99designs vs Contra:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, 99designs had more branded searches than Contra among creative freelance platforms worldwide. 99designs had about 49,500 branded searches, while Contra had 12,100. 99designs made up 0.56% of all creative freelance platform searches we track, and Contra accounted for 0.14%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about creative freelance platforms, 99designs and Contra each appeared in four of the five answers. Contra was mentioned before 99designs in four out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
99designs, about 4 searches for every 1 for Contra
Who does AI mention more?
Both were mentioned in 4 of 5 answers.
Who does AI recommend more?
Contra, named ahead of 99designs in 4 of 5 answers
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Top creative freelance platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, 99designs and Contra were each mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Contra was listed before 99designs in four out of five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Fiverr5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Upwork5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Dribbble4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- 99designs4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Contra4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Behance3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Toptal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
PeoplePerHour1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about creative freelance platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which creative freelance platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best creative freelance platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best creative freelance platform for finding freelance design work?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“freelance design work”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best freelance platform”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is 99designs or Contra more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for 99designs and Contra by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight creative freelance platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for 99designs, Contra. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Fiverr | Upwork | Behance | Dribbble | PeoplePerHour | Toptal | 99designs | Contra |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 46.8% | 25.6% | 17.1% | 6.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 0.69% | 0.08% |
| Nov 2025 | 47.1% | 25.8% | 17.2% | 6.3% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 0.08% |
| Dec 2025 | 44.2% | 29.6% | 16.2% | 5.9% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.65% | 0.07% |
| Jan 2026 | 44.2% | 29.6% | 16.2% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.65% | 0.06% |
| Feb 2026 | 42.1% | 28.2% | 18.8% | 6.9% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.76% | 0.06% |
| Mar 2026 | 43.9% | 29.4% | 16.1% | 7.2% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.53% | 0.07% |
| Apr 2026 | 43.8% | 29.4% | 16% | 7.2% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.53% | 0.09% |
| May 2026 | 42% | 28.1% | 18.8% | 6.9% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.62% | 0.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 43.6% | 29.2% | 16% | 7.2% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.65% | 0.13% |
| Jul 2026 | 43.7% | 29.3% | 16% | 7.2% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.53% | 0.13% |
| Aug 2026 | 44.3% | 29.6% | 16.2% | 6% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.54% | 0.13% |
| Sep 2026 | 38.2% | 31.2% | 20.9% | 6.3% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.56% | 0.14% |
How has the 99designs and Contra comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- 99designs was ahead of Contra in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, 99designs’ share of searches among creative freelance platforms worldwide moved from 0.69% to 0.56%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74K to 49.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Contra’s share of searches among creative freelance platforms worldwide moved from 0.08% to 0.14%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 12.1K.
How did search popularity change for creative freelance platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using 99designs’ and Contra’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among creative freelance platforms
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