The unlimited design industry has grown significantly since Designjoy pioneered the subscription model in 2017. As this market develops, different providers have emerged with varying approaches to pricing, service delivery, and client relationships. Understanding these differences helps businesses make informed decisions about their creative needs.
This review examines Designjoy objectively while comparing it to alternative approaches in the market. Founded by Brett Williams and based in Phoenix, Arizona, Designjoy has built a reputation as a premium design subscription service with notable clients including Nectar, Failory, Flowbase, Xfinity, and Beehiiv.
What is Designjoy?
Designjoy operates as a one-person design subscription service run entirely by its founder, Brett Williams. The service positions itself at the premium end of the creative subscription market, emphasizing quality over quantity through a focused operation that delivers consistent design work without hiring additional designers or outsourcing projects.
The company operates on a monthly subscription model where clients submit requests through a Trello board system. This approach aims to provide consistency in design style and direct communication with the service founder. Designjoy has maintained this model since its founding, building a reputation for high-quality output and reliable delivery timelines.
Service Coverage and Delivery
Designjoy covers logo design and branding, website design, social media graphics, presentations, print materials, mobile app design, and packaging design. The service allows unlimited design requests but completes work sequentially – one task at a time on the standard plan or two tasks simultaneously on the pro plan.
Their delivery model targets 48-hour average completion times for most projects. All communication happens asynchronously through the Trello board system, with no meetings or real-time calls. The service includes a pause feature that allows subscribers to temporarily halt their subscription when design work isn’t needed, though unused time doesn’t roll over between months.
Clients can request unlimited revisions and retain full copyright ownership of completed work. Basic Webflow development is available as a separate add-on service for existing subscribers, covering simple website functionality but not advanced development work or complex interactive features.
Designjoy Pricing
Designjoy operates two main subscription tiers with premium pricing that reflects their focus on high-quality output. The Standard plan costs $4,995 per month and includes one design request at a time with average 48-hour delivery, unlimited revisions, unlimited brands, and up to 2 team members.
The Pro plan costs $7,995 monthly and allows work on two design requests simultaneously while maintaining all other Standard features. The optional Webflow Development add-on costs an additional $999 per month and is available only to existing design subscribers.
The service offers a 75% refund for customers who cancel within their first week and includes the pause feature for managing subscription timing. This pricing places Designjoy at the premium end of design subscription services, targeting businesses with substantial monthly design budgets.
How Reel Unlimited Differs
Reel Unlimited takes a different approach to unlimited design services, offering both subscription and one-time service options to accommodate different business needs. Founded in 2021 by Santhiaroo, the company serves clients including SquareDash, Beehive Federal Credit Union, Walnut Insurance, Pattern, and Outmin across multiple geographic regions through a team-based service model.
Service Model and Flexibility
Unlike Designjoy’s subscription-only approach, Reel Unlimited offers both monthly subscriptions and 30-day services. The 30-day option provides unlimited design access for exactly 30 calendar days with no recurring billing, making it ideal for businesses with specific campaign deadlines, seasonal design needs, or project-based needs that don’t justify ongoing monthly commitments.
Monthly subscriptions work better for businesses with ongoing design needs and include additional features like white-label capabilities for agencies. This dual approach lets businesses choose based on their actual usage patterns rather than committing to premium monthly payments for sporadic design work.
Geographic Team Structure and Communication
Reel Unlimited assigns clients to design teams based on geographic time zones for better communication coordination. Teams operate during standard business hours in US/Canada (9am-5pm EST), EU/UK (12pm-7pm GMT), and Asia/Australia/Pacific (2pm-9pm AEST) regions.
This geographic alignment means clients communicate with teams during overlapping business hours rather than dealing with significant time zone delays. The service uses a team-based approach with multiple designers and dedicated project managers, allowing for diverse design styles and specialized expertise across different project types.
Communication happens through dashboard messaging, email, and Slack integration across all subscription levels. This provides more communication flexibility compared to platform-only messaging systems, and time zone alignment supports better real-time collaboration when needed.
Service Scope and Capabilities
Reel Unlimited delivers three core service areas designed to work together for modern business needs. All projects are handled by human designers without AI assistance, emphasizing quality and individual attention to each assignment.
Website Design & Development Professional websites and landing pages developed on Webflow. The service manages everything from initial design in Figma to full development, plus transforms existing designs into functional websites. This encompasses responsive design, custom interactions, content management setup, and SEO optimization for operational business websites.
Graphic Design & Branding Compelling marketing assets including logos, branding, presentations, social media graphics, illustrations, email designs, packaging, and print materials. The scope addresses all visual content businesses need for marketing campaigns and brand consistency.
Video Editing & Motion Graphics Video editing and animated graphics for social media content, product demos, and promotional campaigns, including logo animations and explainer videos. This service converts raw footage into polished content and develops motion graphics for digital marketing.
These services can be accessed individually through Graphics or Websites subscriptions, or combined through the Bundle option for businesses needing both visual content and web development support.
Reel Unlimited Pricing
Reel Unlimited functions differently from Designjoy’s premium single-designer model. Rather than premium pricing for single-designer consistency, Reel Unlimited provides three distinct service options based on actual business needs:
Graphics integrates graphic design and video editing in one service with 2 concurrent projects. This allows businesses to receive both visual design and video content without selecting between them or paying separately for each service type.
Websites concentrates on web design (Figma) and development (Webflow) with 1 concurrent project. Since website projects demand more time and technical expertise, the concurrent limit reflects the complexity involved while delivering both design and functional development.
Bundle merges Graphics and Websites services with 3 total concurrent projects, enabling businesses that need both visual content and web development to access everything while saving money compared to separate subscriptions.
Each service option is available as either monthly subscriptions for ongoing needs or 30-day design services for businesses with specific project deadlines or seasonal campaigns. The 30-day design services provide the same unlimited access without recurring billing, allowing businesses to complete intensive design work for product launches, campaigns, or other time-limited projects.
Reel Unlimited provides a 7-day trial where clients can experience the service quality firsthand before making subscription decisions. The trial delivers one project completion (whichever comes first – 7 days or 1 completed project) with unlimited revisions, enabling businesses to evaluate design quality and communication style.
For businesses with immediate design needs, the 30-day design services offer instant access to unlimited design work without waiting for trial completion. For those considering ongoing partnerships, the trial allows you to experience actual project delivery and team communication before automatic billing begins at trial end.
Service Comparison
Design Philosophy and Target Market
Designjoy emphasizes premium quality through a single-designer approach, providing consistency in design style and direct communication with the service founder. Their premium positioning targets businesses willing to pay higher rates for personalized service and established design expertise, particularly medium to large companies with healthy budgets and predictable design needs.
Reel Unlimited focuses on accessible design services through team-based delivery, geographic alignment for better communication timing, and flexible service options for different business patterns. The approach prioritizes diverse service coverage and flexible pricing over premium positioning.
Pricing Models and Accessibility
Designjoy’s pricing starts at $4,995 monthly for standard service, positioning itself as a premium option for businesses with substantial design budgets. The single-designer model and established client base justify higher pricing for customers seeking proven quality and consistency, though this may not be feasible for smaller businesses or those with variable design needs.
Reel Unlimited offers multiple pricing tiers and service duration options, making design services accessible to businesses with different budget constraints and usage patterns. The 30-day design services particularly benefit businesses with seasonal or project-based design needs who don’t need ongoing monthly subscriptions.
Service Delivery and Team Structure
Designjoy completes projects sequentially with one or two concurrent tasks depending on subscription tier. The 48-hour delivery target applies within their queue system, with capacity limited by single-designer availability and workload management.
Reel Unlimited handles multiple concurrent projects simultaneously across different team members, potentially reducing overall delivery times for businesses with diverse design needs. Geographic team distribution supports better communication timing and delivery coordination for international clients.
Communication and Collaboration Approaches
Designjoy operates entirely through asynchronous communication via Trello boards, with no meetings or real-time collaboration. This structured approach works well for businesses that prefer organized, documented communication but may not suit those needing immediate feedback or collaborative design sessions.
Reel Unlimited provides multiple communication options including real-time messaging, email, and video calls when needed. Time zone alignment supports better communication timing for international clients and businesses needing more interactive collaboration during their working hours.
Special Offer for Designjoy Customers
If you’re currently using Designjoy and want to explore alternative approaches, we’re offering 50% off your first month with Reel Unlimited.
To qualify, simply provide a receipt showing payment to Designjoy within the last 3 months. You can:
- Start your 7-day trial and mention the discount during signup
- Contact us via live chat with your receipt
- Email us with your payment proof
Our team will provide a unique discount code for 50% off your first month with any subscription plan. This lets you compare both services directly while saving money during your evaluation period.
Which Service Works Better for Different Needs
Designjoy works well for businesses with substantial design budgets who value consistency and premium positioning. The single-designer approach particularly benefits companies that prefer working with the same creative professional over time and can plan design work around sequential delivery timelines.
The premium pricing and established reputation make Designjoy suitable for businesses that view design as a significant investment and prefer proven service providers with notable client portfolios. This approach works best for companies with predictable monthly design needs and budgets that can accommodate premium subscription costs.
Reel Unlimited fits businesses that need more affordable Designjoy alternatives and that need flexibility between intensive design periods and lighter months, companies needing both design and development work, or organizations needing geographic alignment for better communication. The 30-day design services particularly benefit businesses with seasonal campaigns or specific project deadlines.
The team-based approach and diverse service offerings work well for agencies needing white-label capabilities, startups that need design and development support, or established businesses with varied design needs across multiple departments.
Evaluating Your Options
Both services offer ways to assess quality before full commitment. Designjoy provides a 75% refund for customers who cancel within their first week, while Reel Unlimited offers a 7-day trial with one completed project.
The choice depends on your business’s design usage patterns, budget flexibility, communication preferences, and service needs. Businesses with predictable premium design needs might prefer Designjoy’s established approach, while those with variable needs or diverse service needs might find Reel Unlimited’s flexible model more suitable.
Start your trial with Reel Unlimited to experience our team-based approach and geographic alignment. The trial includes one project with unlimited revisions, letting you evaluate our work style and delivery process before any subscription commitment.
For current Designjoy customers, the 50% first-month discount combined with our trial provides a risk-free way to compare both services and determine which approach better fits your business workflows and design needs.
