Software Alternatives & Startups

99designs VS Mainstack.co

Compare 99designs VS Mainstack.co and see what are their differences

99designs

The #1 marketplace for graphic design, including logo design, web design and other design contests. Start a contest now with 100% Money-Back Guarantee!

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0 reviews
Mainstack.co

Mainstack enables entrepreneurs with commerce and global payment solutions to showcase and get paid for their work and services, grow revenue, and manage customers - all in one place.

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Which is more popular?

Based on our record, 99designs seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 28 times since March 2021.

social mentions
28 vs 0
Graphic Design popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

99designs
Mainstack.co
Website 99designs.com mainstack.com
Pricing —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

99designs 6 features
Mainstack.co 5 features
  • Variety of Designs
    The platform provides access to a wide range of design concepts from multiple designers, increasing the likelihood of finding a design that best fits your needs.
  • Competitive Pricing
    Clients can choose from different pricing packages to fit their budget, with competitive pricing due to the large number of designers.
  • High-Quality Designers
    99designs has a rigorous vetting process, ensuring that many of the designers available on the platform are skilled and experienced.
  • Easy to Use
    The platform is user-friendly, making it easy for clients to post projects, communicate with designers, and review submissions.
  • Global Talent Pool
    Access to a global community of designers provides diverse perspectives and creativity, which can be advantageous for unconventional or unique projects.
  • Fast Turnaround Time
    Clients can receive multiple design submissions quickly, reducing the time it takes to finalize a design.

Possible disadvantages

  • Quality Control
    With a large number of submissions, there is a possibility of receiving a mix of high and low-quality designs, requiring more time for review.
  • Cost Can Add Up
    While there are various pricing packages, opting for a higher level of service or guaranteeing higher prizes can significantly increase costs.
  • Intellectual Property Concerns
    In some cases, there may be concerns about the originality of submitted designs, necessitating thorough checks to ensure designs are not plagiarized.
  • Communication Barriers
    Working with international designers can sometimes result in communication challenges, including language barriers and differing time zones.
  • Non-Refundable Fees
    Some fees, such as those for additional services or premium packages, are non-refundable, even if the design project does not meet expectations.
  • Limited Revisions
    Depending on the selected package, there may be a limit to the number of revisions allowed, which could be restrictive for clients requiring extensive changes.
  • All-in-One Platform
    Mainstack combines multiple business tools into a single platform, including link-in-bio pages, digital storefronts, payment processing, and booking — reducing the need for multiple subscriptions and integrations.
  • Easy Storefront & Digital Product Sales
    Users can quickly set up digital storefronts to sell products, services, courses, and digital downloads without needing technical expertise or a separate e-commerce platform.
  • Built-in Payment Processing
    Mainstack offers integrated payment solutions that support multiple currencies and payment methods, making it easy for creators and businesses to receive payments globally.
  • Creator-Focused Design
    The platform is tailored for creators, freelancers, and small businesses, offering tools like customizable link-in-bio pages, portfolio showcases, and booking features that cater specifically to their needs.
  • No-Code Setup
    Mainstack requires no coding knowledge to get started. Users can build professional-looking pages, storefronts, and booking systems using intuitive drag-and-drop or form-based interfaces.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Brand Recognition
    Compared to established competitors like Gumroad, Shopify, or Linktree, Mainstack is less well-known, which may cause potential users to hesitate due to concerns about reliability and longevity.
  • Feature Depth May Be Limited
    While Mainstack offers many tools in one place, each individual feature may lack the depth and advanced functionality found in dedicated single-purpose platforms like Calendly for bookings or Shopify for e-commerce.
  • Limited Third-Party Integrations
    Mainstack may not offer as many integrations with popular third-party tools (e.g., email marketing platforms, CRMs, analytics tools) compared to more established competitors.
  • Smaller Community & Support Resources
    As a relatively newer platform, Mainstack has a smaller user community, which means fewer tutorials, forums, and peer-generated resources available for troubleshooting and learning.
  • Scalability Concerns
    While suitable for individual creators and small businesses, Mainstack may not offer the robust infrastructure and advanced features needed by larger businesses or those experiencing rapid growth.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

99designs
Mainstack.co

Overall verdict

  • Overall, 99designs is considered a good choice for both designers looking to find work and businesses or individuals seeking design services. It provides a straightforward process for both parties and generally results in creative and satisfying outcomes.

Why this product is good

  • 99designs is a popular platform for freelance designers and businesses to connect. It offers a wide range of design services, from logo and website design to packaging and book covers. Designers compete by submitting their work in response to a client's brief, allowing clients a variety of high-quality design options to choose from. The platform is known for its ease of use, diverse talent pool, and the ability to see multiple designs before making a selection.

Recommended for

    99designs is highly recommended for small to medium-sized businesses, startups, and individuals seeking quality design work and willing to invest in a competitive design process. It's also suitable for freelance designers looking for new opportunities and willing to participate in design contests to showcase their skills.

Overall verdict

  • Mainstack is a solid all-in-one platform for creators, freelancers, and digital entrepreneurs in Africa (and beyond) who want to sell digital products, accept payments, and manage their online presence without needing separate tools for each function.

Why this product is good

  • Combines multiple tools (storefront, invoicing, payment links, link-in-bio) into a single dashboard, reducing the need for multiple subscriptions
  • Built with African creators and businesses in mind, supporting local payment methods and currencies which many global platforms lack
  • Simple, user-friendly interface that doesn't require technical or design skills to set up a professional-looking store or page
  • Supports selling digital products, services, and even physical goods with integrated payment collection
  • Offers analytics and customer management features to help creators track sales and grow their audience
  • Relatively low fees compared to piecing together multiple Western-centric SaaS tools that may not support local payments well

Recommended for

  • African creators, coaches, and freelancers looking to monetize digital products or services
  • Solopreneurs who want an easy way to accept payments locally and internationally without complex setup
  • Content creators needing a simple link-in-bio and storefront solution combined
  • Small business owners who want to send invoices and collect payments in one place
  • Individuals just starting out online who don't want to invest in multiple separate platforms (e.g., Shopify + Stripe + Linktree)

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

99designs 2 videos + Add
Mainstack.co 0 videos + Add

99designs Review: Watch me get a new logo!

More videos

  • - 99Designs Review and Overview

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Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
99designs
Mainstack.co
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

99designs no reviews yet
Mainstack.co no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

99designs 28 mentions
Mainstack.co 0 mentions
  • Ask HN: Contest Website for Developers\Designers?
    Https://99designs.com has contest-like feature for designers. I was satisfied with the results when I used them 10 years ago. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Hi everyone! Is this a good book cover?
    This company is cheaper, but also does good work: Https://99designs.com/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • How do you get a logo for your cool new beer league team?
    99Designs is the contest one I know about. Source: over 3 years ago

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Tracking Mainstack.co since Nov 2024.

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