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99designs vs Lemon.io
99designs and Lemon.io are both freelance sites. On a $1,000 payment you keep about $850–$950 on 99designs and $1,000 on Lemon.io, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Updated · from each platform’s published fees and payout terms · how we verify
Key differences
- On a $1,000 payment you keep about $850–$950 on 99designs and $1,000 on Lemon.io, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
- Lemon.io screens providers before they can join, while 99designs is open to anyone.
- Only 99designs lists built-in payment protection (Money-back guarantee on contests).
- 99designs is the older platform — founded in 2008, 7 years before Lemon.io (2015).
- 99designs is based in Australia, Lemon.io in Ukraine.
Which should you choose?
Choose 99designs if…
- You are just starting out and want to sign up without a screening.
- You want built-in payment protection.
- You prefer a long track record (since 2008).
Choose Lemon.io if…
- Keeping more of each payment matters most — its fee is lower.
- You are an experienced professional ready to pass a screening.
Side by side
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99designs
A design marketplace where clients launch contests that many designers enter, or hire a designer directly. Str…
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Lemon.io
A vetted network matching startups with senior software developers, mainly from Europe and Latin America.
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|---|---|---|
| Type | Freelance sites like Upwork | Freelance sites like Upwork |
| Category | Design & Creative | General Marketplace |
| Vetted | No | Yes |
| Work from home | Yes | Yes |
| Fees | Platform fee from 5% to 15% | 0% explicit fee, margin built into client rate |
| Minimum payout | $25 | — |
| Payout speed | Automatic, about 6-10+ business days after client releases payment | — |
| Payment protection | Money-back guarantee on contests | — |
| Withdraw via | Hyperwallet only (bank transfer, PayPal, prepaid card and more) | — |
| Availability | Worldwide | Europe and Latin America developers |
| Founded | 2008 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia | Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Popularity | 44 views · 0 likes | 48 views · 0 likes |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, 99designs or Lemon.io?
On a $1,000 payment you keep about $850–$950 on 99designs and $1,000 on Lemon.io, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Where are 99designs and Lemon.io available?
99designs: Worldwide. Lemon.io: Europe and Latin America developers.
Which is easier to join, 99designs or Lemon.io?
99designs — anyone can sign up, while Lemon.io screens providers before accepting them.