Displate is a big name in metal posters, but it isn't the only place to get them. Maybe the prices feel high, or you want to print your own photo instead of picking from a catalog. The good news is that you have plenty of options.
This guide covers 10 Displate alternatives, from art marketplaces to photo labs. Along the way, you'll find tips for choosing the right site and getting your photo ready for metal.
Key Takeaways
- iCanvas Steelpix hangs on magnet mounts like Displate, with no drilling needed.
- Sideshow sells only officially licensed fan art, with no custom photo printing.
- Mpix and Nations Photo Lab print personal photos but don't sell artists' work.
- ArtStation and INPRNT let artists sell metal prints of their own work.
- PrintKK's metal photo prints have no minimum order, so you can order just one.
Displate Overview: Strengths and Drawbacks
Displate prints artwork on thin steel plates. Instead of a nail, each plate hangs on a magnet that sticks to the wall. Before looking at other options, it helps to know what Displate does well and where it falls short.
Where Displate Stands Out
Easy Magnet Mounting
Every Displate comes with a sticky magnet pad that goes on the wall first. The metal plate then snaps onto it, with no drilling and no hammer needed. Any plate of the same size fits the same magnet, so swapping one poster for another takes seconds. If you like to change up your wall art with the seasons, this is the main draw.
Official Art from Big Brands
Displate sells licensed artwork from more than 200 brands, including major movie and game franchises. On top of regular posters, it releases limited editions in small runs with extra finishes like textures. Sideshow is one of the few alternatives that offers something similar.
Common Reasons to Switch
Prices That Depend on Sales
Full-price Displates cost more than standard paper posters, so sale prices get a lot of attention. Those sales have drawn criticism, though. Displate agreed to a $2.77 million settlement over claims that its discounts weren't real, while denying any wrongdoing. Comparing the final price at checkout gives a clearer picture than the crossed-out one.
Magnets Don't Suit Every Wall
Displate's own mounting guide warns against sticking the magnets on uneven surfaces. That rules out many textured walls. Some owners add adhesive strips behind the magnet so the plate won't slip or fall.
Harder to Find Original Art
Some longtime buyers on Reddit say Displate's catalog has filled up with AI-generated and copied designs. That can make it harder to find original work from real artists. Searching by a specific artist's name instead of a broad keyword helps cut through the clutter. Others simply move to sites where every print is tied to a named artist.
Shipping and Returns from Overseas
Displate makes its posters in Poland, so orders to far-off countries can take a while to arrive. Some buyers outside the EU and US have reported surprise customs fees at delivery. Sending a metal plate back overseas can be expensive, too. Custom Displates made from your own photo can't be returned at all, so check the preview closely before you order.
10 Best Displate Alternatives to Shop or Print Metal Wall Art
1. PrintKK
PrintKK is a print-on-demand platform with more than 1,300 custom products, and metal prints are one of them. Buyers can upload their own photo and pick either a wall-hanging print or a smaller one with a stand for a desk or shelf. The stand version suits renters and anyone who likes to swap photos often. There's no minimum order, so printing a single piece as a gift is fine.
PrintKK also works for artists who want to sell metal prints. It connects with major online stores, and each order is printed only after a customer buys, so there's no stock to hold. An AI design tool can help turn a rough idea into artwork when there's no finished design yet.
2. Sideshow
Sideshow is a collectibles brand that sells officially licensed metal art prints from big studios like Marvel. Each one is printed on glossy aluminum and comes in a wood floating frame with a wire hanger attached.
Most pieces are limited editions of a few dozen to a few hundred copies, and some are hand-numbered. New releases often open as pre-orders at a set time, so popular designs can sell out fast. Framed 16x24 prints cost around $375, which makes this a pick for serious fans rather than casual decorators.
3. ArtStation
ArtStation is a large online community for digital artists, and many of them sell their work as HD metal prints. The prints are sublimated onto white-base aluminum panels, which keeps colors bright. Many designs also come as posters or canvas prints, so it's easy to compare formats first.
Each piece is printed to order and takes 7 to 10 business days before it ships, so it's smart to order early for gifts. Some Displate fans on Reddit say these metal posters are the closest match they've found.
4. INPRNT
INPRNT is an art print shop where every piece comes from a named artist with a short bio. Its metal prints have a glossy top coat and arrive with hanging hardware.
Because the catalog is organized by artist, it's easy to follow one creator and collect several pieces in a matching style. Some artists even donate every sale to a cause listed on their shop page. INPRNT also has a help page that breaks down what artists earn per sale.
5. Society6
Society6 sells designs from independent artists, and metal prints are one of many formats on the site. Each print is made on a thin aluminum sheet with a wooden back and comes ready to hang. Sizes run from mini to large, so it's simple to build a gallery wall one piece at a time.
Artists can set their own markup on metal prints, which means two prints of the same size may not cost the same. The site also accepts returns within 30 days, a plus for gift buyers.
6. Fine Art America
Fine Art America works for both shopping and printing a personal photo. Each metal print is made on 1/16-inch aluminum with a wood frame on the back that lifts it slightly off the wall. The company runs 16 production centers in five countries and makes each order at the one closest to the buyer.
Custom prints come in sizes up to 50x108 inches. They also include a 30-day money-back guarantee, which takes some risk out of printing a family photo.
7. Mpix
Mpix is a photo lab in Kansas, and its metal prints start at $24.99. Every order comes with either a metal easel for a desk or a French cleat for the wall, and wall sizes go up to 40x60 inches.
If the print will face a window, the matte finish helps cut down on glare. Orders ship in 2 to 3 business days, which helps when a gift deadline is close.
8. Nations Photo Lab
Nations Photo Lab prints photos onto 1.14mm aluminum with a glossy finish, in 17 sizes from 4x4 up to 24x36 inches. The image is heat-pressed into the metal, which makes the surface waterproof and hard to scratch.
One thing to watch for is that hanging hardware is an add-on, so skipping it leaves the print with no way to go on the wall. Small sizes can get an aluminum easel for a shelf, while bigger ones can use a float mount. The standoff option comes with steel posts and a paper template that makes lining it up much easier.
9. iCanvas
iCanvas is best known for canvas prints, but its Steelpix line works a lot like Displate. Each print hangs on magnet mounts backed by a wall-safe adhesive film, so there's no drilling. The prints are about half an inch deep, which gives them a chunkier look than a thin metal plate.
The ink is cured into the metal at different densities, so the surface has a light texture instead of a flat shine. iCanvas also releases Limited Edition Steelpix pieces, which will feel familiar to anyone who chases Displate drops.
10. Etsy
Etsy isn't one store but thousands of small shops, and many of them sell metal prints. Some offer ready-made posters in a style similar to Displate, while others print custom designs on request.
Since quality depends on the seller, buyer photos and reviews are the best way to judge a shop. Some sellers won't accept returns on custom metal pieces, so reading shop policies first is worth the time. Eligible orders are covered by Etsy's Purchase Protection if something goes wrong.
How to Pick a Displate Alternative That Fits Your Needs
Printing Your Own Photos or Designs
Photo labs and print-on-demand sites both handle this well, with more size and finish options than art marketplaces. A few checks before ordering:
- Pick a sharp photo, since metal shows every detail, blurry spots included.
- Crop it to the print size so faces and text don't get cut off at the edges.
- Choose a low-glare finish if the print will face a bright window.
Custom Printed on Demand Square Metal Tin Sign Decor 8"×8" - Wall Decor - PrintKK
Collecting Licensed Fan Art
Art with licensing has been approved by the studio that owns the character. When sellers advertise licensed art they typically list the name of the studio (licensor) in the item description.
If an advertising listing states only "official" but doesn't state which studio created the art, you will need to verify if the statement is correct. Collectible shops that purchase items from the studios directly are the most reliable sources; however, their prices are typically higher.
Decorating without Drilling
Many metal prints come with wire hangers or cleats, which require either a nail or a screw. Renters can hang their metal prints using several other methods:
- Choose a site with its own magnet system, the closest swap for Displate.
- Set a smaller print on an easel on a shelf or desk.
- Hang a lightweight print using removable adhesive strips (as long as the strip's weight limit will support it).
Buying Metal Art as a Gift
Most metal prints are made to order, so production time varies by site, from a few days at photo labs to over a week at some art marketplaces. Order early to leave room for shipping delays. Custom prints usually can't be returned. If the recipient might want to swap it, a ready-made design from a site with a clear return policy is the safer pick.
Print on Demand Wind Spinner 3D Metal Hanging Ornament (Made in USA) - Home Decor - PrintKK
Selling Your Own Artwork
Before listing your art, check how each site pays and what it allows.
- Some sites let you set your own price and keep the rest after their cut. Others set the price and pay you a fixed share.
- Some sites ask for exclusive rights, while others let you sell the same design elsewhere.
Fresh Ways to Display Metal Prints at Home
Frames aren't needed for metal prints, so there's plenty of space to be imaginative when deciding where to place them.
Floating Wall Displays
A float mount creates an illusion of the print being suspended slightly above the wall. The float mount will create a soft shadow around all four sides of the print. This type of mounting works best when the print is displayed on a plain wall with nothing hanging around it.
Most float mounts need screws to go on the wall, so renters may want to skip this one or ask their landlord first.
Multi-Panel Sets
Wide images are excellent for dividing into multiple panels. Consider a photo of a beach or a mountain scene displayed along the entire width of the wall behind your sofa.
You should order all of the panels at one time from the same laboratory to ensure that the color will be uniform throughout. Many laboratories (such as Bay Photo) offer pre-split sets of images, thus eliminating the need to determine how to divide up the image yourself.
Custom 6 Panels Sound Absorbing Wall Art - Print-On-Demand - PrintKK
Mixed-Media Gallery Walls
A small amount of metal is a great addition to your frames and/or canvas, and it will prevent the wall from being so "flat" looking. Here are some of the ways that you can use metal in your home:
- Lay all items out on the floor prior to hanging anything. It's much simpler to move items around on the floor than it is to patch nail holes.
- Keep glossy prints apart. Two shiny pieces side by side tend to compete.
- Use the same color from your metal print in another area (like a mat or another frame) close to the first.
Tabletop Stands for Desks and Shelves
Small prints are also great for those who like to frequently change up their photos; for example, if you take a new photo during each travel adventure, you can quickly put it in place of the old one. You can place them on a stand on your desk or on a bookshelf, so you can easily rearrange them.
Print on Demand Metal Photo Prints with Stand (Vertical) - Home Decor - PrintKK
Backlit Gaming Setups
A desk with existing LED strips would make an ideal location to display a glossy metal print. The LED lights will illuminate the print and cause the colors to be reflected off its surface.
However, point the lights towards the print from the side. If you point the lights directly at the print, there will be glare on the print, and all that will be visible is a bright spot rather than the print itself.
Read More:
- Canvas vs Metal Prints: What is Better for Your Art?
- Acrylic vs Metal Prints: Which Wall Art Format Sells Better
How to Prepare a Photo for Metal Printing
Metal is a great medium for enhancing the beauty of an outstanding photograph, yet it will be equally truthful regarding an inferior photograph. By spending some time preparing your images prior to submission, you can minimize the risk of being dissatisfied upon receipt of the final product.
Start with a High-Resolution File
Low-resolution photos look blurry on metal, so check your photo's pixel dimensions first. To figure this out quickly, you need to know how many inches wide your print is going to be and then multiply that number by 300.
If you are ordering a 12-inch-wide print, your photo needs to be approximately 3,600 pixels wide for the best results. Some labs have an online upload tool available to suggest the largest print size your photo can support.
Crop for the Print Size
When taking pictures with your phone, they are often in an unusual size that does not fit standard photo prints. Because of this, you will need to cut out parts of the image (crop) most of the time. When you are ready to upload your image, make sure you take off what you don't want in there prior to allowing the website to cut it off.
Try to keep the faces of people and words off the sides of the image because these areas are typically cut when you trim the photo. Decide whether you want to use the image as a vertical (tall) or horizontal (wide) image early in the process.
Brighten the Photo a Little
The backlighting of a screen makes it possible for you to view your image, however, when you print your image on the wall, there will be no backlighting. As a result of this, you may notice that they are slightly darker than how they appeared on your device.
You can adjust for this difference by increasing the brightness of your image slightly prior to uploading it. You should also make sure to check the shadow area of your image so that any dark area does not appear to be completely black.
Check the Color Settings
Labs typically prefer to receive files that have been set to a color space known as sRGB, and Nations Photo Lab has stated that this is a requirement for all of its metal prints. Files from mobile phones will typically be OK; however, files that were created with professional editing software should be monitored because they may have been saved with a different color space setting.
Changing the color space setting of your files to sRGB prior to saving/exporting will prevent the colors of people's skin and skies from being affected by the change.
Review the Preview Closely
Before you order your print, zoom in to its full size. If it appears soft in that view, it will also appear soft when displayed on the wall. Review the online preview of your print to ensure that no crucial elements were eliminated during the printing process.
This is particularly relevant for custom-ordered prints; many online print shops do not allow customers to return custom-made prints after the product has been created.
Expert Tips
Finding the right metal print comes down to what you need. Some Displate alternatives are best for official fan art. Others work better when you want to print your own photo. Before you order, check how the print hangs and what the return policy says.
This matters most for custom prints. Take a few minutes to prep your photo so it looks sharp on metal. Once it arrives, try a new way to display it. With the right pick, your walls will feel more like you.
