99designs vs Upwork:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Upwork had more branded searches than 99designs among creative freelance platforms worldwide. Upwork had about 2.7 million branded searches, while 99designs had 49,500. Upwork made up 31.2% of all creative freelance platform searches we track, and 99designs accounted for 0.56%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about creative freelance platforms, Upwork appeared in all five answers and 99designs in four. Upwork was mentioned before 99designs in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
Upwork, about 55 searches for every 1 for 99designs
Who does AI mention more?
Upwork, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
Upwork, named ahead of 99designs in every answer
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Top creative freelance platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Upwork appeared in all five answers. 99designs was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Upwork was listed before 99designs in every answer.
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 Upwork more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for 99designs and Upwork 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 Upwork, 99designs. 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 Upwork comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Upwork 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 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, Upwork’s share of searches among creative freelance platforms worldwide moved from 25.6% to 31.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 2.7M.
How did search popularity change for creative freelance platforms worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Upwork gained share of searches among creative freelance platforms worldwide, from 29.6% to 31.2%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for 99designs worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 49.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using 99designs’ and Upwork’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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