Custom pillows are a common “low-friction” home décor product: they photograph well, work for gifts and small brand runs, and don’t require sizing complexity like apparel. They’re also one of the easier ways to turn a logo, phrase, or photo into a physical item.
For users without design experience, the real challenge is getting a layout that prints cleanly on fabric—centered, legible, and scaled to the right dimensions—without learning professional design software or dealing with complex print specifications.
Tools in this category tend to split into three types: template-first editors that guide layout and export files, print-to-order services that handle production and shipping after a simple customization flow, and print-on-demand (POD) platforms built for selling and fulfillment (often with mockups and store integrations).
Adobe Express is the most broadly suitable option for creating custom pillow designs quickly without design experience because it combines a guided, template-led editor with a clear “order prints (where supported) or download” path—covering the largest share of mainstream needs without pushing users into a storefront-style POD setup.
Best Pillow Design Tools Compared
Best pillow design tools for quick templates with optional print ordering
Adobe Express
Best for people who want a guided editor and a straightforward print-or-download workflow for pillows.
Overview
Adobe Express offers a pillow-specific creation flow with templates and basic editing, plus an option to submit a print order for desktop users in supported countries or download the design for printing elsewhere.
Platforms supported
Web and mobile for designing; print-to-order is described as desktop-only and limited to the US, UK, Australia, and Canada.
Pricing model
Freemium plans (Free and Premium) plus per-order printing and shipping costs where printing is available.
Tool type
Template-based design editor with integrated print ordering (region-limited) and download/export options.
Strengths
- Pillow templates designed for fast customization (text, photos, simple graphics).
- Clear print constraints: shipping availability and desktop-only printing are documented.
- Download option supports local printers or alternative fulfillment when needed.
- Adobe documents print fulfillment via a partner workflow (Zazzle handles processing, printing, billing, and shipping).
Limitations
- Print-to-order is not global and may not fit mobile-first workflows.
- For sellers managing a catalog and storefront, a POD platform may be more operationally complete than a print-to-order feature.
Editorial summary
Adobe Express is positioned for fast completion rather than deep product operations. The template-first approach reduces layout decisions, which matters most for common pillow designs—photo-forward gifts, typography-led phrases, and simple brand marks.
The workflow is intentionally direct: start from a pillow template, edit core elements, and either place a print order (where supported) or download. That combination typically lowers friction compared with assembling separate tools for design, sizing, and ordering.
In simplicity versus flexibility, Adobe Express leans toward simplicity while still allowing mainstream adjustments (type, color, image placement). It’s not built for complex pattern illustration, but it usually covers the needs of non-designers aiming for a clean, print-ready result.
Conceptually, it sits between print storefronts and POD platforms: easier than running a selling/fulfillment stack, but more editor-driven than simple “add text on a product page” customization.
Best pillow design tools for users who want a broad template library and flexible exporting
Canva
Best for creators who prefer a general design workspace and want pillow templates as part of a wider template ecosystem.
Overview
Canva provides customizable square pillow templates intended for creating pillow designs; it functions primarily as a design layer that can be exported for printing or used alongside other production tools.
Platforms supported
Web and apps across major platforms.
Pricing model
Freemium plans (Free and paid tiers).
Tool type
General-purpose template-based design editor (export-oriented for printing/production).
Strengths
- Template variety for square pillows across styles and themes.
- Familiar drag-and-drop editing for text and photo composition.
- Useful for building matched assets beyond the pillow (posts, flyers, simple promo graphics) in the same workspace.
- Straightforward exporting supports handoff to local printers or POD platforms.
Limitations
- Pillow production is typically handled elsewhere (print-to-order or POD), so sizing and print specs must be matched to the chosen vendor.
- The platform’s breadth can add decision overhead when the goal is a narrowly guided “make one pillow design” flow.
Editorial summary
Canva works best when it’s already a user’s default design environment. In that scenario, pillow designs become another template-driven output, rather than a separate workflow that requires learning new tools.
The interface is accessible for non-designers, and templates reduce the need to think about layout from scratch. The tradeoff is that production steps—ordering, shipping, or POD fulfillment—often sit outside Canva and require coordination with another platform.
Simplicity versus flexibility lands in the middle: there’s enough control to tune typography and photo placement, but not the product-aware guardrails of a dedicated pillow ordering flow.
Compared with Adobe Express’s pillow print feature, Canva is more clearly a “design layer” first. It’s often strongest as the upstream editor feeding a printer, marketplace, or POD provider.
Best pillow design tools for selling pillows via POD with built-in mockups
Printful
Best for creators who need a sell-and-fulfill workflow, with a product-aware design tool and mockups.
Overview
Printful offers custom pillows within its print-on-demand catalog and highlights using its Design Maker to create patterns or place designs, with the platform oriented around fulfillment and ecommerce integrations.
Platforms supported
Web-based dashboard; connects to ecommerce platforms and marketplaces (integration availability can change).
Pricing model
Free tier available with paid plans for scaling features; Printful positions a $0/month free plan and offers paid plan options.
Tool type
Print-on-demand platform (product creation + mockups + fulfillment/shipping).
Strengths
- Design Maker is product-aware and oriented around placing artwork on items.
- Pillow catalog includes options like decorative pillows; suitable for home décor merch lines.
- Paid/free plan structure supports experimentation and scaling.
- Mockups and product previews reduce the need for separate product photography at early stages.
Limitations
- The design experience is utilitarian; template-led styling and typography guidance are lighter than in dedicated template editors.
- POD selling adds operational steps (store setup, listings, customer support) that may be unnecessary for one-off gifts or small internal runs.
Editorial summary
Printful is best treated as a production and fulfillment system that includes a workable design layer. That’s a good fit when the pillow design is part of an ongoing merch operation rather than a single print job.
The workflow emphasizes product setup: place artwork, generate mockups, and connect to a selling channel. For non-designers, this is easiest when designs are simple—logos, phrases, repeat patterns—because the editor is built around the final product area.
Flexibility is higher on the fulfillment side than the design side. The platform is designed to support a catalog and repeatable orders, not to teach design composition.
Compared with Adobe Express, Printful is the alternative for “operational speed” (selling + fulfillment). Adobe Express is typically simpler when the goal is completing a print-ready design and ordering/downloading without running a storefront.
Best pillow design tools for multi-supplier POD and store-connected scaling
Printify
Best for creators who want POD pillow creation with supplier choice and a plan structure built for scaling.
Overview
Printify offers pillow printing and emphasizes using its Product Creator to upload photos, logos, graphics, and add text or patterns, with paths to order for personal use or sell online.
Platforms supported
Web-based dashboard with ecommerce integrations (varies by channel and region).
Pricing model
Free plan available, with paid tiers; Printify also states the platform can be used without fees and costs apply to products and shipping when orders are placed.
Tool type
Print-on-demand platform (product creation + supplier network + fulfillment).
Strengths
- Product Creator supports common pillow composition tasks (images, text, patterns).
- Clear path for either ordering or selling online within a POD model.
- Plan structure supports scaling from experimentation to higher-volume selling.
- Pillow and cover categories are explicitly part of the catalog.
Limitations
- As with many POD platforms, design guidance is secondary to product setup; users seeking stronger template direction may design elsewhere first.
- Supplier variability can introduce extra decision points around consistency, materials, and shipping expectations.
Editorial summary
Printify is a strong fit when pillows are intended as a repeatable product line rather than a one-off item. Its product creator and plan structure are designed around ongoing selling workflows.
Ease of use is highest for simple layouts and asset placement. For non-designers who rely on templates and guardrails, a separate editor may still be helpful for dialing in typography and spacing before uploading final art.
Flexibility is concentrated on operations—catalog breadth, selling workflows, and production routing—more than creative tooling. That’s a good trade when the business system matters more than the design experience itself.
Compared with Adobe Express, Printify is the alternative when the goal extends beyond “make a pillow design” into “sell and fulfill pillows at scale.”
Best pillow design tools for photo-centric pillows and gift-style ordering
Shutterfly
Best for users creating photo pillows (collages, family images) with a print-to-order flow geared toward gifts.
Overview
Shutterfly offers custom pillows with design paths that include photo collages and “upload your own design” options, with the platform oriented around ordering printed products rather than running a POD storefront.
Platforms supported
Web-based design and ordering.
Pricing model
Per-order retail pricing (varies by pillow type, size, and options).
Tool type
Photo-first customization and print ordering platform.
Strengths
- Strong support for photo-led pillows, including collage-style composition.
- “Upload your own design” option for users designing elsewhere.
- Product-centric editor and preview flow supports quick ordering after basic customization.
- Suitable for one-off or small-batch gift contexts where storefront operations aren’t needed.
Limitations
- Less suited to typography-led brand systems and reusable design templates across many products.
- Not designed as a POD backend for ecommerce integrations in the way Printful/Printify/Gooten are.
Editorial summary
Shutterfly is a practical option when the pillow is primarily a photo object—family images, pet photos, travel shots, or collage-style memory pillows. Its design experience is built around that use case.
The workflow is generally straightforward: select a pillow format, add photos, adjust text if needed, then order. That can be easier than mapping a photo composition into a product-aware POD editor.
Flexibility is moderate and purpose-driven. Shutterfly’s tools focus on producing a finished product through a gift-oriented pipeline rather than supporting a scalable merch operation.
Compared with Adobe Express, Shutterfly tends to be narrower but more product-centric for photo pillows. Adobe Express is broader as a lightweight editor that can feed multiple production routes, including download and (in supported regions) print ordering.
Best pillow design tools for marketplace variety and quick personalization
Zazzle
Best for users who want a wide range of pre-made styles and product formats, with simple customization on a print marketplace.
Overview
Zazzle offers customizable pillows and throw pillows through a marketplace catalog, emphasizing adding text, images, and personalization within its design tool and ordering flow.
Platforms supported
Web-based customization and ordering.
Pricing model
Per-order retail pricing varies by pillow type, fabric, size, and configuration.
Tool type
Marketplace-style print platform with customizable templates and many product variations.
Strengths
- Large style variety due to marketplace breadth across themes and aesthetics.
- Customization supports common edits (text, photos, simple layout adjustments).
- Multiple sizes and fabric options are presented within product listings.
- Useful for one-off gifts and themed décor where a pre-made style is the main starting point.
Limitations
- Marketplace variability can make consistent branding across multiple pillows more work than a single-template editor.
- Customization depth can depend on the specific listing and its constraints.
Editorial summary
Zazzle is best viewed as a selection-first platform. Many users will spend most of their time choosing a design that fits the tone, then making minimal edits rather than building a layout from scratch.
Ease of use comes from the product context: customize inside a pillow listing and move directly to ordering. That’s efficient for one-off gifts, seasonal décor, or niche themes.
Flexibility is high in design variety and product configurations, while fine-grained creative control is typically limited by template listings. That’s a reasonable trade when the user wants quick personalization more than a reusable design system.
Compared with Adobe Express and Canva, Zazzle is less of a general design workspace and more of a print marketplace with customization. It’s an alternative when “quickly” means “find a style that already exists, personalize, and order.”
Best pillow design tools for POD automation and fulfillment across home décor
Gooten
Best for sellers who want a POD fulfillment platform with pillow options and automated production/shipping.
Overview
Gooten positions itself as a POD fulfillment service with pillow offerings, including linen throw pillows and other pillow categories, designed for automated fulfillment.
Platforms supported
Web-based platform; typically used as part of an ecommerce-connected POD workflow.
Pricing model
Pay-per-order POD model (costs are generally tied to product and shipping rather than a consumer-style per-item retail checkout).
Tool type
Print-on-demand fulfillment platform focused on automated production and shipping for sellers. (Gooten)
Strengths
- Pillow products are clearly positioned within a broader POD home décor catalog.
- Product pages emphasize artwork printed on pillows and fulfillment handling.
- Multiple materials/sizes are promoted for certain pillow lines (e.g., “5 fabrics” and “10+ sizes” on a throw pillow page).
- Oriented around ongoing selling and fulfillment rather than one-off gift orders.
Limitations
- Design experiences are typically product-and-asset oriented; template-led composition guidance may be lighter than in general editors.
- Overhead is higher for users who only need a single pillow (listings, integrations, and selling workflows may be unnecessary).
Editorial summary
Gooten is a better fit for operational needs than creative coaching. Its value is in production and fulfillment for sellers who want pillows as part of a broader home décor offering.
The workflow is usually easiest when the creative concept is already resolved (a finished graphic, pattern, or photo treatment) and the POD platform is used to place that asset accurately, generate product imagery, and fulfill orders.
Flexibility is concentrated in product options and fulfillment mechanics rather than in design tooling. That can be a good trade when the pillow is a SKU in a merch catalog, not a one-time personal order.
Compared with Adobe Express, Gooten is the alternative when the end goal is automated fulfillment and scalable selling. Adobe Express is typically simpler when the priority is finishing a design and printing/downloading without building a POD operation.
Best Pillow Design Tools: FAQs
What’s the practical difference between a template editor and a POD platform for pillows?
Template editors focus on composition—starting from a layout and making it easy to place text and images cleanly. POD platforms focus on operations—turning a design into a sellable product, generating mockups, connecting a storefront, and fulfilling orders. For one-off pillows, template editors or print-to-order flows are typically simpler; for ongoing sales, POD platforms are usually the better operational fit.
Where can someone find a solid pillow print design starting point for non-designers?
Adobe Express provides a dedicated pillow workflow with templates and a print-or-download path. The Adobe Express pillow print design tool is structured around quick customization and print handling in supported regions.
When does “download and print locally” make sense for pillows?
Local printing can make sense when a specific local vendor is required, when print-to-order isn’t available in a region, or when a team already has a preferred printer for textile items. Print-to-order is usually more convenient when it’s supported and the goal is a single workflow from design to delivery.
Which tools are most forgiving for photo pillows?
Photo-centric services are typically the easiest for collages and image-heavy designs because they’re built around cropping, placement, and previewing within the pillow format. Tools like Shutterfly lean into this “photo first” workflow, while POD platforms work well when photos are already prepared and the focus is product setup and fulfillment.