Packola vs Packlane vs PackM vs Arka: which one fits your needs best? Let’s break down four leading providers of custom packaging. The best companies for custom packaging understand this branding need and offer a variety of high-performing packaging materials for your products. 

From wine boxes to custom shoe boxes, packaging design plays a large role in the overall customer experience. Through your brand packaging, you communicate your style and priorities. Whether your brand is bold or soft, witty or sustainability-minded, your packaging should reflect these details. 

We’ll dig into four of the most popular options for brand packaging: Arka, Packola, Packlane, and PackM. 

Packola vs Packlane vs PackM vs Arka: What’s the Debate? 

Creating custom packaging for your brand is a labor of love, and you don’t want to waste time or money with a packaging provider that isn’t up to par. Your sales and shipping process relies on high-quality packaging, so the room for error in this choice is narrow. 

Between Arka, Packola, Packlane, and PackM, which packaging provider is best?

Arka Overview

Arka focuses on sustainable and eco-friendly custom packaging solutions, offering a wide range of products like custom mailer boxes, shipping boxes, product boxes, and compostable mailers all made in the USA. They emphasize sustainable materials, full print coverage, and instant proofing for customization. They also offer particularly quick turnaround times and free samples. 

Packola Overview

Packola offers its own online design platform and a streamlined set of product types. Product boxes, mailer boxes, and shipping boxes are all available with a high degree of customization. Instant quotes and live chat support make the order process simple and user-friendly.

Packlane Overview

With an emphasis on customization, Packlane offers a variety of boxes and package types and state-of-the-art printing. Their custom design lab and live design preview make it easy for users to see what their final result will look like, and even get an instant quote for their order. 

With a wide range of colors and various material options, users can easily create unique packaging for their products. 

PackM Overview

PackM offers customizable boxes, bags, pouches, labels, and more. With a wide range of product types, many brands find what they’re looking for within PackM’s catalog. Since users can design packages online directly in the PackM design tool, customizing is a quick and easy process. PackM is a strong option for customized tissue, tape, and pouches to elevate your packaging even further.

Packola vs Packlane vs PackM vs Arka: Complete Review

Choosing the packaging provider that best fits your brand and product standards requires an in-depth understanding of your top options. Dig into the features, details, benefits, and drawbacks of Arka, Packola, Packlane, and PackM.

Arka 

Features & Offerings

• Custom or blank packaging offered
• Sustainability/FSC Certification
• Dieline downloader
• Eco-friendly options
• Made in the USA
• Integrated with Shopify + 3PLS
• Auto-replenish packaging
• Inserts
• Free sampling

Order Process

Brands looking for blank packaging can simply select their package type, like compostable bubble mailers, shippers, or literature mailer boxes. Then, select your desired size and quantity and head straight to checkout. 

To place an order for custom packaging, the Arka online checkout system will guide you through inputting the following details:

• Size: Choose from stock sizes or input your custom size
• Printing: Choose from outside, inside, or double-sided
• Production time: Select standard for 7-10 business days or rush for 3-6, plus transit time
• Quantity: Print from 10 to 10,000 products at a time. 

Then, you’ll select “Design with Dieline” or “Design Online.” The Arka platform allows you to download custom dielines to ensure that your end product looks exactly as intended. If you don’t have a design, you can leverage the Arka Pro Services feature to input a description of your design requirements and have the Arka design team take it from there. 

Upload any images and logos in 300 dpi or larger, and use PNG, PSD, PDF, ESP, or Ai formats. If you’re uploading your own dieline, you’ll need to do so in PDF or AI format.

Turnaround Time

The total turnaround time for Arka orders depends on whether you choose the custom packaging, blank packaging, or pro services option. With pro services, you’ll receive proofs within two business days. The other options include instant proofs. 

Once you approve your proofs, your packaging order goes into production, which will take 7-10 business days starting the day after your proof is approved if you selected the standard option, or 3-6 business days starting the day after your proof is approved if you selected rush production. For orders over 1,000 units, depending on the size of the boxes, production might take up to 15 business days. 

After that, you can assume that shipping will take 1-2 weeks. 

Pros

• Wide range of products, from custom mailer boxes to product packaging
• High level of customization
• Full-service design team option
• Dieline downloader
• Sustainable and eco-friendly options
• Full print coverage
• Instant proofing for customized boxes
• Low minimum order quantities
• FSC certified paper
• Made in the USA
• Integrated with Shopify + 3PLS
• Auto-replenish packaging
• Inserts
• Free sampling

Cons 

• No packing peanuts or bubble wrap are available. But you can try recycled bubble mailers instead!

Cost & Pricing Plans 

With low minimum order quantities and affordable prices per unit, Arka packaging is accessible to a wide range of businesses. Price varies based on package type and customization. For example, a 100% compostable poly mailer costs $0.20 per unit. A custom jewelry box starts as low as $0.99 per unit. 

Reviews 

• 4.6 average star rating on Google
• 4.3 rating on Trustpilot
• “Arka’s team is super fast, knowledgeable, and easy to work with – highly recommended!” – Jesse, Subscription Catalyst

Bottom Line

Arka stands out by making eco-friendly packaging accessible to businesses of all sizes, providing low minimum order quantities, and ensuring products are made with FSC-certified paper. Their unique selling points include a commitment to sustainability, flexibility in order quantities, and comprehensive custom design capabilities​​. 

Create sustainable custom packaging with Arka. 

Packola

Features & Offerings

• Boxes, stickers, hang tags, labels, pouches, and custom tape
• Corrugated and cardstock package materials 
• Color printing
• Matte, satin, and glossy ink
• Product boxes, mailer boxes, and shipping boxes
• Online design feature
• Paid sampling
• Instant quote

Order Process

Order Process vary based on product type, but users will generally need to select the following details in the checkout process:

• Interior dimensions 
• Material type
• Coating
• Which sides will have print
• Quantity

For custom packaging, customers can design their box online using Packola’s design portal, or use a dieline template with a professional design editor. 

Turnaround Time

Standard turnaround time is 12-15 business days for production. Rush turnaround time is 6-8 business days. These times are before shipping, which usually takes 1-6 business days. 

Pros

• Custom dimensions
• No minimum
• High-quality color printing
• Intuitive 3D design tool
• Responsive customer service
• Sustainably sourced
• Recyclable 

Cons 

• Higher price point
• No free samples
• Longer turnaround time
• No design support
• Limited material options

Cost & Pricing Plans 

Prices vary based on printed sides, coating type, material, and size. As an example, a wine box on cardstock with matte coating costs $3.80 per box. 

Reviews 

4.1 rating on Trustpilot

“Good & Bad: The design and checkout process was easy; however, the price for a sample plus shipping seemed exorbitant. We took a chance and ordered the supplies without a sample, that we have not received yet. Recommendation: send the follow-up email after we receive our order.” – Trustpilot review

Bottom Line

Many reviewers on Trustpilot raised concerns about customer service and shipping fees. Their instant quote tool comes in handy. For businesses in need of stickers and labels, Packola may be a good option. 

Packlane

Features & Offerings

• Fully customizable packages
• Mailer boxes, folding cartons, and shipping boxes
• Full CMYK color printing
• Free online proofing
• Recyclable 
• Example design gallery
• Some recycled content in cardboard materials
• Live 3D design tool
• Produced in the USA

Order Process

The precise order details needed will vary depending on your box type, but generally, users need to specify the following factors before viewing an instant quote and placing an order:

• Size
• Printed sides
• Material
• Finish
• Quantity
• Production speed
• Design with 3D tool

Turnaround Time

Orders ship within 13 and 18 business days for standard production, or between 7 and 9 business days for rush production. Packlane recommends factoring in 1-2 additional weeks for shipping. 

Pros

• Number of colors does not increase your price
• Easy to use due to live design tool and instant quote
• Discounts for orders with high volumes

Cons 

• Limited design support
• Not all made from recycled materials
• Slightly longer turnaround time

Cost & Pricing Plans 

Prices vary depending on the dimensions, materials, finish, and other details of your order. As an example, a 6” X 4” X 3” mailer box with a matte finish in an order size of 100 would cost $2.84 per box. 

Reviews 

• 4.0 Trustpilot rating
• “I absolutely love how my boxes came out. The support along the way was very prompt and helpful too. Reasonable prices made me happy. The only small drawback (and it was somewhat my own fault for procrastinating) was how long it took to process & ship. Otherwise all good.” – Farley, Trustpilot review

Bottom Line

Packlane works with brands like Everlane and L’Oreal, which puts users at ease with their product quality. Their 3D design studio and instant quotes make the ordering process a breeze. Packlane is a good option with full-color printing and customization.

PackM 

Features & Offerings

• Pouches, bags, folding cartons, labels, stickers, poly mailers, tissue, tape, cards, tags, and boxes available
• Built-in design tool 
• Price savings on higher quantities
• Default printing speed of 6-8 business days
• Custom quotes available

Order Process

First, select the type of packaging you’d like for your product. For example, many food products like granola are best packed in stand-up packages. On the other hand, a makeup brand might be best suited for a folding carton product box. 

Selecting your package type will prompt you to input the details of your order. You’ll need to choose standard or custom dimensions. Depending on the product type, you might need to choose your material. 

For example, mailer boxes can be created with premium white, standard white, or Kraft corrugated board. Choose your printed side options and quantity, then upload your design, or use the included design software to create your packaging.

Turnaround Time

There is only one production speed option for PackM: 6-8 business days. Users should also factor in shipping time for their orders. 

Pros

• Design help available
• Easy design upload from outside of PackM site
• Variety of packaging types and materials 
• Relatively fast printing time

Cons 

• Design tool requires sign-in
• Higher price point for low quantities
• No reviews on external sites

Cost & Pricing Plans 

With a huge variety of product types, prices vary greatly across the PackM offerings. For example, a 4” X 4” X 4” cube box on white paperboard costs $5.33 per box. A 5” X 7” X 3” stand-up pouch with a gloss finish and a tear notch costs $4.80 per pouch. 

Reviews 

“My boxes are high quality and they look great. I have ordered from them a few times and will be placing another order. It makes our business look very professional.” – Butler Business Systems, review on PackM website. 

Bottom Line

Because of its vast range of product options, PackM is a good option for businesses looking for customization on auxiliary packing products like tissue paper and tape. They give us pause because their reviews are nowhere to be found on Trustpilot or anywhere outside of their own website. 

Packola vs Packlane vs PackM vs Arka: Who Wins?

Each of these packaging providers has their bright points, like the customized labels from Packola and the 3D design tool from Packlane. However, compared to PackM, Packlane, and Packola, we think Arka’s strong emphasis on eco-friendly materials and sustainability and their FSC certification–combined with their broad selection of compostable and recycled packaging options–positions them as the best packaging option out of the four. 

Plus, their ease of use and free sampling provide a great user experience. 

Learn more about Arka.