99designs vs Upwork:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, Upwork had more branded searches than 99designs among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand. Upwork was estimated to have 5.3K branded searches compared to 99designs’ 90, and held a 41.8% Share of Search versus 99designs’ 0.71%.
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Which is more popular in search, 99designs or Upwork?
Compare the freelance marketplaces New Zealand businesses hire contractors from. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for Upwork, 99designs. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Fiverr | Upwork | Toptal | Freelancer.com | 99designs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 65.7% | 31.3% | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.74% |
| Nov 2025 | 60.8% | 35.8% | 1.4% | 1.5% | 0.49% |
| Dec 2025 | 60.9% | 36.1% | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.57% |
| Jan 2026 | 56.2% | 40.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.38% |
| Feb 2026 | 59.8% | 36.3% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 0.48% |
| Mar 2026 | 54.2% | 41.8% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 0.68% |
| Apr 2026 | 55.5% | 41.3% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.38% |
| May 2026 | 58.3% | 37.7% | 1.2% | 2.1% | 0.67% |
| Jun 2026 | 59.8% | 37.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.55% |
| Jul 2026 | 55.2% | 41.9% | 1.2% | 1.3% | 0.47% |
| Aug 2026 | 55.1% | 41.8% | 1.5% | 0.95% | 0.71% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
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 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, 99designs’ estimated Share of Search among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand moved from 0.74% to 0.71%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 120 to 90.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Upwork’s estimated Share of Search among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand moved from 31.3% to 41.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 5.1K to 5.3K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand freelance marketplaces in August 2026?
1 change

Estimated monthly branded searches for 99designs in New Zealand fell 25% over 11 measured months, from 120 to 90 in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
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.

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