Society6 is worth it if you're looking for affordable, unique decor designed by independent artists and don't require heirloom-quality construction. The platform excels at providing a massive catalog of trendy designs on items like art prints, tapestries, and decorative pillows. However, the quality is inconsistent, and most products are not built for long-term durability, often showing wear like fading or fraying within a few years.
Think of Society6 as a way to access a global art fair from your couch - you get original style for less, but sacrifice the premium materials and craftsmanship you'd find at a higher price point. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect before you buy.
How Is Society6's Quality?
Society6 quality is average for a print-on-demand service, meaning it's acceptable for decorative purposes but often lacks the durability for everyday, heavy use. Product quality varies significantly by category.
- Materials & Construction: Most products are made to a budget. Wall art features medium-quality canvas blends stretched over MDF frames, and textiles like pillows and bedding are typically made from polyester printed via dye sublimation. This keeps costs down but means materials aren't premium.
- Print Quality: The main selling point - the art - can be inconsistent. While many customers are happy, common complaints include colors appearing less vibrant than online, pixelation on larger prints, and colors fading, especially when exposed to sunlight or after washing.
- Durability and Longevity: Society6 products are not built to last a lifetime. Canvas prints can warp in humid environments, textiles may fray or pill after several washes, and ceramic mugs may chip or have their prints fade with frequent use in a dishwasher.
- Common Complaints: Aside from inconsistent print quality, customers frequently report slow shipping times (as items often ship from facilities in Asia), difficulties with customer service for quality-related issues, and occasional damage during shipping.
Is Society6 Good Value for the Price?
Society6 offers good value for its aesthetic uniqueness, but not necessarily for its physical quality. You are primarily paying for access to an enormous library of artist-created designs that you can't find elsewhere.
Price Positioning
Society6 sits firmly in the budget-friendly tier of the home decor market. Prices are highly accessible: posters in the $20-$50 range, canvas prints typically running $60-$200, and throw pillows around $25-$50. This pricing is competitive with other print-on-demand services like Redbubble and is significantly cheaper than curated art sites like Minted or Art.com.
What You're Paying For
You're paying for the artist's design and the convenience of having it printed on a wide variety of products. The print-on-demand model means a portion of every sale goes directly to the independent artist. The value proposition is in supporting creators and getting a unique piece, not in acquiring a high-quality, durable item.
Where You Get Good Value
- Art Prints & Posters: For under $50, you can get unique, framed art that's perfect for gallery walls, first apartments, or dorm rooms where longevity isn't the primary concern.
- Tapestries: These are an inexpensive way to cover a large wall with a bold design. The lightweight polyester material works well for this decorative purpose.
- Decorative Throw Pillows: If you like to change your decor frequently with trends, spending $30 on a new pillow cover is a low-risk, high-impact purchase.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- Large Canvas Prints: As you move into the $150+ price range, the risk of warping frames, sagging canvas, and faded prints makes these a poor long-term investment compared to dedicated art retailers.
- Bedding & Shower Curtains: Items that require frequent washing will likely show fading, pilling, or fraying faster than similar items from dedicated bedding and bath brands.
- High-Use Items: Products like coffee mugs or phone cases may not withstand daily wear and tear, with prints chipping or fading quickly.
Society6 Quality by Category
Quality varies dramatically between product types. Here's what to know about their most popular categories.
Wall Art (Prints & Canvas)
This is Society6's core offering. Unframed art prints are the safest bet, printed on decent paper stock. Canvas prints use a poly/cotton blend on MDF frames, making them prone to warping over time. Expect colors to fade within 1-2 years if placed in direct sunlight. Verdict: good for affordable, trendy decor, but not for serious art investment.
Textiles (Bedding, Pillows, Tapestries)
Almost all textile products are made from polyester and use dye sublimation printing. This results in vibrant images initially but leads to fading after washing. Stitching is standard machine quality and can sometimes fray. Verdict: best for decorative items that are touched and washed infrequently, like tapestries or accent pillows.
Dining & Kitchen (Mugs & Cutting Boards)
Ceramic mugs are a popular gift item but are mass-produced with a printed design that can scratch, fade, or chip after repeated dishwasher cycles. Quality control is inconsistent. Verdict: a fun, inexpensive novelty item, but don't expect it to become your favorite daily-use mug.
Decor & Accessories (Clocks, Rugs, Furniture)
This category is highly variable. Items like wall clocks use basic plastic mechanisms, and rugs are low-pile and digitally printed. The new furniture line consists of simple wood pieces with printed designs, generally comparable to low-to-mid-tier flat-pack furniture. Verdict: approach with caution and rely on these items for their design, not their function or durability.
Our Verdict: Is Society6 Worth It?
Society6 is worthwhile for budget-conscious decorators who prioritize unique, artist-driven design over material quality and longevity. It’s an excellent source for temporary decor, conversation-starting pieces, and supporting independent artists. If you need something durable that will be heavily used or displayed as a centerpiece for many years, you should invest your money elsewhere.
Quality Grade: C
Society6 earns a C for quality. The business model prioritizes variety and speed over craftsmanship, leading to inconsistent print fidelity, the use of budget materials like polyester and MDF, and poor long-term durability. While functional for decoration, the products don't meet the standards of mid-range or premium home goods brands.
Value Grade: B
The value here is a solid B because of the sheer accessibility of unique art. For a relatively low cost, you get to support an independent artist and purchase a design you genuinely love that can't be found in a big-box store. This artistic value helps to offset the mediocre physical quality of the products, particularly for low-cost decorative items.
Better Alternatives to Society6
If Society6's quality concerns you, several other platforms offer a step up in materials and construction, often for a moderately higher price.
Minted
Minted provides curated, artist-designed wall art with superior print quality and framing options. They use archival inks and paper, and gallery-quality frames, ensuring prints last much longer. It's a significant price jump but a worthwhile investment for a statement piece.
Shop now at minted.com
Art.com
As a massive online retailer, Art.com offers a huge variety of posters and prints with consistently good printing techniques and high-quality framing services. While less focused on undiscovered artists, they are a reliable choice for long-lasting prints at a reasonable price.
Shop now at art.com
Saatchi Art
For those looking for original art and limited edition high-quality prints, Saatchi Art is an online gallery connecting buyers directly with artists. Prices are much higher, as you are purchasing fine art, making it an alternative for serious collectors, not casual decorators.
Shop now at saatchiart.com
Desenio
Desenio is focused on trendy, Scandi-style posters and prints at prices similar to Society6. They are widely praised for their high print fidelity and faster, more reliable shipping, making them a strong alternative for stylish wall art.
Shop now at desenio.com
Great Big Canvas
If you're set on a canvas print, this retailer specializes in them. They use higher-quality materials, including archival inks and thicker wood frames, designed to resist sagging and fading. It’s more expensive than Society6, but the quality justifies the cost.
Shop now at greatbigcanvas.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Society6 art last?
Expect Society6 prints and textiles to retain their vibrant color for 1-3 years with average use. Items exposed to direct sunlight or frequent washing will fade faster. Wall art frames made of MDF may warp over time in humid climates.
Is Society6 the same as Redbubble?
They operate on a similar print-on-demand model, allowing independent artists to sell their designs on various products. Society6 is often seen as having a slightly more curated and aesthetically forward selection of art, whereas Redbubble has a wider range that often includes more pop-culture and humor-based designs.
Where are Society6 products made?
Society6 uses a network of third-party, on-demand manufacturers to produce its goods. Most of these production facilities are located in Asia, though some items may be produced in the US or Europe depending on the product and shipping destination.
Are returns easy with Society6?
Society6's return policy is primarily for items that arrive damaged or defective. Resolving issues related to subjective quality claims, like color appearing different from the screen, can be more difficult. Customer service response times can be slow, sometimes taking over a week to resolve an issue.
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