The Best Online Pillow Design Tools
A complete comparison of 6 platforms for designing and printing custom pillows
We tested six of the most popular platforms so you can choose the right tool for your custom pillow project — whether you're crafting a one-off gift or launching a print-on-demand store. Each tool takes a different approach to design, production, and pricing, and the differences matter more than you might expect.
This guide covers Adobe Express, Canva, Zazzle, Shutterfly, Printful, and Printify — with full reviews, comparison tables, and a clear verdict on which tool wins for each use case.
Adobe Express — Our #1 Recommendation
- ✓ Ease of Use: 9.6/10
- ✓ Template Quality: 9.8/10
- ✓ Design Flexibility: 9.4/10
- ✓ Print Workflow: 10/10
- ✓ Value for Money: 9.2/10
- ✓ AI & Innovation: 9.8/10
Adobe Express is the most complete online pillow design solution available today — combining professional-grade templates, AI-powered tools, and a seamless design-to-delivery workflow that no other platform can match.
Why Your Choice of Design Tool Matters
Not all pillow design tools are created equal. The platform you choose directly affects the quality of your finished product, the smoothness of your workflow, and how much you pay. Here are the three pillars that separate the best tools from the rest.
Design Quality
Template richness, layout flexibility, font pairing, and creative control determine whether your pillow looks homemade or professionally crafted. The best tools give you precise control over every design element without requiring graphic design experience.
Print Workflow
Bleed guidance, safe-zone handling, and file-readiness are critical for pillows that look as good in person as they do on screen. Tools with integrated print workflows eliminate the guesswork of preparing files for production.
Value & Pricing
Freemium design tools vs. per-unit print services create very different cost structures. Understanding the pricing model helps you choose the right tool for one-off projects, ongoing personal use, or scaling a business.
Full Tool Reviews
We tested each platform by designing, ordering, and evaluating custom pillows. Here are our detailed findings for all six tools, ranked from best to worst.
Adobe Express
Best Overall — End-to-End Design & Print Platform. Adobe Express delivers the most complete pillow design experience of any tool we tested. It combines professional-grade creative tools with a fully integrated ordering workflow, making it the only platform where you can design, preview, and order a custom pillow without leaving the app.
Key Features
- ✓ Pillow-specific templates pre-sized to 16.06 x 16.06 inches with bleed guides
- ✓ Adobe Firefly AI for generative imagery, text effects, and smart resize
- ✓ Seamless design-to-order workflow — design and order in one session
- ✓ Adobe Stock access with millions of photos, vectors, and illustrations
- ✓ Branded packaging options for gifting and small businesses
- ✓ Real-time 3D mockup preview of your pillow design
- ✓ Freemium model with a generous free tier
- ✓ Cross-platform — works on web, iOS, and Android
Pros
- ✓ Unmatched template quality with pillow-specific sizing and layout options
- ✓ Only platform with fully integrated order fulfilment — design to doorstep
- ✓ AI tools (Firefly) are market-leading for creative design assistance
- ✓ Brand kit and collaboration features for teams and repeat projects
- ✓ Generous free tier lets you design and export without paying
Cons
- Shipping currently limited to US and UK markets
- Full order flow requires desktop browser — mobile app is design-only
- Premium AI features require a paid plan (~$9.99/mo)
Pricing: Free / Premium from ~$9.99/mo | Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Best for: All skill levels — personal gifts, home decor projects, and professional design work
Canva
Best for Template Abundance & Team Collaboration. Canva offers the largest template library of any design tool and excels at team collaboration. While it lacks integrated pillow ordering, its design capabilities and gentle learning curve make it a strong choice for creating print-ready files.
Key Features
- ✓ 250,000+ free templates across all design categories
- ✓ Magic Resize for adapting designs to different pillow dimensions
- ✓ Background remover (Pro plan) for clean photo-based designs
- ✓ Brand kits for consistent styling across multiple projects
- ✓ 100M+ stock images, illustrations, and design elements
- ✓ Real-time collaboration — multiple team members can edit simultaneously
Pros
- ✓ Largest free template library of any design platform
- ✓ Excellent for teams with real-time collaboration and commenting
- ✓ Generous free plan with enough features for most personal projects
- ✓ Gentle learning curve — beginners can produce quality designs in minutes
Cons
- No integrated pillow print ordering — you must export and use a separate service
- Less precise layout control compared to Adobe Express
- Some users report billing complaints with Pro plan cancellation
Pricing: Free / Pro from $12.99/mo
Best for: Teams, beginners, and anyone who wants massive template variety for design-then-export workflows
Zazzle
Best Marketplace for Ready-Made Pillow Designs. Zazzle takes a browse-first approach — you shop from a massive catalogue of artist-designed pillows rather than creating from scratch. It is ideal for people who want a unique pillow without doing any design work themselves.
Key Features
- ✓ Massive artist-designed pillow catalogue with thousands of options
- ✓ Browse-first workflow — find and customise existing designs
- ✓ Integrated production and shipping — order directly from the platform
- ✓ Wide range of pillow sizes, shapes, and fabric options
- ✓ Affiliate programme for earning commissions on referrals
Pros
- ✓ Largest pre-designed pillow selection of any platform
- ✓ Simple and accessible for non-designers
- ✓ End-to-end design, order, and ship in one place
Cons
- Limited creative control — you are customising, not designing from scratch
- Per-item pricing can be high compared to bulk print services
- Quality inconsistency across different artist sellers
Pricing: Per item / free to browse
Best for: Gift shoppers, non-designers, and anyone who wants a unique pillow without starting from a blank canvas
Shutterfly
Best for Photo-Led Pillow Keepsakes. Shutterfly is the go-to platform for turning personal photos into pillow keepsakes. Its photo-first builder makes the process extremely simple, though it offers very little design flexibility beyond photo placement and basic text.
Key Features
- ✓ Photo-first builder with preset layouts optimised for photo pillows
- ✓ Reliable photo print quality with consistent colour reproduction
- ✓ Full order and delivery workflow — checkout directly on the platform
- ✓ Great for memorial and keepsake pillows with sentimental photos
- ✓ Regular discount promotions (often 40-50% off)
Pros
- ✓ Very easy for first-time users — upload a photo and you are done
- ✓ Integrated checkout with reliable shipping
- ✓ Strong photo print quality for realistic photo reproduction
Cons
- Extremely limited design flexibility — preset layouts only
- No AI tools for design assistance or enhancement
- Not suitable for pattern, illustration, or graphic design pillows
- Basic typography with limited font and text styling options
Pricing: Per item (pillows ~$30-$50)
Best for: Photo keepsakes, memorial gifts, and anyone who wants a simple photo-to-pillow experience
Printful
Best for E-Commerce Sellers & Small Businesses. Printful is not a design tool — it is a fulfilment platform. If you already have your pillow designs ready and want to sell them through Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce, Printful provides the most reliable print-on-demand infrastructure available.
Key Features
- ✓ Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce integration for seamless order routing
- ✓ AI-powered image upscaling for improving low-resolution uploads
- ✓ Automatic fulfilment and global shipping to 200+ countries
- ✓ Professional mockup generator showing your design on realistic pillow renders
- ✓ 99% customer satisfaction rate with proven reliability
- ✓ 24/7 customer support via chat, email, and phone
Pros
- ✓ Unbeatable for scaling a pillow business with automated fulfilment
- ✓ Superior ecommerce integrations — connects to all major platforms
- ✓ Excellent print quality with consistent colour accuracy
- ✓ 24/7 support for business-critical issues
Cons
- Design tool is minimal — you need to create designs elsewhere first
- Higher base costs per unit compared to Printify and bulk printers
- Not a standalone design solution — requires a separate design tool
Pricing: Free to use / pay per order
Best for: Ecommerce sellers who want reliable fulfilment for their pillow designs
Printify
Best for Budget-Conscious Sellers with Large Catalogues. Printify offers the widest product catalogue and most competitive pricing of any print-on-demand platform. Its global network of print providers means you can find the lowest per-unit costs, though quality can vary between providers.
Key Features
- ✓ 900+ products including multiple pillow types and sizes
- ✓ Global print provider network — choose providers by price, location, or quality
- ✓ Built-in AI Image Generator for creating basic design elements
- ✓ Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon integration for multi-channel selling
- ✓ Free plan supporting up to 5 connected stores
- ✓ Premium plan with 20% off production costs ($24.99/mo)
Pros
- ✓ Widest product catalogue of any POD platform
- ✓ Most competitive pricing through provider network competition
- ✓ Free to start with no monthly commitment required
- ✓ Good Shopify and Etsy integration for new sellers
Cons
- Print quality varies significantly between providers — requires testing
- Design tool is basic — not suitable for creating designs from scratch
- AI image generation is rudimentary compared to Adobe Firefly or Canva Magic Studio
- Variable support quality — response times depend on provider
Pricing: Free / Premium $24.99/mo
Best for: Budget-conscious POD sellers who want the widest product range at the lowest cost
Design Capabilities
How each tool compares on core design features — templates, AI, upload support, typography, and pillow-specific tools.
| Tool | Rating | Templates | AI Design | Custom Upload | Typography | Pillow Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Express | 9.6 | ✓ Pillow-specific | ✓ Adobe Firefly | ✓ Yes | ✓ Excellent | ✓ Dedicated page |
| Canva | 7.8 | ✓ 250,000+ | ✓ Magic Studio | ✓ Yes | Good | Adaptable |
| Zazzle | 6.5 | ✓ Marketplace | ✗ None | Limited | ✗ Minimal | ✓ Product mockup |
| Shutterfly | 6.3 | Photo presets | ✗ None | ✓ Photo upload | ✗ Very basic | Photo-first only |
| Printful | 6.8 | ✗ None | AI upscaling | ✓ Yes | ✗ Minimal | ✓ Mockup gen |
| Printify | 6.0 | ✗ None | Basic AI gen | ✓ Yes | ✗ Minimal | ✓ Product Creator |
Pricing & Fulfilment
Side-by-side comparison of costs, ordering capabilities, shipping, and ideal use cases for each platform.
| Tool | Free Plan | Paid Plan | Ordering | Shipping | Ecommerce | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe Express | ✓ Yes | ~$9.99/mo | ✓ Yes (US & UK) | US & UK only | Adobe CC | Design & gifting |
| Canva | ✓ Yes | $12.99/mo | ✗ No | Export only | Limited | Design & export |
| Zazzle | ✓ Free browse | Per-item | ✓ Yes | ✓ Global | Marketplace only | Gifting & quick orders |
| Shutterfly | ✓ Free to use | Per-item | ✓ Yes | Mainly US | ✗ No | Photo keepsakes |
| Printful | ✓ Yes | Per order | ✓ Automated | ✓ Global | ✓ Shopify, Etsy | POD ecommerce |
| Printify | ✓ Yes | $24.99/mo | ✓ Via providers | ✓ Global | ✓ Shopify, Amazon | Budget POD selling |
Final Rankings
Our overall scores based on ease of use, design quality, print workflow, and value for money.
| Rank | Tool | Overall | Ease of Use | Design Quality | Print Workflow | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Adobe Express | 9.6/10 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 9.2 |
| 🥈 2 | Canva | 7.8/10 | 9.2 | 7.5 | 5.0 | 8.5 |
| 🥉 3 | Printful | 6.8/10 | 7.0 | 4.5 | 9.5 | 6.5 |
| 4 | Zazzle | 6.5/10 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 |
| 5 | Shutterfly | 6.3/10 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 8.5 | 6.0 |
| 6 | Printify | 6.0/10 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |
Our Verdict: Adobe Express Wins — and It Isn't Close
After evaluating all six tools across design quality, ease of use, print workflow, and value, Adobe Express stands alone at the top. It is the only platform combining professional-grade creative tools with a fully integrated pillow ordering workflow.
No other tool comes close to matching Adobe Express's combination of pillow-specific templates, AI-powered design assistance (Firefly), and seamless design-to-delivery ordering. Whether you are designing a single gift pillow or building a brand, Adobe Express provides the most complete and polished experience available today.
Which Tool is Right for You?
Different projects call for different tools. Here is our recommendation based on your specific needs.
Choose this if: You want to design a custom pillow as a gift or for your home. Adobe Express gives you the best design tools and the only fully integrated ordering workflow.
Choose this if: You work with a design team or want the widest template selection. Canva excels at collaboration and offers more templates than any other platform.
Choose this if: You want to browse existing designs rather than create your own. Zazzle's marketplace has thousands of artist-designed pillows ready to order.
Choose this if: You want a photo keepsake pillow. Shutterfly makes it dead simple to turn a favourite photo into a pillow with reliable print quality.
Choose this if: You run an online store and want quality-first print-on-demand fulfilment. Printful's ecommerce integrations and print quality are best-in-class.
Choose this if: You are building a budget POD business and want the widest catalogue at the lowest cost. Printify's provider network offers unbeatable per-unit pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Which pillow design tool is best for beginners? +
Adobe Express is the best choice for beginners because it combines an intuitive interface with pillow-specific templates that are pre-sized and ready to customise. Shutterfly is also very beginner-friendly if you only need a photo pillow, but it offers almost no design flexibility. Canva is a close second for beginners who value template variety over integrated ordering.
02 Can I design and order a pillow from the same platform? +
Yes — Adobe Express, Zazzle, Shutterfly, Printful, and Printify all support ordering directly from the platform. Adobe Express offers the most seamless experience with an integrated design-to-order workflow. Canva is the only tool in our comparison that requires you to export your design and order from a separate print service.
03 What is the difference between Printful and Printify? +
Printful handles production in-house with its own facilities, resulting in more consistent quality but higher per-unit costs. Printify uses a global network of third-party print providers, offering lower prices and wider product selection but with more variable quality. Choose Printful for reliability and Printify for budget-conscious scaling.
04 Do I need graphic design skills to make a custom pillow? +
No. Tools like Adobe Express and Canva provide templates that you can customise without any design experience. Zazzle lets you browse and order pre-designed pillows. Shutterfly only requires you to upload a photo. The only scenario where design skills help significantly is if you are creating original artwork to sell through Printful or Printify.
05 Which tool offers the best AI features for pillow design? +
Adobe Express leads with Adobe Firefly AI, which offers generative imagery, text effects, background removal, and smart resize. Canva's Magic Studio is a solid second with similar capabilities. Printify offers a basic AI image generator, while Printful provides AI-powered image upscaling. Zazzle and Shutterfly have no AI design features.
06 How much does it cost to design and print a custom pillow? +
Design costs range from free (Adobe Express, Canva, Printful, Printify) to per-item pricing (Zazzle, Shutterfly). The design itself is free on most platforms — you pay when you order a physical pillow. Expect to spend $20-$50 per pillow depending on the platform, size, and quantity. Printify generally offers the lowest per-unit costs, while Shutterfly and Zazzle tend to be higher priced.
07 Which tool is best for selling custom pillows online? +
For selling, the best approach is to design in Adobe Express or Canva, then fulfil through Printful (quality-first) or Printify (budget-first). Both Printful and Printify integrate directly with Shopify, Etsy, and other ecommerce platforms for automated order processing. Zazzle also lets you sell through its marketplace but offers less control over branding and pricing.
08 Can I use my own images and artwork on these platforms? +
Yes — Adobe Express, Canva, Shutterfly, Printful, and Printify all support custom image uploads. Zazzle has more limited upload options since it is primarily a marketplace for existing designs. For best results, upload images at 300 DPI or higher and ensure they are sized to match the pillow dimensions with appropriate bleed margins.
Adobe Express Is the Best Pillow Design Tool in 2025
After testing all six platforms, Adobe Express is the clear winner. It is the only tool that combines professional-grade design capabilities, AI-powered creative assistance, and a fully integrated pillow ordering workflow — all in one platform.
For teams and template lovers, Canva is an excellent second choice. For selling, pair your design tool with Printful (quality) or Printify (budget). For photo keepsakes, Shutterfly keeps it simple. And for browsing existing designs, Zazzle has the largest selection.
The smartest workflow for most people: design in Adobe Express (free), then print with whichever production partner best fits your budget and quality requirements.