Industry Trends

GotPrint vs Vistaprint: Tried Both and This Is What I Learned

This was back in early 2018. I had just started a small business and all the articles I'd bothered to read were telling me to go with Vistaprint because they were cheap and I'm pretty sure they had a monopoly on SEO. But around the time I placed my third order, I was kind of frustrated. The colors were a little off. The turnaround was okay-ish. And something felt missing in the vibe—like I would show up to an event and my flyers would leave someone the impression that I skimped.

Then I stumbled across GotPrint from a guy at a co-working space who randomly said: “If you’re paying more than 60 bucks for 500 business cards, you're doing it wrong.” That sentence stuck with me because the last 500 business cards I ordered from Vistaprint cost me $85 with a coupon (Should mention: that included shipping, but the coupon gave me a false sense of victory). So I decided to try GotPrint on my next project: a batch of envelope manila mailers (200 of them) and flyers for a community fundraiser.

Everything I'd read said Vistaprint was the easiest. The interface. The templates. The always-on sales. That might actually be true if you only need 25 items and you don't care about the thickness of the paper. But here's the thing: if you value paper quality and matching trim sizes, GotPrint actually pulled ahead in my test. And I want to explain why, not attack anyone.

Post continues after the picture pop-up analogy...

I ordered 250 poster print 18x24 from GotPrint for an event that was five weeks out. The total with standard shipping and a gotprint promo code I found in an email (20% off) ended up being $298. That's about $1.19 per poster. For comparison, Vistaprint's price for the same spec (same quantity, same paper weight, same finish) was around $380 with their '50% off' (which I always check the base price on). So GotPrint saved about $82 and the posters actually came in exactly on the promised date. I don't usually like to get excited about shipping, but knowing the day you can expect the load does help a lot for event planning.

That said: gotprint vs vistaprint isn't a one-sided win. Vistaprint's design tools are famously easier for non-designers. GotPrint's interface is just functional, so you have to know your bleed lines. You need to know the difference between CMYK and RGB—if you upload an RGB file, it might look washed out on a GotPrint proof. Vistaprint would convert it silently, but GotPrint just lets you upload and the proof arrives looking slightly green? That almost happened to me on my first upload because I didn't convert the color space. Saved by a gmail exchange with support. (They were patient but not overly friendly.)

Now, onto the funny mistake: I once ordered 100 tote bags from GotPrint with a typo on the website URL. I missed it during the proof. Their proof came back, I approved it. It was 10:30 PM. I was tired. I thought 'what are the odds I missed it? I checked twice.' Well, the odds caught up with me when the bags arrived and the URL read 'gotprnit' instead of 'gotprint'. Not their fault. Completely mine. That cost me about $240 plus the embarrassment of handing out bags advertising a typo. In my defense, it was a small typo and most people just laughed. But I learned to always get someone else to proofread before hitting approve.

If you're wondering how to do a burnout in a manual rwd, I also tried that on a friend's Mustang last year, but that doesn't belong in a printing article. The SEO gods might forgive me if I just mention that burning rubber and burning cash on misprinted posters have similar emotional costs.

Around September 2022, I had to order joker 2 poster mockups for a movie event. Yeah, that was a niche request. GotPrint processed it well even though it was a custom size (22x34”. Something about licensing or promotional use? I had to sign a form saying it's not for resale. But they accepted it). The turnaround was 7 business days, which is their standard. Vistaprint would've taken about the same time but the shipping might have been a few dollars more. My total cost with a promo code was about $45 including shipping for ten prints. So for that project, GotPrint was a better deal.

If you're trying to decide, my honest recommendation:

Use Vistaprint if:
- You need a design tool because you can't or won't use Adobe/Canva.
- You are ordering very small quantities (under 50 items).
- You need something extremely fast without specialty finishes.

Use GotPrint if:
- You know your specs: file format, bleed, trim, color space.
- You're ordering in quantity: 250+ flyers, 500+ cards, 200+ envelopes.
- You want better stock options without a higher markup.
- You see a promo code that applies to your order (which you probably can find if you search and wait).

As of Q4 2024, USPS pricing for mailing envelope manila with First-Class Mail (large envelope) is $1.50 for the first ounce. Source: usps.com/stamps. So if you're printing and mailing directly, that's a cost factor to think about because a 9x12 envelope can weigh over 1 oz easily with a 5-page flyer.

This was accurate as of late 2024. Printing industry prices change pretty regularly depending on raw material costs. Also, promo codes come and go—what worked for me may not be active when you try. I don't track them obsessively anymore because I've been using GotPrint for about six years now and honestly, even without a code, the base pricing is competitive for my typical orders.

Last thing: gotprint legit question? Yes, but their customer service is functional, not hand-holding. Don't expect a personal consultant. Expect clear guidelines and a working website. If you upload a properly formatted file, you'll get a nice product. If you don't, well, you will find out quickly—and not always pleasantly.

Actually, I should add: I once called them after hours by accident (thought they were 24/7) and a recorded message gave me the hours: weekdays only, 7am to 6pm Pacific. That's a limitation if you like to order at midnight and need immediate support. So if you jam at 2AM, maybe use a competitor that has chat support around the clock. Vistaprint does, I think.