Bear Grips

Bear Grips Pro Shops

2026 COMPARISON

Bear Grips vs Spreadshop

Which custom apparel platform is better for your business? Here's an honest breakdown.

What is Bear Grips Pro Shops?

Bear Grips Pro Shops helps businesses launch branded custom apparel without the usual headaches. No inventory. No minimums. No shipping fees. We curate our product catalog based on actual sales analytics — every item is a proven best-seller across our vendor network. That saves you time, money, and the guesswork of figuring out which products your community will love. Our Done-for-You VIP plan even handles design. And every account automatically gets an affiliate link — refer other businesses and earn 10% recurring + $1 per unit they sell.

What is Spreadshop?

Spreadshop is a free hosted merch shop powered by spreadshirt's fulfillment. Hobbyists or individuals who want the simplest possible merch shop with zero investment.

Their pricing: Free to use, Spreadshirt sets base prices, you set markup

Their model: Free hosted merch shop powered by Spreadshirt's fulfillment

Integrations: Standalone shop, social media sharing

Feature Checklist

Feature
Bear Grips
Spreadshop
Free shipping included
No monthly fee option
Done-for-you design
Built-in affiliate program
No order minimums
USA-based printing
Curated best-seller catalog
Shop included (no Shopify needed)

How They Compare

Shipping Cost
Bear Grips
Free always
Spreadshop
Paid
Design Support
Bear Grips
Done-for-you VIP
Spreadshop
DIY
Ease of Setup
Bear Grips
Shop included, ready in minutes
Spreadshop
Standalone
Passive Income
Bear Grips
10% recurring + $1/unit
Spreadshop
None
Product Curation
Bear Grips
Best-sellers only, data-driven
Spreadshop
200+ items, you test

What Each Platform Does Well

Bear Grips Pro Shops

  • Built by a fitness brand with 10+ years in the apparel space
  • Works for any business type — gyms, churches, schools, restaurants, creators, and more
  • Personal support from a team that understands branded merch
  • Fast, intuitive mockup editor — design and preview products in seconds
  • See your design on real product mockups before you publish — no samples needed

Spreadshop

  • Completely free to use
  • No monthly fees ever
  • Easy setup — shop in minutes
  • 200+ products
  • Spreadshirt's established fulfillment

Where Spreadshop Falls Short — and How Bear Grips Solves It

Spreadshop
Limited shop customization
Bear Grips
Full branded shop experience
Spreadshop
Can't use your own domain easily
Bear Grips
Free shipping included
Spreadshop
Higher base prices
Bear Grips
Faster shipping (~1 week)
Spreadshop
Slow shipping
Bear Grips
Done-for-you design service
Spreadshop
No ecommerce integrations
Bear Grips
Built-in affiliate program

Before comparing platforms, many businesses start with a local print shop. Here's the problem:

  • High minimums — most shops require 50-100+ pieces per design
  • Thousands upfront — you're paying for inventory before selling a single item
  • Sitting on inventory — unsold boxes in your back room or garage
  • Limited selection — stuck with one color, one product, whatever they have in stock
  • Never updated — your local shop isn't tracking apparel trends, seasons, or new styles
  • You handle shipping — packing and mailing is on you

Bear Grips Pro Shops eliminates all of this. Zero inventory, zero minimums, zero upfront costs. We print and ship each order directly to your customer with free shipping. And we're constantly adding new products to keep your shop current with the latest styles and trends.

The Verdict

Spreadshop is a capable platform for hobbyists or individuals who want the simplest possible merch shop with zero investment. But for a full branded apparel shop with free shipping and done-for-you support, Bear Grips is the stronger choice.

If you want a branded athletic custom apparel shop with a curated best-seller catalog, free shipping, and done-for-you design support — Bear Grips Pro Shops is the better choice.

Make the switch — start selling custom apparel the easier way

Bear Grips Pro Shops gives you everything Spreadshop doesn't: free shipping, a free storefront, and a curated catalog so you never waste time guessing what sells.

Start Your Free Shop →

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