Gelato Review: How to Make Money as an Affiliate

Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What Is Gelato?

Gelato is a print on demand platform. You design a product, like a poster, a T-shirt, or a mug, and list it in your online store. When someone buys it, Gelato prints it and ships it to your customer. You never touch inventory.

What makes Gelato a little different is where the printing happens. Gelato works with more than 250 print partners in 32 countries, and says about 90% of orders are produced locally. That means your product is usually printed close to your buyer. Shorter trips. Faster delivery.

Here's what you get:

• Print on demand products like posters, canvas, calendars, cards, T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and phone cases
• No setup fees and no inventory. You pay when an order comes in
• Integrations with Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce, plus an API
• A free plan, plus a paid Gelato+ plan with product discounts and premium mockups
• A global network of local print partners

How Does Gelato Work?

For Users

1. Sign up for a free Gelato account.
2. Connect your store, such as Shopify or Etsy.
3. Pick a product and upload your design.
4. Create mockups and publish the product to your store.
5. When a customer orders, Gelato routes it to a nearby print partner, prints it, and ships it.
6. You keep the difference between your selling price and Gelato's cost.

For Affiliates

1. Apply to the Gelato Affiliate Program. The application runs through PartnerStack.
2. Wait for approval. Gelato says applications are processed within a few business days.
3. Get your unique affiliate link by email once you're approved.
4. Share that link in reviews, tutorials, and videos about print on demand.
5. Earn up to 12% of the print revenue from orders your referred merchants place in their first 12 months after sign-up.

Gelato Pricing

Gelato's pricing has two parts. First, you pay for the products and shipping on each order you sell. Gelato doesn't take a commission on your sales. Second, you can choose a subscription plan that lowers your costs and unlocks extra tools.

Paying annually for Gelato+ saves $120 a year compared with monthly billing. Gelato also runs limited-time promotions, like free standard shipping on certain orders, so look for those.

Always check Gelato's pricing page for current numbers. Plans change.

Who Should Use Gelato?

Gelato is a good fit if you want to sell custom products without buying stock up front.

It works well for:

• Etsy and Shopify sellers who want to add print on demand products
• Artists and designers who want to sell prints, posters, and wall art
• Creators and influencers who want simple merch
• Sellers with customers in many countries who care about local production

Is it right for someone who wants to sell cheap trending products from overseas suppliers? Not really. That's a different model. Gelato is about your own designs on quality products.

Pros and Cons of Gelato

Pros

• Free plan to start, with no setup fees and no inventory
• Local production in 32 countries can mean faster shipping
• Lots of store integrations, including Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, and TikTok Shop
• Gelato+ can cut product costs by up to 33%
• Strong for wall art, posters, and cards

Cons

• Your margins depend on your pricing. Base costs plus shipping can eat into profit fast
• The free plan limits you to 2 connected stores and basic mockups
• You don't control print quality directly. Partners do the printing
• Print on demand is competitive. Good designs and marketing still matter
• The best discounts sit behind a monthly subscription

Gelato vs Alternatives

Gelato sits in the ecommerce tools space, but it does a specific job. Here's how it compares with other tools I've reviewed.

If you want ready-made products to resell, read my AliDrop review. If you're building an Amazon business, check out my Helium 10 review and my Jungle Scout review.

The difference is simple. Those tools help you find or sell products. Gelato helps you make your own.

How to Make Money with Gelato as an Affiliate

Gelato says you can earn up to 12% of the print revenue from every order your referred merchants place in the 12 months after they sign up. There's no cap on how many merchants you can refer.

Notice that this is tied to orders, not a flat signup fee. So you earn more when you send people who actually sell. One active Etsy seller can be worth more than ten people who sign up and do nothing.

Gelato runs its application through PartnerStack. If you're new to that network, my PartnerStack review explains how it works. Gelato's page doesn't list a cookie length, payout method, or minimum payout, so check those inside the program after you're approved.

Want to see what Gelato offers sellers before you write about it? Make a free account and try one product. Real screenshots beat stock images every time.

Angle 1: Beginner Print on Demand Tutorials

Walk people through setting up their first product. Connect a store. Upload a design. Publish. Beginners search for this all the time, and they're ready to sign up.

Angle 2: Etsy and Shopify Seller Guides

Write for sellers who already have a store. Show how Gelato adds new products without new inventory. These readers are more likely to place real orders, which is what pays you.

Angle 3: Comparison Posts

People compare print on demand companies before they commit. Honest comparisons help them choose. They also help you rank.

Content Ideas That Rank

• Gelato review
• Gelato print on demand review
• Gelato vs Printful
• Gelato vs Printify
• Is Gelato good for Etsy?
• Gelato Shopify integration tutorial
• Gelato+ worth it
• Best print on demand for wall art
• How to sell posters online without inventory

Common Questions About Gelato

Is Gelato free to use?
Yes. Gelato has a free plan. You pay for products and shipping when you make a sale.

How much is Gelato+?
Gelato+ is $29.99 per month, or $19.99 per month if you pay annually. Check their site for current pricing.

Does Gelato work with Etsy and Shopify?
Yes. Gelato integrates with Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, and BigCommerce.

Does Gelato have an affiliate program?
Yes. It pays up to 12% of print revenue on orders from referred merchants for 12 months after they sign up.

Who can join the Gelato affiliate program?
Gelato looks for people with an active website, an established audience, and original content. Ecommerce experience helps.

Does Gelato hold inventory for me?
No. Every product is printed after a customer orders it.

Final Thoughts

Gelato isn't flashy. It doesn't need to be. It does one job well: it prints your designs close to your customers and ships them for you.

For sellers, the free plan makes it easy to test. For affiliates, the commission rewards you for sending people who actually sell. That means helpful, honest content wins here.

Start small. Try a product. Write about what you learn.

Try Gelato here.

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