Freelancer vs Full Time Designer vs Design Subscription

Choosing the right design solution isn’t just about cost — it’s about consistency, speed, collaboration, and how much design work your business actually needs. This guide breaks down the three most common options so you can make a confident, informed decision.

TL;DR: Which design option should you choose?

Where to get professional design?

Professional graphic design is a lot more than the odd, botched up post for social media. So, how do you get reliable, graphic design for your business? 

Here are 3 popular options, with their main pros and cons.

Option 1: full-time designer

Hiring a full-time designer can be a great choice for some businesses. The average salary of graphic designer in the US is around $5,250 per month. 

When you hire in-house, you get a designer to work closely with your in-house team, someone who will understand your brand inside and out. A full-time designer could also make the design process a lot smoother and quicker, as you don’t have to waste time on external communication. 

However, there are a few downsides. Hiring a full-time designer is typically more expensive than working with freelancers. Especially, if you don’t have a constant need for graphic design, full-time work hours could put a significant strain on your budget.

Next, it’s important to remember that no designer is good at everything. So, while you may hire a terrific marketing designer for your daily needs, they might fall short when it comes to UI/UX design. 

Option 2: freelance designers

A whopping 90% of designers work freelance. That’s a huge talent pool to choose from!

Incidentally, the vast set of skills is definitely one of the biggest advantages of freelance designers. Whatever your project may be, you can definitely find someone with the right style and set of design skills.

How much does freelance design cost though? It’s definitely not a straightforward answer, but we’ll try to give you a couple of ballpark figures.

Logo design

• €300–€1,000
  Includes 2–4 concepts, revisions, and brand-ready files.
  More complex brand identity packages can go €1,000–€2,000.

Brand identity package

(Logo + color palette + typography + basic brand guide)

• €800–€2,500

Social media graphics

• €20–€60 per post/template
• €200–€600 for a monthly batch of 10–15 posts

Business cards / stationery

• €50–€200 per item
• Small packs (all stationery + cards): €150–€500

Website design (no development)

• €500–€2,500 for a 3–5 page website UI design (Figma)
  Price depends on custom design vs using a template.

Landing page design

• €300–€1,200 (design only)
• With build: €500–€2,000

Presentation design (pitch decks)

• €30–€80 per slide
• Full decks: €300–€1,500

Infographics

• €80–€250 per infographic
  Complex, data-heavy versions: up to €400–€600.

Brochures / flyers

• €100–€400 (simple flyer)
• €300–€1,000 for multi-page brochures (8–16 pages)

Packaging design

• €300–€1,200 per packaging type
  Highly detailed or regulated industries go higher.

Email templates

• €100–€400 for a custom email design (Figma)
• €200–€600 if they code it (HTML).

Illustrations

• €80–€300 simple
• €300–€1,000+ detailed/unique style

As you can tell, freelance design is fairly affordable on a one-off basis. However, if, like most businesses, you need several graphics every week, working with freelancers can become expensive in the long term.

Another downside of freelance work is unpredictability. As they’re not bound by long-term commitment, freelancers can become unavailable as they take on another project. 

Option 3: design subscription

Graphic design subscription, also called unlimited and on-demand design services, are companies that offer graphic design services at a fixed monthly fee (typically between $600 and $2,000).

Although you don’t actually get an unlimited number of graphics (it’s human designers not robotos), you can make unlimited requests and revisions, which is a huge advantage for anyone handling a big workload.

Most services don’t require a maximum commitment, so you’re free to pause or cancel your subscription as you please. Unlike freelancers, however, graphic design subscription services are available all year round. They have a team of designers, so someone is always available to step in, and you don’t need to worry about unexpected holidays or sick leave.

It goes without saying that it’s important to find a reputable design service, with lots of client reviews and a good portfolio. 

Of course, it’s also unrealistic to expect the same kind of personal relationship as with in-house designers. These design professionals always handle several clients at once, so they aren’t available for team calls and brainstorming meetings. 

That said, some services, like ManyPixels offer a happy medium. With our Designated Designer and Design Team plans you can get 1 or 2 designers working almost exclusively with your brand. They’ll be in the same time zone as you, and reachable via Slack. 

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How to choose the right design Ssolution

Before diving into detailed comparisons, it helps to look at the decision logic behind each option. The flowchart below reflects the most common decision path businesses follow when choosing between a freelancer, a full-time designer, or a design subscription.

Here are some common questions to ask, before deciding between full-time designer vs design subscription vs freelance designer. 

Do you need graphic design daily? ‍

👉Hire a full-time designer or a design subscription service. Freelancers are far too time-consuming and expensive in the long term. 

Do you want predictable pricing?

👉Hire a full-time designer or a subscription service. Freelancers often charge extra for revisions and hourly rates range from $15 to $150+ for senior designers.

Is your budget limited?

👉Hire a design subscription service or freelancer. US designers earn about $5,000 monthly, which can be a huge drain on your budget.

Do you need different types of design projects?

👉Hire a design subscription service. It’s by far the fastest and simplest way to get everything from brand design to motion graphics in one place. 

Is scaling important?

👉Hire a design subscription service. With a whole design team and flexible pricing adjusting your workload is no problem. 

Do you need daily meetings?

👉Hire a full-time designer. Although some freelancers and design subscription services offer 1:1 virtual meetings, it’s not a given. 

Freelancers vs full-time designer vs design subscription

Of course, a simple yes or no isn’t always a useful answer to your dilemmas. Here’s a detailed look at the pros and cons of each design service provider in 6 key aspects: cost, turnaround time, skills, reliability, admin and flexibility. 

Cost comparison

Cost-effectiveness is often the first factor businesses consider, but upfront price doesn’t always reflect long-term value. Here’s how each option compares financially.

👉 Decision:
If you want affordable and predictable pricing, a design subscription is the best choice.

Turnaround time

Speed matters when design work supports marketing, product launches, or daily operations. Turnaround times vary widely depending on the model you choose.

👉 Decision:
Design subscription services can handle large daily workloads thanks to a vast team. So, if you want a reliable turnaround this should be your choice.

Skills and experience

Different design needs require different skill sets. Some options prioritize depth, while others focus on breadth.

👉 Decision:
If you need a wide range of design skills without hiring multiple people, a design subscription is the most flexible option. Look for vetted design services like ManyPixels, that hire top designers and have a reliable quality control system.

Reliability and continuity

Design work is rarely a one-off need. Reliability over time can have a big impact on productivity and planning.

👉  Decision:
If continuity and low risk matter, a design subscription or full-time designer is safer than hiring freelancers. However, with design subscriptions you get an extra layer of dependability, as there's always a designer standing by.

Management and admin overhead

Design costs aren’t just financial — time spent managing people, contracts, and workflows adds up quickly.

👉 Decision:
If you want to minimize management time, a design subscription is the most efficient option. Look for design services like ManyPixels that include project management in the monthly price to ensure the design process runs smoothly.

Revisions and flexibility

Design is an iterative process. How revisions are handled can make or break your experience.

👉 Decision:
If you expect frequent feedback and changes, a design subscription offers the most flexibility. Not only do you get unlimited revisions included in the price, you can also change designers.

Summary

So, to sum up, what's the best choice between freelancer vs design subscription vs full-time designer? 

• Choose a freelancer if your design needs are occasional and highly specialized.
• Choose a full-time designer if you need daily collaboration and deep brand ownership.
• Choose a design subscription if you need ongoing design work with predictable costs, fast turnaround, and minimal admin.

If you’re ready to get more affordable, faster and scalable design, you’re in the right place. ManyPixels is one of the best-rated design subscription services, with thousands of completed projects and happy customers.

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Get started today for as low as $599 or get in touch to discuss your design needs.