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Top 10 Unicorn.Dev Alternatives For Hiring Remote Developers in 2024
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Top 10 Unicorn.Dev Alternatives For Hiring Remote Developers in 2024

About 78% of companies struggle to find qualified tech talent. One major reason for this is that many developers fancy remote work over in-house. Unicorn.Dev is helping with that. They connect startups with remote software engineers from Asia and the Middle East. 

But while Unicorn.Dev might be popular for finding top remote developers, some alternatives offer faster, broader, and more specialized services. We’ll review 10 of them, spotlighting their features to help you make the best hiring decision for your team.

About Unicorn.dev

Unicorn.dev is a platform that connects over 8,000 pre-vetted developers with companies looking to hire top remote talent. What sets Unicorn.Dev apart is that all its senior talents come with at least 5 years of experience, ensuring you get the best candidates possible. Plus, with a 4-hour time zone gap, these professionals can easily sync with your team.

Here’s what you need to know about them:

  • Pricing: Developers' rates range between $40-55/hour.
  • Flexible contracts: You can hire devs part-time or full-time.
  • Region: Developers are based in Asia and the Middle East.
  • Time it takes to hire: 24 to 72 hours after your initial request.
  • Trial period: 7-day free trial available.
  • Pre-screened talent: Devs are vetted for their technical skills and English proficiency.

But what if Unicorn.dev just doesn’t tick all your boxes? We’ve compiled a list of 10 alternatives where you can hire talented remote engineers.

1. ReactSquad

When it comes to working with developers who specialize in React, we’re your perfect choice. You can easily get a fully vetted developer embedded within your team and get code shipped within 7 days or less.

At ReactSquad, we help startups accelerate their product development in a cost-efficient way. We also have a risk-free 7-day trial to ensure you’re satisfied with the React developer for your product needs. 

ReactSquad features

Here’s what makes us stand out:

  • Pricing: A transparent fee of $75/hour. No initial deposits or hidden charges.
  • Fast hiring time: Find talent within 24 hours
  • Long-term collabs: 50% of all our customer engagements are over 12 months.
  • Cancellation policy: Pay as you go, rolling monthly contract with no minimum commitment.
  • Tech stack: React.JS, Javascript, Node.js, TailwindCSS, Remix, Redux, TypeScript, etc.
  • Flexible contracts: Whether you need a part-time or full-time dev or want to outsource the whole project, we’ll offer you a custom solution.
  • Expert engineers: All developers were hired and mentored by our Silicon Valley CTO.
  • Time-zone overlap: Our globally distributed talent pool is available to you with a working time overlap of 4 hours daily for easy collaboration.

If you’re ready to get started with fully vetted and specialized React developers, schedule a call with us today.

2. CloudDevs

CloudDevs is a great alternative to Unicorn.Dev for hiring skilled developers. One of the best things about CloudDevs is how quickly they can match you with the right talent—usually within just 3 days.

Because they operate remotely, CloudDevs can offer lower rates, making them a budget-friendly choice for companies. If you need developers or designers, CloudDevs has pre-screened talent ready to meet your project needs quickly and efficiently.

CloudDevs Features

  • Pricing: Rates are between $50-80 per hour.
  • Hiring time: Up to 72 hours after your initial request.
  • Trial period: 7-day free trial for every dev you hire. Replace or walk away if the match isn’t right.
  • Tech stack: GraphQL, Ruby on Rails, Django, Python, SQL, etc

3. Toptal

Toptal isn’t just another talent platform; it’s where you go when you need the best product managers, data scientists and software engineers. 

Toptal’s rigorous vetting ensures you get top-tier talent that fits precisely with your project needs. If you need quality developers who can seamlessly integrate into your team, Toptal is the platform. This makes it a strong alternative to Unicorn.Dev.

Toptal Features

  • Pricing: Developers normally charge between $90 and $200 per hour.
  • Hiring time: Can take up to 2 weeks, depending on availability and match. 
  • Trial period: Two weeks risk-free trial
  • Tech stack: Java, Python, Angular, CSS, RxJS, ASP.NET, Kotlin, Flutter, etc.

4. Lemon.io

Lemon.io is a platform that connects businesses with vetted freelance web developers at affordable rates. You’ll need to purchase hours upfront, which ensures commitment from both sides. Their developers are screened for skills, English proficiency, and qualifications. It’s a practical choice for companies needing reliable web development without high costs.

Lemon features

  • Pricing: Ranges between $57 to $90 per hour for a developer.
  • Hiring time: It takes about a week to hire a dev. 
  • Trial period: No-risk 20-hour free trial.
  • Replacement guarantee: You can swap your developer if you’re unhappy with their performance.
  • Geography: Lemon developers are based in Eastern Europe and are available for companies in USA time zones. 
  • Tech stack: React Native, Laravel, Vue.js, Django, Android, etc.

5. Turing

Turing.com connects companies with top remote developers from 140 countries. They rigorously vet candidates, choosing only the top 1% from 1.5 million applicants, ensuring high-quality hires. 

Turing focuses on long-term placements, which means their developers are committed to your project, reducing the hassle of frequent rehiring. If you need skilled, dedicated talent, Turing.com is a solid choice.

Turing features

  • Pricing: Dev rates are typically in the $85 - $250/hour range. 
  • Hiring time: Their AI engine matches you with an engineer within 5 days of contacting them.
  • Time zone overlap: Turing devs are available on a 4-hour minimum overlap with your team.
  • Trial period: Two-week free trial available
  • Tech stack: Java, Rails, Golang, DevOps, Python, Swift, etc. 

6. Hubstaff Talent

Hubstaff is a platform that connects businesses with independent freelancers and agencies. Unlike traditional talent platforms, Hubstaff doesn’t have a manual vetting process. It allows clients to directly browse and contact freelancers. This gives companies more flexibility and access to a wide range of talent. 

While some may see the lack of vetting as a risk, it offers an opportunity to discover unique candidates and customize the hiring process. Plus, it’s free for clients and freelancers, making it an affordable choice for those who can invest time in finding the right match.

Hubstaff features

  • Pricing: Freelancers charge about $70 per hour on average. Agencies charge between $60 to $150+ an hour.
  • Hiring time: Depends entirely on you. 
  • Flexible: You can hire part time and full time devs. 
  • Trial period: No free trial available
  • Tech stack: CSS, HTML, Javascript, Python, iOS, Angular, etc.

7. Scalable Path

Scalable Path is a tech staffing agency that connects businesses with experienced freelance software developers and designers from around 180 countries. With a network of over 28,000 professionals, they handpick candidates based on your project’s needs. 

Their hiring timeline can take up to three weeks but gets you qualified and vetted developers. While it might seem slower than other platforms, the focus on quality and the tailored match can lead to better long-term results.

Scalable Path features

  • Pricing: Developer rates range between $50-$75/hour.
  • Hiring time: Up to 3 weeks.
  • Commitment: Minimum contract duration of 150 hours or $7500. 
  • Trial period: 2 week risk-free trial.
  • Geography: Most developers are based in Latin America and Eastern Europe
  • Tech stack: Ruby on Rails, .NET, PHP, iOS, Android, Javascript

8. Gun.io

Gun.io is a specialized platform that focuses exclusively on recruiting top-tier software developers. It operates an invite-only network, creating an elite community of developers who have been carefully vetted. 

Gun.io uses a bespoke recommendation process to match these developers with companies. Sure, the platform’s exclusivity might limit the diversity of options, but it means that the developers you find are among the best. This makes it a strong choice for companies that prioritize quality and precision in their hires.

Gun.io features

  • Pricing: Gun.io doesn’t state actual figures but offers custom retainers based on the project. For full-time hires, Gun.io charges a fee of 20% of the developer’s negotiated first-year salary.
  • Hiring time: Up to 2 weeks.
  • Flexible hiring: Hire part-time or full-time engineers. 
  • Trial period: No trial period, but you may request to swap your talent through Gun.io’s team.
  • Tech stack: GraphQL, Vue.js, PHP, AWS, React

9. Moonlight

Moonlight connects software developers and product designers worldwide with companies looking to hire. Unlike traditional hiring, Moonlight allows you to post a job and notify their community of developers. Interested candidates work on a paid trial project, which helps you assess their skills and fit for your needs. 

If satisfied, you can hire them as ongoing contractors or full-time employees directly through Moonlight. It’s a lengthy process, but it reduces the risk of a poor match and ultimately saves time in the long run.

Moonlight features

  • Pricing: Developers charge between $80 to $120 an hour. Moonlight charges a 15% fee on this rate. 
  • Hiring time: Takes about 2 weeks.
  • Trial period: Moonlight offers a trial period, but the duration is unspecified.
  • Tech stack: Javascript, PHP, Laravel, Kubernetes, C#, etc

10. Arc.Dev

Arc.Dev helps businesses hire top-tier freelance and permanent remote developers. Their quick matching sets them apart—freelancers within 72 hours and permanent hires within 14 days. The platform supports various tech stacks and operates across multiple time zones. This makes Arc.dev an efficient software development solution for different industries.

Arc.Dev features

  • Pricing: It ranges anywhere from $60-$200/hour, depending on the talent’s experience.
  • Hiring time: It takes 1 to 3 weeks to complete the hiring. 
  • Trial period: 2-week free trial for contract hires and a three-month trial for full-time hires.
  • Tech stack: C#, AWS, MongoDB, JSON, Rust, Selenium, etc.

Best Alternative to Unicorn.dev

If you’ve got a React.JS project, ReactSquad is a great alternative to Unicorn.dev.

There, we said it! But here’s why: 

  • Unlike other alternatives, we’re fully focused on one specific tech stack (React & Node.js). Our developers have high expertise and a niche focus on SaaS products
  • We have a rigorous vetting process for our developers; with 4 interview rounds and 4 weeks working on a paid test project.
  • Senior developers with 5+ years of experience
  • Startup-friendly rates from $75/hr. No hidden fees. No upfront payments.
  • 7-day free trial with your matched developer and a replacement guarantee at any point during your project.

Choosing a Unicorn.Dev Alternative: What To Consider

Several factors come into play when choosing the right alternative for your needs. 

Here are some key factors to consider: 

  • Talent quality: Ensure the platform connects you with highly skilled, experienced developers who have been thoroughly vetted.
  • Cost: Think about the pricing. Some platforms might be more expensive due to the quality of their developers, while others might offer lower rates.
  • Flexibility: Look for options that allow you to hire on an hourly basis or for specific projects, depending on what you need.
  • Communication: Ensure the platform has good tools for staying in touch with your developers and getting regular progress reports.
  • Timezone: Check that the developers are in time zones that work well with your schedule for smooth collaboration.
  • Platform reputation: Look into reviews and testimonials from other users to see if the platform is dependable and has a good track record.

Plenty of other platforms are available for hiring top remote developers for your business. Do thorough research and consider all the important factors before making your choice.

Are you ready to scale your SaaS startup? Book a call to get matched with the best React developers.

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About the Author
Nikolas Chapoupis
CEO
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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