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Whether you want to launch a new website or your current site is in need of a refresh, a web designer can help. But with so many freelancers to choose from, how do you find a website designer who can create a site that looks great and provides a top-notch user experience?
Hiring a professional to design your website is easier than you might think, especially if you search the right marketplace. Discover what to look for in a freelancer and learn how to find a good web designer on any budget.
Do I Need a Web Designer or a Web Developer?
Before you start searching for freelancers, take a moment to make sure you’re hiring the right person. It’s easy to assume that a web designer can provide everything you need to establish an online presence for your business. In reality, a web developer may be a better fit for your needs – or your website may require a team effort between a designer and a developer.
Make sure you understand the differences between the two:
A web designer is a creative specialist who’s responsible for a website’s layout and usability. Web designers also have technical expertise and can focus on user interface (UI), user experience (UX), or a bit of both.
A web developer is a technical expert who’s responsible for a website’s architecture and structure. Web developers can specialize in front-end elements that users interact with or back-end elements that make the site work correctly.
The best web designers are professionals with the right mix of technical and creative abilities. I recommend looking for a freelancer who has mastered these skills:
Design Principles: Any web designer you hire should understand the basics of design and have a good grasp of color theory, typography, and composition.
Design Software: Web designers should be fluent in industry-standard software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and WordPress, as well as programs like Sketch, Invision, and FlowMapp.
Programming Languages: Web designers may not be expert programmers, but they do need to know HTML for scripting and CSS for styling.
UI Best Practices: Freelance designers should know how to create a responsive site that looks appealing with the help of software like Sketch and InVision.
UX Best Practices: Designers should also be able to make a website easy to use with the help of software like FlowMapp and Optimal Workshop.
In addition to essential skills, it’s critical to find a web designer whose portfolio resonates with you. Be sure to ask for work samples or browse your candidates’ portfolios to make sure their style and approach works for your business.
6 Best Places to Find a Web Designer
Whether you want to hire a web designer for a one-off project or contract a freelancer on an ongoing basis, there are plenty of places to search. Get a glimpse of the top freelance marketplaces I’ve tried and see where to find a website designer.
Fiverr’s search engine makes it easy to find the perfect web designer
Fiverr is a gig-based marketplace that lets business owners hire freelancers for individual projects. Freelancers post the services they offer, and employers can purchase them quickly and easily. Pricing starts at $5, making this marketplace the ideal place to get started on a smaller budget.
Although Fiverr hasover 100 freelance categories ranging from web design to data processing, the marketplace makes it easy to vet sellers. You can use the powerful search engine to filter results by budget, seller status, delivery time, and more. You can also browse portfolios and read customer reviews before booking a gig.
Subscription Options: If you have an ongoing project or need a service regularly, you can use Fiverr’s subscription option – read our Fiverr review to learn more. Opting for this route saves money and ensures consistent work.
Custom Offers: If you can’t find the perfect gig, you can ask freelancers to send custom offers with extra deliverables or shorter timelines. Many also have add-ons so you can easily get work finished faster.
Fiverr Business: Companies and agencies can use Fiverr Business to access vetted freelancers, collaborate with teammates, and streamline workflows.
Upwork lets you search for a web designer by price, timeline, and project specs
Upwork lets employers hire freelancers by posting a job or buying a project. The Talent Marketplace lets you create a job description, review applications, and hire the right person. Alternatively, you can browse the Project Catalog to find and purchase web design gigs that meet your needs.
Although Upwork has plenty of one-time projects, the marketplace also supports longer-term hiring needs – one of the things we discuss in more detail in our UpWork review. For example, you can have open-ended contracts that let you assign work to freelance web designers over a period of weeks or months.
Interview Portals: If you want to go beyond text-based chatting, Upwork lets you interview potential freelancers via video, or you can call your hires to discuss projects.
Pricing Options: When you hire freelancers through Upwork, you can create fixed-price or hourly contracts to manage your budget effectively.
Talent Scout: If you don’t have time to post jobs or search for freelancers, you can use Upwork’s Talent Scout service for more efficient recruiting.
99designs provides a project brief tailored to hiring freelance web designers
99Designs is a creative marketplace with freelancers offering everything from logos to web design. To use this platform, you can either hire a specific designer directly or ask web designers for submissions.
Unlike more budget-friendly marketplaces, 99Designs tends to have much higher starting prices. Webpage design contests start at $599, and hiring a web designer starts at $629. However, this marketplace offers perks like creator vetting, source files, and full copyright ownership – which may be worthwhile for some businesses.
Design Contests: Run contests to receive a dozen or more designs and then select the one you like best. Platinum-level contests allow top-level designers only, giving you some quality control.
Stock Images: 99Designs has a partnership with Adobe Stock, making it easy to source stock images for your projects. Be prepared to pay for them, however, as stock images may add to the cost of your designs.
99Designs Pro: Businesses and agencies can use Pro options like Select to access a dedicated group of designers or Studio, which serves as a remote creative studio. Read our 99Designs review to learn more.
DesignCrowd lets employers browse designs before launching a contest
DesignCrowd is a contest-based marketplace that lets you post a brief, review submissions, and accept the result you like best. Contest pricing is based on the number of submissions you want to consider, so paying more means you’ll get a wider range of results. Read our DesignCrowd review to learn more.
If you want to hand-pick web designers or search for available gigs, you’re out of luck with DesignCrowd. You also need to budget a little more time and money than many other platforms. Contest pricing starts at $99, and the fastest deadline is three days.
Feedback Process: If the contest submissions you receive aren’t quite perfect, you can request changes. This increases the chance that you’ll get a workable result.
Money-Back Guarantee: If you don’t like any of the contest results, you don’t have to accept them. You can get your money back, which lowers any risk from using the platform.
Design Outsourcing: Agencies and businesses with large-scale needs can use DesignCrowd’s outsourcing option to white-label designs and get results quickly.
Guru requires detailed job postings to help you hire the right web designer
Guru is a freelance marketplace that supports both job listings and direct hires. You can post a brief that outlines the web design project you need and then wait for freelancers to place a bid. Alternatively, you can search for freelancers and request quotes.
However, sticking to a strict budget may be difficult with Guru. The marketplace doesn’t let you search by price, and gigs don’t have set costs. Instead, you have to request a quote before hiring a web designer – we tried out the process in our Guru review.
Flexible Pricing: Guru lets you pay by an hourly rate, a fixed price, per task, or recurring payment. The wide range of options may make this platform viable for more businesses.
SafePay: Guru uses a payment protection feature that holds funds securely. Employers place funds in SafePay at the beginning of an agreement, and freelancers can request funds from SafePay as per the payment agreement.
Guru Enterprise: If you have more advanced requirements, Guru’s tailor-made solution reduces fees and helps you work more efficiently with freelancers.
Milestone Payments: Freelancer.com uses Milestone Payments to keep funds secure while your freelancer works. You can release payments when you’re completely happy with the work.
Project Management: If you need a hand running your project, you can hire a Technical Co-Pilot via Freelancer.com. You also get access to hand-selected web designers to streamline your recruitment process.
Freelancer Enterprise: When you need a team of freelancers at your disposal, the platform’s Enterprise option gives you access to a virtual studio with no additional subscription fees.
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Best Web Designers to Hire
Now that you know where to look for freelance web designers, you may be ready to hire one quickly. In that case, Fiverr is an easy choice. The Fiverr marketplace is home to more than 12,000 website design gigs, many of which start at just $5.3
I’ve had a look through and found some of the best freelance web designers at different price points.
Hire Mechalina for a simple design or an e-commerce site
With a web design gig starting at just $5, Mechalina has some of the most affordable rates on Fiverr. Customer ratings reveal that this seller delivers excellent work for the price, too – Mechalina has a five-star rating and Level Two Seller status, which means they’ve delivered more than 50 orders while maintaining at least a 4.7-star rating.
This web designer’s cheapest package includes WordPress installation and costs just $5. Their $180 premium package includes an eight-page site with e-commerce integration – a great deal if you need to launch an online store.
Work with SimpleWeb12 on a responsive website design
It’s no surprise that SimpleWeb12 sees a ton of return customers. This Level Two Seller has more than 1,700 reviews and a five-star rating. SimpleWeb12 also has 10 years of experience in the industry and a university degree in design.
For $60, this web designer’s basic package provides a one-page site design with HTML conversion. If your site will be a bit more complex, the $200 premium package includes up to five pages with HTML. All of SimpleWeb12’s gigs include unlimited revisions so you can get exactly what you need.
Book MyDesignBD for multi-page sites with unlimited revisions
Another popular seller, MyDesignBD has a five-star rating and more than 300 reviews – many of them from repeat buyers. As a Top Rated Seller, this freelancer has delivered over 100 orders while earning at least a 4.7-star rating.
MyDesignBD’s basic gig starts at $150, which includes a homepage design with the source file. If you need multi-page site design or want unlimited revisions, their $820 premium package would be a better fit.
Hiring a web designer through the Fiverr marketplace takes just a few minutes. Start by navigating to the Fiverr homepage and typing what you need in the search bar. For example, search for Web Design to find freelancers who’ll create a new look for your website.
Finding a web designer on Fiverr starts with a simple search
In the search results, you will find thousands of gigs if you’re looking for a relatively common service like web design. Instead of scrolling through the results to find a gig that catches your eye, you can save time by using the dropdown menus to narrow your options.
For example, you can select a minimum and maximum budget, or search for freelancers who can deliver within 24 hours. You can also narrow the results by categories like WordPress or UX design or look for freelancers who support certain website plugins and specializations.
You can narrow Fiverr search results by budget, delivery time, and more
When you find a gig that looks promising, click on it to dig into the details. Use the left and right arrows to toggle through the freelancer’s portfolio and view their work samples. Scroll down to get a full description of the gig and read reviews from real Fiverr customers.Fiverr gigs include work samples that show what the freelancer can do
Want to make sure you’re getting enough value for your money? Click on Compare Packages to see the different options the freelancer offers. For example, some freelance web designers offer basic packages with one-page sites and premium packages with extras like multiple pages or even an e-commerce store.
It’s easy to compare deliverables, prices, and turnaround times on Fiverr
Next, click the gray Contact Seller button to message the freelancer about your project. Many web designers on Fiverr request a message before booking a gig so they can confirm their services meet your needs.
When you’re prepared to make a purchase, simply click the green Continue button to proceed with your order. The Fiverr marketplace will handle the payment processing and provide the seller with all the necessary information to begin, including your style preferences and essential details about your business.
You can book a Fiverr gig with just a few clicks
You can also communicate with the seller, review drafts, request revisions, and accept the final deliverable through the marketplace. Fiverr counts down to the deadline so you can keep your project on track.
Hiring a Freelance Web Designer Is Simple and Cost-Effective
Regardless of your budget or objectives, hiring a freelance web designer can be a budget-friendly choice. Whether you need a simple one-page site or a more complex online shopping arrangement, you can find a web designer who has the skills, experience, and price that fits your requirements.
Although many online marketplaces can connect you with freelance web designers, Fiverr offers the best value and choice. With over 12,000 web design gigs, prices starting as low as $5, and a user-friendly interface, Fiverr is a great solution for hiring skilled freelancers. Since Fiverr also has thousands of web developer gigs, you can find all the freelancers you need in one convenient place.
You canfind a good web designer by searching a freelance marketplace like Fiverr. Looking through candidates’ portfolios and reading reviews can help you find the right person for your needs. You can browse gigs, message with freelancers, and hire web designers in just a few minutes – take a look at our Fiverr review to understand the full process.
What should I look for in a web designer?
When you hire a web designer, look for a professional with a strong sense of design and familiarity with design software. It’s also important to search for a freelancer with advanced UI and UX skills so you get a site that looks nice and works smoothly.
What’s the difference between a web designer and a web developer?
A web designer has stronger creative skills and focuses on the look and experience of a site. By contrast, a web developer has stronger technical skills and focuses on the structure and functionality of a site. Web designers and web developers often work in tandem, and some have the skills to do both jobs. I explored the differences between them in my web designer vs web developer article to help you decide which one you need to hire.
Anna Sonnenberg is a digital agency owner who specializes in email marketing, content strategy, and social media management. For over 6 years, she has run Sonnenberg Media, a digital micro agency that works with small businesses in the CPG, SaaS, marketing, and health & wellness industries.
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