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The Best Freelance Websites to Hire Graphic Designer Freelancers [Updated for 2024]

Outsourcing your design needs to a freelancer can get the same quality from in-house designers at a fraction of the cost. Check these freelancing sites!

11 min read

Design Tips
The Best Freelance Websites to Hire Graphic Designer Freelancers [Updated for 2022] cover

Are you ready to elevate your brand with expert graphic design? Uncover the best freelance websites for hiring graphic designers and transform your projects! Hiring graphic designer freelancers can be a great way to finish high-quality design work quickly and affordably.

By outsourcing some or all of your graphic design needs to a freelancer, you can get the same quality as you would from an in-house designer. But at a fraction of the cost. And since most freelancers are self-employed, you don’t have to worry about paying benefits or covering other overhead costs.

What do graphic designer freelancers do?

A freelance designer is a professional who provides creative design services to clients on a contractual basis. Freelance designers typically work remotely, though some may choose to work with clients in person.

Graphic design encompasses a wide range of projects. It includes design needs from creating logo designs and branding materials to creating print design layouts for printing or digital publications. Freelance graphic designers may specialize in a particular area, such as web design. Or they may be a generalist who can handle all types of digital marketing projects.

An experienced graphic designer may even become a creative director for a digital marketing business, providing consultation to the company. And they can also be in charge of UI UX designs for a mobile app or create animation for an entertainment company.

Whatever creative design you need, hiring a freelance designer is the best way.

The Best Freelance Websites to Hire Graphic Designer 2024
Photographer: Abhishek Rai

Why do you need to hire a graphic designer in your company?

You may need to hire a freelance designer for your business.

If you’re starting a new business, a graphic designer can help you create a professional brand identity. He can help you with your brand identity from creating your logo to developing marketing materials and designing your website.

Even if you’ve been in business for a while, you may need to hire a designer to create fresh, updated designs. If you need to create designs for your website, marketing collateral, or product packaging, a graphic designer is the man for the job. Or if you’re launching a new product or service, a designer can help you develop a cohesive look and feel for your brand.

A freelance designer is more than just creating designs for branding and website. They can also generate product and fintech mobile app designs for finance companies that need a UI UX design for their web app and other projects.

What are the benefits of working with graphic designer freelancers?

There are many benefits of working with freelance graphic designers, including the following:

You can save money. Hiring a freelancer is usually more affordable than hiring a full-time, in-house employee. And since most freelancers are self-employed, you don’t have to worry about paying benefits or covering other overhead costs. You can also end your contract immediately when your project with them is done or if you are unsatisfied with the work they did for you.

You can get high-quality work. When you hire a talented freelancer, you can get the same quality as you would from an in-house designer. And you can choose a wide array of freelance designers online that fits your projects’ needs.

You have more flexibility. With a freelancer, you can usually get your projects done more quickly than if you were working with an agency or design studio. And suppose you need to make changes or revisions. In that case, a freelancer can usually turn them around more quickly than a larger company, especially if you hire a freelancer exclusively for your company.

You can work with someone you trust. When you build a relationship with a freelancer, you can be confident that they understand your vision and will do their best to bring your projects to life.

Benefits of Working with a Graphic Designer Freelancer

Things to you consider before hiring freelance graphic designers.

Before you hire a freelance graphic designer, there are a few things you should consider, including:

Your budget

How much can you afford to spend on your project? When getting quotes from designers, ask about their rates and any additional costs, such as for revisions or rush orders.

Your timeline.

When do you need the projects to be completed? Be sure to communicate your timeline to the designer and ask if they can meet your deadline.

Your scope of work.

What exactly do you need to be designed? Be as specific as possible when describing your projects to designers so they can give you an accurate quote.

Your brand.

Do you already have a well-defined brand, or do you need help developing one? Be sure to communicate your brand’s personality and style to the designer so they can create designs that reflect your company.

The designer’s portfolio.

Does the designer’s style match your vision for your projects? Be sure to look at the designer’s portfolio of graphic designs before hiring them to ensure their work is a good fit for your needs.

After considering all these factors, you can start your search for the perfect freelance graphic designer. You can find designers on freelancing platforms like Fiverr, and Upwork, or you can reach out to designers you know personally.

When reaching out to designers, give them as much information about your project as possible to give you an accurate quote. And be sure to ask about their rates, timeline, and process for revisions.

graphic designer's portfolio
Photographer: Tran Mau Tri Tam ✪

What are the drawbacks of hiring a freelance graphic designer?

There are a few potential drawbacks to hiring a freelance graphic designer, including:

  • The need for you to manage more than one freelancer. You may need to hire several freelance designers to get the job done if you have a large project or multiple projects. This process can be time-consuming, especially if you need to get used to working with freelancers.
  • You may need to provide more direction. You can usually give them your ideas with an agency or design studio, and they’ll run with them. But with a freelance designer, you may need to be more involved in the project, providing more direction and feedback.
  • You may not have the same level of support. When you work with an agency or design studio, you usually have a team working on your projects. But when you work with freelance designers, you typically work with one person or two. Unfortunately, your projects may be delayed if they get sick or have an emergency.
graphic designer freelancers problem
Photographer: Elisa Ventur
  • Hiring freelance graphic designers can be costly in the long run. If you have long-term projects or need ongoing support, hiring an in-house employee or an agency may be more cost-effective.
  • You may not have a contract. When you work with an agency or design studio, you usually have a contract that outlines the scope of work and the terms of the agreement. But you may have yet to have a contract when you work with a freelancer. Working without a contract can be risky since there’s no guarantee that the freelancer will deliver what they promise.
  • Hiring freelancers put you at risk of getting scammed. There are many scams, and hiring freelance designers makes you more vulnerable to them. Be sure to do your research and only work with designers that you trust. And this is why you should hire freelance graphic designers from a reputable agency like Design Match, where the designers are pre-checked to ensure they are legitimate.

How do I find a good freelance graphic designer?

There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re looking for a freelance graphic designer, including:

What should I expect to pay a freelance graphic designer?

Freelance graphic designers typically charge by the hour, ranging from USD 25 to USD 150 per hour. However, some designers may also charge by the job, ranging from USD 500 to USD 5,000 or more.

When you’re hiring graphic designers, be sure to discuss pricing upfront, so there are no surprises later on. Make sure to include mode of payment and where to send payments to since most freelancers work remotely. Once you’ve agreed on a price, get the terms in writing so that you and the graphic designer know what you expect of the design job.

Hiring a freelance designer can be a great way to get high-quality graphic design work done quickly and affordably. By outsourcing some or all of your graphic design needs to freelancers, you can get the same quality as you would from in-house graphic designers but at a fraction of the cost. And since most freelancers are self-employed, you don’t have to worry about paying benefits or covering other overhead costs.

designer meeting
Photographer: Mapbox

What are the Best Freelance Websites by Category?

There are several different freelance websites out there, each with its focus. Here’s a look at some of the best ones in a few different categories:

Upwork

One of the largest and most popular freelance sites, with jobs in a wide range of categories, Upwork helps growing businesses find and work with top-notch talent and agencies to help with their projects, including digital marketing projects. It’s simple to start: Sign up, post your projects, then review proposals to find the right independent contractor or agency to do the job for you.

Fiverr

Fiverr is the world’s largest marketplace for digital services, where individuals or companies can find freelancers with the skills that suit their needs. It is considered a “micro-task” site, where you can do relatively small one-off tasks called “gigs.” It is an excellent option for finding creative professionals, such as graphic designers, illustrators, and writers, who can help with content marketing, social media, and other digital marketing tasks.

99designs

99designs is the world’s largest on-demand design marketplace, connecting a global community of freelance designers with businesses of all sizes to complete their design needs. It is an excellent option for businesses that need help with branding and design work, including logo design, web design, and packaging design. In addition, you can start a contest on the site, inviting designers to submit their proposals for your project, then choose the winner based on their portfolio, reviews, and price.

PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is an online community of freelance talent that helps companies outsource specific projects to remote workers when needed. Cloud-based platforms are making it easier for firms to find the people they need from a global talent pool and for freelancers to advertise their skills. In addition, it is a good option for finding professionals to help with administrative tasks, such as data entry or customer service.

PeoplePerHour is a UK-based freelancer site that connects businesses with a global network of freelancers for one-off projects or ongoing work. It is also an excellent option for businesses that need help with a wide range of tasks, including web development, social media, and administrative tasks.

TaskRabbit

TaskRabbit connects busy people needing help with trusted local taskers who can lend a hand with everything from home repairs to errands. As a tasker, you can get paid to do what you love, when and where you want. Doing all these while saving the day for someone in your city. It is the platform of choice if you need help with a one-time task or project, such as moving furniture or assembling IKEA furniture.

Design Match

Design Match is a newer player in the freelance market, shaking up the industry with its innovative approach. It is a curated platform that only works with the top 1% of designers, making it easier for businesses to find high-quality talent. It is a good option if you need help with a design project and wants to be matched with a pre-vetted designer.

graphic designer
Photographer: Nirmal Rajendharkumar

Toptal

Toptal is one of the fastest-growing, fully remote freelance networks. It empowers freelance software developers, designers, finance experts, product managers, and project managers worldwide to grow and excel in their freelance careers. And it connects businesses with the world’s top 3% of freelance talent. Because of this, Toptal is an excellent option for businesses that need help with complex projects that require the very best skill.

Behance

Behance is a network of sites and services specializing in self-promotion by creative professionals. Adobe acquired it in 2012, and it now serves as one of the main ways that creatives can showcase their work to potential employers. In addition, Behance is a good option for businesses that need help with creative projects, such as web design, graphic design, and branding.

DesignCrowd

DesignCrowd is a global creative platform that crowdsources design from a network of more than 850,000 designers worldwide. It is an online marketplace providing logo, website, print, and graphic design services by providing access to freelance graphic designers and design studios worldwide.

What are people’s most common mistakes when hiring a freelance graphic designer?

One of the most common mistakes people make when hiring freelancers is not doing their research beforehand. Check reviews and check out the freelancer’s portfolio before deciding. It’s also essential to get the terms of the project in writing before work begins. Creating a contract of the terms of the project will help avoid any misunderstandings or disagreements down the road.

Another common mistake is hiring a freelancer without knowing what you want. Be sure to clearly understand what you need before you start looking for a freelancer. Knowing what you need will make finding someone who’s a good fit for the project more manageable.

Finally, feel free to negotiate with freelancers on price. Many are willing to work for less than their stated rate if it means getting the job. So, if you’re on a tight budget, let the freelancer know and see if they’re willing to work with you.

hiring graphic designer freelancers
Photographer: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

What is the process of hiring a freelancer?

When you’re ready to hire a freelancer, the first step is to identify your needs. For example, do you need someone to design a website for you? Or a talent to create UI UX web design for your company? Do you need someone to design a logo and create a brand identity for your service? Whatever freelance design needs your company has, it is always best to know them before hiring.

Once you know what you need, you can search for a freelancer who offers those services. There are several ways to find freelancers, such as online directories, word-of-mouth, and social media.

Once you’ve found a few freelancers you’re interested in working with, reach out and contact them. Be sure to explain your project in detail and ask any questions. It would help if you also asked for a portfolio or examples of their work. And ask for character references from previous work, clients, or companies they have done jobs for to see their work ethics and check their fit to your company culture.

And finally, remember to leave a review after finishing the project. The review you left will help other people who are looking for freelancers in the future.

Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you understand the process of hiring a freelancer. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

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