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Toptal alternative - Toptal review guide - how to hire remote developers


Toptal Review

Toptal is a platform that connects businesses with top-tier freelancers in various fields, including software development, design, finance, and project management. The platform is designed to help companies find high-quality talent quickly and efficiently, and it claims to only accept the top 3% of applicants who apply to join the network.
One of the main benefits of using Toptal is the ability to find highly skilled professionals who can work remotely and on a flexible schedule. This can be particularly useful for companies that need to bring on additional talent for short-term projects or to fill specific skills gaps.


Some other features of the platform include:

  • A wide range of freelancers to choose from: Toptal has a network of over 100,000 freelancers in various fields, so businesses can find the right person for their needs.
  • Thorough vetting process: Toptal claims to only accept the top 3% of applicants, so businesses can be confident they are getting high-quality talent.
  • Flexible contracts: Companies can work with freelancers on a project-by-project basis, or they can hire them on a part-time or full-time basis.
  • Support from Toptal: The platform offers support to both businesses and freelancers, including contract management, payment processing, and dispute resolution.

Toptal problems

There are a few potential issues that companies may encounter when working with freelancers through Toptal, or when working with freelancers in general. These include:

  • Communication issues: Working with remote freelancers can sometimes be more challenging in terms of communication, as you won't have the same level of face-to-face interaction as you would with in-office team members. It's important to establish clear lines of communication and have processes in place to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
  • Time zone differences: If you are working with freelancers in different time zones, it can be challenging to coordinate meetings and ensure that everyone is available at the same time. This can be especially difficult if you need to work with people in very different parts of the world.
  • Trust and reliability: When working with freelancers, it's important to establish trust and ensure that they are reliable and will deliver on their commitments. This can be more challenging when working with people you don't know personally, and it may require more effort to build a working relationship.
  • Legal issues: It's important to carefully review any contracts or agreements you have with freelancers and to make sure you understand your rights and responsibilities under the terms of the agreement. You should also be aware of any legal requirements or obligations that you may have when working with freelancers, such as tax and insurance obligations.

Overall, it's important to carefully consider these and other potential issues when working with freelancers from Toptal, and to have processes in place to mitigate any potential risks or challenges.

Overall, Toptal can be a useful resource for businesses looking for top-tier freelancers to work on specific projects or to fill skills gaps in their team. But for long projects, you cannot burn out your budget to paying in 3 times more than via an alternative like Hiretop - the best provider to hire remote developers.


Toptal vs Upwork

One option is Upwork, a freelancing platform that connects businesses with a wide range of freelancers, including those in technology, design, and finance. Upwork has a large pool of talented professionals to choose from, with over 12 million registered freelancers on the platform. Businesses can search for freelancers by skills, location, and hourly rate, and can also post job openings to the platform to receive proposals from interested freelancers.

Upwork offers a range of tools and features to help businesses find the right freelancer for their needs, including a messaging system to communicate with potential candidates, a payment system to securely transfer funds, and a review system to help businesses make informed decisions. Upwork also provides a variety of resources and support for businesses, including a dedicated customer support team and a learning center with tips and best practices for working with freelancers.

Toptal vs Freelancer

Another option is Freelancer, another freelancing platform that offers a wide range of services, including technology, design, and finance. Freelancer has a large pool of freelancers to choose from, with over 32 million registered users on the platform. Businesses can search for freelancers by skills, location, and hourly rate, and can also post job openings to the platform to receive proposals from interested freelancers.

Freelancer offers a range of tools and features to help businesses find the right freelancer, including a project bidding system, which allows freelancers to submit proposals and quotes for projects, and a review system to help businesses make informed decisions. Freelancer also provides a variety of resources and support for businesses, including a dedicated customer support team and a learning center with tips and best practices for working with freelancers.

Toptal vs Fiverr

You may also want to consider Fiverr, a freelancing platform that allows businesses to find freelancers for a wide range of services, including technology, design, and finance. Fiverr has a large pool of freelancers to choose from, with over 300,000 different skills available on the platform. Businesses can search for freelancers by skills, location, and hourly rate, and can also browse through the platform's "gigs" (pre-packaged services offered by freelancers) to find the right fit.

Fiverr offers a range of tools and features to help businesses find the right freelancer, including a search function to filter results by skills, location, and hourly rate, and a review system to help businesses make informed decisions. Fiverr also provides a variety of resources and support for businesses, including a dedicated customer support team and a learning center with tips and best practices for working with freelancers.

Toptal alternatives

There are many other freelancing platforms and companies that offer similar services to Toptal, including PeoplePerHour, Guru, and 99designs. It's worth doing some research to find the one that best meets your needs. Ultimately, the best alternative to Toptal will depend on your specific requirements and budget.

When selecting a freelancing platform or company, it's important to consider a few key factors. First, consider the size of the pool of freelancers available and the range of skills they offer. A larger pool of freelancers can increase your chances of finding the right fit, but it may also make it more challenging to sift through all the options.

Second, consider the tools and features available to help you find and work with freelancers. Features such as messaging systems, payment systems, and review systems can make the process of finding and working with freelancers much easier

Toptal pricing

Toptal does not publicly disclose its pricing on its website. According to reviews and information from former clients, Toptal typically charges an hourly rate for its freelancers, with rates ranging from $60 to over $100 per hour depending on the specific skills and experience of the freelancer.

Toptal claims that it only accepts the top 3% of applicants to join its network, and that its freelancers are highly skilled and experienced professionals. As a result, the hourly rates charged by Toptal may be higher than those charged by other freelancers or by agencies.

It's important to note that the actual cost of working with a Toptal freelancer will depend on a number of factors, including the specific skills and experience of the freelancer, the complexity of the project, and the duration of the engagement. It's always a good idea to get a detailed quote from Toptal or from any freelancer you are considering working with, so that you have a clear understanding of the costs involved.

In addition to hourly rates, Toptal may also charge a percentage of the total project cost as a fee for its services. This fee is typically around 20%, but it may vary depending on the specifics of the project.

Overall, it's important to carefully consider the costs involved when working with Toptal:

Monthly rate for Senior Engineer from Toptal:

100 USD * 160 hours = 16, 000 USD monthly

Monthly rate for Senior Engineer from Upwork

50 USD *160 hours = 8, 000 USD monthly

Monthly rate for Senior Engineer  from Hiretop

40 USD *160 hours = 6, 400 USD monthly for direct hiring

50 USD*160 hours = 8,000 USD monthly for Staff Augmentation case

Toptal competitors

Actually, final review Toptal alternatives:

There are several platforms that offer similar services to Toptal, including:

  1. Upwork: Upwork is one of the largest and most well-known freelancer platforms, offering a wide range of services in areas such as software development, design, writing, and customer service. Upwork charges a percentage of the total project cost as a fee for its services, typically around 20%.
  2. Freelancer: Freelancer is another large freelancer platform that offers a wide range of services in various fields. Like Upwork, it charges a percentage of the total project cost as a fee for its services, typically around 10%.
  3. Fiverr: Fiverr is a platform that connects businesses with freelancers offering a wide range of services, including design, marketing, and writing. It is known for its relatively low prices, with many services starting at just $5.
  4. Hirable: Hirable is a newer platform that focuses on connecting businesses with high-quality freelancers in the tech industry. It offers a range of services, including software development, design, and marketing. Hirable charges a percentage of the total project cost as a fee for its services, typically around 15%.
  5. Hiretop: HireTop is trusted partner in overcoming the scarcity of software developers and other IT specialists. Expand your capabilities by hiring a team of dedicated developers from Eastern Europe that will become a part of your local tech unit with transparent rates

Overall, these platforms all offer similar services to Toptal, but they may have different pricing models, fees, and services offered. It's always a good idea to carefully review the terms and conditions of any platform you are considering using, and to make sure it is a good fit for your business needs.

Toptal  best competitor

If you are looking to hire software developers and are considering using Toptal, it's important to carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks of each option. Some things to consider when comparing Toptal to other solutions for hiring software developers include:

  • Cost: Toptal charges an hourly rate for its freelancers, with rates ranging from $60 to over $100 per hour depending on the specific skills and experience of the freelancer. It may also charge a percentage of the total project cost as a fee for its services. Other solutions, such as working with a software development company or agency, may have different pricing models.
  • Quality of talent: Toptal claims to only accept the top 3% of applicants to join its network, and its freelancers are highly skilled and experienced professionals. Other solutions may have a wider range of talent available, but the quality of the developers may vary.
  • Level of control: Working with a freelancer platform like Toptal may give you more control over the development process, as you can choose the specific freelancer you want to work with and have more direct communication with them. Working with a software development company or agency may give you less control, but may also provide more resources and support.
  • Level of support: Toptal offers support to both businesses and freelancers, including contract management, payment processing, and dispute resolution. Other solutions may offer different levels of support.

Ultimately, the best solution for your business will depend on your specific needs and resources.

Hire top-tier remote software developers from Hiretop to get high-quality talent quickly and efficiently, while also enjoying the benefits of flexible scheduling and remote work. (c) Albert Einstein