Core Challenge:
Multiple users are trying to link separate Printify products as color/design variants on Shopify. Printify only supports native product variants (like shirt sizes/colors), not custom variants that combine different products. This forces merchants to publish separate items that they want to display as variants on a single Shopify listing.
Current Status:
The original poster reports three developers failed to solve this. Several other users confirm experiencing the same issue—one managed to create swatches and add SKUs but orders wouldn’t sync to Printify automatically.
Proposed Solutions:
Easify Product Options app: Allows linking separate POD products while maintaining them as distinct entities. Uses an “Option URL” feature to display linked products as if they were regular Shopify variants. Includes demo examples showing the functionality.
Linkable variant code: Another solution involving custom code to create variant-like functionality that redirects users to appropriate product URLs (video tutorial provided).
Resolution:
No native Shopify/Printify solution exists. Third-party apps or custom code appear necessary to achieve this functionality.
Summarized with AI on October 30.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
I’ve had three different developers take a crack at this, and they couldn’t figure it out, but I still think it must be possible. Printify doesn’t allow for custom product variants , only variants native to the item i.e. a shirt that comes in different colors. So you must produce and publish to Shopify separate individual items with the intent of them being variance for the Shopify product.
What are the steps to get a published prinify product linked as a product variant on Shopify selectable through a color swatch?
thanks for any insight! It’s been a full week trying to get this to work.
Yes please same here, I was able to create the swatch, added the secondary SKUs but orders won’t come in on the Printify side, I had to add them manually. #Miami
Yes, I need to know this as well! It seems a bit crazy if this can’t be done. I have 6 patterns/designs that are each separate products and I want to have one listing with the 6 different options/variants. This should be basic functionality. Maybe because Printify doesn’t support the custom variant we have to use a 3rd party app?
The Easify Product Options app presents an effective solution to your challenges by enabling you to easily link related separate products generated by POD (Print-on-Demand) apps together.
As you know, merging these products into one using Shopify variants isn’t feasible. However, with the Easify app, you can seamlessly link these products while still maintaining them as separate entities . Moreover, on the storefront, these linked products can be presented as if switching among regular Shopify variants, enhancing the user experience. Here’s an example to illustrate:
To achieve this, you’ll leverage the exclusive Option URL feature of the Easify app. Share more details about your products, and I’ll provide you with tailored setup suggestions .
We want users to start with t-shirts. But on a shirt’s product page the user will be able to add mugs or stickers with that design to their order. (Say they want a shirt for themselves and a mug for their mom.)
Ideally, users will be able to switch their focus from t-shirts, say, to mugs, so that their next click on a design will take them to a product page where the mug is the focus (but they will be able, as before, to buy any of the three items in the design).
Yes, the Easify Product Options app can help you link products of the same design. Check out this demo; it’s quite similar to what you need. I recommend trying the app, and if you need any assistance with the setup, the Easify team is available to help via in-app live chat .
. Moreover, on the storefront, these linked products can be presented as if switching among regular Shopify variants, enhancing the user experience. Here’s an example to illustrate:
.