Compare button & magnet software workflows
There are several ways to design, print, and sell buttons and magnets. The right choice depends on whether you need an occasional template, a simple design tool, customer ordering, event automation, or one connected system for your entire workflow. This guide compares the most common types of tools without telling you that one approach is right for everyone.
| ButtonMakerPro | Static templates | Basic design tools | Ordering platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Design studio + events + storefronts + print automation in one | Downloadable files used in another design program | Browser-based tools for creating individual designs or sheets | Customer uploads, order intake, and production support |
| Full design studio (text, layers, fonts, image editing) | ✓ Included on every plan, even free | Depends on the program used to edit them | Varies from simple placement to text tools | Varies; often focused on customer uploads |
| Button & magnet formats | 22+ US formats: rounds 7/8"–6", ovals, squares, rectangles, 2×2/3×3 photo puzzles | Usually purchased or downloaded one size at a time | Depends on the tool and template library | Usually focused on the seller's main products |
| QR-code customer ordering at events | ✓ Per-event QR pages with live photo crop | ✗ | ✗ Usually seller-operated | Often available on event-focused platforms |
| Paid order → print sheet automation | ✓ Paid orders flow straight to sheets; AutoPrint fires when a sheet fills or on a timer | ✗ Manual layout and printing | ✗ Sheets are generally built manually | Varies from file delivery to print queues |
| Online storefront | ✓ Branded vendor storefronts built in | ✗ | ✗ | Sometimes built in or connected to ecommerce |
| Requires a Shopify subscription | No | No | No | Depends on the platform and workflow |
| Online payments | ✓ Stripe Connect, 0% platform fees, or cash/anything at the booth | ✗ | ✗ | Often built in or handled by ecommerce |
| Works on iPad (touch design + orders) | ✓ Touch studio: drag, pinch-zoom, twist-rotate | Depends on the editing app | Varies by browser and interface | Usually supports mobile customer ordering |
| Offline desktop app | ✓ Windows app for designing & printing without internet | Possible with an offline editing program | Usually not | Usually not |
| AI tools | ✓ One-click AI background remover | Depends on the editing program | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Referral program | ✓ Built-in referral links, points, free-month rewards, and referral tracking | ✗ | ✗ | Varies |
| Creator rewards | ✓ Creator-focused rewards and growth incentives built into the platform | ✗ | ✗ | Varies |
| Setup fee | $0 | Usually $0 after obtaining the files | Usually $0 | Varies |
| Price | Free design studio · $4.99 day pass · plans $9.99–$49.99/mo | Free or individually purchased files | Often free or offered by a supplier | Usually a subscription, transaction fee, or both |
The categories above describe common workflows. Individual tools vary, so review the current features and terms of any product before choosing one.
Static design templates
Static templates can be a practical choice when you already know your design program and only make one or two product sizes. You download the appropriate file, place your artwork, duplicate it across the sheet, and print it yourself. This approach gives you direct control, but each additional size may require another template and the ordering, layout, and production steps remain manual.
Basic online design tools
Simple browser tools work well for quick, one-off sheets. They may provide the correct product shape, basic image placement, and a printable layout without requiring you to configure a full design program. They are a good fit for occasional makers, though customer ordering, storefronts, event management, and production automation are generally separate parts of the workflow.
Customer-ordering and event platforms
Ordering platforms are designed for sellers who need customers to submit photos or designs. Depending on the platform, they may connect to an existing ecommerce store, create event-ordering pages, collect payments, or prepare files for production. They can be a strong option when order intake is the main need, but you may still use separate software to create original products, edit designs, manage print layouts, or sell outside that ordering workflow.
The ButtonMakerPro approach
ButtonMakerPro is built for makers who want design, printing, customer ordering, events, storefronts, and production management connected in one platform. You can create original designs with text, layers, fonts, image tools, and live product templates, then build correctly sized print sheets without manually duplicating every item.
When you are ready to sell, customers can upload their own images through your storefront or an event QR page. Paid orders move into your production queue, where sheets can be filled automatically and AutoPrint can run when a sheet is ready or on a schedule. The Windows desktop app also keeps designing and printing available when an event venue has unreliable internet.
Start designing free
Create a free account, explore the design studio, and build your first button or magnet. Upgrade when you are ready to print or use the connected business tools.
Start Designing FreeNo credit card required · $4.99 day pass credits toward your first Pro month