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Flying Research is a print on demand research web app with a free plan that needs no credit card. On the free plan you can browse Amazon best sellers in the US and Europe, find design ideas and run trademark searches across several countries. The Pro plan adds sales rank history, niche analysis and a trademark watchlist. I have used it for my own research, and this tutorial shows how to get the most out of the free version.
Lire en français : Flying Research gratuit : tuto pour trouver tes niches
Table of contents
What is Flying Research?
Flying Research is an online tool, used in your browser, built for print on demand sellers. It combines three jobs you would often do with separate tools: niche research based on Amazon best sellers, keyword research and trademark checks. The same company also offers Flying Upload, a separate tool that automates design uploads to many platforms.
Its sales data comes from Amazon: best sellers in the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy, plus live Merch by Amazon design data. For keywords it also pulls from Redbubble and Spreadshirt. The interface is available in English and German.
Free vs Pro: what you get
According to the official Flying Research page, checked October 2026:
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon best sellers (6 marketplaces) | Yes | Yes |
| Design preview and download | Yes | Yes |
| Design ideas (Get Inspired POD) | Yes | Yes |
| Official Brands list | Yes | Yes |
| Trademark search and details | Yes | Yes |
| BSR history | No | Yes |
| Niche analysis, events calendar | No | Yes |
| Trademark watchlist with email alerts | No | Yes |
Pro comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee. Features change often, so check the details on the site before you upgrade.
Create a free Flying Research account
Tutorial: validate a niche in 6 steps on the free plan
- Sign up for free. No payment details are required. You then use the app in your browser.
- Browse the best sellers. Pick a marketplace (start with the US, the biggest one) and a product type, then scroll through the top-ranked designs. Note the themes that keep appearing.
- Look for ideas in Get Inspired. Use it to spot topics you had not considered, then keep the ones that fit an audience you understand.
- Rule out official brands. Best seller lists include licensed products (movies, shows, brands). The Official Brands section helps you recognize them: they are not niches for you, since you cannot use those brands.
- Check every phrase. Enter your text in the trademark search: it queries WIPO, EUIPO, the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain at once, across all classes. Open a mark's details to see its owner and classes.
- Collect your keywords. Extract keywords from listings that sell and from Amazon suggestions, then keep only those that truly describe your future design.
💡 Pro tip
Never copy a design you find in the best sellers. Use it to understand what an audience likes (theme, tone, style), then create your own take. My full process is in the guide on how to find a print on demand niche.
What if you sell outside Amazon?
Even if you mostly sell on Redbubble, TeePublic or Spreadshirt, Amazon best sellers are a solid demand signal: a niche that sells on the biggest marketplace is likely to work elsewhere too. Keywords pulled from Redbubble and Spreadshirt then help with your listings. For Redbubble specifically, see my guide on Redbubble tags.
How to read a trademark search
Trademark search is the most useful free feature. To read the results well:
- Check the status: you can filter new and ended marks. An ended mark is no longer protected, but make sure no new application has replaced it.
- Check the classes: 25 for clothing, 21 for mugs, 16 for paper goods and stickers, 9 for phone cases. A live mark in class 25 blocks your shirt.
- Check the owner: big companies enforce their marks more often, but every live mark must be respected.
- Check the countries: a mark registered only in Germany matters if you sell in Germany, even if it does not exist in the US.
What about Flying Upload?
Flying Upload is a separate tool from the same company that automates design uploads. According to its site, it supports Merch by Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, KDP, Spreadshirt, Redbubble, Printful, Printify, TeePublic, Displate and Fine Art America, among others. It mostly helps sellers who upload many designs to several platforms.
Limitations to know
- Amazon-focused sales data: Redbubble and Spreadshirt sales do not show up.
- Weekly trademark updates: a mark filed a few days ago may be missing. For important phrases, repeat the search in the official databases, as explained in my guide on how to check trademarks before selling t-shirts.
- No history on the free plan: without BSR history, you see what sells today, not whether it keeps selling.
Free, Pro or another tool?
The free plan is enough to validate your first niches and check your phrases. Upgrade to Pro when you upload regularly and need to know whether a niche sells over time. If you mostly want a very complete product database with sales history, compare it with Podly, the tool I still use for my research today.
FAQ
Is Flying Research really free?
Yes, there is a free plan with no credit card required. It includes best sellers, design ideas and trademark search. BSR history and niche analysis are Pro features.
Is Flying Research a Chrome extension?
No, it is a web app you use in your browser after logging in. There is nothing to install.
Does Flying Research check EU trademarks?
Yes. The trademark search covers WIPO, EUIPO and the offices of the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, with weekly data updates.
Is Flying Research good for beginners?
Yes. The free plan covers the core of niche validation (best sellers, ideas, trademark checks) without any cost, which makes it a low-risk way to learn research before paying for a tool.
Key takeaways
The free Flying Research plan is a strong starting point for finding niches from Amazon best sellers and checking your phrases across several countries. Use it for inspiration, never for copying, and move to Pro only when you need sales history.
My designs
Original designs that came out of this kind of research, in my shops:
Lire en français : Flying Research gratuit : tuto pour trouver tes niches
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Une question sur ce design ou sur le print on demand ? Laissez un commentaire, je réponds à chacun.A question about this design or print on demand? Leave a comment, I reply to each one.