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TL;DR
- Price: Kapa99 starts at $499 a month ($349 for your first two paid months). Design Shifu starts at $549 a month, or $458 a month billed annually.
- Trying it out: Kapa99 is more generous here, with a 15-day free trial plus a 30-day money-back guarantee on your first charge. Design Shifu offers a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- Speed: Kapa99's entry plan promises two-day delivery. Design Shifu delivers first drafts in 24 hours on every plan.
- Team: Design Shifu gives you two designers and an account manager on every plan. Kapa99 gives you a project manager and a design team.
- Ownership: Design Shifu says you own 100% of the designs. Kapa99's terms don't spell out who owns delivered work, so ask before you sign.
A quick disclosure. This is Design Shifu's own comparison, so we're obviously not neutral. To keep it fair, every fact about Kapa99 comes from its own pricing page and terms of service, checked on 20 October 2026. Where Kapa99 does something better, we say so.
Design Shifu vs Kapa99 at a glance
How do the prices compare?
At list price, Kapa99 is $50 a month cheaper on the entry plan. Its Standard plan is $499 a month, while Design Shifu's Starter is $549. Kapa99 also runs an introductory rate: $349 a month for your first two paid months after the free trial.
Above the entry level, things flip. Kapa99's next plan, Priority, is $999 a month for one-day delivery. Design Shifu's Growth plan is $749, and Scale is $1,099. Kapa99's Dedicated team plan costs $2,500 a month.
Design Shifu also has annual billing: $458, $625 or $916 a month. Kapa99's page has a yearly toggle, but no yearly prices are shown.
So if you want the lowest possible starting bill, Kapa99 wins for the first few months. If you'd rather lock in a low rate for the year, or you need more than the entry plan, Design Shifu usually works out cheaper.
What do you get on each?
Kapa99
Every Kapa99 design plan includes unlimited requests and revisions, unlimited active graphic design tasks, editable source files and a project manager. It covers 26 design services, including logos, social, print, packaging, presentations and GIFs. Larger requests may be delivered in stages.
It also sells things beyond graphic design:
- Video editing as an add-on: +$1,000 a month for 10 edits, up to three minutes each, using your own footage.
- Web support plans, sold by the hour: $999 a month for 25 hours, $1,999 for 60 hours or $3,999 for 120 hours. Unused hours don't roll over.
Design Shifu
Every Design Shifu plan includes two designers, an account manager, unlimited revisions, source files and full ownership of the designs. Presentation decks and GIFs are included from Starter. Growth adds custom illustrations, UI/UX and email templates, and Scale adds motion design and animation. Agencies get white-label dashboards and reseller discounts.
The main difference in how the work flows: Starter runs one project a day, while Kapa99 lets you have unlimited active tasks. If you like to drop ten requests in at once and have them all moving, Kapa99's model may suit you better. If you'd rather have a steady daily rhythm with first drafts back in 24 hours, Design Shifu's is built for that.
Which is faster?
On the entry plans, Design Shifu is faster. Design Shifu delivers first drafts in 24 hours on every plan, and most requests come back within one business day, Monday to Saturday. Kapa99's Standard plan promises two-day delivery. To get one-day delivery at Kapa99, you need Priority at $999 a month. Same-day delivery is on its $2,500 Dedicated team plan.
Trial, refunds and cancelling
This is where Kapa99 has a real edge, so let's be straight about it.
Kapa99 gives you a 15-day free trial of graphic design (card required, with billing from day 16). Then, on your first paid charge, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee. It applies once per customer and doesn't cover one-time projects. You can cancel anytime from your account, and it takes effect at the end of your paid term.
Design Shifu doesn't have a free trial. It has a 14-day money-back guarantee. There's no contract, and you can cancel anytime. If you cancel, your files stay in your account, and you can reactivate with the same email whenever you need design again.
If you want the longest window to test a service risk-free, Kapa99 offers more.
Who owns the designs?
Design Shifu is clear on this: you own 100% of the designs we create, with no restrictions, and you can resell them if you're an agency.
Kapa99's terms don't specifically say who owns the designs it delivers. They also say Kapa99 can delete accounts and content at its discretion. That doesn't mean you won't own your work. Kapa99 promises editable source files, after all. But if ownership matters to you (and for brand assets, it should), ask Kapa99 to confirm it in writing, and download your files as you go.
One more detail: Kapa99's terms are governed by Hong Kong law. For most customers that won't matter, but it's worth knowing if you ever need to resolve a dispute.
What do customers say?
Kapa99 has a small review footprint. On Trustpilot, it has a TrustScore of 4.2 from seven reviews, and none from the past year. The reviews that are there praise its designers and turnaround. One mentions missed deadlines and price changes. Seven reviews aren't enough to draw strong conclusions either way.
Kapa99 says it has helped more than 4,000 clients since 2013.
Which should you choose?
Choose Kapa99 if you…
- want the lowest bill for your first few months ($349)
- want a free trial before you pay anything
- like having lots of requests active at once
- need occasional video editing or hourly web support from the same vendor
Choose Design Shifu if you…
- want first drafts in 24 hours without paying for a premium plan
- want two designers and an account manager from day one
- need more than an entry plan: Growth at $749 costs less than Kapa99's Priority at $999
- want clear, written ownership of everything we create
- prefer a lower annual rate ($458 a month on Starter)
Conclusion
Kapa99 and Design Shifu are close in price at the entry level, and both bill monthly with no contract. Kapa99 is easier to try, thanks to its free trial and longer money-back window, and it lets you run unlimited tasks at once. Design Shifu is faster on its entry plan, includes a two-designer team on every plan, and is cheaper once you move past the basics.
If speed, a dedicated team and clear ownership matter most, see Design Shifu's plans. They start at $549 a month with a 14-day money-back guarantee. You can also compare us with ManyPixels, Flocksy and Design Pickle.
FAQ
How much does Kapa99 cost?
Kapa99's Standard plan is $499 a month, Priority is $999 and Dedicated team is $2,500. The first two paid months are discounted to $349, $849 and $2,000 respectively.
Does Kapa99 have a free trial?
Yes. Kapa99 offers a 15-day free trial of graphic design. A card is required, and billing starts on day 16 unless you cancel.
Is Kapa99 cheaper than Design Shifu?
On the entry plan, yes, at list price: $499 vs $549 a month, and $349 for Kapa99's first two paid months. On mid-tier plans, Design Shifu is cheaper: Growth is $749, while Kapa99's Priority is $999.
Which is faster, Kapa99 or Design Shifu?
Design Shifu delivers first drafts in 24 hours on every plan. Kapa99's Standard plan promises two-day delivery, with one-day delivery on Priority and same-day on Dedicated team.
Do I own the designs from Kapa99?
Kapa99 provides editable source files, but its terms don't specifically say who owns delivered designs. Ask Kapa99 to confirm ownership in writing. Design Shifu clients own 100% of their designs.
Can I cancel Kapa99 or Design Shifu anytime?
Yes, both are monthly with no contract. Kapa99's cancellation takes effect at the end of your paid term. With Design Shifu, your files stay in your account after you cancel, and you can reactivate with the same email.
About the author
Sameena is an Organic Growth Specialist and Content Writer at Design Shifu, crafting SEO-driven content that boosts visibility, builds brand authority, and drives meaningful organic growth.
