Hiring

Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc: Pricing, Vetting, and Quality Comparison

2024-11-1514 min readWritten by Jennifer Fu

Today, freelancing plays a big role in the job market. Approximately half of the workers worldwide or 1.57 billion people are freelancers today. Freelancing offers flexibility for both companies and workers. With many freelancing platforms and marketplaces out there, picking the right one is key to your project’s success.

Toptal, Upwork, and Arc each have their own strengths, so it’s important to compare them thoroughly. This guide breaks down the basics, such as how each platform works, pricing, how freelancers are checked, trial periods, and billing.

By the end, you’ll know what each platform offers, how much they cost, and which is best for your project. This will help you choose the right one.

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Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc TL;DR

Getting to Know Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc

Toptal

Toptal stands out in the freelance world, positioning itself as a premier freelance marketplace. Since its inception in 2010, Toptal has meticulously built a reputation for connecting clients with exclusive top talent. This is because only top 3% of all applicants, specializing in software development, design, and finance, are selected to become Toptal freelancers.

Toptal’s rigorous screening process ensures that only the most skilled and experienced freelancers make the cut. By working with Toptal, clients can expect to collaborate with highly qualified professionals.

Upwork

Established in 2015 after the merger of O-desk and Elance, Upwork has become one of the largest freelance platforms globally. Distinguished by its open model, Upwork allows its clients to explore a diverse range of freelancers across various industries.

While Upwork clients have the autonomy to post jobs and find freelancers by themselves, Upwork also offers a premium service called Upwork Plus. For an additional fee, this subscription-based service grants clients access to a curated selection of pre-vetted freelancers.

Arc

That’s us! Arc connects you directly top remote professionals like developers, designers, and marketers worldwide for both freelance and full-time roles. We stand out with our focus on speed and quality of candidates.

One thing that sets Arc apart from Toptal and Upwork is our AI-powered experience. With HireAI, you find top talent in seconds. Upload your job description, and boom—you get a curated list of skilled, vetted candidates instantly. No more spending weeks on Upwork sorting profiles or waiting days for Toptal’s manual shortlisting. Arc delivers fast, quality matches.

Plus, Arc offers global savings—with talent from 190+ countries, you can save up to 58% compared to hiring local talent. And if you need help, our expert recruiters provide real human support to guide you through the process.

Read More: Remote Developer Salary Calculator compares salaries in different regions

Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc Pricing and Fees

When picking between Toptal, Upwork, and Arc, it’s important to know their pricing and any extra fees. Each platform offers something unique, whether you’re looking for top talent, a budget option, or a mix of both.

Toptal Fees & Pricing

Toptal’s pricing model reflects its commitment to premium talent. While Toptal costs may vary depending on your projects, Toptal is known for its premium pricing. Working with Toptal’s best freelancers, who are highly skilled professionals, requires a big financial investment.

Generally, Toptal’s part-time developer hourly rates range from $60-$200+ per hour to $1000-$2400+ per week. Toptal offers full-time remote developer hiring services as well. For full-time devs, Toptal rates sit in the range of $2000-$4800+ per week.

Lastly, while Toptal doesn’t charge any extra processing fees, you must put down a $500 deposit to start the matching and hiring process.

Upwork Fees & Pricing

Upwork, in contrast, offers a versatile pricing structure designed to accommodate a range of budgets for both individuals and companies. The platform’s basic services come free of charge, which allows you to freely explore and engage with freelancers.

For clients seeking a more curated experience, Upwork Plus provides access to a handpicked selection of pre-vetted freelancers, albeit at an additional cost.

Also, note that on each transaction, Upwork applies a sliding service fee based on the total billed with each client: 20% on the first $500, 10% for billings up to $10,000, and 5% for amounts exceeding $10,000.

Arc Fees & Pricing

Arc simplifies pricing by allowing freelancers to set their own rates, typically ranging from $15 to $110+ based on role, expertise, and location. For full-time hires, Arc takes a unique approach: you can “Pay Whatever You Want.” While the industry standard fee is 20% of the first year’s salary, Arc lets you decide the value based on the results you receive.

With no extra fees, Arc is a budget-friendly option that doesn’t compromise access to top talent. Ultimately, the best platform depends on your project’s unique needs and budget.

Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc Vetting Process

When comparing Toptal, Upwork, and Arc, it’s important to consider how each platform checks the skills of their freelancers to ensure they are high quality.

Toptal Vetting

Toptal sets itself apart from other platforms by implementing an intensive screening process focused on hiring only the top 3% of its applicants. This rigorous vetting process ensures that you are connected with Toptal’s highly skilled freelancers, who have exceptional technical skills and excel in communication and problem-solving. As a result, Toptal’s freelancer pool stands out due to their exceptional abilities across various dimensions.

Upwork Vetting

Upwork’s basic version lacks a formalized vetting process, relying on clients to make decisions to hire freelancers based on their work histories and reviews. Nonetheless, considering the need for enhanced vetting, Upwork Plus offers an alternative for clients seeking a higher level of assurance by providing access to pre-screened developers, vetted for their skills and experience.

Arc Vetting

Arc is proud of its clear and strict vetting process, checking both English communication and technical skills or proof of expertise when hiring developers, designers, and marketers. This ensures clients are matched with the right talent for their projects. This focus on quality sets Arc apart from competitors like Upwork, offering pre-qualified talent that saves you time.

When comparing Toptal, Upwork, and Arc, it’s all about how they identify top freelancers. Toptal accepts only the top 3%, while Arc narrows it down to the top 2% using strict quality tests. Upwork is more flexible, offering extra vetting with Upwork Plus. Knowing these differences helps you pick the right platform for your needs.

Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc Trial Periods

Trial periods are important to see if a freelancer’s skills and work style fit your project, especially for larger or more complex tasks.

Toptal Trial Period

Toptal stands out by offering a two-week risk-free trial, giving clients the chance to assess a freelancer’s fit with their project goals. If unsatisfied, clients incur no financial commitment, making it an ideal option for those undertaking large-scale projects to evaluate talent with confidence.

Upwork Trial Period

While Upwork doesn’t offer a formal trial period, clients can initiate engagements with smaller projects. This allows the clients to assess the capabilities of a freelancer before committing to more extensive, resource-intensive tasks.

Arc Trial Period

Arc offers a trial period for each engagement, allowing you to evaluate a freelancer’s fit for your project. If you’re not satisfied by the end of the trial, you can provide written notice to Arc within 72 hours, and Arc will not bill you for the trial period. You’ll also have the option to try up to three different freelancers during this process. If none are a fit, you can terminate the agreement.

When comparing Toptal, Upwork, and Arc, both Toptal and Arc offer risk-free trials. While Toptal allows you to assess a freelancer, Arc takes it further by giving you multiple chances to find the right match. Upwork doesn’t have a formal trial, but its flexible system still lets you assess freelancers based on your project needs.

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Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc Billing Processes

Billing is important for businesses managing projects with varying budgets. Here’s how Toptal, Upwork, and Arc handle billing, each offering a different approach to meet different financial needs.

Toptal Billing

Toptal’s billing process aligns with its premium service — involving specific negotiations between the client and the freelancer. However, given the top-tier talent available on the platform, you can anticipate a large financial commitment to secure the highly skilled professionals that fit your requirements.

Upwork Billing

Upwork’s billing system is versatile, including both hourly and fixed-price options. This flexibility caters to a diverse range of project structures and financial preferences. For hourly contracts, you’ll be required to pay for the hours recorded in your freelancers record in their work diaries. With fixed-price contracts, on the other hand, you’ll be able to make upfront or milestone-based payments.

Arc Billing

Arc keeps billing simple so you can focus on your project. Freelancers log hours daily, and you (the client) receive weekly invoices—no hidden fees. This straightforward system is perfect for small businesses that want easy financial management without surprise costs. You stay focused on your project, not on paperwork.

When comparing Toptal, Upwork, and Arc, billing makes a difference. Toptal’s premium pricing reflects top talent and custom contracts, while Upwork offers flexibility with hourly or fixed-price options. Arc stands out with clear, fee-free billing that simplifies cost management. Pick the platform that fits your budget and keeps things smooth.

Beyond the Basics: Toptal vs Upwork vs Arc

Platform Interface and User Experience

Toptal: Streamlined and User-Friendly

Toptal has a sleek and intuitive interface, prioritizing simplicity and ease of use. The platform’s design facilitates smooth client-freelancer interactions, streamlining the hiring process and enhancing the overall user experience.

Upwork: Feature-Rich but Complex

Despite boasting many features, Upwork’s interface can be complicated to use, making it overwhelming for users just getting started on the freelance platform. However, if you’re willing to invest time in navigating its intricacies, Upwork can provide you with a comprehensive, powerful toolset for connecting with freelancers across diverse industries.

Arc: Precision and Efficiency

Arc’s platform is built for founders and team leads at startups and fast-growing companies who need to hire top freelance and full-time remote talent quickly. Arc offers an easy-to-use, intuitive platform that helps you connect with pre-vetted developers, marketers, and designers from around the world. With its focus on speed and accuracy, Arc lets you concentrate on getting the work done, while HireAI delivers fast, precise candidate matching that fits your needs and budget.

Unlike competitors, Arc combines the strongest network of vetted tech talent with a streamlined, user-friendly process, making it the ideal choice for tech leaders looking for expert hires on demand.

Project Management and Collaboration Tools

Toptal: Seamless Integration for Collaboration

Toptal goes beyond just connecting clients with talented freelancers. It integrates project management and collaboration tools into its platform seamlessly — ensuring efficient communication and progress tracking and fostering a collaborative environment that enhances your project’s overall success.

Upwork: Comprehensive Tools for All Projects

In line with its comprehensive approach, Upwork offers a comprehensive suite of project management and collaboration tools, including time tracking and milestone management. These tools provide clients and freelancers with the resources necessary to enhance productivity and transparency on all projects.

Arc: Tailored for Tech

Arc focuses on the tech industry, offering a platform tailored to the needs of development and tech teams. While Arc connects clients with top tech talent, it also fosters smooth collaboration between clients and freelancers, making it easier to stay on track with your projects. Arc’s intuitive platform ensures efficiency throughout the hiring process, helping you find the right talent quickly and seamlessly. This makes Arc a great choice for tech businesses looking for a streamlined solution to meet their hiring and project needs.

Customer Support

Toptal: Personalized and Dedicated Support

Toptal’s commitment to excellence extends to its customer support, renowned for its personalized and dedicated service. You gain access to support representatives who possess in-depth knowledge and can assist with various issues, ensuring a consistently high level of service throughout your engagement with Toptal’s freelancers.

Upwork: Comprehensive but Varied Support

Upwork’s approach to customer support is comprehensive, offering assistance through self-help resources, community forums, and direct channels. While the support is extensive, the level of personalization may vary, considering the platform’s vast user base.

Arc: Targeted Support for Tech Teams

Arc puts customer support first, with a focus on tech teams. Clients get hands-on help from our local expert recruiters in LATAM and Asia and a support team that understands your projects. This specialized support is invaluable for businesses needing expert skills to tackle complex challenges and work smoothly with Arc freelancers.

Our commitment to personalized help has earned us 92% customer satisfaction and a 4.5/5 rating on Trustpilot, showing the trust clients have in Arc for delivering the right talent and a seamless hiring experience.

Combined with Arc’s easy-to-use platform, this support makes it simpler for clients to connect with top freelancers and manage projects efficiently, creating a better overall experience for tech.

Making the Right Choice for Your Projects: Upwork vs Toptal vs Arc

Choosing the right freelance platform is key to your project’s success, and it’s important to think about what you need. Upwork, Toptal, and Arc each offer different strengths that fit a variety of projects.

Toptal: Vetted Talent for Key Projects

Toptal is known for its strict vetting, selecting only 3% of top-quality freelancers. This makes it ideal for important projects where top-level skills are needed. If you want the best experts and are ready to pay for premium talent, Toptal is worth the cost. The higher prices reflect the high quality, ensuring you work with industry leaders.

Upwork: Flexibility and Diversity

Upwork offers flexibility with a large range of freelancers at different price points. Whether your project is big or small, Upwork’s wide talent pool helps you find the right fit. You control your budget with hourly and fixed-rate options, making it a good choice for businesses needing flexibility.

Arc: Specialized Expertise in Tech Teams

Arc is a global marketplace for top remote talent, specializing in tech roles like developers, designers, and marketers. Whether you’re looking for freelance, full-time, or contract-to-hire, Arc connects you with vetted experts quickly—helping you hire in days, not months.

For complex tech projects, Arc’s approach ensures you find skilled professionals fast, without the hassle of job ads or resume screening. If your project demands top tech talent, Arc is your shortcut to meeting qualified candidates you’ll actually want to interview. With global reach and a focus on speed and quality, Arc makes hiring freealnce and remote talent easy.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Platform

When comparing Toptal, Upwork, and Arc, consider factors like vetting, pricing, and support. The best freelancing platform depends on your project goals. Upwork offers flexibility, Toptal provides top-tier talent, and Arc specializes in tech expertise. Choosing the right platform that matches your project’s needs makes working with freelancers easier for you.