Brandwave

DesignCrowd vs Upwork:Which is more popular in New Zealand?

In October 2026, Upwork had more branded searches than DesignCrowd among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand. Upwork had about 3,720 branded searches, while DesignCrowd had 30. Upwork made up 39.7% of all freelance marketplace searches we track, and DesignCrowd accounted for 0.32%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about freelance marketplaces, Upwork appeared in all five answers and DesignCrowd in none.

Among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand in October 2026

Who do people search for more?

Upwork, about 124 searches for every 1 for DesignCrowd

Upwork 3.7K searchesDesignCrowd 30 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Upwork, mentioned in every answer we collected

Upwork in 5 of 5DesignCrowd in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Upwork, the only one of the two named

Upwork first in 4DesignCrowd never named

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Top freelance marketplaces in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Upwork appeared in all five answers. 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.

  1. Upwork1st
  2. Fiverr2nd
  3. Contra3rd
  4. Zealancer4th
  5. Toptal5th
  6. Freelancer5th
  7. 99designs7th
  8. 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

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 DesignCrowd or Upwork more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for DesignCrowd and Upwork 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.

DesignCrowd and Upwork among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Upwork, DesignCrowd. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthFiverrUpworkToptal99designsDesignCrowdFreelancerContraZealancer
Nov 202561.9%34.8%1.4%0.53%0.38%0.53%0.08%0.3%
Dec 202562.3%34.8%1.4%0.61%0.38%0.38%0.08%0.15%
Jan 202657.6%39.2%1.5%0.35%0.49%0.63%0.07%0.21%
Feb 202662%35.6%1.1%0.38%0.38%0.38%0.08%0.15%
Mar 202655.3%41.5%1.5%0.67%0.47%0.34%0.07%0.2%
Apr 202656.6%41%1.2%0.34%0.34%0.27%0.07%0.21%
May 202659.9%37.5%1.2%0.51%0.29%0.37%0.07%0.15%
Jun 202660.7%36.4%1.1%0.52%0.52%0.52%0.07%0.07%
Jul 202656.3%40.9%1.2%0.42%0.42%0.59%0.08%0.08%
Aug 202656.4%40.6%1.5%0.59%0.42%0.25%0.08%0.17%
Sep 202657.4%40.2%1%0.52%0.43%0.17%0.09%0.17%
Oct 202657.9%39.7%1.3%0.43%0.32%0.21%0.11%0.11%

How has branded search for DesignCrowd and Upwork changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand freelance marketplaces in October 2026?

2 changes

  1. In October 2026, Upwork lost share of searches among freelance marketplaces in New Zealand, from 40.2% to 39.7%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for DesignCrowd in New Zealand fell 40% over 12 measured months, from 50 to 30 in October 2026.

How are DesignCrowd’s and Upwork’s branded searches counted?

8 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using DesignCrowd’s 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.

DesignCrowd

1 branded search term

  • designcrowd

Upwork

7 branded search terms

  • odesk upwork
  • upwork
  • upwork freelance
  • upwork freelance platform
  • upwork freelance writing
  • upwork hire
  • upwork virtual assistant

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among freelance marketplaces

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