Custom Ink alternative · Leander production
A Local Custom Ink Alternative in the Austin Metro
Custom Ink is a big national brand and a lot of people in Austin know the name. They've got a slick design tool and a showroom up at Domain Northside. For a one-off t-shirt order they work fine.
But here's the part most folks don't know: in March 2024 Custom Ink shut down their last in-house production facility — the Flower Mound plant near Dallas — and moved to a network of partner printers around the country. So when you place an order with Custom Ink in Austin, your shirts aren't printed in Austin. They're printed wherever the partner-of-the-day happens to be.
We're Austin Print Co. We handle DTF, embroidery, UV, laser, and drinkware in-house at our production facility in Leander, with a showroom in Downtown Austin. Screen printing is also available. Low minimums on most stuff, no setup fees, and if you bring in print-ready files before 11am we can usually get same-day on rush jobs. We provide same-day quotes during business hours.
If you want to walk in, touch the garments, and talk to the person actually pressing your order — that's us. If you'd rather upload a logo and never speak to a human, Custom Ink's still there.
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Custom Ink vs. Austin Print Co: Comparison
| Attribute | Custom Ink | Austin Print Co |
|---|---|---|
| Business model | National online retailer; production outsourced to a partner-printer network since Q1 2024 | Family-owned, locally owned in-house decorator |
| Headquarters | Fairfax, Virginia | Downtown Austin showroom; Leander production |
| Local Austin presence | Showroom at Domain Northside (sales only); no local production | Austin showroom + pickup; DTF and embroidery production in Leander |
| Minimum order quantity | No minimum on digital print; screen print, embroidery, laser carry product-specific minimums | Low minimums across DTF, embroidery, and most other services |
| Setup / art fees | All-inclusive pricing, no setup charges | No setup fees |
| Production model | Outsourced to a national partner-printer network after closing its plants between 2023–2024 | 100% in-house except screen printing |
| Standard turnaround | Guaranteed 2-week standard delivery | 9–12 business days |
| Rush options | 1-Week Rush (+15%) and 3-Day Super Rush (+30%); Super Rush not available on embroidery, 6-piece minimum, phone order only | Same-day on orders placed before 11am with print-ready files |
| Pricing model | All-inclusive per-unit pricing with bulk tiers; free standard shipping | Custom quote, no setup fees, no hidden charges |
| Product range | Apparel, hats, bags, drinkware, large promo catalog | DTF, embroidery, UV print, laser engraving, screen printing, drinkware, trophies/awards, swag fulfillment |
| Design services | Online Design Lab + free human art review | Adobe-certified in-house design team |
| Kitting / dropship / corporate | Separate "Swag Space" platform for managed programs | Kitting and dropshipping in-house |
| Customer service | Phone, email, chat; in-person at showrooms | Direct contact with the shop; same-day quotes |
Custom Ink is fine for what they do. But if you want your order coordinated by the local team you talked to on the phone, and you don't want to pay a 30% premium just to get it in three days — drop us a note. We'll send a quote back the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a local Custom Ink alternative in Austin?
Yes. Austin Print Co is locally owned, with a Downtown Austin showroom and Leander production (Austin metro) and handles DTF and embroidery in-house. Custom Ink closed its last in-house production plant (Flower Mound, TX) in March 2024 and now uses a network of partner printers nationwide; APC also offers screen printing with the same direct team contact.
Custom Ink vs Austin Print Co — what's the real difference?
Custom Ink is a national e-commerce brand with a showroom at Domain Northside but outsourced production. Austin Print Co is a locally owned shop in Austin, with a Downtown Austin showroom and Leander production that handles DTF, embroidery, UV, laser, drinkware and trophies under one roof, with low minimums on most services and no setup fees.
Does Custom Ink charge setup fees?
Custom Ink advertises all-inclusive pricing, meaning no separate setup or art-prep fees on top of the per-unit price. Austin Print Co also doesn't charge setup fees, and we usually return a quote the same day.
Can Austin Print Co beat Custom Ink's rush turnaround?
On the right job, yes. Custom Ink's Super Rush is 3 business days for a 30% upcharge. APC offers same-day on orders placed before 11am with print-ready files — handled locally, without a fixed percentage upcharge.