99designs has been a trusted online marketplace for businesses seeking graphic design and illustrations since 2008.
Because of its business format, however, when your needs grow, you might find yourself looking for a more robust solution to grow with you.
99designs alternatives aren't exactly hard to find. But with so many on the market, making the choice can stop at not knowing where to start. Crafting a captivating and lucrative brand story is no walk in the park. It involved curated graphics and personalized aesthetics that breathe life into your brand—leaving a lasting impact on every interaction with your customers.
Whether it's your company logo design, the visuals on your social media banners, the artistry of your ad campaigns, or the finesse of your UX/UI design, each element plays a pivotal role in forging emotional connections with your customers.
A 99designs alternative needs to live up to that standard.
Why Consider 99designs Alternatives?
While many businesses and individuals still heavily rely on 99designs for graphic design services, some think it curbs a designer’s creativity. Not all talented and creative minds can perform at the fullest under the pressure of competition.
Even if you select a winner, design contests don’t guarantee that the design won’t meet your expectations or requirements.
Businesses and teams often spend large portions of budgets on a design contest only to find that the selected graphic designer didn’t deliver up to the mark even after the final edits. This poses a huge risk of design bottlenecks that often leave marketing teams stranded.
Having a dedicated project manager can mitigate these risks by ensuring personalized support and oversight, leading to efficient management of design and development requests.
Additionally, the design operations of a growing business may become far too complex for a service like 99designs, slowing the team down and blocking creativity.
More and more brands are searching for a solution that offers more control and clarity each day.
Brief Overview of 99designs
99designs is a popular graphic design company by Vistaprint, founded in 2008.
99designs operates as a crowdsourcing platform, connecting designers and clients through design contests and submissions.
More than one million designers and 444,000 business and individual users have used their services since its creation.
It offers two models simultaneously to help find your ideal freelance graphic designer.
99designs Alternatives: Best Options
We've compiled some of the best 99designs alternatives out there, including their pros and cons, so you can quickly outsource your graphic design needs to the best possible solution for you and your business.
Let's get started!
1. Hiring an In-House Graphic Designer
A common alternative to 99designs is, of course, the tried-and-true solution of hiring a designer.
Hiring a designer in house is the most traditional route out of the bunch. Brands retain the most control, but not without costs.
Pros and Cons of Hiring a Designer:
Pros
- Tailored, on-brand creative work that aligns closely with your company’s vision and long-term strategy
- Seamless collaboration with the ability to provide real-time feedback and iterate quickly
- Consistent brand identity across all deliverables, from logos to marketing collateral
- Deep knowledge of your brand guidelines
- Potential to grow with your team
Cons
- Higher upfront costs compared to contest-based platforms or freelancers
- You’ll need to allocate time for briefings and ongoing communication
- Availability contractions during peak workloads
- Risk of skills gaps if one designer can’t cover all needs
- Potential longer lead times for complex projects
- Recruitment and retention challenges, especially if you are hiring in-house rather than outsourcing
2. Teamtown (Best for ongoing design needs)
We might have some bias, but Teamtown's Creative as a Service (CaaS) solution has proven itself time and time again to be one of the best 99designs alternatives.
From a dedicated design team to flat monthly fee billing, Teamtown is a design solution built for marketing teams that need design consistency and predictable budgets, bringing you as close as possible to hiring in-house without any long-term commitments and at an affordable price point.
Let's take a closer look at the details.
What is Teamtown?
Teamtown is a design subscription with a global vetted team made of top 1% design talent from all over the globe.
By providing scroll-stopping design for a flat monthly subscription fee, marketing teams are free to build out predictable budgets and robust campaigns to satisfy the most demanding of CEOs.
Having previously worked at top agencies, these designers bring visually stunning designs to brands at scale. Each designer on your team has a specialty—be it logo designers, web designers, and even specialists in mobile app design.
Using our team model, brands can take advantage of having multiple professional designers with different specialties under one roof.
When you're not separately working with a million freelance designers, you avoid brand inconsistency and allow the designers you work with to build context around your business, just as an in-house designer would.
Dedicated and professional graphic designers supporting ambitious marketers, just as it was meant to be!
Teamtown offers all the benefits of an in-house designer without the drawbacks some users have faced with 99designs.
- Tailored designs that align with your brand and vision
- Seamless collaboration and ongoing feedback
- Faster delivery of design projects
- Maintaining a consistent brand identity over time
- A commitment to meeting your expectations
Plus the added benefit of guaranteed commitment for as long as you're in business. Designers may come and go, so it's good for you that we have an entire team at your disposal.
Again, we might have some bias, so here are some other services like Teamtown that can work in place of 99designs.
Any of these services might be your favorite 99designs alternative depending on your business goals.
While we believe Teamtown is the best for high-quality, long-term, brand-building relationships, you might find some interest below. So keep reading.
3. Flocksy (Best for mid-sized projects that include video or copywriting)
Established in 2016, Flocksy offers various creative services, including voiceover, copywriting, web development, and graphic design. With subscriptions starting at $499 per month, small businesses and startups can get their services on the go. Like a design contest, higher budgets will result in bigger results, which is why competitive pricing may result in more varied quality compared to 99designs.
Flocksy pricing is customizable, with 2 hours per business day starting at $1,195 per month.
Key Features
- Range of creative services
- Unlimited design requests
- Team-based workflow
Pros
- All-in-one services
- Flexible requests
- Good fit for startups and SMBs
Cons
- Quality can be inconsistent
- Best suited for small to mid-sized projects
4. Design Pickle (Best for quick turnaround on mid-sized projects)
Design Pickle offers creative solutions tailored for small businesses through subscription-based services. Their agency extends its expertise to include illustration, presentation design, and motion picture design support, diversifying its offerings to meet various creative needs.
An intriguing aspect of the service is the inclusion of unlimited drawings and revisions, providing flexibility and room for customized editing. Notably, Design Pickle stands out with its impressive feature of a rapid turnaround time, with designs often delivered within a single day.
Many founders have unpackaged different aspects of Design Pickle, creating a long list of Design Pickle alternatives to accommodate brands and teams of all sizes.
In terms of pricing, their starter plan comes in at $399 per month, granting subscribers access to unlimited design submissions and illustrations, unlimited design revisions, and the advantage of swift one-day delivery times.
The 99designs vs. Design Pickle conversation comes down to pricing and features. Design Pickle costs $1,918 per month. The price increases as you add extra hours to your daily allowance. The base plan includes two hours of design services per day.
Key Features
- Unlimited design requests and revisions
- Services include illustrations and more
- One-day turnaround on many requests
Pros
- Fast delivery
- Predictable monthly cost
- Broad creative service offerings
Cons
- More advanced features locked behind higher plans
- Not ideal for complex branding
5. Manypixels (Best for ongoing, small-to-medium projects)
Manypixels is another alternative to 99designs best suited for small business owners. With packages starting from $549 per month, you can use various design subscription services such as unlimited graphic design and web design services.
It's important to note that the service of Manypixels is available to US Eastern, Central European, and Indochina timezones only.
Manypixels plans are as follows:
- Advanced for $599 per month
- Business for $999 per month
- Designated Designer for $1,299 per month
- Design Team for $2,399 per month
Key Features
- Unlimited graphic and web design requests
- Straightforward workflow
- Dedicated designers assigned to projects
Pros
- Great for consistent, ongoing design needs
- A dedicated designer provides familiarity with the brand style
- Scales easily for SMBs
Cons
- Time zone support availability may be restrictive
- May not handle highly complex projects
6. Penji (Best for simple, medium-sized projects)
Penji is an affordable alternative to 99designs. It offers all kinds of graphic design solutions under its hood. It’s best suited for startups and small-scale businesses as it offers many affordable plans starting from $499 per month. Additionally, Penji provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, instilling confidence in their service quality.
One of Penji's key advantages is unlimited print and digital graphics, a valuable resource for creative projects. They also boast a swift turnaround time, with designs typically delivered in a day or two, and the Agency plan even offers same-day turnaround.
With that said, Penji lacks a free trial and does not accommodate one-off graphic design requests, and some reviews suggest that it might not be the optimal choice for larger marketing teams and companies.
Penji plans include the following:
- Business for $499 per month
- Marketing & Ads for $995 per month
- Agency for $1,497 per month
Key Features
- Unlimited design requests
- Same-day turnaround options
- Flat-rate subscription model
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Fast turnaround
- Broad coverage
Cons
- No free trial beyond the limited refund period
- Less suitable for larger marketing teams
7. Kapa99 (Best for small projects with quick turnaround)
Kapa99 is another 99designs alternative offering affordable services. The starter plan for business starts at $349 for the first two months with clearly tiered pricing structures for the remaining plans.
Kapa99 is a pioneer of unlimited design services, but it may be better suited for smaller teams, agencies, and business owners. Graphic design services with an extremely competitive price often lose quality and attention as a result, leading to rushed designs and graphic designers under pressure.
Pricing plans on Kapa99 include:
- Business for $349 for the first two months
- Business Express for $849 for the first two months
Key Features
- Unlimited design requests
- Tiered subscription plans
- Quick delivery
Pros
- Very affordable
- Quick turnaround times
- Strong option for startups
Cons
- Quality may dip due to competitive pricing
- Not ideal for complex work
8. DesignCrowd (Best for one-time small-to-medium projects)
DesignCrowd is a platform that empowers digital design businesses to submit their creative concepts, including graphic designs, while providing a space for graphic design companies to present their designs crafted to your own design brief.
With a vast pool of over 100,000 freelance designers, the platform offers a diverse directory categorized by specialties and regions, allowing you to filter and select the most suitable talent based on factors like the number of project wins and review ratings.
On pricing, it’s important to note that costs can vary depending on the complexity of the design project. However, be aware of potential hidden expenses, including posting fees ranging from $29 to $129. These costs should be factored into your decision-making process when using DesignCrowd’s services.
The DesignCrowd vs. 99designs debate comes down to pricing and features. DesignCrowd charges up to $129 to post your project and a 4% transaction fee.
Key Features
- Contest format means you receive multiple submissions in one brief
- Option to browse designer portfolios
- Wide talent pool
Pros
- Flexible way to outsource graphic design
- Cheaper than most design subscription services
Cons
- Not true creative-as-a-service
- Hidden fees can add up fast
9. Fiverr (Best for small, one-off projects)
Using a freelance platform like Fiverr is always a good choice when hiring a graphic designer at a low cost. Under one roof you can meet some exciting talent, from top web and graphics designers to logo makers.
Fiverr, a freelance marketplace, was initially created to assist businesses in launching their projects at a lower cost, and is not limited to graphic design. It has maintained its reputation for offering services at relatively affordable rates.
Over time, Fiverr has evolved its offerings by introducing "Pro" levels, which come with higher costs but bring aboard top-tier designers and premium content creators. Today, the platform boasts a diverse pool of experienced freelancers and talented designers who can cater to various project needs.
Additionally, Fiverr provides an online logo maker tool, further expanding its toolkit of resources for businesses seeking creative solutions.
Pricing varies but starts at just $5. However, plan to pay more for design projects.
Key Features
- Thousands of freelance designers across specialties
- Wide pricing range
- FiverPro for vetted designers
Pros
- Huge talent pool
- Flexible for one-off projects
- Fiverr Pro ensures freelancers are vetted for higher quality
Cons
- Quality control can be inconsistent
- Risk of long turnaround times
- Managing multiple freelancers can be tedious
Key Features to Look For in a 99designs Alternative
Even with the world's longest list of alternatives to choose from, you'll still need to watch out for key features that could make or break whether a graphic design service is a fit for you and your team.
Here, we'll take a look at some of the key features you should be keeping your eye on to lock in a successful partnership with a monthly design subscription service.
Specialized Talent
When teaming up with a 99designs alternative, make sure prospective partners can offer you access to specialized talent. Here’s what to look for:
- Access to a diverse team of skilled designers
- Designers work with you consistently over time, learning your preferences and brand style
- Ensures you walk away with ready-to-use designs handled by professionals with expertise in specific creative areas
You can tap into talent that you don’t have internally at a fraction of the cost.
Dedicated Project Management
A project manager will oversee all requests, ensuring tasks are prioritized and delivered on time. With a project manager, you can:
- Submit multiple requests at once without the hassle of managing different freelancers
- Improve efficiency and accountability
- Reduce the chance of bottlenecks by providing clear communication and structured workflows
You’ll enjoy dedicated support without the overhead of an in-house creative team. It’s a win-win.
Predictable Pricing & Scalability
Take the guesswork out of design pricing with a 99designs alternative. Look for a partner that provides:
- Flat-rate monthly design subscriptions that make budgeting easier
- Scalability to meet your evolving needs
- Money-saving options
Use this predictability to focus resources on other growth areas and projects.
Customer Support
The best alternatives offer exceptional customer support. Look for a provider that delivers:
- 24/5 or 24/7 support and quick response times
- Simplified requests for submitting tickets
- Direct access to support teams to promote prompt resolution
You should be confident that your design partner is there to help when you encounter an issue.
Alternatives to 99designs: Try Teamtown
If you're still confused about 99designs alternatives, give Teamtown a try. With monthly packages starting from just $947, you get access to a world-class team of graphic designers specializing in website design, motion graphics, UI/UX design, logo design, video editing, and anything else a marketing team needs.
All our plans come with a 15-day money back guarantee, for a no-commitment trial. Not a fit within 15 days? We'll refund everything you paid and part ways without any hard feelings.
Subscribe to the one-month package or book a demo with us to give the best-suited 99designs alternative a shot!
99designs Alternatives at a Glance
