When it comes to choosing where to sell the products you worked so hard to design, the decision can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re looking for a platform for your creator merch store, campaign fundraiser, or simply a digital space to offer your print-on-demand products, this quick guide will explore the differences between Bonfire and Fourthwall to help you make the best decision for your business.
Bonfire vs Fourthwall at a Glance
Bonfire is a digital platform used by various groups, including nonprofit fundraising, creators, and communities, whereas Fourthwall targets creators specifically.
Key similarities creators will notice
- Both platforms follow a no-inventory-needed model.
- It’s completely free to launch and each offer on-demand printing, global shipping, and customer support handled by the platform.
- Sellers can use integrations like the YouTube Merch Shelf to expand their reach.
- Both sites collect sales tax from the buyer.
Standout differences that could sway your choice
- Bonfire specializes in multiple selling options, including fundraising, creator, and community events. Fourthwall focuses specifically on creators.
- Bonfire is 100% free to launch and there are no campaign or store fees. Fourthwall has a 0% fee on transactions for physical merch, but 5% on digital and memberships. Fourthwall also offers a paid option for $15/month, which removes the digital fee.
- Sellers on Bonfire operate via Campaigns, with an option to have multiple campaigns grouped in a Store. Sellers on Fourthwall operate through Shops.
- Bonfire offers various tools when it comes to fundraising for a nonprofit. With reduced fees for additional donations, a verified nonprofit badge so your buyers can be confident in their purchase, easy payouts sent directly to the organization, and more, Bonfire is an easy choice for fundraising.
| Feature | Bonfire | Fourthwall |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Cost | $0 | $0 |
| Platform Fee | $0 | $0-15/month |
| Fundraising Tools | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Customer Data Access | Additional information is conditional upon buyer consent | Full access |
| Nonprofit Discounts | Reduced processing fee for additional donations | No reduced fees |
Profit Potential and Pricing
When deciding to sell your products, we know there’s one big question you’re asking: “How much will I earn?”
Platform fees and base costs
Bonfire is completely free to set up and to use. There are no platform fees, and with an extensive catalog, the base cost can vary from low-cost to premium options. If a buyer chooses to add an additional donation to their order, the added donation will have a small processing fee.
Fourthwall offers a 0% fee on physical products, with a 5% fee on digital products and memberships.
Setting retail prices and calculating your margin
Here is your profit margin formula:
Sale price – base cost – platform fee = profit
You can use this formula to test prices and determine your desired profit margin. We suggest testing different item prices to see potential profit margins (e.g., comparing a $22 T-shirt to a $50 T-shirt).
Hot Tip! Bonfire’s “Suggested Price” tool auto-calculates proceeds for fundraisers, so you can focus less on math and more on your campaign!
Both platforms allow sellers to change their selling price at any time, giving you flexibility and control.
Payout timelines, processing fees, and taxes
When it comes to your payout, when and how you’ll receive payouts is an important factor to consider.
Bonfire processes payouts after the campaign batch has closed, or the very next day for print-on-demand campaigns. Fourthwall sends payouts monthly.
Create and sell custom t-shirts online
Fulfillment, Shipping, and Product Quality
With both Bonfire and Fourthwall, the printing and shipping are handled by the platform itself, so you can put your attention solely on building your community.
Print methods, materials, and quality control
Bonfire uses a few different print methods. These include screen printing, DTG (Direct-to-Garment), and DTF (Direct-to-Film). The selected print method is determined by a few factors, including the number of colors in the design, design elements, and the number of shirts sold in a batch. We work closely with our print partners to ensure the highest quality, and we are proud to offer a variety of products in our catalog, including the Premium Unisex Tee (a 52/48 blend of poly and cotton) and the Comfort Colors Unisex Tee. We’ve carefully curated all of the apparel brands and styles we offer and tested for durability, sizing, fit, and feel, so you can feel confident your customers are getting a high-quality product.
Fourthwall works with an outsourced network of print partners for their printing needs. They print products using similar DTG technology, which is a print method where the design is printed directly onto the garment. This method uses water-based ink, which makes for a much lighter hand-feel. Fourthwall also offers an array of items in its catalog, including the Comfort Colors Unisex Tee.
Shipping regions and speeds
Since everything is printed to order, items can take a bit longer than your average retailer to arrive. With Bonfire, you can expect your order to arrive within 7-14 business days after the campaign closes. Fourthwall orders typically arrive within 7-10 days.
With Bonfire, shipping is priced via a tiered system. For a Tier 1 item, shipping starts at $5.99 and increases by $3 for each product. Fourthwall’s shipping prices are dynamic, so you’ll have to add your item(s) to the cart and enter your shipping address to get your shipping price.
Sustainability practices and eco-friendly options
If you’re looking for a platform that focuses on sustainability and eco-friendly options, Bonfire’s zero-inventory strategy is the one for you. Bonfire only prints items once they’re ordered, limiting the waste often associated with t-shirt printing. Items are shipped in 100% recycled poly mailer bags, which can also be recycled once you receive your order.
With an array of eco-friendly styles offered in Bonfire’s catalog, you can be sure you’ll find the right style to offer your supporters with the earth in mind.
Fourthwall has the ability to source organic shirts, but their eco-settings are limited.
Storefront Experience and Integrations
Your brand presentation matters. How you reach your customers can make or break the success of your venture, and the way you present your available products is important.
Bonfire uses a campaign model, which allows sellers to create a focused, story-driven page with countdowns for limited/exclusive drops, as well as sale thermometers for the amount of items sold. Plus, Bonfire offers the ability to create an online store to host all of your products.
This is in contrast to Fourthwall’s storefronts, which blend merch, digital downloads, and membership paywalls.
Design tools, themes, and customization freedom
With Bonfire’s Design Tool, you can create a design all on your own using clipart, text, and colors and preview it on the exact garment you’re looking to order. If you need any design inspiration, checkout the array of design templates you can use to build your dream design.
If you’re looking for more detailed design help, Bonfire Studio connects you with our expert Design Team, who can help bring your vision to life!
Fourthwall’s drag-and-drop page builder allows you to explore theme presets and offers CSS injection for advanced users.
If you have a design ready to go, you can upload your existing design file to either site for quick set-up!
Built-in connections to YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms
Both sites offer a range of integration opportunities. Depending on organization or creator standings, Bonfire offers users the following integrations: Linktree, Youtube Merch Shelf, Classy, TeamRaiser, and more.
With Fourthwall, available integrations may include YouTube Merch Shelf, TikTok Shop, Facebook and Instagram Shopping, Twitch Product Gifting, Mailchimp, and more.
Fundraising and Community Impact
If your goal is to gather supporters for a good cause and to support a nonprofit, you’ll want to pay attention to each platform’s fundraising tools and features.
Zero-risk fundraising features on Bonfire
Bonfire is home to many nonprofit organizations that fundraise on their own behalf, as well as community members who raise funds for organizations. Payouts are sent directly to the organization once the campaign batch has closed, so you can be sure the funds are going to the right place. Bonfire also offers the buyer an opportunity to add additional donations to their product order.
Bonfire is completely free for everyone to use, including nonprofits. Nonprofit verification allows you to display a checkmark on your campaign page to give buyers the confidence that they’re supporting a verified cause.
Donations, digital products, and memberships on Fourthwall
Creators have the option to add tip buttons, as well as offer PDFs for sale and lock exclusive content behind memberships. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are fees associated with digital sales, as well as memberships.
Which platform empowers your cause or creator goals best?
Fourthwall prioritizes and focuses on creator-driven sales, whereas Bonfire serves as a more diversified option, with an emphasis on sustainability and helpful tools for nonprofits and creators alike.
At the end of the day, you’ll want to go with the platform that fits your sales needs the best. Each platform offers tools and features that can help elevate your brand and make life easier for you as a seller. Prioritizing which features are most important to your sales goals will set you up for the best success.
Ready to jump right in?
Start making your own premium custom merch for free on Bonfire.
Frequently asked questions
Do I own my customer data on each platform?
On Bonfire, you can export customer data such as the buyer’s first name and last initial, the item ordered, and the order date. Customers can consent to sharing additional information with the seller, which is a requirement for all orders supporting a nonprofit. Fourthwall gives its sellers full access.
Can nonprofits access reduced fees or 501(c)(3) tools?
Bonfire has no platform fees and offers verified nonprofits a reduced processing fee for additional donations; Fourthwall offers standard fees without a specialized nonprofit program.
Is there an order minimum or inventory requirement?
Neither platform requires inventory or minimum orders because each item is printed after a customer places their order.
How do taxes work for digital products or charitable campaigns?
Fourthwall acts as Merchant of Record and remits global taxes on digital sales, while Bonfire collects applicable U.S. sales tax.
Written by: Katie Davis
Illustrated by: Joe Kelly
