99designs: The Crowdsourced Graphic Designers Heaven
Do you need the benefits of having professional and tailored designs without the trouble of seeking an agency? 99designs links businesses of all magnitudes with a worldwide community of qualified designers using stress-pipingly simple design contests and direct recruitment. Want a memorable logo that makes your company look professional? Or are you in search of a complete rebranding? 99designs will help you harness a global creative force – and receive designs you deeply adore.
Interested in knowing more about how design contests work, how much it costs, what makes 99designs so different to other freelance graphic design markets? Watch and learn how the world of online design markets is not so bad, having real-life examples, reviews, and comparison.
What is 99designs? The Basics of a Crowdsourced Design Marketplace
Founded in 2008 in Melbourne, Australia, 99designs is an industry-leading custom graphic design marketplace that connects businesses with vetted freelance designers for hire. The platform offers two main ways for clients to access creative talent:
- Design Contests: Post a brief, and multiple designers submit their ideas. You pick your favorite and refine it until it’s perfect.
- Direct Hire: Search profiles and portfolios, then work one-on-one with a designer of your choice.
By 2025, over a million registered designers on 99designs collaborate with companies in more than 190 countries across all design categories—from logo design services online to advanced UI/UX design marketplace projects.
How 99designs Works
Step-By-Step Process
- Choose Your Project Type
From logo design contest platform to website design contests, packaging, and branding services—you select what you need. - Start a Contest or Hire Directly
- Contest: Submit a brief describing your vision. Designers worldwide submit concepts.
- Direct Hire: Pick a designer by browsing their portfolios and reviews.
- Collaborate and Refine
Give feedback, request revisions, and interact via 99designs’ platform to reach your perfect design. - Select the Winner (Contest Only)
Pick your favorite entry and get full copyright with production-ready files. - Payment & Ownership
Pay only if you love the final design (with satisfaction guarantees), and get complete rights.
99 designs Pricing Plans
At 99designs, each budget and project type has transparent pricing plans at multiple tiers. Logo design contests (2025 prices), sample:
Tier Price (USD) Features
Bronze $299 Inexpensive, suitable to small projects
Silver $499 Great value, more skilled designers attracted to it
Gold $799 Only the best experienced designers; increased assistance
Platinum $1,299 Elite designers, service given precedence and top quality experience
Similar tiered structures are common on other types of projects like web design, app design, business cards and brand identity packs. Variation in hiring QQQQQQQQQdirect designers rates are based on scope, experience and negotiation.
The 99designs Pro allows a 5 percent buyer fee and special rates on the agency.
What makes 99 designs special? Key Advantages
1. Membership to an International Designer Community
There are more than one million creative design freelancers of all specialties who are willing to take up your project, and you will have their creativity and views.
2. Skinning and Adaptability
- The contest model will allow you to view hundreds of options before getting into anything.
- Under direct hiring, relationships can be maintained and brands can be built.
3. Professional Branding Services and Quality Control
The designers are all screened and there are quality assurances. Last files are print and internet ready and all copyrights are included.
4. One-stop-shop Creative Shop
Whether creating a logo via online services, a brand book, packaging, or web UI/UX, 99designs employs every artistic requirement of start ups, SMEs, and enterprises as well.
Good 99designs Alternatives
In case you need to compare, these are some of the best design crowdsourcing websites:
- Fiverr: Gig-based, provides lower priced and broad selection of creative / technical services, quality and selectivity is lower–99designs is better at consistent quality in its design services.
- Upwork: Wide freelance graphic designing ecosystem, but one will have to take extra time to discover and scrutinize talent.
- DesignCrowd: Second crowdsourced site that allows making similar design competitions.
- Dribbble: A portfolio-focused platform; excellent as far as finding new people goes, but getting to hire is tricky.
- Penji: Recurring model of unlimited graphic design.
- Hatchwise, DesignContest: Lesser logo print designing contests floors with special requirements.
99designs vs Fiverr
| Feature | 99designs | Fiverr |
| Pricing Model | Contest/Direct Hire | Individual gigs |
| Design Quality | Vetted designers, higher consistency | Mixed; client must vet designers |
| Service Range | Focused on design & branding | Broad: writing, tech, marketing, etc. |
| UX | Collaborative, refined for design | Quick browse & buy |
| Best For | Custom branding and identity | Quick, budget-friendly tasks |
Real-World 99designs Customer Reviews
Customers love 99designs for its ease of use, the diversity and professionalism of its designers, and responsive support. Many cite the benefit of seeing multiple ideas quickly and the sense of collaboration in a virtual setting. Designers value the exposure and opportunity, although some note the competitive nature of contests.
99designs for Business Branding and Beyond
- Professional branding services: Cohesive identities, including logos, business cards, and style guides.
- Website design contests: Tap into UI/UX design marketplace talent.
- Custom graphic design marketplace: From social media kits to packaging.
- Online design portfolio sites: Transparency and confidence in hiring.
How 99designs Supports Creative Design Freelancers
99designs empowers freelance designers for hire to build careers through:
- Global exposure via contests and direct hiring.
- Community feedback and portfolio growth.
- Tools to manage client communication, revisions, and payments.
FAQs: Everything You Should Know
Is 99designs safe and reliable?
Yes. Secure payments, clear policies, and dispute resolution support both clients and designers.
How fast can I get designs?
Most contests yield first entries within 24 hours. Projects typically complete in 3–7 days.
Can I get more than logos?
Yes! Design categories include web/app design, packaging, business cards, social media, and more.
Conclusion:
The 99designs platform represents an outstanding place where a client can find a team that will develop a unique graphic and branding design. Modern branding requires contest and direct-hire solutions, clear prices, and access to the best talents around the globe, and 99designs is suited to meet these requirements. It provides diversity, quality and teamwork that will make your vision a reality whether you are a new business or a corporate company. Out to find something creative, without compromise? Your next project is international with 99designs.
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Learn all about 99designs: find the best freelance graphic designers, run competitive design contests, see pricing, and get the most suitable alternatives.
