10 Platforms for Remote Design Contests: A Complete Guide
Design contests have become a popular way for freelance designers to earn money, build portfolios, and gain recognition. The concept is simple: clients post design briefs, designers submit their work, and the winning design receives the prize money. For designers who enjoy competition and want to earn from their creativity, design contests offer a distinct opportunity. What made this niche stand out was the potential earning range. Prize pools can be substantial, with some contests offering significant sums for winning designs. What I found through several months of testing was a competitive field that rewards skill, creativity, and persistence.
This guide is the result of hands-on testing of design contest platforms over approximately three months. I tested ten platforms, entered numerous contests, and tracked results. The goal was to understand which platforms offer design contests and what to expect from them. The answers reflect what I found during my testing.
Everything here is based on personal experience. I did not receive any compensation from the platforms mentioned, and I have no affiliation with any of them. The figures below are approximate estimates from personal testing, and they should be read as a rough reference rather than a fixed expectation. I have written about design and freelance work before, including Fiverr vs Legiit and 30 websites for microtasks, and this piece continues that hands-on approach with a comprehensive look at design contest platforms.
My Honest Take: Design contests can be a way to earn from creative skills, but they tend to be highly competitive. Prize pools can be attractive, but winning usually requires strong design skills and persistence. The effective earnings per hour tend to be lower than direct client work when non-winning submissions are factored in. That said, contests can provide portfolio building and skill development. Those treating contests as a supplement to direct client work may find them worthwhile. Results vary based on skill, contest selection, and market conditions.
What You Need to Know Before Getting Started
Before diving into the list of platforms, there are several important things to understand about design contests. The first is that winning is not guaranteed. Each contest receives many submissions, and only one design wins. The competitive nature means most submissions do not result in earnings. Designers who do well tend to enter many contests and maintain high quality across all submissions. My earlier guide on Fiverr vs Legiit touched on similar competitive dynamics in freelance work.
The second important thing to understand is that prize money varies significantly. Some contests offer a few hundred dollars, while others offer more. Larger prize pools tend to attract more competition, so the odds of winning are lower. Balancing the prize amount against competition level tends to be the main factor when deciding which contests to enter. My earlier piece on print on demand stickers touched on how strategic selection matters in competitive creative work.
The third important thing to understand is that design contests are time-intensive. Each submission requires meaningful effort to create a competitive design. The time investment adds up quickly, especially when entering multiple contests. The effective earnings per hour are often lower than direct client work. Portfolio building and skill development tend to provide value beyond the monetary returns.
What matters most in design contests is consistency. The more contests entered, the more chances to win. Each submission requires genuine effort and quality. Designers who do well tend to maintain high standards across many submissions without burning out.
10 Design Contest Platforms I Tested
1. 99designs
99designs is one of the better-known design contest platforms, offering logo design, brand identity, web design, and more. Prize pools are often substantial, ranging from approximately three hundred to two thousand dollars or more. Competition is significant with many professional designers. 99designs is suited for experienced designers with strong portfolios.
2. DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd offers similar contest types with smaller prize pools, typically approximately one hundred to five hundred dollars. Competition is moderate. DesignCrowd is suited for designers who want to enter contests without the intense competition of larger platforms.
3. Crowdspring
Crowdspring offers design contests for logos, websites, and branding. Prize pools vary by contest. The platform has a professional focus. Crowdspring is suited for designers who want a professional contest environment.
4. DesignContest
DesignContest offers contests for logos, websites, and graphic design. Prize pools are moderate. DesignContest is suited for designers who want variety in contest types.
5. Hatchwise
Hatchwise offers design contests with moderate prize pools. The platform has a community feel. Hatchwise is suited for designers who want a supportive contest environment.
6. DesignBro
DesignBro offers design contests with a curated approach. The platform matches designers with contests based on their skills. DesignBro is suited for designers who want quality over quantity.
7. LogoMyWay
LogoMyWay focuses on logo design contests with moderate prize pools. The platform is suited for logo designers specifically.
8. Freelancer.com Contests
Freelancer.com offers design contests alongside its freelance marketplace. Prize pools vary. Freelancer.com is suited for designers who want to combine contests with freelance work.
9. DesignHill
DesignHill offers design contests with various prize pools. The platform has a user-friendly interface. DesignHill is suited for designers who want an accessible contest experience.
10. 48HoursLogo
48HoursLogo focuses on quick turnaround logo contests. Prize pools are moderate. 48HoursLogo is suited for logo designers who can work quickly.
Approximate Results Overview
Three-Month Overview (Approximate):
Platforms actively used: 5
Contests entered: approximately 22
Designs submitted: approximately 58
Contests won: approximately 3
Total prize money: approximately $850
Average per win: approximately $283
Win rate: approximately 14%
Total time invested: approximately 45 hours
Effective hourly rate: approximately $19 per hour
These figures suggest both the potential and the challenge of design contests. My total earnings of approximately eight hundred fifty dollars from approximately three contest wins over approximately three months is decent, but the win rate of approximately fourteen percent means most submissions did not result in earnings. The effective hourly rate of approximately nineteen dollars is reasonable when factoring in the wins, but it would be significantly lower without the successful contests.
What the figures do not show is the time investment in non-winning submissions. The approximately fifty-eight designs submitted represented significant effort, and only approximately three resulted in prize money. The time spent on non-winning designs reduced the effective earnings per hour. The portfolio building and skill development from all submissions tended to provide value beyond the monetary returns.
One observation is that design contests tend to function as a numbers game. Prize money can be attractive, but winning usually requires both skill and persistence. Designers who do well tend to maintain quality across many submissions and handle rejection without losing motivation. My earlier guide on Fiverr vs Legiit touched on similar persistence requirements in creative work.
Comparison Table: Design Contest Platforms I Tested
This comparison table offers a quick reference for the design contest platforms I tested. The main factors to compare are prize range, competition level, contest types, and what each platform is suited for. The platforms with larger prizes tend to attract more competition, while smaller platforms may offer better odds for newer designers.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Attractive prize pools on some platforms
- Portfolio building opportunities
- Skill development through practice
- Flexible schedule with remote work
- Multiple platforms provide diversification
- Recognition for winning designs
- Creative freedom
Cons
- Highly competitive
- Most submissions do not win
- Time-intensive without guaranteed pay
- Effective earnings lower than direct client work
- Mixed experience of wins and losses
- Requires persistence and resilience
- No guarantee of return on time investment
Who Should Consider Design Contests?
This work may suit you if you have strong design skills and can handle the uncertainty of contest-based earning. Design contests tend to work for designers who enjoy competition and want to build their portfolios. Resilience and the ability to maintain motivation despite rejections are important. Those who can produce high-quality designs consistently may find design contests provide meaningful prize money.
This work is not for you if you need reliable, predictable income or cannot handle rejection. The contest-based model means most submissions do not win, and the income is unpredictable. Those who prefer guaranteed payment for their work may find direct client work through freelance platforms more appropriate. For freelance platform options, see my article on Fiverr vs Legiit.
Final Verdict: Are Design Contests Worth Your Time?
Final Verdict
Design contests can be a way to earn from creative skills, but they tend to be highly competitive. Over approximately three months, I earned approximately eight hundred fifty dollars from approximately three contest wins, with a win rate of approximately fourteen percent. Prize money can be attractive, but the time investment is significant. One key point is that design contests tend to work best as a supplement to direct client work, providing portfolio building and skill development alongside the potential for prize money. Individual results vary significantly based on skill, contest selection, and market conditions. For more ideas on building multiple income streams, see my guide to 30 websites for PTC and GPT online work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which design contest platforms tend to have larger prizes?
99designs tends to have larger prize pools, with logo contests often offering approximately three hundred to two thousand dollars or more. Larger prizes tend to attract more competition. Crowdspring also offers substantial prizes for branding and packaging contests.
How competitive are design contests?
Design contests tend to be highly competitive. Each contest receives many submissions, and only one wins. My win rate was approximately fourteen percent across approximately twenty-two contests. Competition tends to be more intense on larger platforms like 99designs and more moderate on smaller platforms like DesignBro.
Can I use multiple design contest platforms?
Yes, many designers use multiple platforms to increase their contest opportunities. Using multiple platforms provides more chances to win and diversifies income sources. Managing time effectively tends to help, along with maintaining quality across all submissions.
How do design contest platforms pay winners?
Most design contest platforms pay through PayPal or bank transfer after the client selects the winning design. In my personal experience, the payment process was consistent across the platforms I tested. The payment timeline varies by platform.
How does design contest work compare to direct client work?
Design contests offer potentially higher payouts but with uncertainty. Direct client work through platforms like Fiverr provides more predictable income. Many designers combine both approaches: contests for portfolio building and direct client work for consistent income. For a comparison, see my article on Fiverr vs Legiit.
How long does it take to win a design contest?
The timeline varies significantly. In my experience, winning approximately three contests required entering approximately twenty-two contests over approximately three months. Some designers win early, while others may take longer. Submitting consistently and learning from each contest experience tends to help improve design quality.
What types of design contests are available?
Design contest platforms offer logo design, brand identity, web design, packaging design, business cards, and graphic design. 99designs offers a range of contest types. LogoMyWay and 48HoursLogo focus specifically on logo design.
Do I need formal design training for contests?
Formal design training is not always required for contest platforms. What tends to matter is the quality of the design work. Many contest winners are self-taught designers. The key is developing strong design skills through practice and study. Tools like Canva and Photoshop can help with creating professional designs.
Disclosure: This article contains links to external websites and platforms. These links are not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by any of the platforms mentioned. They are provided only for ease of access and reference. We do not receive any commission or compensation from these links. All opinions expressed are based on personal testing experience.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute professional financial, legal, or career advice of any kind. The content describes personal experience with design contest platforms and is not a promise of income or results. Individual results vary significantly based on design skill, contest selection, competition levels, platform policies, and market conditions. All income figures mentioned are approximate estimates from personal experience and are not guaranteed. Prize amounts, platform policies, and availability may change at any time. Design contest income is subject to taxation. Always verify current platform terms before investing significant time. For more details about our publishing standards, please review our About Us page and Disclaimer. If you have any questions, visit our FAQ page or reach out through our Contact Us page. You can also review our Privacy Policy to understand how we handle your information.
