TL;DR – Design subscription services for brands offer a practical solution without having to hire an in-house designer or a full-service creative agency. With a myriad of options out there, the real question is, which one is the best design platform for you?
If you’re looking for the best design subscription service, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, let’s unpack the top-rated unlimited graphic design platforms out there, including what makes them the best graphic design services today and any downsides you may need to look out for.
1. Penji
With outstanding reviews on Google, Clutch, and Facebook, Penji is a go-to unlimited graphic design company for brands of all sizes. This company offers users an opportunity to work with the world’s top 2% designers and a user-friendly app that makes it easy to request, revise, and approve graphic designs and motion graphics.
Pros:
- Unlimited graphic design and revisions at a predictable rate per month
- Access to the vetted, certified, professional designers
- 24-48 hours turnaround time
- AI-powered designer matchmaker to build a perfect team for your project
Cons:
- You might not make the most out of the subscription if you only need 1 or 2 designs done per month
Features:
- Flat rate for all projects, including revisions
- Access to more than 120 creative projects, including logos, brand guidelines, social media posts, web design, custom illustrations, and more
- Dedicated project manager, quality control manager, and art director for higher pricing tiers
- Hand-drawn illustrations for higher pricing tiers
- State-of-the-art app where users can communicate with their design team, request projects and revisions, and download final files
- 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing first-time users to try the platform risk-free
Best for: Businesses of all sizes, including agencies, that need all-around design support
How to make the most out of it: To make the most out of your subscription, it’s best to upload your branding guidelines to ensure that the project stays consistent and on-brand. Doing so can help avoid brand style-related revisions early on.
2. Design Pickle
Design Pickle combines the power of a global team and AI tools for design to offer users a streamlined graphic design production process.
Pros:
- Fast turnaround time
- Range of design assets
Cons:
- Pricier than most competitors
- Limited flexibility in case of niche projects
Features:
- Wide variety of services, including corporate and internal design, digital and web design, motion and video design, presentations, and product packaging
- Design requests are managed through a queue system, making for an organized workflow
- Standard tasks are usually finished within one to two working days
- Higher plans offer a dedicated designer to the user
Best for: Teams with a high volume of design projects looking for a solution that offers a structured workflow; users looking for a custom-priced plan based on the daily hours, professional services, and creative services they need.
How to make the most out of it: To get more out of your subscription, you can use templates for tasks that get repeated regularly, such as ads and social media posts.
3. Design Shifu
Though newer than most of its competitors, Design Shifu is making a name for itself for offering affordable graphic design without the need to hire an in-house designer.
Pros:
- Offers a limited plan for $199 but only for 5 design credits
- Good starting point for newbies
Cons:
- Newer than most platers
- Limited reviews online
Features:
- Designs ready in 24 hours, as indicated on its website
- 14-day money-back guarantee, allowing for a risk-free trial
- Slack integration for communication, making it a good solution for teams that are already using Slack as a collaboration app
- Design teams available 24 hours, 6 working days a week
- Multiple active requests are possible in all plans, with an additional subscription charge
- Custom illustrations, UI/UX, and other complex creative projects are available in higher tiers
Best for: Users with a limited budget who are looking for an affordable entry point to unlimited graphic design services
How to make the most out of it: To get the most out of your Design Shifu subscription, consider using Slack for easy communication. You can also maximize your monthly charge by requesting projects daily or as often as you can.
4. ManyPixels
ManyPixels allows users to get access to a fast and reliable team without having to deal with unpredictable pricing when hiring agencies or freelancers.
Pros:
- Professional designs
- Turnaround time of up to 2 days
Cons:
- Real-time communication can be limited
- Motion graphics not included in lower plan tiers
Features:
- One daily output available for the lowest plan, with multiple outputs available for the higher tiers
- Same-day delivery available for higher tiers
- Real-time Slack communication available for higher tiers
- Motion graphics and video editing available in higher tiers
- All plans include unlimited graphic designs and revisions for unlimited brands, free stock assets, and native source files
Best for: Teams that need good quality design, balanced with mid-range pricing
How to make the most out of it: To get more bang for your buck, you may want to consider using higher plans if you want faster turnaround. These plans, although pricier, could be a good solution for teams with a high volume of requests, such as creative agencies.
Is a Design Subscription the Right Solution for Your Brand?
Over the past years, design subscription has become even more popular among brands of all sizes. Here are the key benefits of this kind of subscription:
- Predictable pricing. Unlike freelancers who charge per hour or per design, design subscriptions charge the same predictable amount per month. No hidden fees or per-design charges that pile up.
- No long-term commitment. You can renew your subscription per month or not. That said, you won’t be tied to a long-term contract.
- Variety of creative expertise. When you hire a design subscription, you get access to a pool of designers who have various specializations.
Speaking of the variety of design expertise, most design subscription services offer a wide catalogue of services, including:
- Logos
- Branding kits
- Social media visuals
- Digital ads
- Print design
- Merch design
- Product packaging
- Web and app design
- Banners and thumbnails
- Illustrations
Subscription design services are typically for anyone who needs visual design but doesn’t want to hire an in-house graphic designer. Typical users include:
- Startups
- Small businesses
- Solopreneurs
- Agencies
But how does one choose the right provider? Here are a few things to consider:
- Turnaround time - Does it fall between the typical standard of 24-48 hours?
- Design expertise - What does the platform specialize in?
- Portfolio - Does the platform’s portfolio show professional work?
- Reviews - Are the platform’s reviews positive? What do clients say about their service?
Conclusion
The best design subscription service depends on your brand’s unique needs.
For instance, if you need the best design quality, Penji is the top choice, being backed by the world’s top 2% designers. It’s your gateway to design talent similar to that of Fortune 500 companies without having a huge design budget.
If you’re looking for the cheapest solution, meanwhile, Design Shifu offers the lowest prices for simple designs. On the other hand, if custom pricing is more important for you, Design Pickle is a good choice. And if you’re looking for a subscription that offers Slack integration, ManyPixels can be a sound option to streamline all your work-related communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a design subscription service?
A design subscription is a service that offers design services, usually unlimited, for a flat monthly rate.
What does “unlimited graphic design” mean?
Unlimited graphic design means users can request as many designs and revisions as they need without having to pay per deliverable. The number of active projects depends on the plan you avail.
How do design subscription services work?
Users typically request a design with an attached brief. The designer works on it and submits a draft within the turnaround time, usually 24-48 hours. The user can have the design revised until they’re 100% happy with the result.
Featured Image Credit: Tranmautritam from Pexels
