What’s the Best Affordable Graphic Design Service?

TL;DR: Penji is the best design as a service option out there but Designhill, Crowdspring and No Limit Creatives are good alternatives based on what’s best for your new brand!

94% more traffic on articles with images. That’s why the visual identity behind your brand is as important as your sales pitch. But for those upstart new brands, it’s not always easy to find graphic design service that are affordable and reliable. You either have too much money to give to an agency or too much risk to not invest in freelance options.

This is where “design as a service” platforms change everything! They offer subscription plans and design contests that make top-notch creative work accessible for any budget. With so many choices out there, we’ve broken down the best services to help you find the perfect fit.

1. Penji

If you want the benefits of an agency without the cost, then Penji is for you. Penji is more than a graphic design service Penji lets you in on the AI and top notch creators of the field. It redefines how design is created and knows it from AI to the best 2% of creators who knock it out of the park.

Pros: 

• Lightning-Fast Delivery: Get your designs the same or next day. Perfect for tight deadlines!
• AI-Powered Creativity: AI helps create new design options and speeds up the entire process.
• Top-Tier Talent: Work with the best designers in the industry, all carefully vetted.
• Unlimited Everything: Request as many designs, revisions, and brands as you need.
• Try It Risk-Free: Not happy? Get your money back with a 30-day guarantee.

Cons:

• Online Communication: All communication happens on their platform. It’s quick, but not for those who prefer daily calls.
• Best for Ongoing Needs: The monthly plan is ideal for businesses with a steady stream of design work, not for one-time projects like a single logo.

2. Designhill

If you’re someone who likes a patchwork of ideas versus a long term relationship, go with Designhill. They do have subscriptions but they’re known for contests primarily. It’s essentially a large marketplace where thousands of freelance designers across the globe will see your project.

Pros: 

• Tons of Ideas: Get dozens of unique concepts for your project, giving you plenty of options.
• No Strings Attached: Perfect for one-off projects. Just pay for the contest or project you need.
• Global Creativity: Access a huge pool of designers with different styles and perspectives.

Cons:

• Hands-On Process: Running a contest means you’ll spend time reviewing and rating many different designs.
• Quality Varies: You’ll need to sift through some so-so designs to find the real gems.
• Can Get Pricey: To attract the best designers, you may need to offer a bigger prize.

3. Crowdspring

Crowdspring is essentially Designhill but more prevalent in the contest sphere than anything else (though they do naming services and more) and can help new brands get off their feet if they’re still in need of good branding/naming options from the start.

Pros:

• Safe and Secure: They offer strong protection for your new brand’s intellectual property.
• More Than Just Design: If you’re looking for a catchy business name/tagline, this is a good resource.
• Money Back Guarantee: On select projects which may rarely be offered on other sites if you’re not satisfied with your design!

Cons:

• Not for Rush Jobs: If time is of the essence, don’t use this site because contests take at minimum 1 week.
• Higher Starting Price: Their lowest tier offerings might be higher than other contest sites overall.

4. No Limit Creatives

Like Penji, No Limit Creatives works as a subscription service, which would be excellent for new brands that might want a ton of video/motion graphics created over time, in addition to a typical graphic design service.

Pros:

• Video Experts: If you plan on socializing more, video/motion graphics are there wheelhouse.
• Dedicated Team:  You’ll get a team that remains with you throughout the whole process—the more they know you over time, the better results each time!
• Simple Pricing:  Simple pricing with flat monthly fee makes it easy to budget.

Cons:

• Slower for Video:  Videos take longer to execute and revisions might take longer than static/non-video graphics.
• Could Be Simpler:  Some users find their platform a bit more complicated to use than others.