Best Print-on-Demand Mockup Generators in 2026 (Compared)
We tested 8 popular mockup tools including Placeit, Printful, and Canva. See which offers the best value, quality, and features for POD sellers.
Choosing the right mockup generator can save hours every week and make your products look more professional. We tested the 8 most popular tools to help you decide which is best for your print-on-demand business.
What We Tested
We evaluated each tool on five criteria:
- Quality: How realistic do the mockups look?
- Speed: How long to generate mockups?
- Variety: Range of templates and products
- Integration: Does it connect to Shopify/Etsy?
- Value: Cost vs features
Quick Comparison
| Tool | Price | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| TakeFivve | Free / £4.99/mo | Custom templates + automation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Placeit | £14.95/mo | Huge template library | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Printful | Free | Printful users only | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Canva | Free / £10.99/mo | General design + mockups | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Smartmockups | £9/mo | Tech product mockups | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Mediamodifier | £9.95/mo | Apparel mockups | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Renderforest | £9.99/mo | Video mockups | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Artboard Studio | Free / £12/mo | 3D mockups | ⭐⭐⭐ |
1. TakeFivve - Best for Custom Templates & Automation
Price: Free (10 mockups/month) / Pro £4.99/month (unlimited)
TakeFivve takes a different approach than most mockup tools. Instead of providing stock templates, it lets you create templates from your own product photos. This means unique mockups that competitors can't replicate.
Pros
- Create custom templates from your own photos
- Bulk generation (50+ mockups in 3 minutes)
- Direct Shopify and Etsy publishing
- AI-generated SEO listings included
- Most affordable Pro plan
Cons
- Requires initial setup (photographing products)
- Smaller pre-made template library
Best for: Sellers who want unique mockups and automated publishing workflows.
2. Placeit - Best Template Library
Price: £14.95/month or £89.95/year
Placeit by Envato has the largest mockup library - over 50,000 templates covering every product category imaginable. Quality is consistently high.
Pros
- Massive template library
- Consistent high quality
- Video mockups available
- Logo and design tools included
Cons
- Everyone uses the same templates
- No store integration
- No bulk generation
- Higher price point
Best for: Sellers needing variety and willing to pay premium prices.
3. Printful Mockup Generator - Best for Printful Users
Price: Free (with Printful account)
If you're already using Printful for fulfilment, their built-in mockup generator is a no-brainer. It's free and creates mockups for their exact products.
Pros
- Completely free
- Accurate product representation
- Direct integration with Printful products
- Auto-generates all colour variants
Cons
- Only works with Printful products
- Limited template variety
- Basic editing options
Best for: Sellers exclusively using Printful for production.
4. Canva - Best All-in-One Design Tool
Price: Free / Pro £10.99/month
Canva isn't a dedicated mockup tool, but its mockup features have improved significantly. Good for sellers who also need general design capabilities.
Pros
- Full design suite included
- Easy to learn interface
- Collaborative features
- Good free tier
Cons
- Limited mockup library
- Lower quality than dedicated tools
- No bulk generation
- No e-commerce integration
Best for: Beginners who need design tools beyond just mockups.
5. Smartmockups - Best for Tech Products
Price: £9/month
Smartmockups excels at digital product and tech mockups - phones, laptops, tablets. Their device mockups are among the best in the industry.
Pros
- Excellent device mockups
- Clean, modern templates
- Reasonable pricing
- Video mockups available
Cons
- Limited apparel options
- Smaller library than Placeit
- No store integration
Best for: App developers, SaaS companies, and digital product sellers.
Other Tools Worth Mentioning
Mediamodifier (£9.95/month)
Good apparel mockups with a focus on lifestyle shots. Quality varies by template. No standout features but solid all-around.
Renderforest (£9.99/month)
Primarily a video tool with mockup features. Good if you need animated mockups for social media.
Artboard Studio (Free / £12/month)
Specialises in 3D mockups with scene composition. Great for product photography replacement but steeper learning curve.
Our Verdict
The best mockup generator depends on your specific needs:
- For unique mockups + automation: TakeFivve
- For maximum template variety: Placeit
- For Printful sellers: Printful's free generator
- For tech products: Smartmockups
- For beginners: Canva
Most POD sellers will benefit most from a tool that creates unique mockups from their own photos, generates in bulk, and integrates with their selling platforms. That's why we built TakeFivve - and why we recommend it for serious sellers.
Try TakeFivve free and see the difference custom mockups make.