Brandwave

How popular is99designs?

In September 2026, people searched for 99designs by name about 49,500 times worldwide, a 33.1% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 0.76% of all global freelance marketplace searches, placing 99designs sixth out of seven marketplaces. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about freelance marketplaces, 99designs appeared in three of the four answers and was the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

99designs is the sixth most searched of 7 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. FiverrShare of searches 51.7%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. UpworkShare of searches 42.3%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. PeoplePerHourShare of searches 2.1%Mentioned in 1 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  4. ToptalShare of searches 1.7%Mentioned in 4 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  5. 99designsShare of searches 0.76%Mentioned in 3 of 4 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th

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Top freelance marketplaces in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, 99designs was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. 99designs is the sixth most recommended of the seven.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Upwork1st
  2. Fiverr2nd
  3. Contra3rd
  4. Toptal4th
  5. Freelancer5th
  6. 99designs6th
  7. PeoplePerHour7th

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Fiverr4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Upwork4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Toptal4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Freelancer4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Contra4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • 99designs3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • PeoplePerHour1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about freelance marketplaces

4 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Which freelance marketplaces compete with 99designs?

99designs against freelance marketplaces worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Fiverr, Upwork, PeoplePerHour, 99designs. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFiverrUpworkPeoplePerHourToptalFreelancer99designsContra
Oct 202560.3%33%2.4%2%1.2%0.89%0.1%
Nov 202560.8%33.3%2%1.6%1.2%0.9%0.1%
Dec 202556.2%37.6%2.3%1.9%1.2%0.83%0.09%
Jan 202656.2%37.6%2.3%1.9%1.2%0.83%0.07%
Feb 202656.1%37.6%2.3%1.9%1.2%1%0.07%
Mar 202656.6%37.9%1.9%1.9%1%0.68%0.09%
Apr 202656.5%37.9%2.3%1.5%1%0.68%0.11%
May 202655.9%37.5%2.7%1.8%1.1%0.83%0.14%
Jun 202656.1%37.6%2.3%1.9%1.2%0.83%0.17%
Jul 202656.2%37.6%2.3%1.9%1.2%0.68%0.17%
Aug 202656.2%37.6%2.3%1.9%1.2%0.68%0.17%
Sep 202651.7%42.3%2.1%1.7%1.3%0.76%0.19%

  1. 1.Fiverr

    51.7%

    Held 1st. 3.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -4.5 points.

  2. 2.Upwork

    42.3%

    Held 2nd. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +4.6 points.

  3. 3.PeoplePerHour

    2.1%

    Held 3rd. 135K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  4. 4.Toptal

    1.7%

    Held 4th. 110K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  5. 5.Freelancer

    1.3%

    Held 5th. 86.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  6. 6.99designs

    0.76%

    Held 6th. 49.5K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  7. 7.Contra

    0.19%

    Held 7th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between 99designs and its closest rivals

Every comparison with 99designs

8 comparisons

How has branded search demand for 99designs changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for 99designs worldwide fell from 74K to 49.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, 99designs’ share of searches among freelance marketplaces worldwide held steady, from 0.89% to 0.76%.

How did search popularity change for freelance marketplaces worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Upwork gained share of searches among freelance marketplaces worldwide, from 37.6% to 42.3%.

  2. In September 2026, Fiverr lost share of searches among freelance marketplaces worldwide, from 56.2% to 51.7%.

  3. Estimated monthly branded searches for Contra worldwide rose 49.4% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 12.1K in September 2026.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Toptal worldwide fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 110K in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for 99designs worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 49.5K in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for PeoplePerHour worldwide fell 32.8% over 12 measured months, from 201K to 135K in September 2026.

How are 99designs’ branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using 99designs’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

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How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does 99designs compete?

99designs is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Creative freelance platforms7th of 80.56%Show ranking
Freelance marketplaces6th of 70.76%Shown above
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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