Checked 12 Sep 2026
99designs 3.9Gold 60 pts
A design marketplace where clients launch contests that many designers enter, or hire a designer directly. Strong for logos, branding, and packaging, with money-back guarantees on contests.
Good for Graphic designersUX and UI designers
- Free to joinNo sign-up fee
- Open worldwideWorldwide
- Easy sign-upQuick profile or ID check
- Pays via PayPal+2 more ways to get paid
- Work from homeOnline, from anywhere
- Since
- 2008 18 yrs
Based in- Melbourne, Australia
- Web rank
- #15,952 worldwide
Can you join 99designs?
Answer three questions and we check them against 99designs's sign-up rules.
Pick your country and age, tick what you have, then press Check. Your answer shows here and in “Can I join?” below.
99designs is a design marketplace where anyone can register to start earning, and the work can be done remotely. Fees are Platform fee from 5% to 15%, the minimum payout is $25, earnings are typically paid out automatic, about 6-10+ business days after client releases payment and you can withdraw via Hyperwallet only (bank transfer, PayPal and prepaid card and more). Founded in 2008, 99designs is based in Melbourne, Australia. It is available worldwide.
Last updated
Getting paid
What the platform takes, when you get your money and how
From the published fees above, before payment-processing, currency or withdrawal charges. Work out your own amount →
What people actually earn on 99designs
Sourced figures from the platform, filings and independent studies
Figures published by 99designs or by independent studies and surveys, as dated. Individual earnings vary widely.
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
3 updates · latest Sep 12, 2026
What changed
Every update we made to this listing, with the page we checked
- Payout speed added: Automatic, about 6-10+ business days after client releases payment source ↗
- Minimum payout added: $25 source ↗
- Withdrawal methods:
PayPal, Payoneer→ Hyperwallet only (bank transfer, PayPal, prepaid card and more) source ↗
Every change we make to this listing, with the official page we checked. Recent updates across all platforms →
How complete is this profile?
We have 14 of the 17 things we track for every platform. Fees, payouts, join rules, countries and real earnings count most.
- What kind of platform it is
- Year founded
- Headquarters
- Fees
- Minimum payout
- How fast you get paid
- Withdrawal methods
- Payment protection
- Join requirements
- Countries it accepts
- Real earnings figures
- Review ratings
- Wikipedia or reference page
- Social accounts
Every fact is checked against the platform's own pages. How we check →
Our rating
Worked out from the facts on this page, the same way for every platform
Strong on access and proof of earnings.
- Fees3.5
- Getting paid3.5
- Access4.8
- Track record3.5
- Proof of earnings4.0
Not a review of service quality: a score from verified fees, payouts, access, track record and earnings data. How the rating works
Achievements
60 of 100 points from 7 of 14 achievements, Gold tier. Earned from verified facts, never paid for
Verified earningsA sourced figure for what people earn or are paid there+10
Why it matters You can judge the pay from a real number instead of the platform's own promises.
How we check We need a figure for what earners are paid, earn typically, or how many people earn, with a link to the filing, pay page or study it came from.
99designs $300M+ all-time (2026)
Every platform with this badge →Open worldwideAccepts people from almost every country+10
Why it matters Most earning platforms only take people from a handful of countries. This one lets almost anyone join.
How we check The platform's own terms or sign-up pages say it accepts people worldwide, with no more than eight countries left out.
99designs Worldwide
Every platform with this badge →Free to joinNo fee to sign up+5
Why it matters Paying to join is a red flag on many work sites. This one costs nothing to start.
How we check The platform's sign-up and pricing pages show no fee to register as an earner.
99designs free
Every platform with this badge →Clear feesPublishes its cut as a percentage+5
Why it matters You can work out what you keep before you start.
How we check The platform publishes its cut as a percentage on its pricing or help pages, which we record as a range when it is tiered.
99designs 5–15%
Every platform with this badge →Payment protectionHolds or guarantees payment before you work+10
Why it matters Something stops you working for nothing, such as client money held before the work starts.
How we check The platform publishes how it protects earners' payments: escrow, guaranteed pay or a dispute process.
99designs Money-back guarantee on contests
Every platform with this badge →10 years runningFounded at least 10 years ago+5
Why it matters Platforms that have lasted a decade are less likely to vanish with your balance.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 10 years ago.
99designs Founded 2008
Every platform with this badge →Fully documentedFees, payouts, countries and company details all verified+15
Why it matters Everything you need to decide is verified here, not left as guesswork.
How we check Fees, payouts, minimum payout, who can join and the company details are all recorded from official pages.
Every platform with this badge →Low cutTakes 10% or less of what you earn10
Why it matters More of every payment reaches you. Many marketplaces take 20% or more.
How we check The highest percentage the platform names in its published fees is 10% or less.
99designs 5–15%
Every platform with this badge →Low payout barLets you cash out $10 or less5
Why it matters Small earnings are not left stuck in your account waiting for a high threshold.
How we check The platform's published minimum withdrawal is $10 or less, or it has no minimum.
99designs $25
Every platform with this badge →Fast payoutsPays out instantly, daily or on demand5
Why it matters Money arrives when you need it, not weeks later.
How we check The platform says payouts are instant, same-day, daily or on demand.
99designs Automatic, about 6-10+ business days after client releases payment
Every platform with this badge →Loved appA mobile app rated 4.5 or higher5
Why it matters A well-rated app usually means smooth day-to-day work and fewer payout problems.
How we check The platform's app is rated 4.5 or higher on the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for 99designs.
Every platform with this badge →Top 10K websiteAmong the world's 10,000 most visited sites (Tranco)5
Why it matters Big platforms have more clients and buyers, and a lot to lose from treating earners badly.
How we check The site ranks in the world's 10,000 most visited on the Tranco list, a research-grade ranking.
99designs #15,952 worldwide
Every platform with this badge →20 years runningFounded at least 20 years ago5
Why it matters Two decades of paying people is a strong track record.
How we check Its founding year, checked against company records, is at least 20 years ago.
99designs Founded 2008
Every platform with this badge →Public companyListed on a stock exchange, with audited filings5
Why it matters Listed companies publish audited accounts, so their finances and risks are public.
How we check The company has a stock ticker on a public exchange, with filings we can read.
Not earned yet: we have not verified this for 99designs.
Every platform with this badge →
How achievements and tiers work · Open any badge for the details
Can I join 99designs?
Age, countries, equipment and how sign-up works
Yes, if you are 18 or older.
You need a computer, reliable internet and a portfolio or work samples. Your profile is reviewed before you start.
Enter your country and age in the quick check and we will tell you here whether 99designs accepts you. Your answers stay on your device.
Check with my countryAge 18 or older
We have not verified which countries 99designs accepts yet.
- A computer
- Reliable internet
- A portfolio or work samples
- Sign upFree
- Quick profile or ID reviewBefore you can start
- Do your first workJobs, tasks or sales
Good to know: Curation team reviews every new designer and sets a level, and a $100 intro fee comes out of your first $500 billed with a new client.
99designs's official requirements ↗Every platform you can join →
How 99designs compares
Against similar platforms in our directory
- At 5%–15%, 99designs sits near the middle — the median fee across the 30 freelance sites we track that charge a percentage is 12.3%.
- 99designs offers 3 ways to withdraw — more than most freelance sites we track (typical: 1).
- 99designs is one of 9 of the 58 freelance sites we track with built-in payment protection (Money-back guarantee on contests).
- Founded in 2008, 99designs has been running for about 18 years — longer than 48 of the 58 freelance sites we track with a known launch year.
Compared with the freelance sites in our directory. See them all →
Is 99designs legit?
What we could verify about the company
99designs is a real, operating platform. What we could verify:
- Operating since 2008 (18 years)
- Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia
- Payment protection: Money-back guarantee on contests
- Has a Wikipedia article
- Its domain 99designs.com was registered in 2005 (registry record)
- Among the world's top 100,000 websites by traffic (Tranco rank #15,952)
Listing last updated September 2026 · how we verify platforms · Missing or out of date? Tell us
99designs in public records
Company filings, web traffic and app store data
- Website rank
- #15,952 worldwideAmong the top 100,000 sites (99designs.com)
- Domain registered
- Feb 200599designs.com, 21 years ago
- Parent company
- Vistaprint
Sources: Tranco · RDAP registry · Wikidata. Retrieved October 29, 2026.
99designs timeline
Founding, funding, milestones and news
-
Founded
99designs founded
Headquarters today: Melbourne, Australia
-
Milestone
$300M+ all-time
99designs says its creator community of designers has earned more than $300 million on the platform since launch.
Source ↗ -
On FreelanceSites
Added to the FreelanceSites.net directory
Checked against its official pages before listing.
From the platform's own reports and press coverage we checked, plus company records on Wikidata. Know a milestone we're missing? Tell us
Guides
Step-by-step help for this platform
No step-by-step guide for 99designs yet. Browse all guides or find the right way to earn for you.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about 99designs
How much does 99designs charge?
99designs fees: Platform fee from 5% to 15%. On a $100 payment that leaves you about $85–$95, before withdrawal or conversion costs.
How do you get paid on 99designs?
99designs pays out via Hyperwallet only (bank transfer, PayPal and prepaid card and more). Minimum payout: $25. Timing: Automatic, about 6-10+ business days after client releases payment.
Which countries is 99designs available in?
Worldwide.
How much do people earn on 99designs?
99designs says its creator community of designers has earned more than $300 million on the platform since launch. Individual earnings vary widely.
Is 99designs legit?
Yes, 99designs is a real, operating platform: operating since 2008 (18 years), headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and payment protection: Money-back guarantee on contests. As with any platform, check its current terms before relying on it for income.
What are the best 99designs alternatives?
Similar platforms include DesignCrowd, Sribu, Freelancer and Fiverr. Compare their fees and payouts in the alternatives section below.
Compare 99designs with…
99designs alternatives
More freelance sites like Upwork
DesignCrowdA design marketplace where clients run contests or hire designers for logos, branding, and web design. Designers from around the world submit work and earn per winning project.
Fees Platform fee per projectdesigncrowd.com
SribuAn Indonesian marketplace for design, content, and digital marketing services. Clients run design contests or hire freelancers directly in Bahasa Indonesia.
Fees 10% commission on services (20% contests)sribu.com
FreelancerA global freelance marketplace where clients post projects and freelancers bid on them, alongside contests for design and creative work. Covers a very wide range of skills and budgets, with milestone payments and optiona…
Fees 10% or $5 minimum on projectsfreelancer.com
FiverrA gig-based marketplace where freelancers package their services as fixed-price offers that clients can buy instantly. Strong for creative and digital services like logo design, video editing, voice over, and quick devel…
Fees 20% seller commissionfiverr.com
UpworkOne of the largest freelance marketplaces in the world, covering everything from development and design to writing, marketing, and admin support. Clients post jobs and freelancers submit proposals, with hourly and fixed-…
Fees 0-15% variable service fee per contract (5% on Direct Contracts, 0% with Freelancer Plus)upwork.com
PeoplePerHourPeople Per Hour Limited is a British online freelance marketplace that connects businesses with freelance professionals for project-based and hourly work. It is headquartered in London and has an additional office in Ath…
Fees Tiered, 20% down to 3.5% per clientpeopleperhour.com