99designs vs DesignCrowd:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, 99designs had more branded searches than DesignCrowd among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand. 99designs had about 40 branded searches, while DesignCrowd had 30. 99designs made up 0.43% of all freelance marketplace searches we track, and DesignCrowd accounted for 0.32%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about freelance marketplaces, 99designs appeared in two of the five answers and DesignCrowd in none.
Who do people search for more?
99designs, about 33% more searches than DesignCrowd
Who does AI mention more?
99designs, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, DesignCrowd in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
99designs, the only one of the two named
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Top freelance marketplaces in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, 99designs was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. DesignCrowd did not appear in any of the five answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Upwork1st
Fiverr2nd
Contra3rd
Zealancer4th
Toptal5th
Freelancer5th- 99designs7th
DesignCrowd–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Upwork5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Fiverr4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Toptal2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- 99designs2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Freelancer2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Contra2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Zealancer2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- DesignCrowd0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about freelance marketplaces
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which freelance marketplace should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best freelance marketplaces in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best freelance marketplace in New Zealand for a small business hiring contractors?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best freelance marketplace”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“hire contractors online”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is 99designs or DesignCrowd more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for 99designs and DesignCrowd by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all eight freelance marketplaces we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for 99designs, DesignCrowd. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Fiverr | Upwork | Toptal | 99designs | DesignCrowd | Freelancer | Contra | Zealancer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 61.9% | 34.8% | 1.4% | 0.53% | 0.38% | 0.53% | 0.08% | 0.3% |
| Dec 2025 | 62.3% | 34.8% | 1.4% | 0.61% | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.08% | 0.15% |
| Jan 2026 | 57.6% | 39.2% | 1.5% | 0.35% | 0.49% | 0.63% | 0.07% | 0.21% |
| Feb 2026 | 62% | 35.6% | 1.1% | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.38% | 0.08% | 0.15% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.3% | 41.5% | 1.5% | 0.67% | 0.47% | 0.34% | 0.07% | 0.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 56.6% | 41% | 1.2% | 0.34% | 0.34% | 0.27% | 0.07% | 0.21% |
| May 2026 | 59.9% | 37.5% | 1.2% | 0.51% | 0.29% | 0.37% | 0.07% | 0.15% |
| Jun 2026 | 60.7% | 36.4% | 1.1% | 0.52% | 0.52% | 0.52% | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| Jul 2026 | 56.3% | 40.9% | 1.2% | 0.42% | 0.42% | 0.59% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Aug 2026 | 56.4% | 40.6% | 1.5% | 0.59% | 0.42% | 0.25% | 0.08% | 0.17% |
| Sep 2026 | 57.4% | 40.2% | 1% | 0.52% | 0.43% | 0.17% | 0.09% | 0.17% |
| Oct 2026 | 57.9% | 39.7% | 1.3% | 0.43% | 0.32% | 0.21% | 0.11% | 0.11% |
How has branded search for 99designs and DesignCrowd changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending October 2026: DesignCrowd took it in January 2026, 99designs took it in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, 99designs’ share of searches among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand moved from 0.53% to 0.43%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 70 to 40.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, DesignCrowd’s share of searches among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand moved from 0.38% to 0.32%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 50 to 30.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand freelance marketplaces in October 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for 99designs in New Zealand fell 42.9% over 12 measured months, from 70 to 40 in October 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for DesignCrowd in New Zealand fell 40% over 12 measured months, from 50 to 30 in October 2026.
How are 99designs’ and DesignCrowd’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using 99designs’ and DesignCrowd’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
2 branded search terms
- 99designs
- 99designs freelance
DesignCrowd
1 branded search term
- designcrowd
Other head-to-heads among freelance marketplaces
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