Crowdspring

I am writing this to warn potential clients about the pricing model here. The advertised price was significantly lower than the final amount I was charged after selecting their recommended options. It felt very misleading and dishonest. Furthermore, the quality of the work was amateur and not worth the premium cost. I could have hired a freelancer elsewhere for 1/5th of the price and received better work. Do not waste your money here.

I Won two projects ($200 requested Aug 28,2025; $300 Oct 16,2025). Completed handovers, but payments delayed for months with 'backlog' excuses. Emailed support and owners Ross Kimbarovsky/Mike Samson demanding payment — account immediately suspended/made inactive. This is earned money they owe me. Avoid as a creative. I want my money.

I am a graphic designer who has had payment unlawfully withheld by crowdspring for months. If you're a designer who's completed work via Crowdspring and have had payment withheld, you're far from alone. The platform consistently delays or blocks payouts, often silencing creatives who try to follow up. Many designers report account deletions, vague excuses, or non-responses once their project is finished.
Here's what you can do to help protect our community and push for accountability:
1. File an FTC complaint (recommended for everyone):
Crowdspring operates internationally and in the U.S. If you haven't been paid, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC):
Go to: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ The Federal Trade Commission site and select "Report Fraud"
Click "Report Now."
Choose "Consumer Products & Services" > "Other."
In the description, state that Crowdspring withheld payment for completed freelance work, is retaining customer funds, or is committing unjust enrichment.
Attach all supporting screenshots: contracts, payment requests, correspondence, proof of completed work.
Submit. Save your confirmation/report number for reference.
2. For designers who completed projects after July 2024:
If you worked with Crowdspring after Illinois' Freelance Worker Protection Act (FWPA) took effect (July 2024), you can also file with the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL):
Gather evidence: your signed contract, project approval, proof Crowdspring handles payment (not client), application/onboarding documentation, communication showing vetting or review.
Visit: https://labor.illinois.gov/laws-rules/legal/freelance-worker-protection-act/flwpa-complaint-form.html Or visit the Illinois Department of Labor site and search for "FLWPA Complaint Form"
Fill out the form with your details and upload supporting files.
3. Illinois Attorney General reporting:
Even if your complaint falls outside FWPA (pre-July 2024), reporting to Illinois' AG can add pressure. Be aware you might be redirected to IDOL, but the volume of complaints helps signal a pattern.
4. Why this matters:
Crowdspring profits from "unjust enrichment"—accepting client funds, benefiting from designer labor, and refusing to pay the creatives who make their platform possible. Only collective, documented complaints may force regulators to investigate and hold Crowdspring accountable with fines, forced payouts, or public warnings—all without individual freelancers having to go to court.
5. What to document:
Contract copies and payment terms
Proof of completed work and client approval
Screenshots of payment requests and Crowdspring's handling
Email or platform messages confirming account closure/payment holds
Application or vetting steps showing Crowdspring is effectively the hiring party
Let's stand together:
If you've had your payment withheld, don't stay silent. Keep your documentation safe, file complaints as described, and encourage fellow designers to do the same. The more reports, the harder it is for Crowdspring to ignore and the likelier justice is done for our creative work. How to Report If Crowdspring Deleted Your Account or You Lack Evidence
If Crowdspring deleted your account, locked you out, or you didn't save screenshots, don't let that stop you from reporting. Here's what you and others in this situation should know:
You can still file a complaint:
Agencies like the FTC, Illinois Department of Labor, and the Attorney General rely on patterns of complaints—not just on hard evidence. Your detailed account may be enough to trigger an investigation, especially if many people describe the same behavior.
Be as detailed as possible:
In your complaint, include:
The approximate dates the work was completed and when payment was expected.
The title and description of the project(s).
What communications (if any) you had with Crowdspring or with your client.
Any deadlines, project approvals, or emails showing you should have been paid.
The date and circumstances of your account closure or loss of access (e.g., "Crowdspring deleted my profile immediately after I requested payment").
Any partial evidence you might have: downloaded contracts, emails, payment notifications, or even calendar entries and invoices.
Mention the loss of access:
Explicitly state in the complaint form that Crowdspring deleted your account or communications, and that you are no longer able to retrieve messages or records from the platform.
Use whatever you do have:
Even if it's just the contract, confirmation emails, or your own notes, include them.
Request agencies to subpoena records:
In your description, you can request that investigators obtain records directly from Crowdspring, since the platform controls all the project, contract, and payment logs.

Crowdspring is acting like a scam platform when it comes to payments. They are shamelessly holding back 10 of my payments without any justification. I have delivered all my projects honestly and on time, yet they refuse to release the money I rightfully earned. This is not just unprofessional—it is outright dishonest and abusive to the creatives who make this platform possible. Holding freelancers' money is nothing less than fraud. Crowdspring must stop exploiting designers and resolve their payment issues immediately. Until then, I strongly warn other freelancers: stay away from this platform.

WARNING
http://crowdspring.com is not paying freelancers.
Fellow creatives, freelancers & businesses — beware of Ross Kimbarovsky (CEO of crowdspring). Do not trust him and Crowdspring.com. Thay drag you and finally scam and will not pay. If asked they are rude and threating
I completed work, never got paid even after 2.5 years, and my account was later deactivated without explanation.

I am writing to express my extreme disappointment and anger regarding your refusal to issue a refund for my project, despite your clear 30-day refund policy. I carefully reviewed your terms before committing, and now you are dishonestly withholding my money under false pretenses. Your email stating, "While the project isn't eligible for cancellation or a refund…" is a blatant lie and a violation of your own policies. I am one of many victims who have been cheated by your company. The designs from your creatives may be good, but your business practices are fraudulent. My partner and I explicitly decided not to proceed, yet you are stealing our money instead of honoring your refund guarantee. This is unacceptable, unethical, and possibly illegal. If you do not process my refund immediately, I will: Publicly expose this scam on Trustpilot, BBB, Reddit, and social media. File a formal complaint with the FTC and my state's consumer protection agency. Escalate to legal action if necessary. Do the right thing before this escalates further. Sincerely,

The number one bot company is CrowdSpring, I don't think its chairman was born in a human home, he was definitely born in a dog's or pig's poop, because this thief's child has been pending for 2 years for 1300+ dollars, I haven't gotten a solution despite emailing them repeatedly, they are thieves
My clients have paid on time, although they have written that they will release the money within 10 days, but it has been 2 years since they gave my money to this son of a $#*!. Now they have banned my ID without any reason, who will judge them? Isn't there any law for these thieves? Clients don't know that this thief Crowdspiring doesn't pay the designers. They release a few payments to gain trust first and then make everything pending. We want justice for this son of a $#*! chairman. This son of a $#*! didn't get $#*!ed by a human, maybe some animal gave birth to him to $#*! his mother.

I paid $1500K for the highest-tier package, expecting high-class designers to compete for my logo. Their marketing promised "top talent," but in reality, they pay designers a fraction of the price, meaning that real professionals never even participate!
What I got? Beginner and mediocre designs. The submissions were generic and uninspired—definitely not worth thousands of dollars. Crowdspring is deceiving customers into believing they're hiring elite designers when, in fact, most are amateurs or low-tier freelancers.
The biggest scam? Their "100% Money-Back Guarantee" is a LIE!
We canceled the project on Day 4, fully within their refund policy, but they never returned a cent! Customer support kept stalling, ignoring emails, and refusing to process the refund. Now, I've had to file a chargeback through my bank just to fight for MY OWN MONEY!
They take your money, exploit designers, and deliver garbage work.
Avoid Crowdspring at all costs!
This company should be SHUT DOWN for false advertising, unethical practices, and outright scamming businesses! If you value your time, money, and sanity—STAY AWAY!

Crowdspring is a Scam – They Stole My Money!
I worked multiple project through Crowdspring and successfully earned $2,245, but when it was time for payment, Ross Kimbarovsky, Mona, and Ashlee did not release my money without any reason. Instead of supporting freelancers, they act like greedy scavengers, banning my account for a month just to avoid paying me. I sent multiple emails asking for my rightful payment, but now they ignore me completely.

Crowdspring operates like a den of frauds—taking work from designers but not paying them. They behave like ruthless predators, feeding off freelancers' hard work while offering nothing in return. If you are a designer, stay away from Crowdspring! They will take your work, make excuses, and leave you with nothing.

I will continue to expose their shady and unethical practices on every platform possible until I get the payment I deserve. Crowdspring must be held accountable for their fraudulent actions!

I participated in contests on this website and won several contests, there were no problems with the client and the contests ran smoothly.
The problem is when I want to withdraw the contest payment from this website to the designer, it takes a very long time, imagine, I have been waiting for payment for more than 6 months, and until now crowdspring is holding the payment for unclear reasons.
To designers, I warn you not to participate in contests on this website because you will waste time and emotion to receive your money.
For those of you who want to make designs on this website, I suggest you don't, because the money you pay is not passed on by Crowdspring to the designer, they steal it.

I won a contest on Crowdspring but not only have they failed to pay me what I am rightfully owed, but they also suspended my account without any explanation and have completely ignored all my emails and support requests. Their actions are unprofessional, unethical, and outright theft.

If you're a creative considering Crowdspring, STAY AWAY! This platform does not respect its users, fails to honor its agreements, and provides no accountability. I will be pursuing legal action to recover my money, but I'm warning others now: Don't trust them with your work. They are thieves!

Dear Community Members,

It has come to my attention that there have been instances of unprofessional design practices and unauthorized use of copyrighted artwork on crowdspring.com. As a user who values ethical design standards and intellectual property rights, I feel compelled to bring this matter to your attention.

It is to witness the lack of professionalism and disregard for copyright laws displayed by certain designers on this platform. Utilizing copyrighted artwork without permission not only undermines the integrity of the design industry but also exposes clients to potential legal repercussions.

I urge all individuals seeking design services to exercise caution and due diligence when engaging with designers on this platform. Prioritize working with reputable professionals who uphold ethical standards, respect copyright laws, and deliver quality work in a transparent manner.

Let us collectively advocate for integrity and ethical conduct within the design community. By staying informed, supporting original creativity, and fostering a culture of respect for intellectual property, we can create a safer and more professional environment for all stakeholders.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and please feel free to reach out if you have any concerns or questions.

Best regards,
Chris

If you are a freelance graphic designer or engage in graphic design as a part-time job, I strongly advise against using this website. They have a history of not paying on time. Despite their payment policy stating payment within 14 working days, they often fail to meet this commitment. Personally, I've experienced delays of up to 7 months in receiving payment.

When inquiring about payment, their initial response typically blames delays in their payment system, unable to provide a specific payment date. If pressed further, they may threaten to delete your account. Many designers have faced similar issues, with some losing access to their creative accounts and their hard-earned money.

Therefore, I urge caution and recommend avoiding this website for freelance graphic design work.

The freelance designers on crowdspring are fantastic. Unfortunately, crowdspring will take your money and then fail to pay the designer. The company that designed my logo is still waiting for crowdspring to release my payment to them after 4 months, and apparently many have waited 6 months to a year. Others have had their profiles deleted for requesting payment. If you care at all about the people who put their hard work and creativity into the job you commissioned them for, don't use crowdspring.

The client is satisfied, but not the designers. Crowdspring never pays the designers, if you keep asking about your rights for a payment, your account will be banned.
Stay away from this platform, whether you're a client or a designer!

Hi All Laborer Designers,

I worked on crowdspring before and that was a terrible mistake for me. If you new designer on on that platform they wait you for security process 1 month. Yes this is normal so many websites doing it. But after 1 moth again too there is no movement about payment. I texted a few times I guess they suspend my account now. If you check some forums and platforms you can see, there are so many topen tickets about this issue.
I consider crowdspring is scam platform.

Crowdspring promises a lot of things, but nothing hold up to it. All you get is a bunch of marketing emails from them. The platform submissions weren't worth it either. And as soon as you ask a designer to tweak a design they first want to know if you have other projects you are going to hire them for. I would rather find a design on Fiverr!

I have won the project in August 2023 but still wating for my payment to be transferred. I have contacted their support many time and all the say is they cannot give me a date but they have successfully added the payment request in the queue.Where as in their terms and conditions they mentioned the payments will be processed with 14 working days but I am waiting for about for months :(

When crowdspring started off in 2008 the owner and staff treat the designers really well. This resulted in high paying clients and pages and pages of projects. Fast forward to 2023 and the owner and staff is threatening designers, delaying payments by at least 7 months, IF they pay the designer at all. All of the best designers left long ago, there is generally one page of projects. No high paying projects. And the owner is stealing money from honest designers who clearly need the money. Lets face it, people do not work for a "chance" at winning a project unless they need the money desperately. These are the people the owner is stealing from, those who need it most. Both the owner and the staff are highly unethical, possibly even criminal. Any complaints from designers results in their money being withheld and their accounts being banned. The business is clearly in the process of failing, less designers, less projects, dwindling income, with more designers leaving every day. There are NOT 220,000 active designers, there isnt even 50 active designers. The promise that designers will be paid within 10 business days is also a complete fabrication. The website is filled with false statements and promises. Many clients do not get refunds when they realize theyre not getting "thousands" of designers competing for their design and are stuck with only the most desperate who still have faith they will be paid if they win. It is a sad and pathetic end to a business that tarted out so promising. Let this be a lesson, as soon as crowdspring started treating the designers badly and they started walking away, the business started failing, and now it is a pathetic shell of its former self that has to resort to thievery just to keep running. Its an embarrassment.

CrowdSpring is a scam website that does not pay its designers. Avoid working with them and warn others in the design community.