Displate vs. Redbubble: Choosing the Best Platform for Your Art Addiction

Displate vs. Redbubble: The Ultimate Showdown for Artists & Buyers

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The world of print-on-demand (POD) has revolutionized how artists share their work and how consumers decorate their spaces. In this vibrant market, two giants stand out: Displate and Redbubble. While both platforms connect creators with customers, they offer fundamentally different products, experiences, and opportunities. Choosing between them can be a challenge whether you’re an artist looking to sell or a buyer searching for that perfect piece of wall art.

This comprehensive guide breaks down the Displate vs. Redbubble debate. We’ll dive deep into product quality, artist earnings, customer experience, and the core business models of each company, giving you all the information you need to make the right choice for your creative or decorative needs.

Table of Contents

What is Displate? A Niche Metal Marvel

Before diving into a comparison, it’s essential to understand what is displate art. Displate is a unique player in the POD world, specializing almost exclusively in high-quality metal posters. Founded in Poland in 2013, the company has carved out a significant niche by focusing on one core product and perfecting it.

Each Displate is a gallery-quality print on a thick steel plate, known for its durability and vibrant color reproduction. Their signature feature is a hassle-free magnetic mounting system, allowing customers to hang art without tools or wall damage. While they are a displate print on demand service, their approach is curated, focusing heavily on licensed content from gaming, movies, and pop culture, alongside a carefully selected community of independent artists.

What is Redbubble? The All-in-One Creative Marketplace

On the other side of the ring is Redbubble, a sprawling marketplace that champions variety and accessibility. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, in 2006, Redbubble (often searched as red bubble) is a powerhouse in the POD industry. Unlike Displate’s focused approach, Redbubble offers an enormous catalog of products.

Artists can upload a single design and have it printed on dozens of items, including t-shirts, stickers, phone cases, mugs, shower curtains, and, of course, traditional wall art. This makes redbubble print on demand a go-to platform for creators who want to build a diverse product line and for consumers who want a one-stop shop for unique, artist-designed goods.

Product Quality & Variety: Metal vs. The Masses

The most significant difference between the two platforms lies in what they sell. Your choice will largely depend on whether you value a specialized, premium product or a vast selection of customizable items.

Displate’s Premium Metal Prints

Displate’s reputation is built on its singular product. When people ask, is displate good quality?, the general consensus among collectors is a resounding yes. The metal prints are sturdy, the colors pop, and the finishes (matte or gloss) offer a premium feel. The innovative magnetic mounting system is a major selling point, making installation and swapping art incredibly simple. This quality comes at a price, leading some to wonder, is displate overpriced? That depends on your budget and appreciation for the unique medium.

While their focus is narrow, they do offer customization. A common question is, does displate do custom prints? Yes, Displate allows customers to upload their own photos to be printed on metal, offering a personalized touch. However, the variety ends there; you won’t find Displate’s art on a t-shirt or a mug.

Redbubble’s Endless Variety

Redbubble is all about options. You can find everything from small stickers to massive tapestries. Their redbubble wall art selection alone is extensive, including framed prints, canvas prints, and posters. This is where the quality conversation becomes more complex. Many users want to know, are redbubble posters good quality? The answer can vary.

The quality of redbubble posters depends on two main factors: the resolution of the artwork uploaded by the artist and the specific third-party printer that fulfills the order. A deep dive into any redbubble poster review will show a spectrum of experiences. Many customers are thrilled, while others may receive a print that isn’t as sharp as they hoped. Therefore, asking how good are redbubble posters doesn’t have a single answer. To help buyers, Redbubble offers different paper types and finishes. The redbubble art print vs poster debate is common; art prints are typically on higher-quality, textured paper, while posters are more traditional and affordable. They also offer a redbubble metal print, providing a more direct competitor to Displate, though it’s just one of many options. Beyond prints, the redbubble shirt quality is also a frequent topic of discussion, with quality generally considered decent for a POD service.

For the Artists: Commissions, Earnings, and Opportunity

For creators, the experience of selling on Displate versus Redbubble is night and day, from the application process to the earning potential.

Selling on Displate: A Curated Community

Not just anyone can sell art on displate. The platform is curated, meaning you must apply and be accepted. The first step is learning how to become a displate artist, which involves submitting a portfolio for review. Displate looks for high-quality, unique artwork that fits its brand, which often leans towards pop culture, fantasy, and gaming themes.

Once accepted, the question becomes, does displate pay artists? Yes, and the commission structure is straightforward. The displate artist commission percentage is based on the size of the Displate sold, and artists also earn a 50% commission on any sale made through their unique share-and-earn links. This clear structure helps artists estimate their potential displate artist earnings. For those wondering how much does displate pay artists, it varies widely based on sales volume, but the fixed commission per sale is a key feature. If you want to learn how to sell art on displate, the first step is building a strong portfolio.

Selling on Redbubble: An Open Marketplace

Redbubble offers a much lower barrier to entry. It is completely free to set up a shop and sell on redbubble. The platform’s philosophy is to empower every redbubble artist to sell art on redbubble with ease. This openness is a major draw, allowing new and established artists to test the waters of POD.

The redbubble artist commission is entirely flexible. Artists set their own markup (the redbubble profit margin) on top of a base price for each product. The default is typically 20%, but you can adjust it up or down. This gives creators direct control over their redbubble earnings. However, it also means artists must price their work competitively. In recent years, Redbubble has introduced account tiers and fees, so while it’s free to start, artists should be aware of the redbubble selling fees that may apply to their accounts. This has led many to evaluate the pros and cons of redbubble and ask, is redbubble still profitable? For many, it is, but success requires marketing, finding a niche, and uploading high-quality work. Ultimately, how redbubble works for artists is by providing the tools and marketplace; the artist provides the creativity and promotion.

The Customer Experience: Shopping, Shipping, and Trust

A great product means little without a positive customer journey. Here’s how the two platforms stack up in terms of user experience.

Displate’s Polished and Focused Experience

Shopping on Displate is a streamlined experience. The site is easy to navigate, with collections curated by theme and showcasing displate best sellers prominently. The focus on one product type simplifies the decision-making process. Given its premium positioning and established brand, many users ask, is displate a legit website? Absolutely. It is a well-regarded e-commerce site with a strong reputation for quality and customer service. The final consideration for many buyers is, is displate worth it? For those seeking durable, easy-to-hang metal art, the answer is often yes.

Redbubble’s Vast and Varied Journey

The shopping experience on Redbubble is an adventure. With millions of designs on countless products, the sheer volume can be overwhelming. However, its search filters are robust, helping users narrow down their options. A critical factor for any online purchase is shipping. Redbubble shipping times and costs vary because products are printed and shipped by a global network of third-party fulfillers.

Trust is also a major consideration. So, is redbubble legit? Yes, Redbubble is one of the largest and most established POD marketplaces in the world. It’s a public company with millions of users. Questions like is redbubble reliable or is redbubble trustworthy are common. While the vast majority of transactions are smooth, the decentralized fulfillment model means that experiences can vary. Reading selling on redbubble reviews and trustpilot redbubble comments shows a wide range of feedback, but the platform itself is legitimate and has buyer protection policies in place.

The Business Angle: Revenue and Market Standing

Looking at the numbers reveals two successful but very different companies. The displate revenue has seen strong growth, driven by its unique product and strong brand partnerships. While specific figures are often private, industry analysis points towards a healthy displate annual revenue, with optimistic projections for displate revenue as it expands its artist base and product lines.

Redbubble, as a publicly-traded company, has a more transparent financial picture. The redbubble annual revenue is substantial, reflecting its massive scale and diverse product offerings. It is a dominant force in the global POD market.

Exploring Alternatives: The Broader Print-on-Demand Landscape

Displate and Redbubble are not the only options. The POD world is full of displate competitors and redbubble alternatives.

If you’re looking for sites like displate or displate like sites, you might consider companies that specialize in high-quality wall art, like Society6 or INPRNT, though none focus exclusively on metal in the same way. The question of which is better redbubble or society6 is another common debate, with Society6 often seen as slightly more curated.

For artists and buyers seeking sites like redbubble, the options are plentiful. Major print on demand sites like redbubble include TeePublic (owned by Redbubble), Zazzle, and Society6. Many creators search for sites better than redbubble or the best redbubble alternative in hopes of finding better commission structures or less market saturation. These other sites like redbubble each have their own pros and cons, from product selection to artist tools. This ecosystem highlights that while the POD model is popular, it’s important to understand the disadvantages of print on demand, such as lack of control over production and intense competition. Still, many find that asking is print on demand worth it results in a “yes” due to the low startup costs and passive income potential.

Final Verdict: Which Platform is Right for You?

The Displate vs. Redbubble choice comes down to your priorities. There is no single “better” platform; there is only the platform that is better for you.

For Artists:

  • Choose Displate if: You are a skilled digital artist with a polished portfolio, your style aligns with pop culture, fantasy, or abstract themes, and you want to be part of a curated, premium platform with a straightforward commission structure.
  • Choose Redbubble if: You are just starting out, want to build a diverse brand across many products, value control over your pricing and profit margins, and are prepared to market your work in a competitive marketplace.

For Buyers:

  • Choose Displate if: You are looking for a high-quality, durable, and unique piece of wall art, value an easy and tool-free mounting system, and have a specific interest in gaming, movies, or geek culture.
  • Choose Redbubble if: You want maximum choice and variety, are looking for a unique design on a specific product (like a t-shirt or a phone case), and are shopping across a range of price points.

Ultimately, the redbubble limited key debates often circle back to quality control versus creative freedom, a core tension in the POD industry. Displate prioritizes the former, Redbubble the latter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Redbubble legit?
Yes, Redbubble is a legitimate and well-established online marketplace that has been in operation since 2006. It’s a publicly-traded company connecting millions of artists and customers worldwide. However, as with any large marketplace, individual experiences with product quality and shipping can vary.

Is Redbubble free to sell?
Yes, is redbubble free to sell is a common question, and the answer is that it’s free to create an account and upload your designs. However, Redbubble has recently implemented an account tier system that may include fees for certain seller accounts to cover platform administration, so it’s important to read their current policies.

Are Redbubble posters good?
The quality of Redbubble posters can be quite good, but it is not always consistent. It depends on the quality of the image the artist uploaded and the specific print partner that fulfills the order. Many redbubble poster reviews are positive, but it’s wise to look for designs from established artists with good feedback. The platform offers different redbubble poster sizes and paper types to choose from.

How much do Displate artists make?
The displate artist earnings are based on a commission for each sale. Artists earn a portion of the net sale price, which is currently around $4 for a medium-sized Displate. A significant earning opportunity comes from their share-and-earn link, which gives the artist a 50% commission on the net sale price of any product bought through their unique link.

What are the pros and cons of Redbubble?
The main pros and cons of redbubble are two sides of the same coin. Pros: Massive audience, huge product variety, free to start, and full control over your profit margins. Cons: Extreme competition, variable product quality, and the need for self-promotion to stand out.

Is Redbubble worth it for artists?
The question is redbubble worth it depends on an artist’s goals. For those looking to get started in print-on-demand with no upfront cost and access to a large audience, it is an excellent platform. Success requires patience, a strong niche, and consistent effort in creating and promoting art.