Shopping for a fake ultrasound brings you to a crossroads: custom Etsy sellers or established template providers?
I spent months testing both options. I ordered from individual Etsy creators who promised unique designs. I also tested template-based sites with preset layouts. The results surprised me. This guide shares what I learned so you avoid the same mistakes.
Quick Answer: Which Should You Choose?
Go with an established template provider. After testing multiple Etsy sellers and template sites, my conclusion is clear. Template providers offer faster delivery, consistent quality, and reliable customer service. Custom Etsy sellers sound appealing but come with real risks.
Baby Maybe is my top recommendation. They offer extensive customization options, live preview before purchase, and ship on real thermal paper. For a full breakdown of all providers, read my best fake ultrasound websites 2026 review.
What is a Custom Fake Ultrasound?
Custom fake ultrasounds come from individual sellers, often on Etsy or similar marketplaces. These creators promise to design a completely unique ultrasound image from scratch based on your specifications.
What Custom Sellers Promise
- Completely unique layout designed for you
- Hand-crafted by a graphic designer
- Any specifications you request
- One-of-a-kind result no one else has
Typical Custom Pricing
- Basic custom design: $25 to $45
- Rush orders: Additional $10 to $20
- Revisions: Often extra cost
- Printed copies: Usually separate fee
Turnaround Times
Most Etsy sellers quote 2 to 5 business days for custom work. Rush options exist but cost more. I found actual delivery often took longer than promised.
What is a Template Fake Ultrasound?
Template ultrasounds come from established websites with preset designs. You customize specific fields like name, date, hospital, and gestational age. The underlying layout stays consistent.
What Modern Templates Offer
The best template providers have evolved far beyond basic fill-in-the-blank forms. Top sites now offer:
- Patient name in any format you want
- Hospital or clinic name to match your local facility
- Doctor name your choice
- Date any date you specify
- Gestational age from early weeks through third trimester
- Gender indicators boy, girl, or keep it ambiguous
- Twins and multiples for bigger surprises
- Live preview see your result before ordering
- Real thermal paper printing authentic texture and feel
Template Pricing
- Digital download: $10 to $25
- Printed on thermal paper: $15 to $35
- Rush delivery: Often included or minimal extra
My Experience with Etsy Sellers
I wanted to believe custom was better. I ordered from four different Etsy sellers over three months. Here is what happened.
Slow and Inconsistent Communication
Three out of four sellers took over 24 hours to respond to my initial message. One seller disappeared for five days after I paid. When I asked about my order status, responses came slowly or not at all.
One seller replied within hours. She delivered quality work. But finding reliable sellers requires luck. You have no way to know beforehand who will respond promptly.
The Reselling Problem
Here is what shocked me most. Two of the four sellers I tested were not creating custom work at all. They used existing template sites, added my information, and resold the result at a markup.
How did I know? The formatting matched template providers exactly. Same fonts. Same layout. Same measurement positioning. They charged me $35 for something I could have ordered directly for $18.
One seller even left metadata in the file showing which template site she used. She paid $12 and charged me $40.
Quality Varied Wildly
The genuinely custom orders had inconsistent quality. One looked professional. Another had obvious Photoshop artifacts and misaligned text. Fonts did not match what real ultrasounds use. Medical terminology had errors.
When I requested revisions, one seller fixed the issues. Another argued the work was fine and refused changes without additional payment.
No Recourse When Things Go Wrong
Etsy’s dispute process takes time. If your order arrives late or looks wrong, getting a refund means filing claims and waiting. One dispute took two weeks to resolve. By then, I needed the ultrasound and had to order elsewhere anyway.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Etsy Custom | Template Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $25 to $50+ | $10 to $35 |
| Turnaround | 2 to 5+ days | Same day to 24 hours |
| Communication | Inconsistent | Automated + support |
| Name customization | Yes | Yes |
| Hospital name | Yes | Yes |
| Gestational age options | Varies by seller | Full range (8 to 40 weeks) |
| Live preview | No | Yes (best providers) |
| Thermal paper option | Rarely | Yes (best providers) |
| Twins option | If seller offers | Yes |
| Quality consistency | Varies wildly | Consistent |
| Refund process | Etsy disputes (slow) | Direct with provider |
| Risk of reselling | High | None |
Established Template Providers
After my Etsy experiences, I focused on dedicated template providers. These companies specialize in fake ultrasounds and have refined their products over years.
Baby Maybe Shop
Baby Maybe stands out from competitors. Their system offers a live preview feature. You enter your details and see exactly what you will receive before paying. No surprises.
Key features:
- Extensive gestational age options from 8 weeks through third trimester
- Custom hospital, doctor, and patient names
- Live preview before purchase
- Real thermal paper printing that matches authentic ultrasound texture
- Same-day digital delivery
- Twins and gender reveal options
Pricing runs $15 to $30 depending on format and delivery method. Thermal paper prints cost more but look and feel authentic.
Other Template Options
Several other template providers exist. FakeaBaby offers templates starting around $9 on sale. FakeUltrasound.com prices range from $10 to $19. Both have more limited customization than Baby Maybe.
For a complete comparison of all providers with pricing, features, and my ratings, read my best fake ultrasound websites 2026 review.
When Custom Might Work
Custom Etsy sellers are not always wrong. Specific situations exist where custom makes sense:
- Unusual requests If you need something no template covers, like a specific rare ultrasound machine format
- Artistic projects Film or art projects needing stylized rather than realistic results
- Flexible timeline When you have weeks to spare and delays will not matter
- Found a proven seller If someone you trust recommends a specific seller with verified quality
When Templates Are Better
For most buyers, established template providers win. Here is when templates are the clear choice:
- Tight deadline You need it within 24 to 48 hours
- Pregnancy announcements Family will examine every detail
- Pranks on observant friends Quality and realism matter
- Want thermal paper Etsy sellers rarely offer authentic printing
- Budget matters Templates cost less than custom
- Peace of mind You know what you will get before paying
- Revisions needed Template systems let you adjust and preview instantly
The Reliability Factor
Template providers process hundreds of orders. They have systems in place. Customer service responds. Products arrive on time. You deal with a company, not an individual who might get busy or disappear.
After dealing with Etsy seller inconsistency, I value reliability highly. Knowing my order will arrive looking like the preview is worth a lot.
Cost Breakdown: Custom vs Template
Etsy Custom Cost
- Base design: $25 to $45
- Rush fee: $10 to $20
- Revisions: Often $5 to $15 extra
- Printed copy shipped: $10 to $15
- Total for printed: $45 to $95
Template Provider Cost
- Digital download: $10 to $20
- Thermal paper print: $20 to $35
- Rush delivery: Usually included
- Total for printed: $20 to $35
The Math Is Clear
Template providers cost 50 to 70 percent less than Etsy custom sellers. You get faster delivery, consistent quality, and live preview. The premium Etsy sellers charge often pays for nothing extra.
Worse, if your Etsy seller is secretly using templates anyway, you pay double for the same product.
My Recommendation
Skip Etsy sellers. Use an established template provider.
I learned this lesson the expensive way. Hours spent messaging unresponsive sellers. Money wasted on resold templates. Quality that varied from acceptable to embarrassing.
Baby Maybe Shop is my top recommendation. Their live preview removes all guesswork. Thermal paper printing creates authentic texture. Customization options cover everything from hospital name to gestational age to twins.
For my complete analysis of all providers including pricing tables and feature comparisons, read the best fake ultrasound websites 2026 guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Etsy custom ultrasounds higher quality than templates?
Not necessarily. Quality depends entirely on the individual seller. Some Etsy sellers do excellent work. Many do not. Template providers offer consistent quality because they use refined, tested designs. With Etsy, you gamble on each order.
How do I spot an Etsy seller who resells templates?
Ask for samples of previous work. Compare the layouts to major template sites like Baby Maybe, FakeaBaby, and FakeUltrasound.com. If the fonts, spacing, and formatting match exactly, the seller is likely reselling. Legitimate custom designers create unique layouts.
Will a template look fake because others have the same design?
No. Templates include extensive customization for names, dates, hospitals, and measurements. Your result looks unique because your personal details differ from everyone else who uses the same base template. No one compares ultrasounds side by side.
Do template providers offer thermal paper printing?
The best ones do. Baby Maybe ships on real thermal paper that matches authentic ultrasound texture and feel. Most Etsy sellers only provide digital files or standard photo prints.
What if I need something truly unique?
If no template covers your specific need, Etsy custom remains an option. Allow extra time for revisions. Get samples first. Request references. Accept you might need to try multiple sellers before finding one who delivers quality work.
Which template provider should I choose?
Baby Maybe offers the most customization options, live preview, and thermal paper printing. For a complete comparison of all providers with my ratings, read the best fake ultrasound websites 2026 guide.
Wrapping Up
Custom versus template is not really a quality question. The question is reliability.
Etsy custom sellers might deliver excellent work. They might disappear after payment. They might secretly resell templates at double the price. You have no way to know beforehand.
Established template providers deliver consistent results every time. Live previews show exactly what you get. Thermal paper options create authentic texture. Customer service responds when you have questions.
I spent months and hundreds of dollars learning this. Save yourself the trouble. Start with a quality template provider like Baby Maybe.
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