MPC vs Game Crafter vs DriveThruCards for tarot decks
MPC vs Game Crafter vs DriveThruCards comes down to one thing: MakePlayingCards is cheapest for proofs and real print runs, The Game Crafter prints and ships each deck for you with zero inventory, and DriveThruCards is best for selling after a campaign. They solve different problems, so match the printer to your moment.
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You finished the 78 paintings. The backs line up, the borders are even, the export is 300 DPI with bleed. Now you pick a printer, and these three names get repeated like they're interchangeable. They're not. One is a factory, one is a vending machine, one is a hybrid.
MPC vs Game Crafter vs DriveThruCards: the quick answer
- First proof copies: MakePlayingCards. Cheapest way to hold one real deck.
- A zero-inventory store: The Game Crafter. It prints and ships each order for you.
- A real print run you sell yourself: MakePlayingCards again, once volume kicks in.
- A campaign you want to keep selling after: DriveThruCards, for its marketplace.
Everything below is why. Still deciding between print-on-demand and a bulk run? Start with where to print your indie tarot deck, then come back to pick between the three.
How do MPC vs Game Crafter prices compare at 1, 100, and 500?
This is the whole decision in one line. MakePlayingCards (MPC) has no minimum, and its per-deck price drops hard with volume. That falling curve is the entire reason it wins large runs.
The Game Crafter (TGC) is print-on-demand in the truest sense. No minimum, because there's no batch. Every deck is made when someone orders it. The price barely moves whether you order 1 or 500, since each one is a one-off. You never save by ordering more, but you never front cash for inventory either.
DriveThruCards sits between them: no minimum, a per-deck price that comes down with volume but not as steeply as MPC, and a marketplace bolted on.
| MakePlayingCards | The Game Crafter | DriveThruCards | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | None | None (POD) | None |
| ~Cost at 1 deck | ~$16.90 | ~$13.50 | ~$14 |
| ~Cost at 100 | ~$8, dropping | ~$13.50 | ~$12 |
| ~Cost at 500 | ~$5.60 | ~$13.50 | ~$10.50 |
| Card stock / feel | Linen or smooth, thick | Standard, solid | Standard |
| Box | Rigid 2-piece available | Tuck or 2-piece | Tuck box |
| Fulfills + ships for you | No | Yes | Yes (marketplace) |
| Storefront / POD | No | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Proofs and real runs | Zero-inventory selling | Post-campaign sales |
Figures are 2026 planning estimates for a standard 78-card deck with a basic box. At a single deck the three are within a few dollars. At 500 decks MPC is roughly a third of TGC per unit. Print 500 at TGC instead of MPC and you've paid something like $6,900 more for the same cards, margin you gave away. For the full cost picture across run sizes, see how much it costs to print a tarot deck.
That MPC saving assumes you buy all 500 up front, store them, and ship each sale yourself. That's the trade.
Which printer has the best card stock and feel?
Tarot buyers notice card feel before they notice your art in a video. A deck that fans smoothly and springs back reads as professional. A deck that feels like a cereal box kills the sale even if the paintings are gorgeous.
MPC's linen finish is the reference point most indie creators compare against. The textured stock cuts glare and gives a tactile snap. TGC and DriveThruCards produce a perfectly sellable card, but the finish options and thickness are narrower.
Whatever you choose, don't trust a screen. Order a sample pack from each printer you're serious about, and order a printed proof of your actual deck before any real run. Confirm the card size while you're at it: standard tarot is 2.75 by 4.75 inches, and MPC lists that as a stock size. A proof catches the border that's 2mm too tight and the black that printed muddy. Here's why you want a proof before your print run. It costs one deck and a week. Skipping it costs the whole run.
What box options does each printer offer?
A rigid two-piece box (lid lifts off a base) signals premium. MPC offers one, part of why it suits a run you're selling at a real price. Tuck boxes (the flap-and-slot style) are cheaper and standard at TGC and DriveThruCards.
Neither is wrong. Match the box to your price point. A $45 deck in a flimsy tuck box feels like a mismatch buyers can sense.
Which printer ships tarot decks for you?
This is the hidden line item that decides more than price does.
With MPC you receive a pallet or a stack of boxes. You're now the warehouse and the post office. You store the decks, print labels, handle returns, and eat the customs and tariff paperwork on the inbound order.
With The Game Crafter, a customer buys through your storefront and TGC prints, packs, and ships that single deck. You touch nothing physical. Creators specifically note that TGC absorbs the fulfillment and tariff burden that would otherwise land on you. You pay for that in the flat per-deck price, and it's often worth every cent when you're one person. This is the whole appeal of selling a deck with zero inventory.
DriveThruCards' marketplace works similarly for sales made through it: list the deck, and orders get fulfilled without you holding stock. Handy for keeping a deck alive after a crowdfunding campaign closes. If you go the MPC route instead, read up on fulfillment and shipping for a self-published deck before the pallet arrives.
How long does each printer take?
POD orders (TGC and DriveThruCards single copies) typically move in days once files pass review. MPC bulk runs take longer: production plus ocean or air freight can stretch to a few weeks, sometimes more around holidays. If you promised backers a deck by a certain week, count backward from the freight estimate, not the print time.
Which one should you pick?
Printing your first one to five copies to check color and feel? MPC gives you the cheapest real deck in hand. Do this before anything else.
Want to sell without becoming a shipping operation? Run a storefront on The Game Crafter. You'll make less per deck, but you'll never touch a mailing label or count inventory in your closet.
Know you'll move 300 or more decks and willing to store and ship them? MPC's volume price leaves the margin on your side of the table instead of the printer's. DriveThruCards is the middle path and the natural home for a deck you want to keep selling after a campaign.
Frequently asked questions
Is MPC or Game Crafter cheaper for tarot decks?
For a single proof they're within a few dollars. At 100 or 500 decks MakePlayingCards is far cheaper per unit because its price drops with volume, while The Game Crafter charges a flat per-deck rate. Game Crafter wins only if you value never holding inventory.
Which printer ships tarot decks for you?
The Game Crafter and DriveThruCards both fulfill and ship each order through their storefront or marketplace. MakePlayingCards ships the whole run to you, and then you pack and post every sale yourself.
Can you sell tarot decks on DriveThruCards?
Yes. DriveThruCards has a print-on-demand marketplace, so you can list your deck and it prints and ships when someone buys. That makes it a good home for a deck you want to keep selling after a Kickstarter closes.
What card size do these printers use for tarot?
All three support the standard tarot size of 2.75 by 4.75 inches. MakePlayingCards lists it as a stock option. Confirm bleed and dimensions against each printer's own template before you export.
Do you still need a proof if you use print-on-demand?
Yes. Order one printed proof from any printer before you list or bulk order. Colors shift and stock feels different than a screen suggests. One proof deck is the cheapest insurance you'll buy.
The bottom line
These three are the usual suspects, not the only ones. Prices shift, promotions come and go, and shipping to your country changes the math. Pull a live quote from each before you commit. The numbers here are 2026 planning estimates to shape your thinking, not a contract.
Foolmade's planner compares cost per deck and margin across printers so you can pick with numbers instead of vibes. It won't print your deck or generate your art (that stays yours), but it will show you where your money actually goes.