99designs
99designs is a freelance marketplace based in Australia. Specializing in connecting businesses with talented graphic designers, it allows you to employ freelancers directly or run design contests and choose the winning design from a selection of entries.
The platform started in 1998 as a creative forum and website for the design community in Australia, and it was called Sitepoint. In 2008, it became 99designs. The Australia-based company has since opened offices in the U.S. and Europe.
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- Reach over 150 million candidates.
Pricing:
Project | Estimated Pricing | Contest Pricing |
|---|---|---|
Book Cover | A$389.00 - A$1,399.00 | A$399.00 - A$1,599.00 |
Business Card | A$239.00 - A$559.00 | A$269.00 - A$1,399.00 |
App Design | A$979.00 - A$2,809.00 | A$799.00 - A$3,399.00 |
Web Page Design | A$879.00 - A$4,209.00 | A$799.00 - A$3,399.00 |
PowerPoint Template | A$419.00 - A$1,679.00 | A$269.00 - A$1,399.00 |
Logo Design | Contest only. | A$399.00 - A$1,799.00 |
Users of 99designs have a wide range of design categories to choose from, and, for most of the categories, can decide to work with a freelancer or run a contest. Whereas freelancers charge their own rates for designs, contests come in four fixed packages with fixed pricing.
99designs charges users and designers platform fees that range from 5% to 15%.
Review:
99designs offers a range of design services and multiple payment packages. Users wanting to have design projects done, from logos to landing pages, can work directly with freelancers or run contests. They can access detailed freelancer profiles and choose who to work with. If unhappy with the designs submitted, users may get their money back.
The platform has a built-in alert system designed to alert users when a designer has submitted a stolen design. This behavior is common enough to be worthy of concern when using the site. Contests are also known to take a long time.
Pros:
- The website is easy to use.
- 99design offers a very broad range of design services.
- There are multiple payment packages to choose from.
- Profile information includes response time, repeat clients, the number of contests won, and project history.
- Users can work directly with a designer or run a contest.
- The platform offers a money-back guarantee.
- Many helpful resources are available.
- Designers go through a rigorous application process, guaranteeing a higher quality of design and level of professionalism.
- Australian users have praised the user-friendliness of the platform and responsive customer support.
- The platform has a reporting system that can be used to report designers who have stolen designs or used stock images.
- Users can search for freelancers based on the design category, industry, designer level, and language.
- 99designs is more global than The Loop.
Cons:
- Contests could take up to a month to finalize.
- The different pricing models can be confusing.
- There have been complaints of stolen designs.
- OzLance and The Loop are better for hiring full-time designers locally.
- The site doesn't allow for traditional job postings like other local freelance and creative sites, including OzLance and The Loop.
Reputation:
99designs has mixed reviews. It has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Website Planet, 3.7 out of 5 starts on Trustpilot, and 3.7 out of 5 stars on Sitejabber.
How to Create a Contest on 99designs:
Seven easy steps for posting a project on 99designs.
Creating a contest on 99designs.
Navigate to the 99designs home page.
From the home page, click on the "Get a design" button next to the search box in the center of the page.
Search and select your design category.
Choose between various design categories, including websites, logos, apps, merchandising, and more. Each design category will have a subcategory with different packages to choose from.
Create a design brief.
After selecting a design category option, follow the prompts to create your design brief to give designers an idea of what you are looking for in your design. Go through a selection of design styles, colors, shapes, and more. Once you've completed the design brief, click on "Continue."
Select a design package.
Next, you can choose from a selection of design packages. Consider how many designs you want to receive and how much you are willing to spend. Then, enter a contest title, select a contest option (guaranteed or private contest), and click on "Continue."
You also have the option to promote your contest with paid add-on features to boost the number of designs you receive. Paid add-ons include having your contest featured at the top of the list of projects, highlighted in orange to make it stand out, and having it listed in the 99designs blog.
Create your account.
You will be prompted to sign up to 99designs and create an account.
Fill in your email address.
Create a password.
Complete the CAPTCHA test.
Click on "Sign up."
Review your order.
Fill out the online form with your details. Complete the short questionnaire and click on "Continue."
Complete the payment and post your contest.
Select a payment method and complete your purchase by following the onscreen prompts. Once the payment has been processed, your contest will be posted to 99designs.
99designs vs. DesignCrowd:
DesignCrowd and 99designs offer many of the same services and have many of the same features and processes. Both platforms also have complaints against them about the quality of designers available. 99designs has slightly better ratings, but it is also less affordable.
99designs vs. The Loop:
Like 99designs, The Loop is a platform for creative professionals. However, while 99designs has a global presence and network of designers, The Loop caters only to the Australian market. Both platforms allow users to browse designer profiles, but only The Loop features a traditional job board.
99designs vs. OzLance:
Unlike 99designs, OzLance is not limited to the creative market. OzLance is not a global platform like 99designs, being a marketplace for Australian and New Zealand freelancers, but allows for traditional job adverts in addition to submitting projects freelancers can apply for. OzLance is a good choice if you are looking for local talent only.
Key Information
Legal Name | 99designs Pty Ltd. |
Founder | |
Founding Date | Jan 01, 2008 |
Address | 41-43 Stewart St., Lvl. 2, Richmond, VIC 3121 |
Telephone | |
Website |
FAQs:
How much is 99designs?
99designs' plans cost between A$269.00 and A$1,799.00.
How can I create a 99designs account?
From the 99designs home page, click on "Log in" and then "Sign up."
How can I edit a 99designs project posting?
99designs contest details are managed by the account manager. You won't be able to reduce the prize money once entries have been received. You are also allowed to ask the winning designer to make changes to their design, but they are not obligated to make any changes.
What kind of freelance projects can I post on 99designs?
There is a range of design categories on 99designs to post to. Some of them include book covers, business cards, characters or mascots, infographics, and magazine covers.
How do I find the best freelancers on 99designs?
The best freelancers on 99designs can be found by running a design contest and selecting your favorite design from the contest entries.
Is 99designs free?
No. 99designs offers fixed-price design contest packages and a 5% platform fee (for clients) for one-to-one projects. For one-to-one projects, designers are charged a 20% client introduction fee in addition to a platform fee which varies depending on the experience level of the designer