Hatchwise

Hatchwise is the lowest-priced contest platform in the cover design space, with a Bronze tier at $119 (all-in: $39 listing fee + $80 designer prize). Book covers are filed under the broader "Custom Graphic Design" contest category alongside icons, packaging, and avatars — there is no dedicated book cover vertical.

• Best for: Authors who cannot stretch to 99designs Bronze ($299) but still want multiple concepts to choose from
• Pricing tiers: Bronze $119 (10+ designs, 2+ designers, $80 prize), Silver $189 (25+ designs, 10+ designers, $150 prize), Gold $389 (100+ designs, 35+ designers, $350 prize)
• Contest duration: 10 days standard; 48-hour rush available for $35 extra
• Subscription option: "Infinite" unlimited subscription at $449/month for prolific authors needing ongoing graphics work
• Refund caveat: Money-back guarantee is narrow — refund only if you do not receive the minimum design count promised; does NOT cover dissatisfaction with quality. Must request within 14 days of contest end
• Specialization caveat: No dedicated book cover designers; expect generalists who may not know genre conventions. At Bronze prize levels, design quality risk is real — designs may feel generic or non-genre-appropriate
• Stock imagery risk: Platform requires "completely original work, no clipart" but does not audit submissions; same caveats as all contest platforms apply