DesignPal vs 99designs: Why Subscriptions Beat Contests
99designs typically cost $299–$1,599 per contest. DesignPal starts at $1,495/mo. See why teams are making the switch.
About 99designs
99designs is a crowdsourced design marketplace where you post a brief and multiple designers submit concepts in a contest format. You pick a winner. Acquired by Vistaprint in 2020, it also offers one-on-one projects. Pricing is per-project or per-contest, not subscription-based.
What 99designs do well
- Multiple design concepts from different designers per contest
- Fixed per-project pricing with no ongoing commitment
- Large marketplace with designers across many styles
- Good for one-off projects like logos or business cards
Where 99designs fall short
- Contest model incentivizes quantity over quality — designers spread thin across many contests
- No dedicated designer who learns your brand over time
- Costs add up quickly — a logo contest ($299-$1,599) plus a website contest ($599-$2,499) plus social assets exceeds subscription pricing fast
- Revisions are limited and often cost extra
- No ongoing relationship — every project starts from zero context
- Turnaround depends on contest duration (typically 7-14 days)
Why teams choose DesignPal over 99designs
Here's what you get when you switch to DesignPal.
- $1,495/mo for unlimited requests — not per-project pricing that adds up
- Dedicated senior designer who learns your brand and maintains consistency
- 48-hour turnaround vs 7-14 day contest timelines
- Unlimited revisions included — no extra charges for changes
- Ongoing relationship means better output over time, not starting from scratch each project
- Full range of design services (web, brand, social, email, pitch decks) under one subscription
Frequently asked questions
Is 99designs or DesignPal better for ongoing design needs?
DesignPal. 99designs is built for one-off projects and contests. If you need regular design work (marketing assets, social content, landing pages), a subscription gives you unlimited requests with a dedicated designer who knows your brand — far more efficient than running a new contest every time.
How does pricing compare between 99designs and DesignPal?
A single 99designs logo contest costs $299-$1,599. A website design contest is $599-$2,499. Two projects already approach DesignPal's monthly rate of $1,495 — but DesignPal includes unlimited requests across all design types, not just one deliverable.
Can I get the same variety of concepts with DesignPal?
Yes. Your dedicated designer provides multiple concept directions for any project. The difference is that these concepts come from someone who understands your brand, audience, and goals — not dozens of strangers working from a brief alone.
Simple, transparent pricing
No contracts. No hidden fees. No surprises. Pause or cancel anytime.
Starter
Perfect for early-stage teams that need consistent design output.
- 1 active request at a time
- 48-hour average turnaround
- Unlimited requests (queued)
- Unlimited revisions
- Unlimited brands
- Source files included
- Pause or cancel anytime
Growth
For scaling teams that need faster throughput and priority support.
- 2 active requests at a time
- 24-hour average turnaround
- Unlimited requests (queued)
- Unlimited revisions
- Unlimited brands
- Source files included
- Priority queue
- Pause or cancel anytime
Scale
For teams that need a dedicated design partner embedded in their workflow.
- 3 active requests at a time
- Same-day turnaround
- Unlimited requests (queued)
- Unlimited revisions
- Unlimited brands
- Source files included
- Dedicated designer
- Private Slack channel
- Pause or cancel anytime
