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If you’ve used 99designs, you know it’s great for crowdsourced design contests and getting a lot of ideas fast. The downside is that it can be hard to maintain consistent branding and ongoing collaboration since only winning designs are paid and projects rarely carry over.
That’s why many companies are turning to modern alternatives. With platforms like Floowi, you get full-time LATAM designers working right alongside your team, so your visuals stay consistent, communication stays simple, and costs stay predictable.
Let’s take a look at why companies are exploring alternatives to 99designs and what to consider when choosing the right platform for your design needs.
Why You Might Need an Alternative to 99designs in 2025
If you’ve used 99designs, you know it’s fast for generating multiple design ideas through contests. However, this is why many companies explore 99designs alternatives for more consistent, ongoing design support.
Main Drawbacks:
- Quality varies between submissions.
- Limited collaboration with designers.
- Projects rarely maintain continuity.
- Hard to scale design work over time.
For example, re-creating social media templates every month through new contests disrupts workflow and slows brand consistency.
These limitations make it challenging to maintain a cohesive design system for campaigns that require ongoing creative output.
What Makes Platforms Like 99designs Popular?
99designs is popular because it lets you get a lot of design options quickly. You post a brief, designers submit ideas, and you pick a winner. This gives flexibility without committing to a single designer upfront.
With a large pool of designers, you can explore a wide range of styles and concepts. It works well if you’re starting a project or need a quick logo refresh.
The downside is that the contest approach focuses on quantity over continuity, so you’re reviewing multiple submissions instead of working closely with someone who understands your brand.
Where 99designs Might Not Meet Your Needs
The contest model creates specific limitations:
- One-off projects vs. ongoing collaboration: You get a logo, but when you need social graphics or other assets next month, it often means starting from scratch.
- Limited vetting of designers: Anyone can submit entries, so the quality can vary a lot between submissions.
- Quantity over quality: The focus is on producing multiple entries quickly, rather than designers taking time to understand your brand and strategy.
- Higher costs for regular work: Contest fees can add up if you need continuous creative output.
Why Agencies and Growing Teams Are Looking Beyond One-Off Design Platforms
Agencies managing multiple clients need designers who understand each brand and maintain visual consistency. This is why many agencies exploring 99designs alternatives prefer embedded or ongoing design support. A designer who worked on your Q1 campaign already knows your style guide, whereas someone entering a contest starts fresh each time.
The challenge is most noticeable when contests are run monthly or when feedback loops slow down campaign timelines. Each new contest requires briefing new designers rather than building on existing knowledge, which can slow progress and reduce efficiency.
Key Takeaway: Embedding designers in your workflow ensures brand consistency, faster turnaround, and smoother collaboration - benefits one-off contest platforms struggle to deliver.
What to Look For in a 99designs Alternative
When you’re choosing a design service, you need to be clear on what your project actually requires, how much you want to be involved, and the level of quality you expect from the designers.
Consider the service model, how designers are vetted, the types of services offered, how pricing works, and the tools available for communication. Also check whether the service can scale as your design needs grow.
1. Logo Customizability
The best platforms give you control over creative direction without requiring you to manage every pixel. Look for services that balance designer expertise with your brand requirements.
Some platforms offer unlimited revisions, while others cap changes after the initial concept phase.
2. Design Options & Styles
Platform talent pools vary in specialization. Some focus on minimalist tech branding, others excel at e-commerce or editorial design. Check portfolio quality in your specific industry before committing.
3. Process & Workflow
Communication structure matters more than most companies realize before they start a project. Contest platforms require you to evaluate submissions and provide public feedback.
Subscription services typically assign a dedicated designer who works through your project management tools. Direct-hire platforms like Floowi integrate designers into your Slack channels and Monday boards.
4. Budget-Friendly Pricing
Cost structure matters when planning your design work. Here’s how different models compare:
Monthly subscriptions can seem higher at first, but they are often more efficient for ongoing design work. A $995 subscription covering 15-20 design requests typically costs less than paying $300 per contest when you need content produced weekly.
5. Payment Portals & Guarantees
Secure payment systems and clear refund policies protect both sides. Most established platforms hold payments in escrow until you approve final deliverables.
Check what happens if you're not satisfied. Some offer unlimited revisions, others provide partial refunds based on project stage.
6. Customer Support & Reviews
A service’s reliability shows in how it handles problems. Look for responsive support teams and transparent review systems. Ratings on G2 or Trustpilot can highlight common issues and give you a clearer sense of what to expect before you commit.
7. Talent Consistency & Long-Term Availability
Contest-based services offer variety but often lack continuity. Subscription services may rotate designers depending on availability. Full-time placements, on the other hand, let the same person work on your brand month after month, which improves efficiency and keeps visual style consistent.
8. Full-Time Integration vs. Gig-Based Design
Contest-based services give you variety, but they don’t integrate with your workflow. Designers who participate in team meetings and understand your goals produce work that aligns more closely with your campaigns than someone seeing your brief for the first time.
For example, Floowi provides full-time LATAM designers who work directly with your team. This approach helps maintain consistent creative output, smooth collaboration, and predictable costs.
Top Alternatives to 99designs in 2025
1. Floowi - Best 99designs Alternative for Full-Time Creative Teams
Floowi helps U.S. companies hire full-time creative professionals in LATAM, from brand designers to content creators. Unlike contest platforms, Floowi provides ongoing collaboration, quality assurance, and timezone alignment.
Candidates are pre-screened through portfolio reviews, skill assessments, and background checks, so you interview only vetted designers. They work your hours, use your tools, and build knowledge about your brand over time rather than submitting one-off entries.
The monthly rate covers salary, payroll, taxes, HR support, and management. There are no setup costs, hidden fees, or long-term commitments. Pricing typically runs $1,800-$3,000 per month, often 30-50% less than hiring locally in the U.S. Flexible packages accommodate startups and growing teams.
Key Takeaway: Floowi is ideal for agencies and startups seeking consistent design output from embedded creative talent, offering time-zone alignment, brand familiarity, lower cost than U.S. hires, and vetted, stable talent.
2. Design Pickle
Design Pickle offers unlimited graphic design on a monthly subscription model, ideal for agencies that prioritize volume and consistent turnaround times. You submit requests through their platform, and an assigned designer works through your queue.
The service covers most standard design needs including social graphics, presentations, email templates, and basic web graphics. Turnaround averages 24-48 hours per request. The unlimited model works well when you have steady design needs but don't require the same designer on every project.
Plans start at $499 monthly for standard design work, with higher tiers adding features like custom illustrations or brand strategy support.
3. Kimp
Kimp operates similarly to Design Pickle with unlimited design requests on subscription. They focus on small to medium businesses that need regular creative output without managing freelancers directly.
The platform assigns a dedicated design team rather than rotating freelancers. Projects include social media graphics, print materials, presentations, and website assets. Average turnaround runs 24-48 hours depending on complexity.
Pricing starts at $599 monthly for their core plan, with premium tiers offering faster turnaround and additional design categories like motion graphics.
4. Fiverr
Fiverr connects you with freelance designers offering project-based services at set prices. The platform works well for one-off needs where budget matters more than ongoing collaboration.
You browse designer profiles, review portfolios, and purchase specific packages. A basic logo package might cost $50-$150, while comprehensive brand identity work runs $200-$500. Quality varies significantly, so you'll spend time evaluating portfolios before selecting someone.
The gig-based structure means you're unlikely to work with the same designer repeatedly unless you actively maintain that relationship outside the platform's standard workflow.
5. Upwork
Upwork operates as an open marketplace where you post projects and freelancers submit proposals. The platform covers all creative roles, not just designers, which gives you flexibility if you need multiple skill sets.
Hourly rates for designers typically range from $25-$100 depending on experience and location. You handle all vetting, so expect to spend time reviewing portfolios and interviewing candidates. It provides time tracking and payment processing but puts project management entirely on you.
Upwork works when you have specific project requirements and time to manage the hiring process yourself.
6. Penji
Penji offers unlimited design on subscription, targeting creative agencies and marketing teams. Like Design Pickle and Kimp, you submit requests and receive completed work within 24-48 hours.
Dedicated designers are assigned to your account to maintain brand consistency. They handle standard graphic design needs, including digital ads, social content, print materials, and basic web graphics.
Plans start at $499 monthly for unlimited requests with one active project at a time. Higher tiers allow multiple concurrent projects and faster turnaround.
7. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd runs on the same contest model as 99designs. You post a brief, set a prize amount, and designers submit entries. The crowdsourced approach gives you variety but requires you to evaluate dozens of submissions.
Contest fees typically range from $200-$700 depending on project complexity and how many designers you want to attract. Higher prizes generate more submissions but don't guarantee better quality.
The platform works for one-off projects when you want options and have time to manage the contest process.
Which 99designs Alternative Fits Your Design Needs?
The best alternative depends on what you need from your design work - whether it’s a quick logo, ongoing design requests, or a designer embedded in your team.
Contest services work if you’re running a small project or testing ideas. Subscription services handle steady design volume but don’t give you the same designer every time.
For full-time creative consistency, Floowi provides pre-vetted LATAM designers integrated into your daily marketing workflow. This setup lets you build a creative team that knows your brand, rather than managing multiple one-off freelancers.
Your Next Move
Your choice depends on how your team handles design work. Contest platforms work for isolated tasks. Subscription services help when you need steady output. Full-time placements make the most sense when you want continuity and a designer who stays aligned with your brand over time.
Key takeaways:
- Choose contest platforms for one-off projects.
- Choose subscriptions for ongoing volume.
- Choose full-time placements for consistency and tighter collaboration.
Start building your full-time LATAM design team with Floowi. Book your free consultation today.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What platforms are similar to 99designs?
You have a few solid options: Floowi, Design Pickle, Kimp, Fiverr, Penji, and DesignCrowd. If you want something close to the 99designs contest model, DesignCrowd is the closest fit. If you want steady support instead of contests, subscription services or full-time placements make more sense.
2. What is the best freelance platform for designers?
For project-based work, Upwork and Fiverr are the biggest marketplaces and give you the widest range of freelancers. If you need someone long-term who works like part of your team, Floowi connects you with vetted full-time LATAM designers who work your hours and follow your workflow.
3. Is 99designs still the best option for logo design?
It’s a good choice for one-off logo projects when you want multiple concepts from different designers. If you’re building a brand that needs consistent design support after the logo, a dedicated designer or a full-time hire is usually the better route.
4. Which platform offers unlimited design services?
Design Pickle, Kimp, and Penji all offer unlimited requests on a monthly subscription. These work well when you have a steady stream of design tasks but don’t need the same designer every day.
5. What's the best 99designs alternative for long-term design hiring?
Floowi is the strongest fit if you need a full-time designer who becomes part of your daily workflow. You get a vetted professional working regular hours in your time zone, which helps with consistency and long-term brand knowledge.
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