On-Demand Graphic Design vs. Freelancers: What’s Better?

If you are a business that consistently needs high-quality graphic designs, then on-demand graphic design services can be the most cost-effective and time-saving solution. 

According to the latest research, 80% of SMBs consider graphic design important for their success. However, the average salary for full-time in-house designers is $60,000 annually. So, many businesses decide to outsource design as a way to cut costs on professional graphic design.

Freelancers are still the number one choice for most businesses that are considering outsourcing. This is hardly surprising, as 90% of designers work freelance. But, on-demand design services are a much simpler, faster and more affordable way to get quality design.

What is on-demand graphic design?

Unlimited graphic design services are on-demand graphic design service providers who can design unlimited designs for you at a flat rate.

Here are some of the main advantages of working with unlimited graphic design companies:

• Unlimited design requests and unlimited revisions
• Fast turnaround time (usually 1-2 business days for most tasks)
• Access to a team of designers with diverse skills
• Original and copyright-free designs (including source files that you reuse as you wish)

Companies offering unlimited graphic design usually have comprehensive graphic design packages that include everything from logo design to different marketing materials. 

On-demand graphic design vs. freelancers comparison

With all the benefits of on-demand graphic design services, you might think that freelancers are still more affordable and offer greater flexibility? Let’s compare the two design providers in more detail.

Price

If you search for freelance designers on popular platforms, you’ll notice that the freelance designer hourly rates are pretty affordable (Upwork states $25 is the average), and there are many design projects you can get for under $100.‍

‍So, isn’t freelance design cheap?‍

‍Yes and no. If you need a one-off project, freelancers can be affordable. However, if you need designs regularly, costs can pile up fast. Moreover, many freelancers charge extra for additional revisions.‍

Of course, one way to avoid unexpected costs is to pay on a per-project basis. However, as you can see, this will still set you back hundreds if not thousands of dollars for a single project.

With graphic design on demand, you can get all your daily designs for well under $1,000 a month (at ManyPixels our subscription starts at just $549).

Output

Quality freelancers are usually in high demand, so you’ll often find them balancing more than one project at a time.

And while they can be real design experts, not everyone is great time management.

Most subscription-based services also include professional project managers who ensure the designers always deliver the quality and amount of work promised.

At ManyPixels we always our daily output (what one designer can do in one day) looks like this: 

• 2-3 social media graphics
• 1 logo draft
• 1-2 custom illustrations (more if the design requirement is not too complex)
• 1-2 flyers
• 2-3 display ads
• 1 GIF draft (2-3 seconds)
• 4-5 pages of a brochure, report, slide deck, or e-book

Skills

We’ve already mentioned how many graphic designers work freelance. So, whatever your design project, you’ll certainly find someone with the right skillset, in a price range you can afford.

Still, no designer is good at everything. So, even if you end up finding the perfect social media designer, you might have to start the search all over once you need packaging design, illustrations, or motion graphics.

With graphic design on-demand, you get access to a team of designers with different skills and styles. At ManyPixels our designers also go through a rigorous vetting process, so you’ll get to work with top candidates from all over the world.

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Revisions

Revisions are a critical part of any design process. However, freelancers working on a per-hour or per-project basis tend to limit the number of free revisions, so they can plan their work hours. 

With on-demand graphic design services you get unlimited requests and revisions at a fixed monthly rate. So, whether you want to test out more variations, or make last-minute tweaks, we’ve got you covered!

Flexibility

Working with freelancers allows you to pay exactly how much and when you want to. However, this also means that many quality freelancers won’t be available every time you need them. 

This might not be a huge problem for small businesses, but if you’re a marketing team that requires quick turnaround and revisions, issues like this can cause quite the bottleneck.

On-demand design allows you to pause and cancel your subscription any time, with no additional charges.

Ready to get started with on-demand graphic design services?

There are many awesome unlimited design companies on the market, but there are a few good reasons why ManyPixels is one of the top choices.

We’ve been around since 2018, and are considered a pioneer in the unlimited design space. In fact, many of the businesses were introduced to the graphic design subscription model when they met us.

We have a comprehensive pricing range. Whether you need one or two designs a day, or want to get your personal dedicated designer reachable in real time via Slack, we’ve got you covered. 

We work with businesses and teams of all sizes. Starting at just $549 our subscription plans allow us to pay top designers fairly and deliver quality designs at an affordable rate. 

Finally, we’ve completed more than 125,000 design requests for more than 3,000 clients. You can check out some of our work for a taste of how much diversity in style and skills we offer. 

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Do you still have your doubts? Book your free 1:1 consultation and discover how ManyPixels can help your business thrive!