Brandwave

99designs vs Freelancer:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Freelancer had more branded searches than 99designs among freelance marketplaces worldwide. Freelancer had about 86,100 branded searches, while 99designs had 49,500. Freelancer made up 1.3% of all freelance marketplace searches we track, and 99designs accounted for 0.76%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about freelance marketplaces, Freelancer appeared in all four answers and 99designs in three. Freelancer was mentioned before 99designs in three out of four answers.

Among freelance marketplaces worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Freelancer, about 74% more searches than 99designs

Freelancer 86.1K searches99designs 49.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Freelancer, mentioned in every answer we collected

Freelancer in 4 of 499designs in 3 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Freelancer, named ahead of 99designs in 3 of 4 answers

Freelancer first in 399designs first in 1

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Top freelance marketplaces in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Freelancer appeared in all four answers. 99designs was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. Freelancer was listed before 99designs in three out of four answers.

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.

Is 99designs or Freelancer more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for 99designs and Freelancer by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven freelance marketplaces we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

99designs and Freelancer among freelance marketplaces worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Freelancer, 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%

How has the 99designs and Freelancer comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Freelancer was ahead of 99designs in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, 99designs’ share of searches among freelance marketplaces worldwide moved from 0.89% to 0.76%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74K to 49.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Freelancer’s share of searches among freelance marketplaces worldwide moved from 1.2% to 1.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 103K to 86.1K.

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

2 changes

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

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Freelancer worldwide fell 16.1% over 12 measured months, from 103K to 86.1K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using 99designs’ and Freelancer’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.

99designs

1 branded search term

  • 99designs

Freelancer

3 branded search terms

  • freelancer app
  • freelancer com
  • freelancer.com

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among freelance marketplaces

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