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Creative as a Service Comparison

TDS vs Designity: Which Creative as a Service Platform Is Right for Your Business?

TDS and Designity are both Creative as a Service (CaaS) platforms with Creative Director-led models — and their pricing is closer than most comparisons reveal. The key differences lie in team structure, photography, geographic fit, and contract terms. Here's a clear, honest breakdown.

Our verdict At similar price points, TDS offers stronger value for Australian businesses: photography included, a permanent dedicated team (not a rotating freelancer pool), AUD invoicing, and true month-to-month flexibility. Designity suits US-based businesses comfortable with a freelancer-network model.
TDS DaaS From $3,500 / month
  • Senior Creative Director on every brief
  • Permanent dedicated senior team — not rotating freelancers
  • Photography included (Scale & Custom)
  • Video production included
  • Web design & development included
  • Month-to-month — true no lock-in
  • AUD invoicing — no FX risk for Australian clients
  • Sydney headquarters
  • Higher entry price than Designity's base plan
Designity From $3,495 / month
  • Creative Director-led model
  • US-based creative talent
  • Video and motion on higher plans
  • Web design on higher plans
  • No photography
  • Rotating freelancer pool — not a permanent team
  • USD pricing — FX risk for Australian clients
  • US-headquartered — timezone gap for AU clients
  • Contract commitment encouraged
Side-by-Side

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature TDS DaaS Designity
Starting Price $3,500 / month (AUD) $3,495 / month (USD)
Price Range $3,500 – $15,000+ / month $3,495 – $8,495 / month
Currency (AU clients) AUD — no FX risk USD — FX fluctuation applies
Creative Director Named CD on every brief — all plans CD model — manages freelancer contributors
Team Structure Permanent senior team dedicated to your brand CD + rotating pool of US-based freelancers
Photography Included (Scale & Custom plans) Not included in any plan
Video Production Included (Scale & Custom plans) Included on higher-tier plans
Web Design & Development Full design + development included Web design on higher plans; development varies
Brand Strategy Included — positioning & messaging Creative strategy within CD scope
Contract Terms True month-to-month, no lock-in Monthly — commitment structure varies
Geographic HQ Sydney, Australia United States
Timezone for AU clients Sydney (AEST/AEDT) — same timezone US timezone — significant offset
Turnaround Time 48 hours (standard briefs) 1–2 business days
Revisions Unlimited Unlimited
Onboarding 5-day brand immersion Onboarding call with Creative Director
Best For Australian & Asia-Pacific businesses needing a full creative team US-based businesses wanting a CD-led freelance creative model
Pricing Breakdown

What Does Each Plan Actually Cost?

Feature Designity (USD) TDS DaaS (AUD)
Entry-level plan$3,495 / month$3,500 / month (Growth)
Mid-tier plan$5,495 / month$7,000 / month (Scale)
Top plan$8,495 / month$15,000+ / month (Enterprise)
Creative DirectorIncludedIncluded — all plans
PhotographyNot includedIncluded (Scale & Custom)
AUD InvoicingNo — USD onlyYes — all plans
Lock-in ContractMonthly structureTrue no lock-in
Honest Assessment

Pros & Cons of Each Service

TDS DaaS — Pros

  • Permanent dedicated team — deep brand continuity, not rotating freelancers
  • Photography included in Scale and Custom plans
  • Sydney headquarters — same timezone, AUD invoicing, Australian market knowledge
  • True month-to-month with no penalty for pausing or cancelling
  • Web design and development fully included
  • Overnight delivery model via dual-studio (Sydney + Saigon)

TDS DaaS — Cons

  • Scales higher in price than Designity's top plan ($15,000+ vs $8,495)
  • Not suited to US businesses that want domestic US-based creatives

Designity — Pros

  • Creative Director-led model provides strategic oversight
  • US-based creative talent — suits US businesses
  • Video and web design available on higher plans
  • Comparable entry price to TDS

Designity — Cons

  • No photography in any plan
  • Rotating freelancer model — less brand continuity than a permanent team
  • USD pricing — FX risk and conversion costs for Australian clients
  • US timezone — significant lag for Australian business hours
Decision Guide

When to Choose TDS vs Designity

Choose TDS if you need:

  • An Australian-headquartered creative partner
  • AUD invoicing with no FX risk
  • Photography included in your subscription
  • A permanent senior team — not rotating contributors
  • True month-to-month flexibility
  • Same-timezone account management

Choose Designity if you need:

  • US-based creative talent for a US market
  • A Creative Director-managed freelancer model
  • USD billing with a US company
  • A cap around $8,495/month on your CaaS spend
FREQUENTLY ASKED

Common questions about TDS vs Designity

How does TDS pricing compare to Designity?
Designity starts at $3,495/month and scales to $8,495/month. TDS starts at $3,500/month and scales to $15,000+/month. Both are positioned in the premium CaaS space with Creative Director models — but TDS includes photography and has no annual lock-in, while Designity requires a monthly commitment and does not include photography.
Does Designity include photography?
No. Designity does not include photography in any of its plans. TDS includes photography — product, brand, and lifestyle — within its Scale and Custom plans.
How is TDS's Creative Director model different from Designity's?
Both TDS and Designity use a Creative Director model. Designity's CD manages a rotating pool of US-based freelancers. TDS's Creative Director leads a permanent, dedicated senior team — meaning your CD has deep continuity with your brand and is not coordinating rotating contributors.
Does Designity have a lock-in contract?
Designity operates on monthly subscriptions but pricing is structured to encourage ongoing commitment. TDS operates on a true month-to-month basis with no lock-in, no minimum terms, and the ability to pause up to 30 days.
Which is better for Australian businesses: TDS or Designity?
TDS is the stronger choice for Australian businesses. TDS is headquartered in Sydney, invoices in AUD, understands the Australian B2B market, and includes photography within its subscription. Designity is US-based, priced in USD, and does not include photography.

Further Reading

Learn
How to Choose a Design Service
Learn
Benefits of a Design Subscription
Insights
Design Subscription Evaluation Framework
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