The Merch by Amazon Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Merch by Amazon in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Merch by Amazon
The Insider’s Guide
Amazon program for uploading designs and earning royalties
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among print-on-demand and dropshipping services, read from Merch by Amazon’s own pages.
Made by Amazon.com, Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Merch by Amazon’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Merch by Amazon’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 2 of the 30 other print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade
Amazon Merch on Demand lets approved content creators upload artwork, pick a product and color, and suggest a list price. Amazon creates the product page, prints and ships each order and handles customer service, paying the creator a monthly royalty. There are no upfront costs.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Merch by Amazon, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You need approval first, Amazon can remove designs or suspend accounts, and the page does not state the royalty rate.
- 1
Best for selling t-shirt designs on Amazon with no upfront cost
Amazon Merch on Demand prints and ships shirts from your designs, with no upfront cost and a monthly royalty.
- 2
It is free
Merch by Amazon has no paid plan at all. No upfront costs: the page says Amazon prints and ships each sale and pays the creator a monthly royalty.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
No upfront costs
Upload artwork, choose a product type and color and add a description; Amazon builds the product page and prints after each sale.
- 5
Royalties on each sale
Amazon pays a royalty per product sold; the landing page points to a separate Royalty Calculation page for the formula.
- 6
Prime shipping
The page says all products are eligible for Prime shipping, with the same shipping options as other Amazon items.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 2 of 30
That is against the other print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Merch by Amazon is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Merch by Amazon at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Amazon.com, Inc.
- Category
- Print on Demand & Dropshipping
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for selling t-shirt designs on Amazon with no upfront cost
Amazon Merch on Demand prints and ships shirts from your designs, with no upfront cost and a monthly royalty. You need approval first, Amazon can remove designs or suspend accounts, and the page does not state the royalty rate.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No upfront costs, but the royalty rate is on a page we did not read, so it can't be set against the category. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free to join and no trial needed, though a request goes through approval and Amazon replies by email. |
| Features | C | Upload art, pick a product and colour, Amazon makes and ships it, with Prime shipping and sales analytics. The listing names t-shirt artwork rules, 300 dpi PNG, and nothing on royalties. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You prepare artwork to a 15 by 18 inch print area and wait for approval. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web only, with no API or integrations on the listing. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Merch by Amazon is for
- Fits if you want your designs sold on Amazon with Amazon handling customer service
- Makes sense if you can wait for an approval decision before selling
Who it is not for
- Watch out: accounts are reviewed and approved, so you may not get in
- Watch out: Amazon can remove designs or suspend accounts that break its content policy
- Skip it if you need to know your earnings in advance, since the royalty formula is on a separate page
- Tight if you want your own storefront, as your products live on Amazon
Good to know
Good for
- Designers who want to reach Amazon shoppers without handling stock
- Creators who can follow Amazon's content policy and artwork specs
Worth knowing
- Accounts are reviewed and approved; the page says Amazon will send a decision by email after a request.
- Amazon can remove designs or suspend accounts that violate its content policy.
- T-shirt artwork should be a 300 dpi PNG with a 15 by 18 inch printable area.
- The royalty formula is on a separate page not read here, so rates are not stated.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Merch by Amazon is free to use.
No upfront costs, but the royalty rate is on a page we did not read, so it can't be set against the category.
Content creator
$0
Sign up with an Amazon account and wait for approval; Amazon pays a royalty on every product sold.
The free plan
No upfront costs: the page says Amazon prints and ships each sale and pays the creator a monthly royalty.
Read from merch.amazon.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Amazon program for uploading designs and earning royalties. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: print on demand, amazon selling.
Upload art, pick a product and colour, Amazon makes and ships it, with Prime shipping and sales analytics.
- No upfront costs
- Upload artwork, choose a product type and color and add a description; Amazon builds the product page and prints after each sale.
- Royalties on each sale
- Amazon pays a royalty per product sold; the landing page points to a separate Royalty Calculation page for the formula.
- Prime shipping
- The page says all products are eligible for Prime shipping, with the same shipping options as other Amazon items.
- Non-exclusive
- The FAQ says the program is non-exclusive, so the same design can be offered on other sites.
- Sales analytics
- Creators get analysis tools showing their best-selling designs and revenue.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Merch by Amazon is made by Amazon.com, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
2/30
Other print-on-demand and dropshipping services it is graded above
Merch by Amazon's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 2 of the 30 other print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 10 of 30) and worst on value for money (C, above 0).
Merch by Amazon has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 31 print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Merch by Amazon’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 0 of 30
- BFree plan and trialAbove 10 of 30
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 30
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 30
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 30
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 31 print-on-demand and dropshipping services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Merch by Amazon is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Merch by Amazon is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 20 of the 30 other print-on-demand and dropshipping services grade higher.
What you could not
- Printers that make and ship each order.
- Data from Amazon's seller tools and years of sales estimates.
What this rests on. Merch by Amazon’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Amazon KDP, Spreadshirt and Printful
The 3 tools Merch by Amazon is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Amazon KDP
Free
Amazon's free self-publishing for ebooks and print-on-demand books.
- Amazon KDP also covers digital downloads.
- 2.8GPA
Spreadshirt
Free
Free Spreadshop stores with print-on-demand apparel and gifts.
- Merch by Amazon also covers amazon selling.
- Spreadshirt also covers online store and dropshipping.
- 3.2GPA
Printful
Free plan · from $24.99/mo
Print-on-demand company that makes and ships orders in-house.
- Merch by Amazon also covers amazon selling.
- Printful also covers online store.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Merch by Amazon free?
Yes. Merch by Amazon is free to use.
How much does Merch by Amazon cost?
Merch by Amazon lists one plan. Content creator: $0.
What platforms does Merch by Amazon work on?
Merch by Amazon is available on Web.
Does Merch by Amazon have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Merch by Amazon is listed for Web.
Does Merch by Amazon have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Merch by Amazon is listed for Web.
Is Merch by Amazon open source?
Merch by Amazon is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Who makes Merch by Amazon?
Merch by Amazon is made by Amazon.com, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Merch by Amazon?
The closest alternatives to Merch by Amazon in our directory are Amazon KDP, Spreadshirt and Printful.
How does Merch by Amazon compare with other print-on-demand and dropshipping services?
Merch by Amazon's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 2 of the 30 other print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, and level with 8.
Is Merch by Amazon good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Merch by Amazon C for value for money. Merch by Amazon has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Merch by Amazon?
Merch by Amazon is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Merch by Amazon’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Amazon.com, Inc.'s own pages on 12 November 2026. The page loaded but returned no readable text here, so this card rests on the listing alone. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Amazon.com, Inc. Prices change, so check merch.amazon.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Merch by Amazon, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/merch-by-amazon
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Merch by Amazon: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/merch-by-amazon
Know someone choosing between print-on-demand and dropshipping services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/merch-by-amazon/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded print-on-demand and dropshipping services after Merch by Amazon, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Print on Demand & Dropshipping Insider's GuideEvery one of the 31 print-on-demand and dropshipping services we grade, compared
- Printify Insider's GuidePrint-on-demand marketplace with 2,000+ products and 70+ printers3.4 GPA
- CJdropshipping Insider's GuideDropshipping supplier and sourcing agent with factory-price products3.2 GPA
- Printful Insider's GuidePrint-on-demand company that makes and ships orders in-house3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Merch by Amazon’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Merch by Amazon is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Amazon.com, Inc. Prices and plans change: check merch.amazon.com before you buy.