99designs vs DesignCrowd: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for 99designs and DesignCrowd side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, 99designs leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
99designs
Get custom designs from global professionals
Best for you if:
- • You want connects businesses with a global community of vetted professional designers for various design needs
DesignCrowd
Get dozens of design concepts from global freelancers
Best for you if:
- • You want receive dozens of unique concepts from one brief, high creative variety
| At a Glance | 99designs | DesignCrowd |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Not published |
Category | Graphic Design Logo Design | Graphic Design Logo Design |
Rating | 4.1/5 Trustpilot 4.1 · G2 4.0 1,032 reviews | 2.9/5 G2 2.9 20 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose 99designs or DesignCrowd?
Choose 99designs if
- You want connects businesses with a global community of vetted professional designers for various design needs
- You want offers multiple design engagement models, including design contests for a range of options and 1-to-1 projects for direct collaboration
Choose DesignCrowd if
- You want receive dozens of unique concepts from one brief, high creative variety
- You want pay-per-project pricing with no subscriptions or retainers
In-Depth Analysis
99designs
Get custom designs from global professionals
99designs' pricing is on the higher end for a graphic design marketplace, especially for the Bronze ($289) and Silver ($479) tiers which offer a limited number of concepts from intermediate designers.
Strengths
- Pro: Connects businesses with a global community of vetted professional designers for various design needs.
- Pro: Offers multiple design engagement models, including design contests for a range of options and 1-to-1 projects for direct collaboration.
- Pro: Provides a free logo maker tool for quick logo creation or as inspiration for professional designers.
- Pro: Supports a wide array of design categories, from logos and branding to web design, packaging, and illustration.
- Pro: Emphasizes customer satisfaction with a high rating (4.8/5 from over 37,000 customers) and dedicated support.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing for design services starts at a relatively high point (€289 for logo contests), which might be a barrier for very small businesses or individuals with limited budgets.
- Con: The contest model, while offering variety, can be time-consuming for clients to review numerous submissions and provide feedback.
- Con: While designers are vetted, the quality and style of design submissions in a contest can vary, requiring careful selection by the client.
Key features
DesignCrowd
Get dozens of design concepts from global freelancers
While the base prices are competitive, the potential for upgrades can make it expensive.
Strengths
- Pro: Receive dozens of unique concepts from one brief, high creative variety
- Pro: Pay-per-project pricing with no subscriptions or retainers
- Pro: Full commercial rights included with the winning design
- Pro: Money-back guarantee reduces financial risk
- Pro: Large designer pool means faster turnaround
Weaknesses
- Con: Quality varies significantly across submissions in a single contest
- Con: No direct designer vetting, you rely on contest results to judge skill
- Con: Per-project costs ($109-$779+) can exceed subscription design services for repeat needs
- Con: Communication with designers is limited during the contest phase
- Con: Revision process can be slower than working directly with a dedicated designer
Key features
Plans and prices: 99designs vs DesignCrowd
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 99designs |
| 99designs.com/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
| DesignCrowd | No plan prices on file | designcrowd.com/how-it-works read Oct 10, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on 99designs pricing and DesignCrowd pricing.
Key Takeaways
99designs
- Higher user rating: 4.1/5 vs 2.9/5
DesignCrowd
- Choose if you want get dozens of design concepts from global freelancers
What the data shows
On the data below, 99designs leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- 99designs has the higher user rating (4.1/5 from 1,032 reviews for 99designs, 2.9/5 from 20 reviews for DesignCrowd).
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do 99designs and DesignCrowd compare in 2026?
On the data below, 99designs leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. 99designs has the higher user rating (4.1/5 from 1,032 reviews for 99designs, 2.9/5 from 20 reviews for DesignCrowd).
What are 99designs and DesignCrowd used for?
99designs: Get custom designs from global professionals. DesignCrowd: Get dozens of design concepts from global freelancers.
What does 99designs cost vs DesignCrowd?
99designs has no public paid-plan price on file. DesignCrowd has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between 99designs and DesignCrowd?
99designs's main strength: connects businesses with a global community of vetted professional designers for various design needs. DesignCrowd's main strength: receive dozens of unique concepts from one brief, high creative variety.