Don't Do It Yourself
Design Pickle vs Penji Featured

Design Pickle vs Penji: I Tried Out Both

Does “unlimited graphic design for an affordable monthly rate” sound like something that can benefit your business?

Join the club!

While we love Design Pickle and have had great experiences using their services, we’re always on the hunt for quality graphic design services.

Penji is one of the best Design Pickle alternatives that’s ideal for startups.

Which is better?

In this showdown, we break down a comprehensive comparison of Penji vs Design Pickle to help you make the best choice.

Advertising Disclosure

Key Takeaways

  • Design Pickle offers a comprehensive range of services and a detailed management platform, ideal for complex design needs.
  • Penji stands out for its simplicity, efficiency, and quick turnaround times, best for straightforward design tasks.
  • Choosing between Design Pickle and Penji depends on your specific design requirements and preference for service complexity.
  • Both services provide unlimited design requests, but their approach and offerings differ, tailoring to varied user preferences and needs.

Design Pickle vs Penji Overview

Name
Star Rating
Price
Unique Feature
Pros
Cons
Design Pickle
5.0/5
$649 - $1,949
Comprehensive suite of services
Extensive services, robust platform
May be pricier for some
Penji
4.0/5
$499 - $1,497
Best for startups, social impact focus
User-friendly, efficient, quick turnaround
Less variety in services than Design Pickle

Looking for other Design Pickle alternatives? Check out our guide

What’s Design Pickle?

What Is Design Pickle

Design Pickle is a major player in the graphic design outsourcing industry, and one of my favroite graphic design solutions out there.

It provides top-tier unlimited graphic design services, with a wide range of options.

I found the platform to be very user-friendly, welcoming even those with little to no graphic design experience.

With prices starting at $649 per month, Design Pickle presents a good value for money, especially considering the quality and speed of its services.

When testing out Design Pickle I enjoyed its:

  • Professional approach
  • Effective communication
  • Extensive service offers
  • Straightforward process
  • Impressive results

Design Pickle's dedication to customer satisfaction is clear, with responsive customer service and the option for clients to provide detailed feedback on the graphics they receive.


How Does It Work?

Using Design Pickle is a straightforward process that I got the hang of very fast.

  • First, you sign up for an account, selecting the best plan for your needs.
  • Once registered, you're paired with a Customer Success Manager for an onboarding call, ensuring you're set up for success.
  • Next, you create brand profiles, detailing your style preferences and design needs.
  • You can then start submitting design requests, utilizing their AI-assisted or text-based request features.

I was always kept in the loop because the service provides daily updates on your projects. I could also easily review and request revisions on the delivered designs.


How Much Does it Cost?

Design Pickle is a subscription service with three tiers. The least-expensive plan, “Graphics” costs $649 a month, and the most expensive plan, Power Plans, feature custom pricing.

Here’s a breakdown of the plans and costs:

Plan
Price per Month
Features
Graphics
$649
Basic graphic design services, custom illustration, self-serve knowledge base, 24/5 customer support, webinars & guides, quality control, request and create assist features, access to creative management platform, etc.
Graphics Pro
$1,249
Includes everything in Graphics plus presentation design, Zapier integration, dedicated designers, Slack, collaboration tools, and additional file types supported. 24-hr turnaround for everything but presentation design.
Graphics Premium
$1,949
Includes everything in Graphics Pro plus motion graphics, onboarding support, premium customer support, a dedicated CSM, and additional file formats.
Power Plans
Custom Pricing
Custom solutions for businesses, including everything in Graphics Premium plus tasks like video editing.

What’s Penji?

What Is Penji

Penji is another standout service in the graphic design industry. It offers a subscription-based model that provides unlimited design tasks for a set monthly fee.

Much like Design Pickle, I found Penji’s platform to be easy to use. It was quick and simple to submit my requests, track progress, and contact designers. I was very happy with the process overall, as it was smooth and hassle-free.

Anyone looking to streamline design needs could benefit from Penji. It worked great for my small business, but I could also see startups or larger agencies finding great value.


How Does It Work?

Using Penji is a straightforward process that streamlines your graphic design needs.

  • First, you sign up for a plan that suits your requirements.
  • Once you're a member, you can submit design requests through Penji's platform, detailing your project's specifics.
  • Penji assigns a qualified designer to your task, who then begins working on your request.
  • You can communicate with the designer for any revisions or clarifications.
  • Once the design is complete, you review it and can request unlimited revisions until it meets your satisfaction.
  • The final design is delivered in various formats, ready for use.

How Much Does it Cost?

Penji’s monthly subscription starts at $499/month for the Starter Plan. Here’s a breakdown of the cost and plans:

Plan
Price (per month)
Features
Starter
$499
-80 design services
-Branding
-Illustrations
-Ad Creatives
-Real-time Chat
-1-2 day delivery
Marketer
$995
Starter features +
-Web designs
-Presentation Designs
-Same-day delivery
-Dedicated Team
Agency 
$1,497
Marketer features+
-More design services
-Presentation designs
-Motion graphics
-Talent discover

What’s the Difference Between Design Pickle and Penji?

Whats the Difference Penji Design Pickle

Design Pickle and Penji are both prominent graphic design services offering unlimited requests for a monthly fee.

The key difference lies in their service specifics and pricing structures.

Design Pickle offers an extensive range of services and robust platform, while Penji provided a straightforward, user-friendly approach and efficient design process.

Here’s a closer look at the differences:

Workflow

I enjoyed the workflow on both platforms. Design Pickle offered a structured approach, where you submit requests on their platform. Penji also makes it fast and simple to submit and manage tasks.


Service Variety

Both offer a good range of services. However, Design Pickle offers a wider range of design services and advanced options (which may not be necessary for startups).


Communication

With Design Pickle, you communicate with designers via its platform. Penji also facilitates communication with designers, ensuring a simple process.


Revisions

Both platforms offer unlimited revisions. I was able to collaborate with designers to get exactly what I needed.


Turnaround Time

Design Pickle boasts a quick turnaround, typically within 24-48 hours, depending on the plan. Penji also offers efficiency, with the turnaround time dependent on the plan. Generally, its also between one and two days.

Which Should I Choose?

Which One Should I Choose Design Pickle or Penji

Choosing between Design Pickle and Penji depends on your specific needs and preferences. Those who need a wider range of design services should opt for Design Pickle.

On the other hand, if you prioritize a straightforward, user-friendly experience with efficient turnaround times, Penji might be the better choice.

It's particularly suitable for startups or businesses that need quality designs quickly without the need for a vast range of services.

For example, a marketing agency requiring diverse design outputs, including animations and detailed illustrations, would benefit from Design Pickle's extensive services.

Conversely, a small business or startup needing quick, quality designs for social media or promotional materials might find Penji's streamlined approach more fitting.

Try Design Pickle, or give Penji a try!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Design Pickle or Penji better?

Neither is objectively better; it depends on your needs. Design Pickle offers a broader range of services, while Penji is known for simplicity and speed.

What’s the difference between Penji and Design Pickle?

Design Pickle provides a wide array of services and a detailed management platform. Penji focuses on straightforward, efficient design processes.

What are the benefits of Design Pickle?

Extensive design services, a robust management platform, and is ideal for those needing diverse and complex designs.

What are the benefits of Penji?

User-friendly interface, quick turnaround times, and efficient design process, perfect for straightforward design needs.