99designs

99designs connects designers with clients through design contests and direct 1-to-1 projects. These are different ways of finding work: a contest asks you to develop a concept before you know whether it will earn money, while a direct project starts with an agreed client relationship. The official designer guide explains both routes and says designer applications are reviewed.

Our assessment: consider it if you already have a focused design portfolio and can evaluate a brief. It is a less suitable starting point if you need predictable pay for every hour you work.

For a contest, read the actual prize, deadlines, deliverables and entry conditions. A client's package price is not necessarily the amount a designer receives. Do not treat submitting an entry as a paid commission. Decide how much time you can afford to spend before entering, including feedback rounds and final file preparation.

For a direct project, define the number of initial concepts, revision rounds, file formats and usage rights before quoting. A logo project might also involve exports, a style guide or social media versions; decide which are included rather than assuming the client shares your definition of a finished logo.

The 1-to-1 fee guide distinguishes a client introduction fee from the ongoing platform fee. Designer platform fees depend on level, currently ranging from 5% to 15%. An introduction-fee exemption does not mean all platform fees disappear. Payment providers may add charges.

Track net project receipts against all hours spent on the platform, including unsuccessful entries, discussions and revisions. That calculation is more informative than comparing headline contest prizes. Include software and licensed assets in your costs, and verify whether those assets are permitted for the client's intended use.

1. Choose one service where your portfolio already demonstrates the required skills.
2. Read several briefs before committing to an entry or project.
3. Set a time budget and a minimum acceptable net return for paid work.
4. Save the agreed scope and keep feedback within the project record.
5. Review the results before increasing your contest participation.

Official sources checked September 30, 2026: the designer guide and 1-to-1 fee guide linked above. This is a desk-researched overview, not a firsthand account or earnings study. Confirm current application, contest and payout conditions before committing time or money.