Even before social media became popular, visual content has been integral in growing businesses. In fact, the 2017 Social Media Marketing Industry Report revealed that 85% of marketers use visual content in their campaigns.
That's because images and videos can make your brand stand out. It is also an excellent way to simplify complex concepts as the human brain can process images faster than text.
No wonder do-it-yourself graphic design platforms like Canva and Pablo came into being. They are affordable and allow you to create visual content even without Photoshop skills.
The downside is that working on your visual content takes away precious time that you could have used in growing your business. Hence, your best option would be to hire a freelance graphic designer.
And two design companies that often compete are Design Pickle vs Penji.
Design Pickle vs Penji
Design Pickle was established to cater to the needs for affordable yet high-quality graphic design. Thus, they offer flat-rate graphics design solutions to various businesses.
On the other hand, Penji boasts of itself as a socially responsible design company. That's because they pledge 10% of monthly profit to support recovering communities.
But which is better between Design Pickle vs Penji?
Pricing and Available Design Types
Both design companies have a basic monthly plan of $399. This comes with a dedicated designer and unlimited design requests for unlimited brands.
However, Penji wins when it comes to affordability. That's because the basic plan allows up to two users. And you get to have the following when you upgrade to their Team Plan ($499 per month) or Agency Plan ($899 per month):
- Graphic design
- Custom illustrations
- Web and app design
- Infographics
Meanwhile, Design Pickle lets you get custom illustrations as an add-on for $499 per month.
Platform and Integrations
Design Pickle and Penji have intuitive platforms, which comes with an in-app communication channel. They also have a pretty similar process:
- Submit a design request
- Let their designers do their magic
- Get your output
However, Design Pickle wins as far as integrations are concerned. They use Zapier, making it easy for users to connect their email or Slack for communication purposes.
On the other hand, Penji's Slack integration can be cumbersome. So much so that you might need the help of a dev.
Customer Support
Design Pickle has a responsive customer support team that is available five days per week. They also have an online knowledgebase if you prefer to solve your issue yourself.
Meanwhile, Penji provides an account manager who proactive emails their users. But if you want prioritized customer support, you need to subscribe to their Agency plan.
Turnaround and Revisions
Both companies deliver to their promise of 24 - 48 hours of turnaround time. They are also quick with the revisions, which takes 24 hours at most.
But here are some things you should keep in mind:
- Every revision is considered a new design request.
- Design requests for custom illustrations, infographics, or website and app designs will require more time.
As far as design quality is concerned, every user has their preferences. But if you are curious whether works from either design company fit your brand, we suggest checking out their portfolio.
Alternative Unlimited Graphic Design Service Providers
Despite the battle between Design Pickle vs Penji, there is no denying that they are two of the most popular flat-rate graphic design service providers. But are there other design companies that have the same offerings?
The quick answer is that there are many. And you might want to look for a design company that fits well with how you run your business and your budget.
That said, we have listed down five other companies that also offer unlimited graphic design service:
Delesign
Based in San Jose, California, Delesign gives you access to a plethora of talented designers.
For as low as $349 per month, you can have unlimited design requests and revisions and 24/7 client support. They also have a client portal where you can work directly with your dedicated designer. Another option would be email exchange and Slack integration.
Plus, there are many things that make Delesign standout:
- Unlimited Users on Basic Plan. This allows you to get your entire team on board without having to shell out thousands of money.
- Dedicated Designer. You can choose a dedicated designer who can work the same hours as you. This means that you can exchange messages instantly and request and receive revisions, decreasing the time you have to wait for the final output.
- Senior Designer. If you have other design requests, like motion graphics and animations, you can do so with the help of a senior designer.
- Allotted Hours per Subscription. Each designer allot two hours on your project per subscription. This allows you to estimate when you will be able to receive your output.
Aside from having dedicated designers who can work the same hours as yours, they are exemplary and can design almost anything! Their scope of service ranges from corporate branding and print ads to digital painting to online magazines.
Kimp
Another affordable alternative to Design Pickle and Penji is Kimp.
This Canadian design company provides not just a dedicated design but also a project manager. Kimp also offers an unlimited graphic design service for $389 per month. And this comes with a seven-day free trial.
Meanwhile, motion graphic design is a separate plan and may require you to shell out $589 monthly. Luckily, you can avail of both services for $889 per month.
Kimp also likes to keep things simple, as you can send your design requests via email or Trello.
ManyPixels
If you are looking for a scalable service provider, you might want to check out ManyPixels.
Although based in Singapore, the company has 30+ in-house designers who work from different parts of the world. They provide unlimited graphic design requests for $399 per month. This includes static display ads, social media graphics, stickers, and more.
What separates ManyPixels from the rest is the fact that they have a customizable plan. This means that you can have a dedicated team of designers that can provide high-quality design, however and whenever you need it.
Flocksy
If you need high-quality visual content regularly but do not have the resources to hire a team, Flocksy is the one for you. That's because they provide a vetted team of creatives that will suit your business needs.
Aside from unlimited graphic design services, Flocksy also offers web development and copywriting.
So, for $420 per month, you can have a dedicated project manager, copywriting team, video editors and creators, and graphic designers.
But here are some downside:
- You can only work on one project at a time.
- Each project only allows five brand "buckets."
The way to bump up those limitations is to sign up for their All Access plan, which costs $995 per month.
DigiFloat
DigiFloat might be the youngest design company on this list.
Founded in 2019, this company started with the idea of helping businesses enhance their online visibility. This includes providing unlimited graphic design services for as low as $349 per month.
They also offer a fast turnaround of 24 - 48 hours. However, complex design requests like custom illustrations, brochures, and packaging can take longer.
Similar to Kimp, you can submit your design requests to DigiFloat via email or Trello.
Hiring a Professional Graphic Designer is an Investment
While it is tempting to do your visual content yourself, it can be cumbersome and time-consuming. More so if you do not have the right tools and skills. Luckily, having your dedicated team of creative people does not have to cost that much.
If you have the budget, you can choose between Design Pickle vs Penji.
Otherwise, there are more affordable options like Delesign. Such companies provide unlimited graphic design services without breaking the bank. Thus, they are the ideal partner if you need a steady stream of visual content but do not have the resources or time to hire an in-house team.
Maria is a Content Writer with keen interest in eCommerce and Internet Marketing. She is a Communications graduate and understands what it takes to write persuasive copy and blog posts. Outside of work, you can find her mini-blogging about her life on social media.Maria is a Content Writer with keen interest in eCommerce and Internet Marketing. She is a Communications graduate and understands what it takes to write persuasive copy and blog posts. Outside of work, you can find her mini-blogging about her life on social media.
