TL;DR

• Lemon.io offers startups access to vetted developers from Eastern Europe. 
• Toptal connects companies with freelance talent globally, allowing you to hire top developers.
• You can find and hire talent faster on Toptal than on Lemon.io, but Toptal’s rates are higher. 
• ReactSquad is a good alternative to Lemon.io and Toptal for hiring expert React developers.

‍

When it comes to hiring remote developers, Toptal and Lemon.io are pretty popular options. But which of them is the better fit for startups? Or should you consider a third option? This guide will also share some more alternatives and help you figure that out. 

What is Lemon.io?

Lemon.io is a tech talent marketplace in Ukraine that connects companies with vetted freelance developers from Eastern Europe. They carefully select professionals who match your project’s needs, usually matching them within 48 hours. 

What is Toptal?

Toptal is a global network of highly skilled tech professionals based in Europe and the Americas. They have a developer acceptance rate of 3% of applicants who apply. Their developers are known to charge premium rates, making Toptal more suitable for enterprise companies. 

How to hire a dev at Lemon.io

At Lemon.io, it can take about a week to start working with a developer, depending on availability. Here’s a breakdown of their process:

1. Fill out a request form on their website. 
2. A sales rep will contact you to discuss your project needs. 
3. Lemon.io matches you with developers from their database who have the required skills. 
4. You can interview the developers to assess their cultural fit with your team. 
5. Once you’re ready to proceed, you must make a security deposit and commit to at least 160 hours before the project begins. 

How to hire a dev at Toptal

Toptal’s hiring process typically takes about 1-2 weeks to complete:

1. Fill out a form with basic project requirements. 
2. A rep will reach out to understand your project and technical needs.
3. Toptal will match you with the right talent for your project. 
4. Start working with your new dev in a one-week free trial.

Lemon.io’s Vetting Process

Lemon.io’s vetting process is quick, allowing them to screen many candidates. However, this might raise concerns about the quality of their talent pool. Here’s how it works:

1. Lemon’s recruiting team reviews resumes and LinkedIn profiles. Applicants with less than five years of experience in the required tech stack are rejected. The top 5-10% of candidates make it through. 
2. Candidates are screened for English proficiency and soft skills.
3. Senior developers from Lemon interview candidates with a live coding session to test their technical abilities.
4. The top 1.2% of candidates are added to Lemon.io’s talent pool.

Toptal’s Vetting Process

Toptal’s developer screening process is one of the strictest in the industry:

1. Candidates undergo interviews to assess their English language skills, communication abilities, and personality traits. 
2. Applicants take an online quiz to test their technical knowledge and problem-solving skills in their tech stack.
3. Toptal recruiters conduct live coding exercises, evaluating candidates on experience, communication, and creativity.
4. Candidates who reach this stage are given a test project to assess their performance in real-world scenarios. Tests are evaluated by senior Toptal engineers. 
5. Successful candidates are added to Toptal’s talent pool.

Lemon.io vs Toptal compared

Let’s take a closer look at how these two platforms stack up against each other.

Ease of use & accessibility

We turned to G2 to see what clients had to say about the user experience on both platforms. Here’s how they compared:

One client shared how challenging it was navigating Lemon’s platform:

Price

Lemon.io’s rates range from $55 to $95 per hour, but you must commit to at least 160 hours per project. This means you’ll be paying at least $8,800. Additionally, you need to make an initial payment covering one month or one week of work, depending on your billing cycle. From there, you're charged weekly or monthly until the project ends.

Toptal’s developers charge premium rates. The average hourly rate is $110, with top-tier developers commanding $200 or more. Toptal also charges a $79 monthly subscription to use its platform for talent search. 

Client Reviews

We looked at reviews to understand what customers think of Lemon.io and Toptal. Here’s what we found:

Lemon.io 

A customer had mixed experiences with Lemon.io. Their first developer was a poor communicator and also overcharged, showing that Lemon.io’s matchmaking isn’t always great. But after asking for a replacement, they were satisfied with the new developer.

Toptal

This customer liked the quality of devs but cited Toptal’s high pricing as a drawback. 

The user found Toptal decent for finding short-term developer talent but had issues with a promotional offer not being honored properly. They also experienced poor communication regarding developer availability and project expectations.

What are the best platforms for hiring remote developers? 

• Job Boards: Platforms like FlexJobs, Job2careers, and Glassdoor list remote jobs that attract developers worldwide. 
• Freelance Marketplaces: Sites like Guru, Freelancer and Freelance.com offer a wide range of freelancers, including software engineers, designers, and marketers.
• LinkedIn: LinkedIn is great for networking and finding developers through referrals. It also has a job board where you can post remote jobs to attract candidates. Plus, you can set up job ads to attract quality talent. 
• Developer Marketplaces: These specialized platforms focus on providing tech talent for hire, such as developers and data scientists. ReactSquad, Arc.Dev and CloudDevs are prime examples.
• Vetted Developer Agencies: These agencies provide staff augmentation and outsourcing services. They offer vetted experts skilled in various tech stacks. Examples include Lemon.io. 

What is the best alternative to Lemon.io and Toptal? 

We’ve explored two solid options: Lemon.io and Toptal. Lemon.io offers more affordable hourly rates, but its matchmaking isn’t always right, and the minimum commitment can be a turn-off for some. 

On the other hand, Toptal connects you with top-tier developers, but their costs are steep.

ReactSquad is a great alternative if you’re looking for React-based devs. We’re a marketplace of vetted React developers for SaaS startups. Our devs are rigorously vetted through 3 interviews and 4 weeks of a paid test project. Each dev is highly experienced and is handpicked by Jan Hesters, our CTO.

Here’s why we’re worth considering:

• Simple, affordable, and transparent pricing of $75/hour. No hidden charges.
• 7-day no-risk free trial

Book a call today and get matched with a dev within 48 hours.