The Top 11 Websites to Hire The Designers You Need:
1. Toptal
Toptal aims to be the best in quality and service. As such, the Toptal network of designers must undergo a rigorous vetting process to prove they will perform well for clients. Toptal then matches you with a freelance designer or team for your specific needs. Toptal has served large companies and startups alike and is great for hiring designers on an individual or team basis.
Key Points
- Toptal vets every designer in the network, so you’ll be matched with quality freelancer creative talent through the site.
- The personalized matching service (where you have a one-on-one call with a Toptal rep to determine your project’s specifics) saves time by connecting you with a freelancer.
- The no-risk trial ensures that you pay only if you are satisfied with your designer hire.
2. Upwork
Upwork is one of the most well known online freelance marketplaces. With its roots in two dominant competitors in the field, Upwork provides different features around project management and customer-freelance interactions. Upwork Pro and Enterprise provide access to qualified design freelancers and support for larger businesses. If you need to hire freelance designers, consider Upwork.
Key Points
- With freelance designers worldwide, you can hire freelancers for any budget.
- The different project setups and payment systems ensure that you can find a situation for your set up.
- If you are paying hourly, you can see your designer hire’s workspace to ensure they work.
3. Dribbble
Dribbble was created as a community and showcase for designers. The portfolio style allows you to search for and evaluate the designers’ work. Dribbble began as invitation-only but has expanded to allow anyone to apply. It now has a job board and an option called Dribbble Pro, which provides access to a select group of graphic and web designers.
Key Points
- Dribbble designers can source and receive feedback from the community—allowing input on your design.
- On Dribbble Pro, the Dribbble team can help you find a freelance designer for your needs.
4. 99designs
On 99designs, freelance designers submit their ideas for your project, and you can hire the designer who created the design you like the best. You can start with the package that works for you, depending on your budget. 99designs also provides the option to skip the contest format and hire designers directly on the site with different terms for managing the project.
Key Points
- The contest format means you get to see different ideas on how the site or project could look.
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- The process is streamlined, so if you need a quick outcome, 99designs can be an option to hire a designer online.
5. Working Not Working
Working Not Working (WNW) began with 300 designers and has since become open to anyone who wants to join. You can hire freelance graphic and web designers identified by the “Membership Board,” who have been voted on to receive a “vetted” badge. One signature item of WNW is that freelancers mark whether they are working or not working—essentially whether they are available to take on jobs.
Key Points
- WNW used to be invite-only, and they still try to keep high-quality talent on board by limiting the number of “vetted” badges offered.
- You can identify which freelance designers’ availability fits your timeframe so that you are not wasting time trying to hire designers who are already busy.
- Human, WNW’s concierge service, has started accepting some requests for a personalized matchmaking process.
6. DesignCrowd
On DesignCrowd, you can submit your needs to a contest for freelance designers to compete with their ideas. You select your favorite and proceed on to revisions with the designer you hire. The platform offers contests starting at $99, or you can pay more to hire a designer from a more select pool. The process is well structured and straightforward. Works for logos, business cards, flyers, and other deliverables with quick turnarounds.
Key Points
- The contest format provides a low-cost way to source lots of different options for visualizing your project.
- With DesignCrowd’s money-back guarantee, you lose the overhead fees if you decide not to go with any submissions.
- Designs are turned around quickly and on a set time frame.
7. Envato Studio
Envato Studio is one of the many Envato offerings. In the Studio, you can find packages around different online services, including web design, development, and so forth. Packages, offered by freelancers and agencies, are clear cut and straightforward. They tend to be an affordable way to hire a designer online.
Key Points
- Envato studio has quick, ready-made, or easily-adjusted design options for a fast turnaround.
- Services on Envato range in price to fit your budget.
- The hiring process is structured and straightforward.
8. Freelancer
Freelancer is one of the largest freelance marketplaces. There are multiple options in how you hire a freelancer. The site charges both the freelancer and hiring for initiating a project, which establishes shared responsibility. The Preferred Freelancer Program identifies the top freelancers on the site.
Key Points
- Freelancer lets you hire designers through contests, job posts, or searches.
- No matter your budget is, you can find a designer to hire for your project.
- The site allows a quick sign-up—even through social media.
9. Behance
Developed by Adobe to provide Adobe Creative Suite users with a place to display their work, Behance is a portfolio platform that allows hiring graphic designers through memberships. Users can display art and design works of all types. With a membership, you can post jobs and explore portfolios.
Key Points
- Behance designers can include animated or video presentations of their work, which allows you to see the functionality.
- Find designers online using the Adobe Creative Suite.
10. People Per Hour
PeoplePerHour (PPH) is a UK-based freelance platform that focuses on the European market and small businesses. With “workstream,” you can manage all parts of your projects on the sites. In addition to posting a job, you can select “hourlies” or pre-priced hourly services offered by freelance designers for hire when the number of hours is unclear or sporadic.
Key Points
- With global freelancers, you can find a freelance designer that can meet your budget.
- If you are a small business, then PeoplePerHour might be a fit.
- Select an “hourly” to save time on the project start.
Fiverr
Fiverr is known for its low-cost options. Originally, every “gig” on Fiverr cost just $5. While freelancers can now charge more, the prices remain low. Fiverr Pro provides an option to search in a qualified group of freelancers and available community. The freelancers post their services. You can select your choice from the marketplace rather than post a job and sort through bids.
Key Points
- Fiverr provides project management tools to track projects and interact with your designer hires.
- Fiverr Pro can save you time and risk in selecting a designer for your project.