13 Best Toptal Alternatives to Hire Freelance Developers

Looking for the best Toptal alternative to hire freelance web designers, software developers, project managers, and more?

If you’ve searched for freelancers online, you’ve probably seen Toptal. It’s a popular platform for short-term hiring, but it may not be the best option if:

• You’re working with a tight timeline and budget
• You need a small task completed
• You’re looking for long-term hires or full teams

So, which Toptal alternative should you choose?

We’ve put together a list of the top Toptal alternatives by job roles—developers, finance experts, designers, and more. Plus, each section includes a quick comparison to help you make the right choice.

Looking for top talent fast? See how Arc can help you:

⚡️ Find developers, designers, marketers, and more
⚡️ Freelance or full-time remote + fully vetted
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Quick Toptal Review: What is Toptal and What is Toptal’s Pricing?

Toptal is a platform and network that offers freelance developers and designers, finance experts, and product managers, as well as project managers worldwide. Toptal is considered one of the best freelance platforms for developers as it puts all of its talents through a rigorous vetting process prior to presenting them to hiring managers.

With that said, there are no candidate search filters, and there is no resume database for employers to browse. You will receive an alert once a viable match has been made, and a Toptal matching expert will contact you for further discussions.

Toptal’s pricing varies according to the freelancer’s specialty, geographical location, and project needs. The hourly rate ranges from $60 – $250 per hour. To use Toptal, you need to put down $500 worth of deposit upfront.

If you want to compare Toptal individually with other alternatives to Toptal, navigate to our in-depth comparison article to gain a deeper understanding of Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc: Pricing, Vetting, and Quality Comparison. Now that you have some basic understanding of Toptal, let’s dive into Toptal competitors that will help fulfill your freelance hiring needs.

Toptal Alternatives for Finding Freelance Software Developers and Tech Talent: Best Sites to Hire Programmers

1. Arc

Pricing: Freelance developers on Arc set their own rates, typically charging between $40 to $100+ per hour. For full-time permanent hires, Arc charges a one-time hiring fee based on the developer’s annual salary.

How it works: To find a freelance software developer, Arc’s HireAI instantly shortlists vetted candidates from its pool of developers. Unlike other platforms that make you wait 48 hours or more, Arc helps you find your best match candidates instantly for both freelance and full-time remote roles. You’ll then interview matched candidates and select who to hire, with Arc handling the necessary paperwork. On average, Arc users hire within 24 to 72 hours for freelance roles.

Selling points on their site: Arc is a global talent marketplace that connects you with both freelance and full-time remote developers. Arc has a transparent vetting process and can help you recruit pre-vetted freelance contractors and remote full-time permanent team members for short-term projects or long-term projects. If you are looking to make multiple hires, Arc can also help you build a global team with your company’s preferred time zone in mind.

You can also try Arc, your shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:

⚡️ Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers
⚡️ Vetted and ready to interview
⚡️ Freelance or full-time

Try Arc and hire top talent now →

Read More: Software Developer vs Engineer vs Programmer (& More Related Titles)

2. BairesDev

Pricing: While BairesDev’s website does not provide pricing information, there is a live chat and the option to contact them or find out more by email.

How it works: BairesDev’s website does not lay out the process of working with them, but interested clients may inquire via email or live chat for more details.

Selling points on their site: BairesDev is one of the most popular sites like Toptal. They provide clients with dedicated expert autonomous teams, IT staff augmentation, and full-cycle software development outsourcing.

Read More: On-Site vs Remote vs Distributed Engineering Teams: How to Choose?

3. Fiverr

Pricing: You can shop for developers to help with a wide range of projects like web programming, mobile apps, desktop applications, or game development, to name a few, with rates starting at five dollars. Freelance developers on Fiverr set their own rates, so depending on the complexity of your project, you may be able to find a competitive rate or face a more limited field of potential contractors.

How it works: You can explore the Fiverr Marketplace, find the programming and development category, and search through subcategories to find a contractor. Once you see a talent you like, you order their services, confirm and pay, and present project-specific requirements. From there on, you’ll work directly with your contractor on your project.

One thing to keep in mind is that there isn’t a screening process on Fiverr, so the talent pool you have access to will not be vetted talents. If you’re calculating Fiverr rates and costs, make sure to include the potential time cost it takes for you to vet your own developers to ensure the quality of your hires.

Selling points on their site: Fiverr offers payment protection, a guaranteed upfront price, and 24/7 customer support.

Read More: Freelance Web Developer vs Dev Agency: Which is Best for My Project?

4. X-Team

Pricing: X-Team’s website does not provide pricing information, although there is a contact link if you’d like to ask for more details from an X-Team representative.

How it works: While X-Team’s website does not list their process, they offer a dedicated account manager to help you run point with their developers, whose expertise includes front-end programming, back-end programming, functional programming, blockchain, and data science, among other specializations.

Selling points on their site: X-Team will send full-time developers to join your team. They offer simple, flexible contracts billed on a monthly basis, and fund developer growth as a source of motivation.

Read More: How to Build and Maintain a Distributed Software Engineering Team

5. Gigster

Pricing: Gigster’s website does not provide pricing information, although there is a contact link if you’d like to inquire for more information.

How it works: You’ll tell Gigster about your projects, initiatives, and goals. You’ll create a plan in concert with a Gigster representative to meet your needs. If you’re looking to build a team, Gigster can then assemble a team for you based on your needs.

In relation to building a fully remote team, Arc can be considered one of Gigster’s competitors. With that said, sites like Upwork (the free version) would not be considered a direct Gigster alternative as there’s no vetting process and very little hand-holding. 

Selling points on their site: Gigster builds and manages distributed teams for you in days.

Read More: Contract to Hire: The Flexible Remote Engineering Team Scaling Solution

6. Upwork

Pricing: Upwork works on tiered pricing, where a free plan gets you verified work history and reviews, unlimited proposals, and easy payment and collaboration tools. The $49.99/month Plus plan adds dedicated account managers, project tracking, and tailored search results.

Upwork also has another Business plan at a higher price point. The Business plan at $849/month offers consolidated billing and invoicing with net 30 pay, a dedicated team of advisors, and detailed reporting. With an Enterprise plan (price varies), you’ll receive a custom configurable contracting and onboarding process, worker classification compliance services, and a dedicated account executive.

How it works: You’ll post a project on Upwork (for free) and Upwork will connect you with contractors and agencies, who will generate proposals within 24 hours.

You’ll be able to compare bids, reviews, and prior work. You can interview to find the best fit. You can pay hourly or fixed-rate and receive invoices through Upwork.

Selling points on their site: Upwork offers free job postings, bids, easy collaboration, and simplified payment.

Read More: How to Integrate Freelance Software Developers Into Your Current Team

Freelance Developers: TL;DR

We’ve presented some of the best places to hire developers. Each alternative to Toptal offers its clients with services that help streamline their hiring process. Here’s a summary of where you should find your freelance talent depending on your specific needs:

If you’re interested in hiring full-time permanent developer team members, multiple team members, and/or contract developers, consider Arc.

If you’re interested in software outsourcing, BairesDev is an option to help you out. If you have a small project and a tight budget, Fiverr is a good potential option. If you want an entire team assembled for your project, Gigster can build one for you.

If you’d like to hire a full-time scaleable team billed on a monthly basis, consider contacting X-Team. If you’d like to hire freelance developers who come to you with proposals instead of vice versa, you may wish to post your next project on Upwork.

You can also try Arc, your shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:

⚡️ Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers
⚡️ Vetted and ready to interview
⚡️ Freelance or full-time

Try Arc and hire top talent now →

You can also try Arc, your shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:

⚡️ Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers
⚡️ Vetted and ready to interview
⚡️ Freelance or full-time

Try Arc and hire top talent now →

Read More: US vs International Developers: Do Overseas Developers Get a Bad Rap?

Toptal Alternatives for Finding Freelance Project Managers: Best Sites to Hire Project Managers

1. Fiverr

Pricing: You can shop for freelancers to help with project management tasks, with rates starting at five dollars. Freelance contractors on Fiverr set their own rates, so depending on the complexity of your project, you may be able to find a competitive rate or be met with a more limited field of potential contractors.

How it works: You can use Fiverr’s search bar to search for project managers. Once you find a suitable candidate, you’ll order their services, confirm and pay, and present requirements. You’ll then work with your new freelance project manager on your project.

Selling points on their site: Fiverr offers payment protection, a guaranteed, upfront price, and 24/7 customer support.

2. Guru

Pricing: You’ll pay your freelance project manager’s quoted rate. While Guru charges a 2.9% invoice fee, paying with eCheck or wire transfer gives you 100% cashback on the handling fee.

How it works: On Guru, you’ll write a free job posting and evaluate quotes received from freelance project managers. You can review profiles for performance, feedback, portfolios, and earnings statistics before coming to a scope of work agreement and hiring. You can start working with your project manager as soon as you hire them with Guru’s WorkRooms.

Selling points on their site: Guru offers a 99% customer satisfaction rate, has paid out $250 million to freelancers, generated one million paid invoices, and has helped 800,000 employers worldwide.

3. RemotePanda

Pricing: While the RemotePanda website does not provide details, if you fill out a Typeform with your requirements, a RemotePanda team member should contact you.

How it works: The RemotePanda website does not provide details on their matching, project management, and payment process.

However, to post a requirement for the RemotePanda team and get the process started, you’ll need to fill out a Typeform with your hiring needs and desired rate, which falls between $15-60+ an hour, and when you need your project started. The RemotePanda team will take the hiring process from there.

Selling points on their site: RemotePanda offers seasoned freelancers across 100+ services and says that they are the only platform that guarantees results. RemotePanda manages your freelance project manager and oversees the project’s progress.

Freelance Project Managers: TL;DR

For short-term and limited scope project manager tasks, Fiverr can help you with your project management needs.

If you want to receive bids from project managers to work for you rather than looking for them yourself, consider contacting Guru. If you want more oversight and project management from your hiring platform, RemotePanda might be the one for you.

Read More: Lean vs Agile: Differences Between Two Top Development Methodologies

Toptal Competitors for Finding Freelance Finance Experts

1. Freelancer.com

Pricing: You’ll pay your freelance finance expert’s winning quote or the direct offer rate you made to your finance expert of choice.

How it works: To hire on Freelancer.com, you’ll post a project for free and receive bids from freelance finance experts. Alternatively, you can browse the website for freelance finance experts and make a direct offer. You can browse profiles, chat in real-time, compare proposals, and award your project. You can then release payments according to a goal schedule or pay upon completion.

Selling points on their site: On Freelancer.com, you can post a job and receive competitive bids within minutes, choose freelancers, and pay safely. Freelancer.com provides live chat, 24/7 support, progress tracking, and a satisfaction guarantee.

2. Paro

Pricing: Paro’s website does not provide pricing information, although there is a contact link if you’d like to inquire for more information.

How it works: First, you’ll have a consultation with Paro. Their financial consultants will assess your people, process, and platform needs to match you with the finance experts you need based on industry, experience, and technology fit. Paro will then facilitate project kickoff and provide support.

Selling points on their site: Paro is a network of top-tier financial professionals offering CFO leadership, financial planning and analysis, accounting, bookkeeping, and more. Paro builds expert finance teams for businesses.

3. Upwork

Pricing: Upwork works on tiered pricing, where a free plan gets you verified work history and reviews, unlimited proposals, and easy payment and collaboration tools. The $49.99/month Plus plan adds dedicated account managers, project tracking, and tailored search results.

The Business plan at $849/month offers consolidated billing and invoicing with net 30 pay, a dedicated team of advisors, and detailed reporting. With an Enterprise plan (price varies), you’ll receive a custom configurable contracting and onboarding process, worker classification compliance services, and a dedicated account executive.

How it works: You’ll post a project on Upwork (for free) and Upwork will connect you with contractors and agencies, who will generate proposals within 24 hours. You’ll be able to compare bids, reviews, and prior work. You can interview to find the best fit. You can pay hourly or fixed-rate and receive invoices through Upwork.

Selling points on their site: Upwork offers free job postings, bids, easy collaboration, and simplified payment.

Freelance Finance Experts: TL;DR

If you’re looking for flexibility in the hiring process when it comes to finding your finance expert, Freelancer.com gives you the option of making a direct offer in addition to accepting bids.

If you’d prefer to be matched with a finance expert and given more project support, Paro is a good choice to consider. If you prefer tiered pricing when hiring your next finance expert, consider letting Upwork work for you.

Read More: Good vs Great Developers: How to Tell the Difference & Hire the Best

Toptal Alternatives for Finding Freelance Designers: Best Sites to Hire Designers

1. Crowdspring

Pricing: Crowdspring provides freelance designers well-versed in website design, landing page design, banner ad design, blog design, mobile app design, and mobile template design on a tier-based pricing. For $299, you’ll receive approximately 60 designs, full copyright ownership, unlimited designs, and designers.

For $499, you’ll receive approximately 90 designs, full copyright ownership, unlimited designs and designers, unlimited focus groups, and promotion. If you opt for the $499 plan, you’ll have an option to only receive submissions from top-level designers.

How it works: The first step is to fill out an interactive Q&A customized for your product category. Multiple designers will submit concepts for you to choose from. You’ll rate, review, and give feedback on designs. After you pick the winning design, you and the designer will make final adjustments and you’ll receive full rights to the work you purchased.

Selling points on their site: Crowdspring is home to over 220,000 designers. They’re ready to help with 24/7 customer support and they offer free design consultations.

2. Designhill

Pricing: Designhill can help you find designers for: website design ($549), landing page design ($499), banner ad design ($169), and blog design ($599). The prices in parentheses are minimum prices.

How it works: First, you’ll fill out a design brief and post a project. Then, designers will compete for your business. You’ll then choose the design you like best, get your source files along with copyright and ownership rights to it, and download your winner.

Selling points on their site: With Designhill, you can receive 70+ designs within 7 days of posting a project. In addition, you’ll receive 24/7 customer support and have access to 70,000+ designers — all with a 100% money-back guarantee.

3. 99designs

Pricing:99designs provides designers who provide website redesign ($599), landing page design ($349), banner ad design ($69), and blog design ($299). The prices in parentheses are “starting from” prices.

How it works: You’ll need to fill out a design brief and post a project. From there, you can hire a designer or start a contest. Then, you’ll pick a favorite, get source files along with copyright and ownership rights, and download your winner.

Selling points on their site: 99designs boasts a 4.8/5 rating from happy customers. They promise you’ll 100% love your design, you’ll see creativity 24/7, and you’ll be able to post and hire across 90+ design categories.

Freelance Designers: tl;dr

For tier-based pricing based on the number of designs and services, Crowdspring can provide great value. If you’re on the market for a website redesign, Designhill is worth checking out. For landing page design, banner ads, and blog designs, 99designs has competitive prices.

Read More: Freelance vs In-House Developers: Pros & Cons of Hiring or Contracting

Toptal Alternatives for Finding Freelance Product Managers

1. Freelancer.com

Pricing: You’ll pay the rate on your freelance product manager’s winning quote or the direct offer rate you made to your chosen product manager.

How it works: To hire on Freelancer.com, you’ll post a project for free and receive bids from freelance product managers or browse the website for freelance product managers and make a direct offer. You can browse profiles, chat in real-time, compare proposals, and award your project. You can then release payments according to a goal schedule or pay upon completion.

Selling points on their site: On Freelancer.com, you can post a job and receive competitive bids within minutes, choose freelancers, and pay safely. Freelancer.com provides live chat, 24/7 support, progress tracking, and a satisfaction guarantee.

Read More: Hiring In-House vs Remote Developers: Cost & Competitive Advantages

2. Guru

Pricing: You’ll pay your freelance product manager’s quoted rate. While Guru charges a 2.9% invoice fee, paying with eCheck or wire transfer gives you 100% cashback on the handling fee.

How it works: On Guru, you’ll post a free job posting and evaluate quotes from freelance product managers. You can review profiles for performance, feedback, portfolios, and earnings statistics before coming to a scope of work agreement and hiring. You can start working with your product manager as soon as you hire them with Guru’s WorkRooms.

Selling points on their site: Guru offers a 99% customer satisfaction rate, has paid out $250 million to freelancers, generated 1 million paid invoices, and has helped 800,000 employers worldwide.

3. Upwork

Pricing: Upwork works on tiered pricing, where a free plan gets you verified work history and reviews, unlimited proposals, and easy payment and collaboration tools. The $49.99/month Plus plan adds dedicated account managers, project tracking, and tailored search results.

The Business plan at $849/month offers consolidated billing and invoicing with net 30 pay, a dedicated team of advisors, and detailed reporting. With an Enterprise plan (price varies), you’ll receive a custom configurable contracting and onboarding process, worker classification compliance services, and a dedicated account executive.

How it works: You’ll post a project on Upwork (for free) and Upwork will connect you with contractors and agencies, who will generate proposals within 24 hours. You’ll be able to compare bids, reviews, and prior work. You can interview to find the best fit. You have the option of paying hourly or fixed-rate and receiving invoices through Upwork.

Selling points on their site: Upwork offers free job postings, bids, easy collaboration, and simplified payment.

Freelance Product Managers: TL;DR

Freelancer.com allows you to search their site for freelance product managers to make a direct offer as well as accept bids, giving you more options when it comes to your field of potential hires.

Guru offers the industry’s lowest handling fee when it comes to hiring a freelance product manager. Upwork offers tiered pricing and extra services for businesses that would like tailored help when hiring and working with product managers.

Read More: How to Write a Product Requirements Document (PRD) Devs Understand

Wrapping Up Our List of Toptal Competitors

Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes down to choosing a hiring platform — the best platform for you is the platform that can find you the right candidates to solve your particular needs efficiently and cost-effectively.

While Toptal is one of the biggest names in the short term staffing solutions space, there are many other Toptal competitors that can help you find candidates for your long-term needs. We’ve highlighted many companies like Toptal to help you find what you’re looking for. While Toptal is a respectable freelance platform, looking beyond Toptal’s hiring service may help you find niche services at more affordable rates.

We hope that this list was helpful in providing Toptal alternatives for freelance hiring platforms that will fit your particular needs. If you have questions about freelance hiring platforms or hiring developers on a contract or long-term basis, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Arc team — or leave a comment below.

You can also try Arc, your shortcut to the world’s best remote talent:

⚡️ Access 450,000 top developers, designers, and marketers
⚡️ Vetted and ready to interview
⚡️ Freelance or full-time

Try Arc and hire top talent now →

Disclaimer: Arc does not claim ownership of mentioned platforms’ logos, slogans, and trademarks, which were used for descriptive purposes only and belong to their respective owners. We are not affiliated with or sponsored by the platforms mentioned in this post. The information provided is based on our research, and we do not claim that any of the information was approved by third parties (e.g., the platforms mentioned in this post). Platform service offers also change over time. We encourage all readers to do their own research.