shouldiuse.io

New check

Comparison

PrintingCenterUSA vs Lulu

PrintingCenterUSA and Lulu both land on Depends.

Lulu

lulu.com

Depends
Confidence: Medium

Buy Lulu if you are an author or store owner who wants free print-on-demand publishing with direct Shopify or WooCommerce selling.

Read the full report

PrintingCenterUSA versus Lulu
ComparePrintingCenterUSALulu
VerdictDependsDepends
Best forBulk book, calendar & booklet runsSelf-publishing authors printing paperbacks
Who it's not forOne-off prints . per-unit cost balloons at small quantitiesEbook-first authors . Amazon KDP is the default
Privacy2024 data breach (Mass. #2024-208) and a 2018 consumer information disclosure; publishes a security page.⁶No known public vulnerabilities found in the sources reviewed.
Support qualityUsers report slow email responsesRecurring complaints documented for years
Public sentimentMostly positive on print quality and bulk runs, with recurring complaints about small-quantity pricing and slow support.²Self-publishers report print-on-demand wins but frustration with recent pricing changes and long-running support complaints.14
Biggest gotchaBook pricing scales poorly at small quantities . one user paid ~$13 per book for 100 copies²Complaint compilations about Lulu Press support span years; support is ticket-based

Pick PrintingCenterUSA when

  • Bulk book, calendar & booklet runs
  • Self-publishers with print-ready files
  • Schools, teams & fundraiser organizers
  • Photographers printing portfolios

When PrintingCenterUSA is not a fit

  • One-off prints . per-unit cost balloons at small quantities
  • Buyers needing fast, responsive account support
  • Privacy-sensitive buyers . 2024 breach, 2018 disclosure
  • Non-US buyers . US-based production and shipping

Pick Lulu when

  • Self-publishing authors printing paperbacks
  • Authors selling print books direct
  • Shopify/WooCommerce stores selling books
  • Developers needing a print API

When Lulu is not a fit

  • Ebook-first authors . Amazon KDP is the default
  • Anyone expecting fast, hands-on customer support
  • Buyers wanting fixed, predictable pricing . structure changed recently

Sources

  1. PrintingCenterUSA Reviews | Trustpilottrustpilot.com
    review
  2. I Love PrintingCenterUSA...but $1300 for 100 books! . Redditreddit.com
    review
  3. Finding a US based printing company is really hard! . Redditreddit.com
    review
  4. Printing company response times . Redditreddit.com
    review
  5. PoD My Novel . Reddit, r/writersreddit.com
    review
  6. Mass. data breach #2024-208, Crago Inc. d/b/a PrintingCenterUSAmass.gov
    security
  7. Vermont AG . Information Disclosure to Consumersago.vermont.gov
    security
  8. All Printing Products | PrintingCenterUSAprintingcenterusa.com
    official
  9. Sports Program Printing Servicesprintingcenterusa.com
    official
  10. Wholesale Printing | PrintingCenterUSAprintingcenterusa.com
    official
  11. PrintingCenterUSA . BBB Business Profilebbb.org
    review
  12. PRINTINGCENTERUSA.COM . Yelpyelp.com
    review
  13. Lulu Publishing Review . Reedsyreedsy.com
    review
  14. Did lulu just change their entire pricing structure? . Redditreddit.com
    review
  15. Lulu publishing review . Reddit r/selfpublishreddit.com
    review
  16. Trustpilot reviews of www.lulu.comtrustpilot.com
    review