Best Arc.dev Alternatives For Hiring Freelance Developers
Hiring
Best Arc.dev Alternatives For Hiring Freelance Developers
Nikolas Chapoupis
CEO
December 10, 2024
Arc.dev is a platform that helps connect startups with freelance developers for full-time and part-time roles. But there are other platforms other than Arc that might suit your needs even better. Stick around, and by the end of this article, you’ll know how Arc.dev stacks up against its competitors.
About Arc
Arc.Dev is a talent marketplace for hiring freelance software developers. It’s a subsidiary of Codementor, a popular developer community.
How to hire a developer on Arc
Create an account and share your project goals, budget, job role, and preferred tech stack.
Arc’s AI engine will send a list of devs from their talent pool that match your specs.
You can interview candidate for the best technical and cultural fit for your team.
When you’re ready to hire, sign the contract and an NDA. Arc will handle all paperwork so you can start with the dev on a 2-week free trial.
How does Arc vet developers?
Arc is one of the growing number of companies that have started using AI in its vetting process.
Arc’s HireAI uses machine learning to screen applications, filtering based on relevant experience.
A video interview next, where candidates record themselves answering open-ended questions. Arc recruiters assess their answers for remote work compatibility, English proficiency, and soft skills.
Candidates undergo a technical interview with a senior developer to evaluate technical skills and logical thinking.
An independent team reviews each stage of the developer vetting process to ensure consistency.
Arc.Dev Pricing
Arc recently changed its developer pricing with different charges depending on the hiring need:
For freelance or contract hires, hourly rates range between $15 and $110+ depending on experience, location, and project complexity.
For full-time hires, the developer sets his expected salary, then Arc charges a fee per hire. This one-time placement fee normally totals 20% of the developer’s first year’s salary. Arc also requires a refundable security deposit of $300 to start a project.
Arc.Dev Client Reviews
With 4.8 stars out of 5 on G2, Arc is highly rated by clients. Here are a few reviews from customers.
This client appreciates the dedicated manager Arc provides for smooth communication. But, he dislikes its requirement for long-term contracts, which aren’t practical for small projects, and wishes Arc offered more flexible arrangements.
This reviewer praises Arc for quickly finding developers but wishes for more flexible project end dates.
This client found Arc's communication and support effective but felt the candidate's skills were not as strong as portrayed in the interview.
Arc.dev Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
2-week no-risk free trial available
Hiring can take up to 2 weeks
Large talent pool of 300,000+ devs
AI used in vetting can be inaccurate as it’s unable to understand human dynamics
Multiple tech stacks and programming languages are available
Refundable security deposit of $300 is required to start a project.
You can hire for short-term or long-term projects.
Some clients complain about Arc’s requirements for long-term projects over short ones.
Top Arc.dev Alternatives for Hiring Developers
We’ve compiled a list of Arc alternatives for you to consider.
ReactSquad is a marketplace of vetted React developers for SaaS startups. We provide expert React developers to teams looking to ship projects quickly. If your project requires React, Next.js or Remix expertise, we have the specialists to meet your needs. Our developers have 5+ years of experience in various industries, especially SaaS.
ReactSquad vs Arc
ReactSquad
Arc
How fast can you hire?
Within 48 hours
Within a week
Hourly rates
$75
$15 - $110+
Upfront costs or extra fees?
None
$300 initial deposit
Pros
- Fast hiring process
- Strong vetting process
- Free trial available
- Affordable, transparent pricing
- Flexible hiring options
- Flexible hiring options
- Fast hiring process
- Free trial available
- Multiple tech stacks
Cons
- Only suitable for projects using React.js, Redux or Next.js
- Lenient vetting process
- Can be expensive
- Advance deposit required
Free trial?
1 week
2 weeks
Can you hire many devs?
Yes
Yes
Toptal
Toptal is one of the largest talent platforms for hiring developers worldwide. It has a selective screening process, admitting the top 3% of applicants. This means that, more often than not, their freelancers have the expertise and experience to handle your project. However, it comes at premium costs. Toptal developers are known to charge some of the highest hourly rates.
Lemon.io is a solid option for hiring pre-vetted Eastern European developers. They use a smart matching algorithm to pair you with the freelancers that best fit your project. They also offer flexible payment plans and a project manager to help keep everything on track.
Lemon.io vs Arc
Lemon
Arc
How fast can you hire?
Within a week
Within a week
Hourly rates
$55 - $95
$15 - $110+
Upfront costs or extra fees?
A week’s or month’s charge depending on billing cycle
$300 initial deposit
Pros
- Large talent pool
- Fast hiring process
- Multiple tech stacks
- Flexible hiring options
- Fast hiring process
- Free trial available
- Multiple tech stacks
Cons
- A security deposit is required before starting
- Minimum commitment of 160 project hours required
- Very limited free trial
- Lenient vetting process
- Can be expensive
- Advance deposit required
Free trial?
20 hours
2 weeks
Can you hire many devs?
Yes
Yes
Gun.io
Gun.io is a talent-matching platform created by developers to simplify hiring for technical roles. It connects companies with developers, helping them hire software engineers for short-term projects or build teams for complex, long-term needs. However, they’re not very transparent on pricing as they only offer custom quotes for all projects.
Gun.io vs Arc
Gun.io
Arc
How fast can you hire?
Within a week
Within a week
Hourly rates
Custom pricing only
$15 - $110+
Upfront costs or extra fees?
None
$300 initial deposit
Pros
- Dedicated account manager
- Flexible hiring options
- Free trial available
- Multiple tech stacks
- Flexible hiring options
- Fast hiring process
- Free trial available
- Multiple tech stacks
Cons
- Slower hiring process
- Lack of transparency with pricing
- Lenient vetting process due to the limitations of AI to understand human dynamics
- Lenient vetting process
- Can be expensive
- Advance deposit required
Free trial?
2 weeks
2 weeks
Can you hire many devs?
Yes
Yes
Proxify
Proxify is a popular talent platform for hiring European freelance software engineers remotely. Before pivoting to become a talent marketplace, Proxify was an IT outsourcing company. With the option to choose from 4000 experts, you can get started in about a week.
Proxify vs Arc
Proxify
Arc
How fast can you hire?
Within 2 weeks
Within a week
Hourly rates
$40 - $75+
$15 - $110+
Upfront costs or extra fees?
None
$300 initial deposit
Pros
- Free trial available
- Flexible hiring options
- Multiple tech stacks
- Flexible hiring options
- Fast hiring process
- Free trial available
- Multiple tech stacks
Cons
- Minimum commitment of 40 hours a month.
- Slower hiring process
- AI-powered vetting process sometimes leads to inaccurate assessments.
- Lenient vetting process
- Can be expensive
- Advance deposit required
Free trial?
2 weeks
2 weeks
Can you hire many devs?
Yes
Yes
X-Team
X-Team provides high-performing, on-demand software engineers for brands worldwide.
With X-team, you can scale the size of your team up or down as needed. Their engineers can culturally fit almost any company, which makes them a popular choice.
X-Team vs Arc
X-Team
Arc
How fast can you hire?
Within a month
Within a week
Hourly rates
$50 - $100
$15 - $110+
Upfront costs or extra fees?
None
$300 initial deposit
Pros
- Suitable for long-term projects.
- Multiple tech stacks
- Strongly vetted devs. The process includes profile screening, coding tests, and projects.
- Dedicated account manager
- Flexible hiring options
- Fast hiring process
- Free trial available
- Multiple tech stacks
Cons
- Minimum commitment of 90 days required
- Slow hiring process
- No free trial available
- No transparency with pricing
- Lenient vetting process
- Can be expensive
- Advance deposit required
Free trial?
None
2 weeks
Can you hire many devs?
Yes
Yes
Andela
Andela is worth checking out if you're after developers from Africa and Latin America. They have a large pool of over 250,000 vetted tech professionals from over 80 countries. Andela also provides ongoing training and mentoring to junior engineers to keep their talent sharp.
Andela vs Arc
Andela
Arc
How fast can you hire?
Within a month
Within a week
Hourly rates
$50 - $120
$15 - $110+
Upfront costs or extra fees?
None
$300 initial deposit
Pros
- Suitable for long-term projects.
- Multiple tech stacks
- Dedicated account manager
- Large talent pool
- Flexible hiring options
- Fast hiring process
- Free trial available
- Multiple tech stacks
Cons
- No free trial available.
- Slower hiring process
- Not ideal for short-term projects
- Can be expensive
- AI vetting is often inaccurate and affects quality of talent
- Lenient vetting process
- Can be expensive
- Advance deposit required
Free trial?
None
2 weeks
Can you hire many devs?
No
Yes
Gigster
Gigster is a platform that helps companies hire teams of freelancers to work on software projects. They provide project managers to plan and manage your project to get the job done.
Gigster vs Arc
Gigster
Arc
How fast can you hire?
Within 2 weeks
Within a week
Hourly rates
$80 - $150+
$15 - $110+
Upfront costs or extra fees?
None
$300 initial deposit
Pros
- Multiple tech stacks
- Dedicated account manager
- Large talent pool
- In-app dashboard to monitor project progress
- Flexible hiring options
- Fast hiring process
- Free trial available
- Multiple tech stacks
Cons
- No free trial available.
- You can’t manage freelancers directly.
- Can be expensive
- AI vetting is often inaccurate and affects quality of talent
- Lenient vetting process
- Can be expensive
- Advance deposit required
Free trial?
None
2 weeks
Can you hire many devs?
Yes
Yes
Factors to consider in an Arc.Dev alternative
While Arc.dev offers solid talent, these other platforms better match your needs. But how do you decide which one to go for? Hiring speed? Flexible pricing? Specialized skills?
Let’s explore some key factors to help you make the right decision for your business.
Cost
Cost is always a key factor. You don’t have an endless pool of cash, so you must squeeze every dollar to get maximum value. That’s why you need a platform that aligns with your needs and budget.
Fortunately, there are several options out there with flexible pricing plans, so you can choose one that fits without overspending. Some platforms even let you negotiate directly with freelancers to secure the best rates.
Tech stack
It’s important to choose a platform that fits the tech stack you're using. If your project uses a certain language or tools, like Python or React, you’ll want a platform where developers with those skills are easy to find.
Industry expertise
When you hire freelancers who are industry experts, they can streamline your project, avoid common pitfalls, and deliver results faster. This level of expertise can save you both time and money. So, when choosing a platform, prioritize one that offers specialists who truly know your field.
What is the right alternative for you?
So, what’s the best choice for you? It depends on what you need. We’ve shared a few alternatives with their features, but the final decision is yours. Just be sure to think about the key points we talked about. That way, you’ll be set up to make the best decision for your team.
If you're looking for talented React developers at affordable rates, we’ve got you covered. ReactSquad is a marketplace of vetted React developers for SaaS startups. We rigorously screen our devs through 3 interviews and 4 weeks of a paid test project. Then, they’re handpicked by Jan Hesters, our CTO.
Book a call today and get matched with a dev within 48 hours.
I'm Nikolas, CEO of ReactSquad. Jan Hesters and I started this company after struggling to find skilled developers in our previous startup. Now I'm committed to helping SaaS companies scale by matching them with senior React developers in less than 48 hours.
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