- Quality can vary by product
- Copyright enforcement can be aggressive
9. Which Platform Is Better for Your Seller Type?
If you’re a beginner wanting to test print‑on‑demand, Redbubble is the obvious choice. You can start uploading immediately, experiment with niches, and learn tagging and marketing. There’s no barrier to entry.
If you already have an audience (social media following, email list) and want to monetize with diverse products, Redbubble’s wide catalog and flexible pricing let you leverage your traffic effectively.
If you want passive income from Amazon’s traffic and are willing to play the long game, Merch by Amazon can be incredibly lucrative once you’re accepted and tier up. The consistent royalties from Amazon searches can build a steady income stream.
Many successful POD sellers use both: they build a brand on Redbubble with a wide range of products, and use Merch by Amazon for their best‑selling apparel designs to tap into Amazon’s customer base. This diversification protects against platform‑specific risks.
🚀 Hybrid Strategy
Start on Redbubble to validate designs. Once a design proves itself (e.g., consistent sales), upload it to Merch by Amazon to capture additional revenue. Use the higher margins on Redbubble for niche items, and let Amazon handle the volume on popular designs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely. There’s no exclusivity clause on either platform (unless you enroll in Merch’s “Brand Referral Bonus” which may have restrictions). Many sellers cross‑post their best designs to maximize exposure.
It depends. On a per‑item basis, Redbubble can yield higher royalties if you set a high margin, but sales volume may be lower. Merch by Amazon offers lower but predictable royalties with higher conversion. At scale, both can be equally profitable.
You need to request an invitation on the Merch by Amazon page. Amazon reviews applications based on factors like quality of designs, adherence to content policy, and sometimes your selling history on other platforms. Approval is not guaranteed, and wait times can be months.
Redbubble uses automated filters to flag potential copyright/trademark violations. Some designs are reviewed manually. If you upload original art and avoid using brand names or characters, your designs will likely go live quickly.
Yes, Redbubble allows you to set separate artist margins for each region (US, EU, UK, etc.). This lets you adjust for local purchasing power and competition.
Merch by Amazon’s support is notoriously slow and impersonal. Redbubble’s support is more accessible and helpful for artists. However, both handle customer service for buyers, so you rarely need to intervene.
Conclusion: Choose Based on Your Goals
In 2026, both Merch by Amazon and Redbubble remain dominant forces in print‑on‑demand, but they cater to different seller profiles. Merch by Amazon is a closed, high‑trust ecosystem ideal for those who can get in and patiently build a tier. Redbubble is an open, creative playground perfect for testing ideas and reaching a global audience with diverse products.
Your best strategy might be to start on Redbubble, learn the ropes, then apply for Merch by Amazon. Once you’re in, cross‑post your winning designs. Use the flexibility of Redbubble to experiment and the traffic of Amazon to scale.
Whichever path you choose, success in POD comes down to original designs, smart keyword optimization, and consistency. Neither platform is a “get rich quick” scheme, but both can generate meaningful income over time.
💡 Ready to dive deeper?
Check out our other POD comparisons below to refine your strategy.