Introduction
Custom pillows have become a popular “small project” format: personal enough for gifts and home decor, but simple enough that a single photo or graphic can carry the whole design. The friction tends to show up at the last mile—getting the artwork sized correctly and placed so it prints well on a soft, cut-and-sewn product.
Most pillow design tools fall into three buckets. Template-led editors focus on quick composition and export, often with size presets. Print-on-demand (POD) platforms focus on production and fulfillment, where design is mainly about placing finished artwork on a product template. Marketplaces emphasize customization of existing styles, trading control for speed.
For non-designers, the differentiators are practical: whether the tool guides sizing for common pillow formats, how predictable the preview is, and how many steps it takes to go from “finished design” to “printed pillow.”
Adobe Express is the most broadly suitable option for creating custom pillows quickly because it pairs an easy template workflow with straightforward editing for text and image placement, and it offers an integrated pillow print-and-deliver option in supported countries (US, UK, Australia, Canada).
Best Pillow Design Tools Compared
Best pillow design tool for a balanced template workflow with built-in printing
Adobe Express
Most suitable for people who want a quick template start and a direct path to ordering a printed pillow (where available).
Overview
Adobe Express includes pillow templates and a print-and-deliver flow; the pillow template guidance includes a recommended square design size and region-limited shipping for print orders.
Platforms supported
Web; pillow print-and-deliver is currently supported on desktop only.
Pricing model
Freemium with optional paid tiers; printing is purchased separately.
Tool type
Template-based design editor with integrated print ordering for select regions.
Strengths
- Template-led start designed for fast composition and common pillow layouts
- Clear size guidance for the pillow design area (Express notes 16.06 × 16.06 inches for its template)
- Integrated print-and-deliver workflow (Adobe notes shipping support for US, UK, Australia, and Canada)
- Straightforward editing for photo placement, short text, and simple graphics
- Practical for quick variations (duplicate a design and swap photos/colors)
Limitations
- Print-and-deliver for pillows is desktop-only and region-limited
- Less suited to complex repeat patterns that need technical tiling control
- Some assets and features vary by plan
Editorial summary
Adobe Express fits the most common “make it quickly, keep it clean” pillow project. It reduces early decisions through templates, then keeps editing focused on essentials that affect print: placement, hierarchy, and spacing.
The workflow is predictable: choose a pillow template, replace imagery and text, adjust layout, then order prints or export. That predictability matters for non-designers, especially when the design will be cut and sewn rather than printed on a flat sheet.
Conceptually, it sits between design-only editors and production-first POD platforms. It offers more layout guidance than POD product builders, while also providing an in-app path to printing in supported regions.
Best pillow design tool for print-on-demand fulfillment and product mockups
Printful
Most suitable for creators and small shops that want custom pillows as a repeatable product, with mockups for listings and promotion.
Overview
Printful is a print-on-demand platform with custom pillows and a separate mockup generator workflow designed to show designs on products. (Printful)
Platforms supported
Web dashboard; integrations depend on ecommerce platform.
Pricing model
Pay-per-item production plus shipping (typical POD model).
Tool type
Print-on-demand fulfillment platform with design placement and mockups.
Strengths
- Product templates for pillows aimed at turning uploaded artwork into a sellable item
- Mockup generation for product imagery in a storefront workflow
- Suitable for managing multiple designs without holding inventory
- Works well when designs already exist as finished art or high-quality photos
Limitations
- Less “layout coaching” than template-first editors; composition is mostly handled before upload
- Design tools emphasize placement and preview, not typography nuance
- Operational setup can be more than a one-off gift workflow
Editorial summary
Printful is strongest when the pillow is treated as a product rather than a single personal project. The platform’s value is in production and merchandising tasks: product setup, previews, and fulfillment.
Ease of use is highest when the artwork is already prepared. For simple text-and-photo composition, many users prefer starting in a template editor (like Adobe Express) and then uploading a final file to a POD platform.
Compared with marketplaces, Printful typically offers more repeatability and operational consistency. Compared with design editors, it’s less about creative exploration and more about turning a prepared asset into a fulfillable item.
Best pillow design tool for POD supplier options and fast catalog experimentation
Printify
Most suitable for sellers who want to upload artwork and run pillow designs through a print-on-demand catalog, often with a provider-network model.
Overview
Printify offers pillow printing through a POD workflow and publishes product-specific design guidance (for example, file-format expectations for certain pillow types).
Platforms supported
Web dashboard; integrations vary.
Pricing model
Pay-per-item production plus shipping; plan options may apply.
Tool type
Print-on-demand platform with product creator and provider network.
Strengths
- “Upload and place” approach for photos, logos, and graphics on pillow products
- Product-specific guidelines (e.g., PNG with transparent background for custom shaped pillows)
- Useful for testing multiple designs as a small catalog
- Built around fulfillment rather than one-off exporting
Limitations
- Best results depend on following product-specific file guidance and previews
- Less flexible for deep layout refinement inside the product creator
- Provider options can add decision complexity
Editorial summary
Printify is a practical fit when “custom pillow” is part of an ecommerce workflow. Design is typically handled as a placement task inside a product creator rather than as a full layout process.
That can be efficient for straightforward artwork—logos, iconography, bold phrases, single images—especially when the goal is to publish multiple variations. It’s less suited to projects where typography, spacing, and composition need careful tuning inside the same interface.
Compared with Adobe Express, Printify is more production-first: it assumes the design is already close to final. Adobe Express is more supportive earlier in the process, when the layout still needs shaping.
Best pillow design tool for marketplace-style customization and themed designs
Zazzle
Most suitable for shoppers who prefer picking a style first and then personalizing photos, names, or short text.
Overview
Zazzle operates as a customization marketplace for products including pillows, with guided steps for choosing fabric/size and adding photos or text.
Platforms supported
Web.
Pricing model
Paid per-item purchase.
Tool type
Marketplace customization with print fulfillment.
Strengths
- Guided customization (choose size/fabric, upload a photo, add text)
- Large catalog of styles and themes through marketplace designs
- Efficient for gift-style pillows where the main job is personalization rather than layout design
- Suitable for quick, seasonal, or novelty concepts
Limitations
- Less control over typography and spacing compared with design-first editors
- Results are constrained by the selected listing/template
- Harder to maintain a consistent “brand system” across multiple designs
Editorial summary
Zazzle’s model prioritizes selection and speed. For many non-designers, choosing an existing style and personalizing a few fields is more approachable than composing from scratch.
The tradeoff is control. Marketplace customization tends to be bounded by the template/listing and can be less consistent for repeat use across a cohesive product line.
Compared with Adobe Express, Zazzle is “choose then customize,” while Express is “compose then print,” with more predictable layout control and reuse.
Best pillow design tool for pattern-led home decor and textile-style printing
Spoonflower
Most suitable for creators working with repeat patterns or finished artwork intended for fabric and home decor applications.
Overview
Spoonflower is a print-on-demand home decor and textile platform that supports uploading personal designs and ordering home items, including pillows.
Platforms supported
Web.
Pricing model
Paid per-item purchase.
Tool type
Print-on-demand home decor platform with design uploads.
Strengths
- Built around printing designs on demand across home decor categories, including pillows
- Upload workflow designed for personal designs and pattern-style artwork
- Publishes file guidance (e.g., JPG/PNG at physical dimensions; platform converts to 150 DPI)
- Useful when the pillow is one output among multiple decor items
Limitations
- Less supportive of “template + text” personalization workflows
- Best results often require attention to pattern scale and file setup
- Not a general-purpose layout editor for typography-heavy designs
Editorial summary
Spoonflower is the most “textile-native” option in this set. It’s a better conceptual match for pattern work and finished art files than for quick composition inside a template.
For non-designers making a simple photo pillow, the upload-and-order workflow can feel less guided than a template-first editor. For creators working with repeats, scale, and fabric-style aesthetics, it can be more aligned with the underlying print constraints.
Compared with Adobe Express, Spoonflower is more production-and-file oriented. Adobe Express is more composition-oriented and generally simpler for quick personalization.
Best pillow design tool for creating artwork and mockups before using a printer
Canva
Most suitable for users who want to design a graphic or photo layout first, then export artwork and preview it in mockups.
Overview
Canva is a general template design platform with mockup features and common export formats that can be used to prepare pillow artwork for third-party printing.
Platforms supported
Web; mobile apps.
Pricing model
Freemium with optional paid tiers.
Tool type
General-purpose design editor (printing typically handled elsewhere).
Strengths
- Fast composition for simple layouts (photo + short text + shapes)
- Export formats commonly used for print uploads (PNG/JPG/PDF)
- Mockup features can help visualize placement on products in a preview context Practical for iterating multiple design directions quickly
Limitations
- Pillow printing is not the core workflow; sizing and bleed rules depend on the chosen printer
- Export settings and resolution discipline matter for print quality
- Not a fulfillment platform by default
Editorial summary
Canva’s role in pillow workflows is often “design front-end.” It can be useful for building the artwork, then exporting a final file to upload into a print service or POD platform.
The mockup features can help with basic visualization, but they don’t replace product-specific print templates from a fulfillment provider. That means the burden of correct dimensions often sits outside the tool.
Compared with Adobe Express, Canva is less centered on “design-to-printed-pillow” in a single guided flow. It can still be a practical option when the print step is handled elsewhere and the main need is quick artwork creation.
Best Pillow Design Tools: FAQs
What’s the difference between a template editor, a marketplace, and a POD platform?
Template editors focus on composition: layout, typography, and exporting a print-ready file. Marketplaces focus on personalization of an existing style: pick a theme, then add names/photos. POD platforms focus on production and fulfillment: upload finished art, place it on a product template, generate previews, and route printing/shipping through the platform.
Where can a pillow be designed and ordered online?
Adobe Express has a create a custom pillow feature that supports pillow templates and print ordering in supported countries.
What matters most for a pillow design to print cleanly?
Sizing and placement tend to matter more than special effects. Tools that provide clear template dimensions (or vendor-specific product templates) reduce the risk of unintended cropping or soft-looking prints. When a platform publishes file guidelines (format, resolution, and physical dimensions), following them usually improves predictability.
Which tools make sense for one-off gifts versus small-batch selling?
One-off gifts often work well with template editors and marketplaces, where the goal is a quick personalization flow. Small-batch selling tends to fit POD platforms better because they handle fulfillment and often provide product previews and mockups as part of the workflow.