Understand how 99designs' design contests and 1-to-1 projects work, including pricing packages, pros and cons, and how it compares to other design platforms.
99designs is an online marketplace that connects businesses needing graphic design work with a global community of freelance designers, using either a competitive contest format or direct 1-to-1 hires.
Founded in Melbourne in 2008 and acquired by Vista in 2020, the platform has grown from its original logo-design focus into a broader design marketplace covering branding, web and app design, packaging, and print materials.
Its defining feature is the design contest: a client posts a brief and budget, multiple designers submit competing concepts, and the client picks a winner to receive final files and full copyright.
Design contests let clients receive multiple competing concepts from different designers for a single fixed package price, rather than committing to one designer upfront.
1-to-1 projects allow clients to work directly with a single chosen designer on an hourly or project-fee basis for more collaborative, iterative work.
Tiered packages (commonly Bronze through Platinum) control how many designers can enter a contest, how many initial concepts are delivered, and which skill level of designer can participate.
A designer rating and portfolio system helps clients evaluate quality and specialization before selecting who works on 1-to-1 projects or judging contest entries.
All completed contest packages include full copyright transfer and production-ready digital and print files.
A satisfaction guarantee gives clients a path to a refund if none of the submitted contest concepts meet their needs.
99designs uses tiered, category-specific contest pricing rather than a recurring subscription. For logo design, packages commonly run Bronze at 299 USD, Silver at 499 USD, Gold at 899 USD, and Platinum at 1,299 USD, with higher tiers unlocking more concepts and access to higher-rated designers.
Other categories carry different price points: illustration and graphics contests range from roughly 349 USD to 1,399 USD, and product packaging or combined logo-plus-brand-identity packages can run from about 449 USD up to roughly 2,499 USD depending on tier.
1-to-1 projects are typically quoted individually between the client and the chosen designer, based on project scope and the designer's rates, rather than following the fixed contest package pricing.
It is used to source graphic design work, most commonly logos, brand identity, packaging, and web or app design, through design contests or direct designer hires.
Pricing varies by category and tier; logo design contest packages start around 299 USD for Bronze and go up to roughly 1,299 USD for Platinum, with other categories priced differently.
A client posts a design brief and package budget, multiple designers submit competing concepts, and the client selects a winning design to receive final files and copyright.
No, 99designs was acquired by Vista (Vistaprint's parent company) in 2020 and rebranded as 99designs by Vista in 2022.
Yes, 99designs offers a satisfaction guarantee that allows clients to request a refund if no contest concept meets their needs.
Yes, through 1-to-1 projects clients can work directly with a chosen designer instead of running a contest.
99designs was founded in 2008 in Melbourne, Australia.