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designhill alternatives designhill alternatives

Best Designhill Alternative

Adobe Portfolio is a great Designhill alternative. It allows designers to display their work
exactly how they want and attract clients directly. Rather than entering countless free
contests, they can showcase a professional portfolio and be noticed for their style. Besides,
they can hash out all details and get fair pay for their work.

I joined Designhill with high hopes, excited to connect with clients globally and show off my designs in contests. I tried entering several competitions, thinking I may win a project. But it didn’t take long before I realized the platform wasn’t what I needed.

I was frustrated by how contests worked. I would spend hours making designs, but there was no promise I’d get paid. With so many entries, most of the time my work went unnoticed. Frankly speaking, I thought I was competing for free. Even worse, clients sometimes gave unclear feedback or just abandoned the contest entirely. So, all my effort went in vain.

After another disappointing competition, I decided to look for alternatives to Designhill. I wanted more stability, e.g., to get hired directly or showcase my portfolio to attract real clients. I also needed a space that respected the effort and creativity I put into my work. My main priorities became fair pay, clear project instructions, and trustworthy communication.

Top 11 Designhill App Alternatives

  1. Adobe Portfolio - Integration with Adobe CC and Behance
  2. 99Designs - Well-structured contest system
  3. Fiverr - Payment guaranteed for every gig
  4. Upwork - Wide variety of projects
  5. DesignCrowd - International client base
  6. Canva - Clients appreciate editable designs
  7. Tailor Brands - Time-saving for mockups & concepts
  8. HiHello - Easy way to share your brand instantly
  9. ByBrand - Great upsell for existing clients
  10. Freelancer - Offers both contests & direct projects
  11. PeoplePerHour - Post “hourlies” for direct hiring

Designhill can be useful, but I noticed it didn’t give me the stability I was looking for as a graphic designer. I wanted to work on platforms that value skill and effort, rather than reducing everything to contests. To find the best Designhill alternatives, I reached out to colleagues from the FixThePhoto team, since some of them take on freelance projects and already use platforms similar to Designhill to connect with clients.

Why Many Designers Stop Using Designhill

Designhill has built a name for itself as a design platform, but many professionals find it unsustainable in the long run. The challenge comes from its contest-driven model.

In this system, designers submit their work to contests, but only the winner earns money. For everyone else, the time, creativity, and energy they’ve invested are lost. This makes the platform less about fair opportunities and more about working for free in a crowded, competitive space.

Another problem with this system is the lack of responsibility on the client’s side. Some clients leave contests unfinished, meaning no designer receives a reward. Others give confusing or inconsistent feedback, making it difficult to meet their expectations. For professionals who want a stable, predictable income, this model is far from reliable. Besides, the platform’s push toward cheap offers often forces designers to undercharge, which devalues their work.

What designers truly want are better options. They need platforms where they can build real client relationships, earn fair compensation, display their work, and enjoy creative freedom. Rather than chasing speculative contests, they want environments that treat their skills with respect and help them grow a lasting career.

What Designers Get on Alternatives vs. Designhill

Designhill (Contest Model) What Designers Actually Need (Alternatives)
Contest-based system with no guaranteed payment
✔️ Clear project hires with foolproof pay
Many designers competing for one prize
✔️ Selection based on proven portfolios
Some contests are abandoned or unpaid
✔️ Transparent client communication and accountability
Necessity to underprice work to stay competitive
✔️ Fair compensation with respect for skills and time
Disappointing long-term relationships with clients
✔️ Opportunities to build ongoing collaborations
Generic briefings and unclear feedback
✔️ Detailed project briefs and creative freedom

1. Adobe Portfolio

adobe portfolio designhill alternative
Pros
  • High-quality, customizable layouts for portfolios
  • Possibility to attract high-value clients
  • Focus on demonstrating projects, not contests
Cons
  • No built-in job marketplace
  • Free only for Creative Cloud subscribers

Adobe Portfolio free plan offers me what Designhill couldn’t - a proper platform to present my designs. Rather than competing in endless contests, I can showcase my portfolio in a professional way that reflects both my skills and my creative vision. This makes it much easier for clients to understand my strengths right away.

“This is a great platform to show my best projects professionally without paying extra. Now, I don’t need to chase clients. They find me first.”


robin owens fixthephoto expert
Robin Owens
Senior Tech Writer

The best part is its integration with Behance and other Adobe products. It makes me feel connected to a wider creative network, instead of being just another participant in a contest-driven space like Designhill. For long-term career growth, Adobe Portfolio is a terrific Designhill alternative.

Adobe Portfolio may not get frequent updates, but it’s dependable and easy to use. It brags about a close connection with other Adobe tools. Whenever Photoshop or Illustrator improves, the benefits also extend to Adobe Portfolio. Because of this, more and more designers are choosing it instead of Designhill and similar platforms.

2. 99Designs

99designs designhill alternative
Pros
  • Responsible clients, who are ready to pay more
  • 1-to-1 work approach after contests
  • Active design community with feedback
Cons
  • Very competitive environment
  • High fees

After trying 99Designs, I realized it’s basically a step up from Designhill. It still uses contests, but they’re more structured, and clients give better feedback. That’s why, the whole process is smoother and more understandable. I like that the clients are genuinely willing to invest in good design, which motivates me as a graphic designer.

For me, the real benefit is the chance to land direct 1-to-1 projects once you’ve shown what you can do. This option makes it possible to move past the contest stage and start building ongoing client relationships. I always missed this feature in Designhill.

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3. Fiverr

fiverr designhill alternative
Pros
  • Absolute control over services and pricing
  • Direct interaction with clients
  • Suitable for smaller, quick projects
Cons
  • Many low-price sellers
  • Harder to find high-paying long-term work

Unlike Designhill, Fiverr offers a more direct and flexible way to work. I can simply list what I offer, set my price, and let clients come to me if they like my portfolio. I like this straightforward approach because I feel that I’m in charge of my own projects.

“I think Fiverr is a great Designhill alternative for quick design jobs. I’ve found several clients, who need logos or simple graphics fast.”


tata rossi fixthephoto expert
Tata Rossi
Tech Trends Journalist

Still, keep in mind that the marketplace is competitive. Fortunately, every job pays, which is not always the case with Designhill. For short-term projects or fast client requests, this social media for artists has turned out to be a better fit than Designhill.

4. Upwork

upwork designhill alternative
Pros
  • Direct communication with clients
  • Trustworthy contracts and milestone payments
  • Allows building long-term business relationships
Cons
  • Building a strong profile is time-consuming
  • High service fees

I often turn to Upwork because it offers a more professional approach to freelancing. Instead of endless design & photography contests like on Designhill, I can browse posted projects, apply for the ones that fit my skills, and discuss the terms directly with clients.

I like that Upwork helps me create lasting client connections. Building a reputation takes time, but as my profile improves, finding regular work gets easier. Each completed project boosts my rating, which makes securing future jobs simpler. If you value the same possibilities, this will be one of the best Designhill alternatives for you.

5. DesignCrowd

designcrowd designhill alternative
Pros
  • Understandable contest system
  • Clear client feedback
  • Sufficient exposure for beginner designers
Cons
  • Contest-based nature with no guaranteed income
  • Inconsistent earnings

Like Designhill, DesignCrowd also works through contests, but it has the advantage of being more international. Its massive community, often said to include 800,000 to 1 million designers, creates broader exposure and more opportunities for freelancers to showcase their skills. This scale is especially useful for those looking to expand their portfolio.

“It reminds me of Designhill, but I find more diverse projects here, and clients tend to engage more actively.”


tani adams fixthephoto expert
Tani Adams
Apps Reviewer & Writer

The guided brief feature is really helpful because it sets clear expectations for designers from the very beginning. On this platform, you can choose how to work - by joining contests, responding to private invites, or being hired for a project.

What I appreciate most is how clients give feedback. They stay active in the process, which helps me improve my designs and grow as a creator. It’s not the same as working with a design agency since contests are still the main format, but overall it feels more fulfilling than Designhill.

6. Canva

canva designhill alternative
Pros
  • Lots of templates and assets
  • Fast and intuitive
  • Helpful for upselling simple projects
Cons
  • Lacks potential for advanced, custom work
  • Not a freelancing/job platform

Even though Canva isn’t a freelancing platform, I use it all the time in my projects. This alternative to Designhill helps me design polished templates fast, which I can then send to clients. Such an approach is very time-efficient, as I don’t need to start everything from scratch for contests.

Another plus is that clients like using this free graphic design software as well. They can edit and customize the templates later, which adds to the value of my work. That flexibility is something I couldn’t fully offer if I only worked through Designhill contests.

7. Tailor Brands

tailor brands designhill alternative
Pros
  • Fast branding and logo generation
  • Inspirational materials
  • Full-fledged brand kits for clients
Cons
  • Designs lack uniqueness
  • Poor creative control

Even though Tailor Brands is built as an automated branding tool, I think it is useful for brainstorming and creating fast mockups. Instead of competing with other designers like on Designhill, I can quickly get starting graphic design ideas here and shape them into unique work.

“I typically use this tool for making logos and branding kits. It speeds up most processes, but the results aren’t very unique.”


nataly omelchenko fixthephoto expert
Nataly Omelchenko
Tech Innovations Tester

It doesn’t take away from my creative process, but it makes things faster. When clients need branding done on short notice, Tailor Brands gives me an advantage that I didn’t have with Designhill.

8. HiHello

hihello designhill alternative
Pros
  • Pro-level digital business cards
  • Facilitates networking outside of platforms
  • Modern, interactive design options
Cons
  • Impossible to get freelance jobs directly
  • Works as a support tool

HiHello is a great Designhill alternative, which is particularly useful for making digital business cards. Unlike on Designhill, where I was always competing for work, HiHello helps me show off my newly created portfolio in a professional way and find clients directly.

With modern, interactive cards, I’ve been able to make direct connections and secure projects outside of platforms. For growing as a designer, this visibility is more important than contest work.

9. ByBrand

bybrand designhill alternative
Pros
  • Focus on pro email signatures
  • Intuitive customization tools
  • Helps create consistent branding
Cons
  • Limited to email branding
  • No way to find design jobs
ByBrand specializes in email signatures. It may seem minor, but it’s a strong branding tool. Unlike Designhill, where projects are short-lived, ByBrand allows me to give clients something they use daily.

“Now I can create branded email signatures in minutes. This program is user-friendly and delivers top-notch results. Still, it doesn’t cover a wide range of tasks.”


eva williams fixthephoto expert
Eva Williams
Writer & Gear Reviewer

With the help of ByBrand, I can upsell my services. For example, I design a logo and then add a professional email signature through ByBrand. This email signature generator lets you create materials for ongoing use, which isn’t possible with Designhill.

10. Freelancer

freelancer designhill alternative
Pros
  • Huge and rich job marketplace
  • Embedded milestone and payment protection
  • Wide network of industries
Cons
  • Very competitive environment
  • High platform fees

Freelancer is a larger and more flexible alternative to Designhill. I can join contests or work on direct projects. This is very convenient, especially if you want to try both formats. The job variety is amazing, covering different design possibilities.

Most of all I like the secure payment system and smooth client communication. When comparing Freelancer vs Fiverr and Designhill, I noticed that Freelancer has better contracts and milestone tools. Generally, here I know that my effort won’t go in vain.

11. PeoplePerHour

peopleperhour designhill alternative
Pros
  • Serious clients
  • Suitable for long-term collaborations
  • Secure payments
Cons
  • Poor variety of jobs
  • Approval process for profiles is time-consuming

PeoplePerHour one-ups Designhill and other social media for photographers & designers with its more professional working approach. I can post “hourlies” also known as small service bundles, and get hired without participating in contests.

“To my mind, PeoplePerHour combines the best features of Fiverr and Upwork. You can post offers or pitch on client projects. Yesterday, I found several steady clients without fierce competition. I like such an approach.”


ann young fixthephoto expert
Ann Young
Retouching Guides Writer

I also like that clients are more serious and responsible here. They don’t just want the cheapest services, but are looking for designers for long-term collaboration. This system is more suitable for me than what Designhill offers.

How We Tested Designhill Alternatives

Finding good alternatives to Designhill isn't easy when you only read reviews online. That's why our FixThePhoto team decided to actually use these platforms ourselves and share what we discovered.

We divided the work among four people to cover more ground. Eva Williams specialized in testing portfolio websites like Adobe Portfolio, basically checking if they make it simple to display your best work. Tata Rossi experimented with smart design tools like Tailor Brands and Canva to see if computer-generated designs could compete with human-made ones. Kate Debela tested Fiverr and Upwork, investigating whether designers can realistically earn good money and connect with quality clients.

We put in serious effort and created genuine design projects from start to finish, including logos, branding materials, and portfolio sites. Throughout this process, we kept track of timing, noted user experience problems and wins, and observed how these platforms foster meaningful connections between designers and clients.

Our evaluation went deeper than surface features. We focused on the following questions. How much time does each project actually require? How easily can clients find and hire designers? Are these platforms built for quick one-and-done jobs, or can they support valuable long-term business relationships? By doing real work on each platform, we gathered honest insights based on actual experience rather than just promotional claims.

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Eva Williams

Writer & Gear Reviewer

Eva Williams is a talented family photographer and software expert who is in charge of mobile software and apps testing and overviewing in the FixThePhoto team. Eva earned her Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from NYU and work 5+ years assisting some of the city’s popular wedding photographers. She doesn't trust Google search results and always tests everything herself, especially, much-hyped programs and apps.

Read Eva's full bio

Kate Debela

Hardware & Software Testing Specialist

Kate is a travel blogger with rich experience who specializes in videography. She’s spent many years trying out apps, software, and photography gear. She focuses on gear with an excellent price-performance ratio, enabling photographers to save costs while taking advantage of the advanced functionality. She has a love-hate relationship with Apple, preferring customizable and accessible Android devices and Windows PCs over Apple's ecosystem, despite regularly testing their products.

Read Kate's full bio

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