99designs vs Fiverr: Which Platform is Better for Graphic Design and Other Freelancing Services?

Are you a small business owner or an entrepreneur looking for creative design or freelancing solutions?

If so, you may have come across two popular platforms— 99designs and Fiverr—both promising to meet your design needs. But which one is better?

In this blog post, we will dive deep into the world of freelance design, exploring the pros and cons of both 99designs and Fiverr so you can make the right decision.

Whether you’re seeking a logo, website design, or other freelancing service, we’ll compare pricing, quality, customer support, and much more.

So, if you’re ready to weigh your options and find the perfect platform for your design needs, keep reading to find out which one comes out on top.

Brief Overview: 99designs vs Fiverr

First, I’ll give you a quick overview of 99designs and Fiverr:

99designs

99designs is a creative platform that connects businesses with graphic designers worldwide. Through a global community of skilled designers, it offers various design services, including logo design, websites, and packaging. The platform is known for its logo design contests, where clients receive multiple design options.

Key Selling Points:

• Access to a global network of professional graphic designers
• Variety of design services, including logo, web, and packaging design
• Unique design contest format for receiving multiple design options
• Custom, professional design solutions for businesses of all sizes
• High customer satisfaction with a 4.8/5 rating from numerous reviews

Fiverr

Fiverr is a diverse freelance marketplace offering various services, including graphic design and digital marketing. It connects businesses with freelancers offering services in various categories like graphics and design, digital marketing, writing, translation, project management, and programming. Fiverr is known for its vast selection of freelancers and competitive pricing.

Key Selling Points:

• Extensive range of services, including design, marketing, and tech
• Access to a large pool of freelancers for diverse design project needs
• User-friendly platform with an easy process to find and hire talent
• Competitive pricing with options for more business-oriented operations of all budgets
• Features services like Fiverr Pro for top-tier professional offerings

Quick Verdict: 99designs vs Fiverr

When you’re seeking a unique, high-quality design for your brand, 99designs offers a competitive environment where multiple designers submit concepts based on your brief. This contest approach ensures a diverse array of designs, allowing you to pick the one that best captures your vision.

With a focus on quality and originality, 99designs is ideal for those who place a premium on exclusive design work and wish to explore various creative perspectives.

For a vast selection of services at your fingertips, Fiverr stands out as a powerhouse. Whether you need graphic design, digital marketing, writing, or programming, Fiverr connects you with freelancers ready to tackle projects at any budget level.

Its user-friendly platform facilitates quick hiring based on reviews and ratings, making it a go-to for fast turnarounds and cost-effective solutions.

Product Overview: 99designs vs Fiverr

What is it?

99designs is an online platform that connects you with experienced designers through a creative contest model. You post your design brief, and various designers submit their concepts, from which you select the best fit for your project.

Fiverr is an expansive freelance marketplace offering various services, from graphic design to digital marketing. It’s a resource for finding professionals ready to deliver projects efficiently and with budget flexibility.

Who is it for?

99designs is perfect for you if you want tailored design options and want to sift through a curated selection of concepts. This platform caters to those who prioritize exclusive and high-quality design work.

Fiverr suits you if you value various services beyond graphic design. It’s ideal if you need to hire freelancers for multiple tasks quickly or have a limited budget but still expect quality results.

What makes it special?

99designs stands out for its unique crowdsourced competition format, which not only provides you with a diversity of design options but also engages a community of talented designers motivated to deliver their best work.

Fiverr sets itself apart with its sheer versatility and scale. The ease of browsing through gigs, reading reviews, and comparing portfolios means you can find a match for almost any service within minutes.

What does it do?

99designs helps you launch a design contest, invite designers to participate, receive numerous design proposals, provide feedback, and ultimately choose the winning design that best represents your brand.

Fiverr lets you browse the categories to find the service you need, select a freelancer based on your criteria, place an order, and often receive your project within a short turnaround time.

Quick Comparison: 99designs vs Fiverr

Key Features	99designs	Fiverr
#1) Pricing	Tie	Tie
#2) Design & Functionality	Tie	Tie
#3) Design Contests	Winner
#4) Freelance Services	Design	Other Services
#5) Project Flexibility		Winner
#6) User Reviews and Ratings		Winner
#7) Customizable Service Requests		Winner
#8) Secure Payment Systems	Tie	Tie
#9) Customer Support	Winner
Overall	For designs	For diverse services

Feature Comparison: 99designs vs Fiverr

Let’s compare the features of these freelance platforms so you can make the right decision for you and your business.

#1) Pricing

On 99designs, you’re charged a fixed 5% platform fee, and designers pay a separate platform fee that varies with their level. This structure ensures transparency in how much you pay for the service.

On the other hand, Fiverr adopts a transaction-based fee model, where sellers are deducted a 20% fee for every transaction they make. As for your end, expect to pay a service fee of 5% or a minimum of $2 whenever you purchase a service.

Assessing which platform offers better pricing heavily depends on your project scope and budget. Fiverr can be more cost-effective for smaller tasks due to lower upfront costs. Still, 99designs’ pricing structure may prove to be more economical for larger projects as you only pay once for the contest, regardless of the number of submissions. Both offer great value versus traditional industry costs.

Verdict: For pricing, the decision is project-dependent; Fiverr can be more accessible for smaller budgets or simple tasks, while 99designs may offer better value for more extensive projects.

#2) Design & Functionality

99designs shines in its specialized focus on design services, offering a platform tailored to your needs for high-quality design work. The interface is intuitive, making it easy for you to navigate through design contests and view portfolios, ensuring a seamless experience in finding the right or even the same designer for your project.

On the other hand, Fiverr offers a broader range of services, including graphic design. Its platform is versatile, catering to various service categories. While it’s highly functional for multiple service needs, its focus on design is less specialized than 99designs. The user interface is straightforward, allowing you to quickly connect with freelancers across different fields.

The comparison between design and functionality comes down to preference for either a contest model or a direct hire approach. If diversity of choice and design options is your priority, 99designs may suit you better. However, if you prefer a quick, direct hiring process with the ability to choose a designer based on specific criteria, Fiverr might be the way to go.

Verdict: Choose 99designs for a design-focused experience or Fiverr for broader service options for design and functionality.

#3 Design Contests

99designs is incredible for offering design contests. A design contest allows you to announce a design request designs for their projects and receive multiple options from various designers. This crowdsourcing approach lets you choose the best design for your brand or business from a large pool of talented designers.

As for Fiverr also offers design services but does not have a designated design contest feature similar to 99designs. Instead, Fiverr connects clients with individual designers who provide them with customized solutions based on their specific needs.

I prefer 99designs as the design contest format is amazing for getting your packaging, website, or logo design.

When I needed a new logo for The Process Hacker, I loved using 99designs as I got many options to choose from and could narrow it down to a few designs. I found an incredible designer, gave her feedback, and ended up with this fully-designed digital logo design:

Verdict: For design contests, choose 99designs to access a whole community of talented designers who could submit their ideas for your logo.

#4) Freelance Graphic Designer and Other Services

99designs shines in the graphic design niche, offering you access to a large pool of designers specializing in fully designed digital logos, web design, and branding. It’s the place to go if you need a wide array of design concepts presented to you through their contest format.

Fiverr designers and freelancers extend beyond graphic design, providing a marketplace for virtually any creative service, from writing and video editing to marketing and programming. The variety here is immense, offering a one-stop shop for all your project needs.

When you weigh which platform offers better variety, it largely rests on your specific needs. If your sole focus is high-quality graphic design, 99designs has curated that space just for you. However, if your projects require a broader range of creative services, Fiverr is the more versatile option.

Verdict: For various creative services, choose 99designs for all design services. For everything else, Fiverr takes the lead with its extensive range of offerings, including digital services.

#5) Project Flexibility

99designs offers a structured approach with its design competitions, allowing you to outline your brief and choose from various submissions. This model can be perfect if you’re open to exploring different creative directions and enjoy the process of reviewing multiple concepts.

Fiverr provides a platform where you can negotiate the scope, revisions, and delivery time directly with freelancers. This individual approach grants you more control over the timeline and specifics of the project, which can be ideal if you have clear objectives and require a straightforward collaboration.

Deciding which product excels in project flexibility hinges on how you like to work. 99designs could offer the collaborative experience you’re looking for if you thrive on multiple options and feedback opportunities. However, if you need direct communication and tailored project terms, Fiverr arguably delivers greater flexibility.

Verdict: For project flexibility, Fiverr edges out due to its direct negotiation capabilities and personalized project management.

#6) User Reviews and Ratings

99designs prides itself on a system where you can see individual designer ratings, client testimonials, and portfolios. This transparent feedback mechanism helps you gauge the quality of work and reliability before committing to a designer for your project.

Fiverr’s platform showcases detailed reviews and ratings for each service provider, including average response time, project completion rate, and buyer satisfaction levels. These insights offer a comprehensive look at past performance, helping you make an informed decision.

When it comes to trusting peer opinion, both platforms provide robust systems. However, Fiverr’s extensive review insights, which cover a broader spectrum of services and performance metrics, might offer a slight edge in helping you confidently choose the right professional.

Verdict: For user reviews and ratings, Fiverr slightly outperforms with its detailed and wide-ranging feedback system that covers numerous services and freelancer performance metrics.

#7) Customizable Service Requests

On 99designs, you can create a custom project brief that designers respond to with their unique interpretations, which allows for customization within the structure of your initial request. This is particularly useful when you’re looking to bring a specific vision to life and are seeking a designer who can tailor their skills to your needs.

Fiverr has a freelancer and designer search tool for services that match your requirements or request custom offers from freelancers, enabling detailed customization based on your project’s specifics. The direct negotiation with service providers allows you to fine-tune every aspect of the service you’re looking for.

Both platforms excel at providing customizable service requests. Still, Fiverr’s direct and granular approach to communication and negotiation might appeal more to those who prefer a more hands-on role in shaping the services they receive.

Verdict: For customizable service requests, Fiverr stands out due to its direct negotiation process, which empowers you to tailor services precisely to your project requirements.

#8) Secure Payment Systems

99designs ensure your payments are secure by holding funds in escrow until you’re satisfied with the submitted work, thereby offering a layer of protection and assurance throughout the design process. This escrow system is a testament to the platform’s commitment to client satisfaction and designer security.

Fiverr also provides a secure payment system, where funds are held by Fiverr and only released to the freelancer once you approve the delivered work. This setup minimizes risk and facilitates trust, giving you peace of mind when commissioning services.

In terms of payment security, both 99designs and Fiverr take significant measures to protect your financial transactions. With robust mechanisms to ensure that payments are only released upon satisfactory delivery, it’s a tie when choosing a platform based on their secure payment systems.

Verdict: 99designs and Fiverr offer reliable and trustworthy solutions for secure payment systems, making this category a draw.

#9) Customer Support

99designs boasts dedicated customer support that assists you throughout the design process, from helping craft your brief to selecting the right designer. They offer various support channels, including email, live chat, and phone assistance, ensuring that help is readily available when needed.

Fiverr’s customer support system includes a comprehensive FAQ section and the option to submit requests through a ticketing system. They also provide resources for self-help and community forums where you can seek advice from other users.

Deciding on superior customer support depends on personal preferences for interaction. 99designs offers more immediate, personalized support options, which can be crucial for time-sensitive or complex projects. While having extensive self-help resources, Fiverr may require more initiative from you to find solutions.

Verdict: For customer support, 99designs edges ahead with its direct and varied support channels that cater to immediate and personalized assistance.

Final Thoughts on 99designs vs Fiverr

In my experience, both 99designs and Fiverr have their unique strengths, making them suitable for different needs!

99designs is incredible for design contests or finding a freelance graphic designer.

Its contest-based approach and focus on design-related services ensure you get a wide array of creative inputs, leading to more innovative and tailored results. This global creative platform is ideal if you seek specialized design work and enjoy exploring different creative perspectives before finalizing your project.

Fiverr, on the other hand, is your go-to for diverse services.

Its strength lies in offering a broad spectrum of services, from digital marketing to writing, alongside graphic design. The direct engagement with freelancers allows for a more tailored approach, especially if you have a clear vision of your project requirements. Fiverr is perfect for those who need a variety of services beyond just graphic design.

Choose the platform that aligns best with your specific project needs and enjoy the creative journey!

• 99designs: For graphic design projects, I strongly recommend 99designs for its design-centric approach and creative contest format.
• Fiverr: If you’re looking for a platform that caters to a wider range of freelancing services, Fiverr is the better choice.