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Design Subscription Comparison

TDS vs Superside: Which Design Subscription Is Better for Your Business?

Both TDS and Superside offer subscription-based design services with dedicated creative teams. But they target very different customers at very different price points — and the contract terms couldn't be more different. Here's a clear, honest comparison to help you decide.

Our verdict TDS offers better value for most growing businesses: lower entry price, no lock-in, photography included, and a dedicated Creative Director on every brief. Superside suits large enterprises with very high-volume creative needs and the budget to match.
TDS DaaS From $3,500 / month
  • Strategic Creative Director on every brief
  • Photography included (Scale & Custom)
  • Video production included
  • Month-to-month — no annual lock-in
  • 48-hour turnaround on standard briefs
  • Brand immersion onboarding (5 days)
  • Unlimited revisions
  • Lower volume than Superside's top tiers
Superside From $5,000 / month
  • Large global creative team
  • Campaign-level creative strategy at top tiers
  • Video production at most tiers
  • Broad range of deliverable types
  • 12-month annual lock-in contract
  • Photography not included
  • High minimum spend
  • Creative direction varies by tier
Side-by-Side

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature TDS DaaS Superside
Starting Price $3,500 / month $5,000 / month
Price Range $3,500 – $15,000+ / month $5,000 – $100,000+ / month
Contract Terms Month-to-month, no lock-in 12-month annual contract
Creative Director Named CD on every brief — included in all plans Campaign-level strategy; CD access varies by tier
Photography Included (Scale & Custom plans) Not included in any plan
Video Production Included (Scale & Custom plans) Included at most tiers
Motion Graphics Included Included
Brand Identity Design Included Included
Turnaround Time 48 hours (standard briefs) 24–48 hours depending on tier
Onboarding Process 5-day brand immersion Standard onboarding call
Revisions Unlimited (revise until right) Unlimited revisions
Dedicated Account Manager Yes — Creative Director serves this role Yes, at higher tiers
Source Files / IP Ownership Full IP ownership, all source files included Full IP ownership
Communication Channel Dedicated Slack channel Superside platform + Slack integration
Pause / Cancel Pause up to 30 days; cancel with 30 days' notice Locked in for 12 months; no pause
Team Size Boutique senior team (AU-based) Large global network (700+ creatives)
Best For Scale-ups, brands, mid-market businesses needing strategic oversight Large enterprises with high-volume multi-channel campaign needs
Pricing Breakdown

What Does Each Plan Actually Cost?

Provider Plan / Tier Monthly Price Annual Equivalent Contract Key Inclusions
TDS Core $3,500 $42,000 Month-to-month CD, design, motion
TDS Scale $7,500 $90,000 Month-to-month CD, design, motion, photo, video
TDS Custom $15,000+ $180,000+ Month-to-month Full service, embedded team
Superside Starter $5,000 $60,000 12-month lock-in Design, some motion
Superside Scale $8,500+ $102,000+ 12-month lock-in Design, motion, video
Superside Enterprise $100,000+ $1,200,000+ 12-month lock-in Full campaign, strategy

Prices are indicative. Superside pricing varies by region and scope. TDS pricing is AUD.

Honest Assessment

Pros & Cons of Each Service

TDS — Pros

  • Creative Director included on every plan — not an add-on
  • Photography included in Scale and Custom plans
  • No annual lock-in — pause or cancel monthly
  • Lower starting price than Superside ($3,500 vs $5,000)
  • 5-day brand immersion ensures deep brand alignment from day one
  • Senior boutique team — not a network of freelancers
  • Based in Australia — timezone-aligned for AU/NZ businesses

TDS — Cons

  • Smaller team size than Superside — less suited to extremely high-volume campaigns
  • Primarily serves AU, NZ, and UK markets
  • Not ideal for businesses needing simultaneous large-scale multi-market campaigns

Superside — Pros

  • Large global team — 700+ creatives across time zones
  • Broad coverage of deliverable types
  • Strong track record with Fortune 500 brands
  • Campaign strategy capabilities at enterprise tiers

Superside — Cons

  • 12-month annual contract — significant financial commitment
  • Starts at $5,000/month — higher barrier to entry
  • Photography not included in any plan
  • Creative Director access varies by tier; not standard on all plans
  • Can feel process-heavy for smaller brands or agile teams
  • Less suited for businesses that want boutique, personalised service
Decision Guide

When to Choose TDS vs Superside

Choose TDS if you…

  • Want a dedicated Creative Director involved in every brief
  • Need photography included in your design subscription
  • Value flexibility — month-to-month with no lock-in
  • Are a scale-up, mid-market, or growth-stage business
  • Are based in Australia, New Zealand, or the UK
  • Want a senior boutique team rather than a large global network
  • Have a budget between $3,500 and $15,000 per month
  • Need strategic brand thinking, not just execution

Choose Superside if you…

  • Are a large enterprise with very high creative output needs
  • Have a budget exceeding $5,000/month and are comfortable with annual contracts
  • Run simultaneous multi-channel, multi-market campaigns at scale
  • Need a global team covering multiple time zones around the clock
  • Have an internal creative strategist and need execution capacity
  • Photography is handled elsewhere and not part of your subscription needs
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is TDS cheaper than Superside?
Yes. TDS starts at $3,500/month with no lock-in contract. Superside starts at $5,000/month and requires a 12-month annual commitment, making TDS significantly more cost-effective for most businesses.
Does Superside include photography?
No. Superside does not include photography in any of its subscription plans. TDS includes photography (product, lifestyle, brand and team) within its Scale and Custom tiers.
Does TDS include video production?
Yes. Video production — including social video, brand films, and motion graphics — is included in TDS Scale and Custom plans. Superside also includes video but only at higher spend levels.
What is the contract term for Superside?
Superside operates on annual contracts (12-month lock-in). TDS operates month-to-month with no annual commitment required, giving businesses greater flexibility to scale up, pause or cancel.
Which is better for scale-ups: TDS or Superside?
TDS is better suited to scale-ups needing strategic Creative Director oversight, photography, and a flexible contract. Superside suits large enterprises running multi-channel campaigns at very high volume, where the $5,000+ price point and annual commitment are acceptable.
Does TDS have a Creative Director?
Yes. Every TDS subscription includes a named, senior Creative Director who reviews every brief before production. This is a core differentiator — not an add-on. Superside provides campaign-level creative strategy but this varies by tier and is not standard across all plans.

Further Reading

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