I used to crank out stickers at home with a Cricut—great for getting started, not so great when orders jump from a handful to hundreds. That’s when outsourcing to a custom sticker manufacturer becomes the sanity-saving move. After testing a bunch of shops over the years, the two that keep rising to the top for me are MakeStickers.com and CustomStickers.com.
But which one should you use?
TL;DR
If you want premium sticker material that is durable and long lasting at a great price, with pretty fast turnaround, CustomStickers wins.
For easy workflow and consistent speed and turnaround for both the US and Canada, MakeStickers may be the better pick.
Both have free proofs, no minimums and offer international shipping.
Materials & Finishes at a Glance
- MakeStickers: glossy, matte (writeable; recommended indoors), clear, holographic, and glitter.
The vinyl is a bit thinner and has a slightly off-white, pearlescent tone, which can subtly muddy bright colors or white-heavy designs when viewed under certain lighting. - CustomStickers: laminated vinyl (rated 5+ years), plus clear and holographic options; roll-label materials include paper, BOPP, and vinyl with lamination.
Pros for MakeStickers
- Speed that sticks: “2-day turnaround” means about two business days to process, proof, print, and ship once you approve the proof.
- No minimum quantity—perfect for micro runs, prototyping, or testing designs.
- Free standard shipping (2–5 business days) to the U.S. and Canada.
- Free digital proofs (approve or request changes before printing).
- Strong label options: clear material details and 2-day turnaround also extend to product labels.
- Sample packs—get a free 2-day-shipped material sampler or a $10-credit custom test print.
What to watch:
- International shipping is limited to the U.S. and Canada.
- Turnaround depends on proof approval timing.
- Matte finish isn’t UV-resistant, so it’s best for indoor use.
- Vinyl feels thinner and slightly less premium than some competitors; the subtle pearlescent undertone may alter color perception slightly on pale designs.
Pros for CustomStickers
- No minimums on die-cut singles—order one or scale to bulk.
- Free online proofs with unlimited revisions, typically within 1–2 business days.
- Fast production after approval: prints and ships within about two business days.
- Global reach + value: ships worldwide and offers a Best Price Guarantee (they’ll match any published lower price).
- Frequent promos and discounts (like “50 for $19.99” or “10 free custom stickers”) make it easy to test or restock affordably.
- Durable materials: laminated vinyl rated for 5+ years outdoors, plus multiple label substrates for business packaging.
What to watch:
- Roll-label orders typically start at 250 per roll.
- The “10 free stickers” promo ships untracked and skips proofs—fine for samples, not for tight deadlines.
Where MakeStickers and CustomStickers Are Similar
- Free proofs before printing.
- Free standard U.S. shipping.
- No-minimum options for die-cut singles.
- Durable, waterproof vinyl with protective laminate.
- Sample packs available.
- Scales easily: singles and sheets now, roll labels later.
So… Which Should You Pick?
- Choose MakeStickers if you want speed, simplicity, and predictable 2-day turnaround, and you’re based in the U.S. or Canada.
- Choose CustomStickers if you want best-price flexibility, global shipping, or plan to scale into roll labels or larger promotional runs.
Which company you end up using depends on your priorities—budget, timeline, finish, and shipping. If you’re still unsure, try both with small runs; real-world feel and color accuracy often tell you more than specs on paper.
What about StickerMule?
Frankly, StickerMule disappoints with their strong pivot to political rhetoric. They built a 100ft Trump sign on their headquarters – I’m not making this up. The quality is similar to CustomStickers, but the pricing is excessive, like really expensive.
