--- title: "Best Merch Informer Alternative 2026: Podly (Free Plan)" description: "Looking for a free Merch Informer alternative? Podly has a free plan with the Chrome extension. Paid plans add AI listings, trending search and the archive." url: https://podly.co/merch-informer-alternative/ --- Podly vs Merch Informer # A simple, reliable Merch Informer alternative. Compare Podly and Merch Informer feature by feature, and what each costs for the features both have. [Start free](https://app.podly.co/register?utm_source=podly.co&utm_medium=website&utm_content=compare_merch_informer_hero) [Add to Chrome, free](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/podly-ai-toolset-for-merc/dipicnapjjmogjmpcncbfooffdhcfndk) Free plan · No credit card · 7-day money-back guarantee At a glance | | Podly | Merch Informer | | --- | --- | --- | | Price for the same features | $29/moBusiness | $19.99/moProfessional | | Free option | Free plan | Free trial | | Features compared | 11 of 11 | 4 of 11 | | Trending search | Included | Not included | | Trademark search and watchlist | Included | Included | | AI listing generator | Included | Not included | | Chrome extension with BSR and sales on Amazon | Included | Not included | Prices checked November 9, 2026 · Updated November 9, 2026 The short answer ## Merch Informer costs $9.01 less a month for the same features. Podly adds 7 more. For the 4 features both have (Merch product database, archive of past best-sellers, favorites and trademark search and watchlist), the cheapest plans are Podly Business at $29/month and Merch Informer Professional at $19.99/month. Only Podly has: trending search, recently deleted listings, trademark check on your listing, AI listing generator, AI design generator, Chrome extension with BSR and sales on Amazon and research from your AI assistant (MCP). Only Merch Informer has: built-in designer, listing optimizer, Etsy and Pinterest search, listing browser extension and upload automation (Professional). - $29 vs $19.99 a month for the features both have: Podly Business vs Merch Informer Professional. - +7 features in this comparison that Merch Informer doesn't list. - $0 to start. The free plan has no time limit and needs no credit card. Which one is for you ## When to choose Podly, and when to choose Merch Informer. ### Choose Podly if you want 11 of 11 features - A free plan to start, with no credit card - Trending search - Recently deleted listings - Trademark check on your listing - AI listing generator - AI design generator - Chrome extension with BSR and sales on Amazon - Research from your AI assistant (MCP) [Start free](https://app.podly.co/register?utm_source=podly.co&utm_medium=website&utm_content=compare_merch_informer_choose) Free, or from $19/month ### Choose Merch Informer if you want 4 of 11 features - A lower price for the features both have: $19.99 vs $29 a month - Built-in designer - Listing optimizer - Etsy and Pinterest search - Listing browser extension - Upload automation (Professional) - Merch product database - Archive of past best-sellers - Favorites - Trademark search and watchlist Merch Informer from $9.99/month Why Podly ## Why Podly is the best Merch Informer alternative 1. ### Product research Discover top-selling products with Podly's market research tools for your Print-On-Demand business. 2. ### Account protection Podly helps keep your account safe with trademark checks and monitoring. 3. ### Automation and AI Automate tasks and use AI to write your listings and spot trends. Feature by feature ## Podly vs Merch Informer Each cell shows the cheapest plan with the feature. Podly has all 11 features below; Merch Informer lists 4. | Feature | PodlyFree, or from $19/month | Merch InformerFrom $9.99/month | | --- | --- | --- | | Merch product database | Included Individual | Included Newbie | | Trending search | Included Business | Not included Not listed | | Archive of past best-sellers | Included Business | Included Professional | | Recently deleted listings | Included Business | Not included Not listed | | Favorites | Included Individual 1,000 Favorites | Included Professional | | Trademark search and watchlist | Included Business | Included Newbie 50 tracked phrases; 8,000 on Professional | | Trademark check on your listing | Included Individual 1,000 / mo | Not included Not listed | | AI listing generator | Included Individual 1,000 / mo | Not included Not listed | | AI design generator | Included Individual 300 / mo | Not included Not listed | | Chrome extension with BSR and sales on Amazon | Included Free | Not included Not listed | | Research from your AI assistant (MCP) | Included Business | Not included Not listed | | Only Merch Informer has | Not included | Built-in designer · Listing optimizer · Etsy and Pinterest search · Listing browser extension · Upload automation (Professional) | | Minimum spend for the 4 features both have Monthly billing, without sales tax | $29/month Business, or $19.92/month billed yearly Start free | $19.99/month Professional, or $16.65/month billed yearly | Plans and prices from Podly's and Merch Informer's pricing pages on November 9, 2026. "Not listed" means Merch Informer's pricing and feature pages do not list it. Merch Informer lists Newbie with “starter features” and Professional as “full featured”, without a feature list per plan. So we count features beyond product research and trademark tracking on Professional. Wall of love ## Top POD sellers open Podly every day. 8 POD YouTubers with 7 and 8-figure businesses recommend Podly. > "Podly is my go-to tool for finding top-notch designs and staying ahead in the game. It has revolutionized how I approach research. If you're serious about POD, this is the tool you need." **Julien Oseille TV**8 Figures Amazon Seller & YouTuber 20 h → 10 h > "I used to spend up to 20 hours to research new product ideas every week. Now with the help of Podly, I cut that time in half." **Thomas Gio**7 Figures POD Seller & YouTuber **Use what they use.**Free plan · No credit card [Start free](https://app.podly.co/register?utm_source=podly.co&utm_medium=website&utm_content=compare_merch_informer_wall) > "Podly helps me find awesome design possibilities like magic! It's super quick, with just the right filters for easy research, and it's affordable for everyone. It's my favorite secret tool!" **Pierre · L'atelier Print On Demand**POD Seller & YouTuber Great for beginners > "Podly is my secret weapon to find incredible design opportunities! It has the speed, all the filters I need to do an accurate research, and the price makes sense even for a beginner." **Youssef Akalal**7 Figures POD Seller & YouTuber > "The most interesting Print-On-Demand tool on the market at the moment. The UX is also very good, it's always a pleasure to work with a well designed tool." **Ecom Easy**POD Seller & YouTuber > "Thanks to Podly I can find the latest design opportunities and know exactly what will sell before anyone else. This is now my favourite tool to do Print On Demand research." **Mr Addie**7 Figures POD Seller & YouTuber > "Podly is the superior Print On Demand tool out there, hands down! It has saved me tons of time and boosted my business's size and profits." **Ryan Hogue**7 Figures POD Seller & YouTuber > "An essential tool for any Merch by Amazon seller. It helped me streamline my research process and make more informed decisions for my account." **Olivier & Alima**7 Figures POD Seller & YouTuber ## Podly vs Merch Informer: your questions, answered. Something we missed? [Send us a message.](https://podly.co/contact/) A human answers. > "I built Podly because I was tired of research tools with old data and hidden limits. I read every message myself." Loic, founder of Podly **01 Is there a free Merch Informer alternative?** Podly has a free plan with no time limit and no credit card: the Research & Basic Analytics Chrome extension, a Merch Research preview, 5 trademark checks and 10 AI listings a month, and 100 favorites. Merch Informer has a free trial, not a free plan. **02 What do Podly and Merch Informer cost for the same features?** For the 4 features both have, the cheapest plans on November 9, 2026 are Podly Business at $29 a month ($19.92 a month billed yearly) and Merch Informer Professional at $19.99 a month ($16.65 a month billed yearly). Merch Informer costs $9.01 less a month. Podly also includes 7 features Merch Informer does not list. Podly also has a free plan. **03 What does Podly have that Merch Informer doesn't?** Trending search, recently deleted listings, a trademark check on your listing, AI listing and design generators, a Chrome extension with BSR and sales on Amazon pages, and research from your AI assistant (MCP). Merch Informer's site does not list these. **04 What does Merch Informer have that Podly doesn't?** A built-in designer, a listing optimizer, Etsy and Pinterest search, a listing browser extension and, on Professional, upload automation. **05 Can I check trademarks with Podly?** Yes. Podly checks your listing for trademarks in the Merch upload page (5 checks a month free, 1,000 on Individual), and Business adds trademark search and a watchlist. **06 Is Podly good for beginners switching from Merch Informer?** Yes. Product search, favorites and the archive work the same way, and every Podly module has a video lesson in the Academy. Alternatives ## Compare Podly with other tools - [Best Merch by Amazon research tools Seven tools ranked on data, trademark checks and price, with prices checked on each tool’s site. See the ranking](https://podly.co/best-merch-by-amazon-research-tools/) - [Podly vs Flying Research Same features: Flying Research €39.95/mo, Podly $29/mo. Read the comparison](https://podly.co/flying-research-alternative/) - [Podly vs Merch Dominator Same features: Merch Dominator $29/mo, Podly $29/mo. Read the comparison](https://podly.co/merch-dominator-alternative/) - [Podly vs Merch Ninja Same features: Merch Ninja $39.99/mo, Podly $29/mo. Read the comparison](https://podly.co/merch-ninja-alternative/) - [Podly vs Merch Titans Same features: Merch Titans $39.99/mo, Podly $19/mo. Read the comparison](https://podly.co/merch-titans-alternative/) - [Podly vs Pretty Merch Same features: Pretty Merch $19/mo, Podly $29/mo. Read the comparison](https://podly.co/pretty-merch-alternative/) - [Podly review Is Podly the best tool for Print-On-Demand? Pros, cons and our verdict. Read the review](https://podly.co/podly-review/) Free ebook ## +1,000 Print-On-Demand niches. Free, in your inbox. More than 1,000 hot Print-On-Demand niches, updated weekly. Discover top-selling ideas and start getting more sales. [See what's in the guide](https://podly.co/1100-free-niche-for-merch-by-amazon/). ![The 1,000+ Niches That Sell ebook standing in the clouds](https://podly.co/images/home-v2/ebook.webp) ## The Merch Informer alternative that starts free. Join 6,000+ Merch sellers who check Podly before they design. [Start free, find best-sellers](https://app.podly.co/register?utm_source=podly.co&utm_medium=website&utm_content=compare_merch_informer_final) [Add to Chrome, free](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/podly-ai-toolset-for-merc/dipicnapjjmogjmpcncbfooffdhcfndk) ![Podly Merch Database](https://podly.co/images/home-v2/tab-research.webp)