Top 10 Websites to Find a Freelance Application Designer

Design can make or break an app. Whether you’re building a new mobile product or revamping your current one, a skilled freelance application designer ensures your app is intuitive, beautiful, and user-friendly. But where do you actually find great talent?

With hundreds of freelance platforms available, it’s hard to know which ones deliver top-quality designers, transparent pricing, and reliable results. This guide highlights the 10 best websites to find freelance app designers, comparing their strengths, pricing models, and ideal use cases—so you can make the right hiring choice for your next project.


1. Twine

Twine connects businesses with over 750,000+ verified freelancers across design, tech, and AI categories. Every designer is manually vetted, ensuring high-quality work and genuine expertise.

Why Twine stands out:

  • Verified designers skilled in application, web, UI/UX, mobile, and product design
  • No upfront cost to post a project
  • Tailored quotes within hours
  • Strong creative and tech talent mix

Average hourly rate: $40–$90/hour
Best for: Startups and SMEs seeking mid- to senior-level app designers

👉 Hire a freelance app designer on Twine


2. Upwork

Upwork remains one of the largest freelance platforms, offering access to millions of freelancers worldwide. You can post a project or invite designers directly based on portfolios and job success scores.

Pros:

  • Large talent pool
  • Hourly or fixed-price projects
  • Built-in collaboration tools

Cons:

  • Platform fees for both clients and freelancers
  • Quality varies significantly

Average hourly rate: $30–$120/hour
Best for: Companies needing scalable design teams


3. Fiverr

If you need quick, budget-friendly app design help, Fiverr is ideal. Designers offer pre-packaged “gigs” such as UI design for specific screens or prototype creation.

Pros:

  • Clear, upfront pricing
  • Wide range of design gigs
  • Ideal for short-term projects

Cons:

  • Quality control can be inconsistent
  • Communication is limited to the Fiverr platform

Average hourly rate: $20–$70/hour
Best for: Early startups and prototype design work


4. Toptal

Toptal only accepts the top 3% of freelancers who apply, ensuring exceptional quality. It’s particularly suited for enterprises or teams seeking designers with product-strategy experience.

Pros:

  • Extremely high talent standards
  • Dedicated account managers
  • Risk-free trial period

Cons:

  • Premium pricing
  • Longer onboarding process

Average hourly rate: $90–$200/hour
Best for: Enterprise-level or high-budget projects


5. Dribbble

Dribbble is a community for designers to showcase portfolios, but it’s also a strong hiring platform. You can post jobs or browse freelancers based on visual style and app design examples.

Pros:

  • Visual-first interface
  • Access to top creative talent
  • Great for inspiration and direct outreach

Cons:

  • Lacks built-in project management
  • Communication handled externally

Average hourly rate: $60–$120/hour
Best for: Brands wanting standout visual design


6. Behance

Run by Adobe, Behance is another platform focused on creative portfolios. While it’s not a traditional marketplace, you can message freelancers directly or post design jobs.

Pros:

  • Huge creative community
  • Ideal for evaluating portfolios visually
  • Trusted by design professionals worldwide

Cons:

  • No in-platform payment or contracts
  • Manual outreach required

Average hourly rate: $40–$100/hour
Best for: Creative teams wanting design-driven app interfaces


7. 99designs

99designs offers a unique contest-based model: you post a design brief, multiple designers submit concepts, and you pick your favorite. It’s great for comparing different creative directions.

Pros:

  • See multiple design options
  • Built-in collaboration tools
  • Suitable for logo and UI design together

Cons:

  • Time-intensive process
  • Contest fees can add up

Average hourly rate: $50–$120/hour (post-contest collaborations)
Best for: App branding and interface design together


8. Freelancer.com

One of the oldest freelance sites, Freelancer.com, works on a bidding model where freelancers pitch proposals for your project.

Pros:

  • Large global user base
  • Low-cost bids available
  • Useful milestone system

Cons:

  • Varying quality
  • Requires more vetting effort

Average hourly rate: $25–$80/hour
Best for: Budget-conscious businesses


9. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is often overlooked as a freelance hiring channel. With filters for “Freelance App Designer” or “UI/UX Contractor,” you can find professionals open to work and check mutual connections for credibility.

Pros:

  • Professional transparency
  • Option to hire directly or through referrals
  • No platform fees

Cons:

  • Manual communication process
  • Less structured payment flow

Average hourly rate: $50–$100/hour
Best for: Companies preferring direct professional engagement


10. PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour connects businesses with European and UK freelancers. It allows fixed-price “Hourlies” or custom project quotes.

Pros:

  • European time-zone alignment
  • Verified freelancer reviews
  • Good for one-off projects

Cons:

  • Smaller designer pool
  • Fees for both sides

Average hourly rate: $35–$90/hour
Best for: UK and EU businesses hiring locally


How to Choose the Right Platform for You?

When selecting a website to hire freelance app designers, consider:

  • Budget and timeline: Do you want premium quality or cost efficiency?
  • Project complexity: Need a full product designer or just UI screens?
  • Quality control: Platforms like Twine and Toptal vet designers manually, reducing hiring risk.
  • Communication and payment tools: Built-in systems make collaboration smoother.

Final Thoughts

The right freelance app designer brings your vision to life through thoughtful UI, engaging UX, and consistent brand storytelling. Whether you’re hiring through a global marketplace or a design community, take time to review portfolios, clarify deliverables, and align expectations upfront.

A well-chosen freelance designer isn’t just a contractor; they’re a creative partner shaping how users experience your brand.

Vicky

After studying English Literature at university, Vicky decided she didn’t want to be either a teacher or whoever it is that writes those interminable mash-up novels about Jane Austen and pirates, so sensibly moved into graphic design.

She worked freelance for some time on various projects before starting at Twine and giving the site its unique, colourful look.

Despite having studied in Manchester and spent some years in Cheshire, she’s originally from Cumbria and stubbornly refuses to pick up a Mancunian accent. A keen hiker, Vicky also shows her geographic preferences by preferring the Cumbrian landscape to anything more local.

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Stuart Logan

Stuart, CEO @ Twine

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