SwagUp is an online platform that helps teams create, manage, and ship branded merchandise at scale.
If you want a clear picture of what the platform can and can’t do or you’re interested in how SwagUp compares against alternatives like SwagDrop, you’re in the right place.
Our in-depth analysis breaks down SwagUp pricing, features, user feedback, and overall experience, so you can make the best decision for your company.
Disclaimer: The information in this review is as accurate as of December 2025 and subject to change as SwagUp updates its platform.
Table of Contents
SwagUp Review Overview
SwagUp has acquired top ratings on popular review sites like G2 and TrustRadius:
- G2: 4.4/5 (99 reviews)
- TrustRadius: 7/10 (7 reviews)
SwagUp pricing ranges from a free Basic plan to paid tiers starting at $1,188/year and going up to $11,988/year, with higher plans adding perks and access to advanced tools.
The key SwagUp features are:
- Swag Creation & Design
- Assembly & Packing
- Global Shipping
- Swag Storage
- Dedicated Swag Expert
The key pros and cons of SwagUp based on user reviews from G2 are:
Pros:
- Responsive account representatives
- Onboarding gift automation
- High-quality products and design
Cons:
- Limited product catalog
- Cluttered dashboard
- Shopify integration issues
SwagUp is best for:
- Small teams that want to try out simple swag programs without upfront platform costs.
- Growing companies that need scalable storage, shipping, and automation for their corporate gifts.
- Large organizations running frequent or global promotional product campaigns that need hands-on support.
Below we’re analyzing the platform in more detail to help you make an informed decision.
SwagUp Pricing
SwagUp offers five pricing plans designed for different company sizes and swag program needs: Basic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Enterprise.
The Basic plan targets individuals or small teams that are just getting started with branded merchandise. The Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans suit growing teams that need more advanced capabilities, discounts, and fulfillment options. The Enterprise plan is custom-built for large organizations running high-volume, global programs.
SwagUp also applies storage, repacking, and shipping fees, in addition to the subscription costs:
- Storage fees vary by item size and plan tier, starting at $0.25 per small item and reaching $3 for larger items. Higher-tier plans include partial or full storage discounts.
- Repacking fees depend on quantity. Small batches cost $16 per pack, while bulk orders reduce per-unit costs at $8.
- Shipping fees depend on destination and package weight. Domestic U.S. shipments generally range between $10.5 and $16, while international deliveries can reach $55 per pack.
SwagUp Features & Services
SwagUp offers a full suite of services that range from design to distribution, helping you manage all your promotional products in one place.
Swag Creation & Design
SwagUp’s Swag Creation & Design feature gives you access to a product catalog and a design expert that helps you choose and brand items based on your company’s style.
You supply your logo (preferably in a vector format), and the platform handles imprint methods, sizing constraints, and mock-ups. If you don’t need assistance, you can also design the branded products yourself.
The process includes free artwork templates, sample packs, and quick turnaround on design approvals.
This feature benefits marketing teams, event organizers, and HR departments who need ready-to-go promotional gifts without relying on internal designers.
Assembly & Packaging
SwagUp’s Assembly & Packaging service manages every stage of kit preparation.
The team collects items from your stored inventory, performs quality checks, and assembles them into branded swag boxes before shipping.
Each pack maintains a consistent presentation, so recipients get a professional unboxing experience.
SwagUp also supports repacks, allowing you to change pre-assembled kits by swapping out products or breaking them into bulk inventory for reuse.
This flexibility suits client onboarding, remote employee gifting, and event giveaways.
Global Shipping
SwagUp’s Global Shipping feature simplifies distribution to multiple domestic or international locations.
You can upload recipient lists, schedule deliveries, and track shipments directly through the platform.
SwagUp handles customs forms, carrier coordination, and fulfillment from regional centers to reduce transit delays.
This functionality is especially helpful for distributed teams, multinational companies, and organizations managing global corporate gifting campaigns.
Swag Storage
SwagUp’s Swag Storage service offers a dedicated warehouse for your promo products in New Jersey with national and international shipping capabilities.
You can log into your SwagUp account to manage stock levels without taking up office space.
Upon your request, SwagUp pulls and ships stored items on the same day.
This feature is ideal for businesses running recurring marketing campaigns, global fulfillment programs, or seasonal events that require ready-to-ship swag.
Dedicated Swag Expert
SwagUp’s Dedicated Swag Expert service pairs every customer with a company employee who guides the entire gifting process.
Your expert helps you plan each campaign, from choosing and designing promotional products to facilitating fulfillment.
This personalized support is a game-changer for teams without full-time swag managers or for businesses handling large gifting programs.
SwagUp Integrations
SwagUp integrates with popular HR, automation, and e-commerce tools:
- HR apps, like BambooHR, Workday, and Gusto, let SwagUp pull employee information from your systems and automatically send team members gifts on their birthday, work anniversary, or other milestones. You keep swag coordination out of HR’s inbox and avoid manual address collection.
- Automation via Zapier helps you connect SwagUp to other apps and set up triggers. When someone submits a form, completes a survey, or their CRM status changes, Zapier can instruct SwagUp to send a corporate gift, update the inventory, or notify one of your team members.
- Shopify allows SwagUp to connect directly to your online store, so you can sell company swag without handling logistics. Once a customer places an order, SwagUp automatically manages production, packaging, and shipping.
SwagUp Online Store
SwagUp offers two online store features that help you manage how people access and receive your branded products.
Swag Shops
The Swag Shops service allows you to build an online gift or e-commerce store for your company’s merchandise.
You can easily customize the storefront with your logo, colors, and layout to make it match your brand.
Once you set up your swag store, SwagUp handles order processing, production, and shipping.
The Swag Shop feature is only available for Gold, Platinum, and Enterprise members, offering a scalable solution for teams managing higher swag volumes.
Platinum and Enterprise users can also use the platform’s integrations to automatically distribute gift credits to employees or customers on specific occasions.
You can use these stores to offer employee and client gifts or sell company swag.
Redeem Pages
Redeem Pages help you collect recipient details and automate gift fulfillment without needing an online storefront or a higher subscription plan.
You can create a branded landing page, upload your logo, and personalize the message to fit your campaign.
Recipients access the Redeem Page link and fill out their shipping details and apparel size, and can even pick their preferred gift from a short, curated list.
You can then use the data collected to order the right amount of branded giveaways and ship it to the correct addresses, avoiding waste and missed opportunities.
Autoship Redeem Pages take this one step further by triggering shipments automatically as soon as a recipient fills out the form, but you need to stock up your inventory beforehand.
Redeem Pages are especially useful for large-scale corporate gifting programs where speed and automation matter.
SwagUp Support
SwagUp offers several support channels so you can get help quickly with one of the following options:
- Live chat lets you start a conversation directly from the SwagUp website or Help Center. An AI assistant will answer common questions and guide you to relevant resources.
- Telephone support puts you in direct contact with the SwagUp team when you need direct, personal help.
- Submit a request to report issues, ask questions, or request account support for non-urgent inquiries or topics that require detailed review.
- Additionally, the SwagUp Help Center gives you access to step-by-step guides, FAQs, and detailed articles covering topics like ordering, shipping, warehousing, integrations, and billing.
SwagUp Security
SwagUp’s Privacy Policy outlines how the company collects, processes, and protects your data:
- SwagUp uses standard methods to protect your personal information during transfer and storage, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
- Your data may be processed in the U.S. or other countries where SwagUp operates, but the company discloses these transfers so you always know where your info lives and how it moves.
- You can request updates or delete your information at any time and SwagUp only holds your data for as long as needed for operations, legal requirements, or analytics.
- SwagUp acknowledges that no online system can be fully risk-free, providing transparency about potential exposure so you understand the limits of any digital security safeguards.
SwagUp Pros and Cons
All swag companies have strengths and weaknesses.
We hope that feedback from real G2 users offers a clear picture of what users enjoy most about SwagUp and what could be improved.
SwagUp pros
Positive G2 reviews highlight:
- Account representatives respond quickly and offer hands-on help for new users.
- The HR integrations eliminate manual, repetitive onboarding tasks, sending new hire welcome kits automatically.
- SwagUp offers high-quality products and thoughtful branding support.
SwagUp cons
G2 reviewers also point out some areas for improvement:
- The product selection is narrow and sourcing new items through SwagUp takes too much time for time-sensitive campaigns.
- Inventory items with zero stock remain visible in the admin dashboard creating clutter and confusion.
- The Shopify synchronization can fail at times and generate extra work to fix store-related tasks.
A SwagUp Alternative
SwagUp is a great corporate gifting company, but many businesses want a faster, lighter, and more cost-efficient way to run their swag programs.
If you’re researching SwagUp competitors, look no further than SwagDrop.Our flexible swag-on-demand model eliminates all the heavy lifting, keeps your budget predictable, and creates an exciting experience for clients and employees.
1. Zero subscriptions and no extra service charges
SwagUp’s paid membership tiers give you access to advanced features, but generate ongoing software costs. With SwagDrop, you’ll never have to pay subscriptions, setup fees, onboarding charges, or per-feature costs. You only pay for the items your recipients choose and shipping.
Everything else, including online store creation, design support, and campaign setup, is included at no charge.
You’ll invest your entire swag budget into meaningful gifts instead of platform access.
Note: To get a much better understanding of actual software costs in the market, feel free to explore our SwagDrop vs. SaaS cost breakdown.
2. Simple flat-rate U.S. shipping
SwagUp’s shipping fees vary by weight, destination, and membership plan, which makes budgeting unpredictable.
SwagDrop uses one transparent rate: $9.95 per recipient anywhere in the United States, regardless of the item or location.
This flat fee eliminates guesswork and helps you estimate campaign costs with precision.
3. No storage fees or inventory management
SwagUp requires inventory storage, seasonal warehousing fees, and pack assembly from stocked items. With SwagDrop, you can forget about all of these issues.
Our print-on-demand model means you never buy products upfront, never pay to store inventory, and never worry about leftover swag.
In other words, we produce every item only after an order has been placed.
This solution removes waste, reduces risks, and keeps your gifting program simple.
And if you want to find out why the future of branded merch is no-inventory, make sure to check out our latest article.
4. Unlimited swag stores built for you
SwagUp offers online stores only for select membership plans and charges extra for advanced capabilities.
At SwagDrop, we build as many fully branded swag shops as you need at zero cost, each tailored to your goals, budget, audience, and branding.
You can launch on-demand shops for employee rewards, corporate event swag, customer appreciation, promotional Christmas gifts, and even create a permanent e-commerce shop.
Every store includes all functionalities by default, including secure recipient access and full design customization.
As opposed to SwagUp, at SwagDrop we let you send gift credits to recipients at no added cost.
The best part is that we launch your branded gift store in just one week, regardless of the size of your campaign.
5. A fully managed experience with real human guidance
SwagUp provides a software platform and support, but you still handle planning, store setup, and much of the coordination yourself.
SwagDrop does all the work for you. We build your stores, curate your products, prepare your artwork, manage fulfillment, and support your recipients.
With 30+ years of swag experience and an A+ BBB rating, our team guides you with honest, practical advice every step of the way, helping you build professional and meaningful campaigns.
Check out how Taryn Cunningham, one of our loyal customers, describes her experience with SwagDrop:
“We absolutely love working with this team! Their products are always top-notch quality, and they deliver at lightning speed without ever compromising standards. Communication is seamless—super responsive, clear, and proactive—which makes the entire process stress-free. We’ve used them for multiple projects and every time they’ve exceeded our expectations. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a partner who combines quality, speed, and outstanding customer service.”
Book a call with us to see just how fast, simple, and budget-friendly your swag program can be.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check out the answers to these FAQs for more info:
Who uses SwagUp?
SwagUp is used by companies that need to design, store, and distribute branded products at scale. Typical users include HR teams sending onboarding kits, marketing teams organizing corporate events or customer loyalty campaigns, and operations teams managing swag for global employees or clients.
Is SwagUp a legitimate site?
Yes, SwagUp is a legitimate and established swag management platform. Well-known organizations such as Walmart, TED, Duolingo, and Ramp use this platform to produce and distribute promotional products for employees, customers, and events.
What industries does SwagUp help?
SwagUp supports a wide range of industries, including technology, education, e-commerce, professional services, finance, and nonprofit organizations. Any company that needs to send branded gifts, event swag, or promotional items can use the platform to streamline fulfillment and brand consistency.
Can you use SwagUp for free?
Yes, SwagUp offers a free Basic plan that allows small teams to create swag, get mockups, and use parts of the platform without paying a monthly fee. Fees only apply when you place orders, store inventory, or upgrade to paid membership tiers with advanced features.
Does SwagUp have an API?
Yes, SwagUp provides an API that automates essential actions, such as sending corporate gifts and Redeem Page links to recipients and sending credits to a shop. The API also lets you set automatic triggers for employee onboarding, birthdays, and work anniversaries.
