99designs Fee Calculator
Estimate the total cost of your design contest on 99designs.
The type of design work you need.
Higher tiers attract more experienced designers.
Highlights your contest to attract more designers.
Hides your contest from search engines and the public.
What is a 99designs Fee Calculator?
A 99designs Fee Calculator is a tool designed to help you estimate the total cost of running a design contest on the 99designs platform. While 99designs provides clear pricing for their contest packages, the final cost can increase with the addition of contest add-ons and a mandatory client platform fee. This calculator simplifies the budgeting process by consolidating all potential costs into one easy-to-understand estimate.
Understanding the full financial commitment upfront allows you to choose the right package and options for your budget and design needs. Whether you need a simple logo or a complex web design, this tool helps you avoid surprises. For more details on finding the right designer, you might want to explore an article on freelance hiring.
The 99designs Fee Calculator Formula
The calculation for your total contest cost is straightforward. It’s the sum of your chosen package price, any selected add-ons, and the client platform fee.
| Variable | Meaning | Unit | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package Price | The base cost for the selected design contest package (e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum). | USD ($) | $199 – $2,499+ |
| Add-on Costs | The combined cost of any optional upgrades you select, such as making your contest ‘Featured’ or ‘Private’. | USD ($) | $0 – $200+ |
| Platform Fee | A mandatory 5% fee charged by 99designs on the subtotal of the package and add-ons. | Percentage (%) | Fixed at 5% |
Practical Examples
Let’s look at two common scenarios to understand how the 99designs fee calculator works in practice.
Example 1: A Basic Logo Design Contest
You need a new logo for your startup and decide to go with the most affordable option.
- Inputs:
- Design Category: Logo Design
- Contest Package: Bronze ($299)
- Add-ons: None
- Calculation:
- Subtotal = $299 (Package) + $0 (Add-ons) = $299
- Platform Fee = $299 * 0.05 = $14.95
- Total Cost = $299 + $14.95 = $313.95
Example 2: A Featured Web Design Contest
You need a high-quality web page design and want to maximize designer participation by making the contest private and featured.
- Inputs:
- Design Category: Web Page Design
- Contest Package: Gold ($1,499)
- Add-ons: Featured ($79) + Private ($59) = $138
- Calculation:
- Subtotal = $1,499 (Package) + $138 (Add-ons) = $1,637
- Platform Fee = $1,637 * 0.05 = $81.85
- Total Cost = $1,637 + $81.85 = $1,718.85
These examples illustrate how costs can vary. A good design brief is essential for getting the most value out of your contest.
How to Use This 99designs Fee Calculator
- Select Your Design Category: Start by choosing the type of design you need from the dropdown menu. Prices vary significantly between categories.
- Choose a Contest Package: Based on your chosen category, select a package (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum). Higher-priced packages generally attract more experienced designers and offer more design concepts.
- Select Add-ons: Check the boxes for any optional upgrades you want to add to your contest.
- Calculate: Click the “Calculate Total Cost” button.
- Review Your Results: The calculator will display the total estimated cost, along with a breakdown of the package price, add-on costs, and the platform fee. A bar chart will also provide a visual comparison of these costs.
Key Factors That Affect 99designs Fees
- Contest Package Tier: This is the single largest factor. Gold and Platinum packages, which are priced higher, give you access to “Top Level” designers and guarantee more submissions.
- Design Category: The complexity of the design work heavily influences price. A logo design is less expensive than a full app or web page design.
- Contest Add-ons: Each add-on like ‘Featured’ or ‘Private’ adds a fixed cost to your total. While optional, they can significantly improve contest visibility and participation.
- Designer Level: Higher-tier packages restrict entry to more vetted, professional designers, which is reflected in the price.
- Number of Revisions: While contests offer many designs, extensive revisions with the winning designer might sometimes lead to a separate 1-to-1 project for additional work.
- Custom Prize Amount: Some contests allow you to increase the prize money to further incentivize designers, which directly increases your cost. Understanding the value of good design can help justify this expense.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 1. Is the 5% platform fee mandatory?
- Yes, the 5% client platform fee is applied to all contest payments and covers costs like payment processing and customer support.
- 2. What is the difference between contest packages?
- Higher-priced packages (Gold, Platinum) attract more experienced, “Top Level” designers and typically result in more design concepts being submitted. Bronze and Silver are more budget-friendly options suitable for simpler projects.
- 3. Are there any hidden fees?
- No, 99designs pricing is transparent. The total cost is your package price, plus any add-ons you select, plus the 5% platform fee. Our 99designs fee calculator accounts for all of these.
- 4. Can I get a refund if I’m not happy?
- Most contest packages come with a 100% money-back guarantee. However, this guarantee becomes void if you move to the final round and select finalists. Always check the terms of your specific package.
- 5. What do I get for the ‘Featured’ add-on?
- A ‘Featured’ contest is highlighted on the 99designs contest page, which helps it stand out and typically attracts more designers.
- 6. Why should I choose a ‘Private’ contest?
- A ‘Private’ contest is not visible to search engines and is protected from public view. This is ideal if your project is confidential.
- 7. Does this calculator work for 1-to-1 Projects?
- No, this calculator is specifically for design contests. 1-to-1 Projects are priced individually between the client and the designer, although they also include the 5% client platform fee.
- 8. Are taxes included in the price?
- Prices generally exclude sales tax. Depending on your location (like Australia), you may have additional taxes like GST applied.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
Explore more resources to help with your design and branding needs:
- Logo Design Cost Guide: A deep dive into what you can expect to pay for a professional logo.
- Branding Strategy Essentials: Learn how to build a strong brand identity beyond just the visuals.
- Website Design ROI Calculator: Estimate the potential return on investment from a professionally designed website.