Logo design options: pros and cons

So you already have an idea of what is the cheapest option for logo design. Still, to help you pick the best one for your business, it’s also necessary to understand what it is that you’re paying for and what you’re getting for your money.

Let’s look at the main pros and cons of each design option.

Logo templates

PRO: It’s cheap.

If you’re a small business that is just starting out, every dollar in the bank counts. Using a logo template found on Google or an online logo generator is not going to produce the most original logo and certainly won’t make for great branding.

But if you’re keen to get the show on the road and, better yet, can get at least some form of assistance or advice for someone with at least some graphic design knowledge, this is one route to take.

CON: It’s cheap.

With the tiny logo cost being an understandable incentive, I must implore you to stay away from this option, if at all possible. For a couple of hundred dollars, you can get a unique and memorable logo that will help you grow your business.

A sloppy logo generator solution will probably need to be redone somewhere down the line (and it may fail to generate the revenue necessary for rebranding).

PRO: It’s affordable and customizable

If you have a very clear idea of what you want, freelancers can be a foolproof logo design option. Use platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Dribbble, or Behance to find a freelance designer you think will make your vision come true.

Make sure to look out for:

If you know exactly what you want and communicate this to your logo designer, it shouldn’t take longer than 1 or 2 days to produce a good logo.

CON: It’s unpredictable

Freelancers’ hourly rates fit into a big price range. A newbie will charge around $20 per hour, while a more experienced designer won’t settle for less than $80 (over $100 is also very common).

In addition to that, freelance work involves a varying number of research hours. The more detailed your design brief is, the easier it should be for the graphic designer to produce a good logo. It’s critical to agree in advance whether your logo designer is getting paid per hour or for the project (extra research hours can increase the overall cost of a logo).

Finally, this option is most unpredictable in terms of design quality. A graphic designer may have produced wonderful work in the past, but sometimes things don’t work out. With no project manager, it comes down to the communication between you and your logo designer.

Design contest

PRO: You get a wealth of ideas.

If the prospect of a detailed design brief scares you and you want to explore some options, a design contest can be a good place to start. For a few hundred dollars, you can get many ideas, and if you’re lucky, you might end up with a great logo.

On the other hand, it can also be the right choice for those with a very clear vision. Designers approach the logo design process in different ways, which can produce a nice range of options.

Of course, a lower price point might put off some more experienced professional designers.

CON: The results are unpredictable.

It’s practically impossible to figure out what you’re getting. Since the designers choose to take part in the contest, it’s impossible to filter out the freelance designers whose skills best fit your needs.

Depending on the design contest platform, you may get a full refund if you don’t like any of the results. However, the time you spend without a result may be frustrating.

Unlimited graphic design service

PRO: Affordable service and professional output

I know what you’re thinking: why pay for a whole month of design services if I just need a logo? Well, because you get an entire month of design for the cost of a mid-range logo produced by a freelancer!

Unlimited graphic design costs between $300 and $600 and allows you heaps of creative freedom. You can make as many revisions as you like, request your logo in different file formats, all at a flat monthly fee.

If you’re looking to create your brand identity from scratch, this is a wonderful, affordable option. For the price of just one month’s subscription, you can probably get a logo and a complete style guide to inform any further design work.

It’s especially useful if you don’t have an exhaustive list of branding needs. For example, if you’re a consultant (here’s one of our experiences creating a business consultant’s brand identity).

CON: No deep understanding of your brand

Although depending on the service you choose, you can usually communicate openly and quickly with the assigned graphic designer, it’s not always possible to create the same, in-depth understanding of your brand which you might achieve working with a freelance designer.

Design agency

PRO: You get a new logo and complete brand identity.

If you want things done right… well, you’ll have to pay for it.

The biggest pro about working with a design or branding agency is that you can rest assured that every aspect of brand design will be covered. Agencies will also do extensive market research to find out what your competitors are doing and to what kind of visual identity your target audience will respond to best.

It’s difficult to pin down the logo design price in this case, since working with an agency produces a much more comprehensive result than a new logo.

CON: It’s expensive.

We’ve already pointed out the dramatic difference in price between a design agency and other logo design service options. The price point, again, will vary depending on the agency’s experience and location.

Finally, like every other option, there are no guarantees things will work out. And after you’ve spent thousands of dollars, realizing that a design firm is not a great fit can be pretty frustrating.

Make sure to do your research into previous work and portfolios or, better yet, ask for recommendations to make sure a significant investment like this is worthwhile.