TL;DR

• Toptal connects companies with skilled software developers globally. 
• The cost of hiring a developer from Toptal typically ranges from $100 to $200 per hour.
• Some Toptal alternatives like ReactSquad, CloudDevs, Codeable offer faster hiring time for skilled talent at a more affordable rate. 

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In this article, we’ll explore the best alternatives to Toptal, including their features, how the hiring process works, how much they cost, and how their developers are vetted. 

But first, let’s take a closer look at what Toptal offers.

About Toptal

Toptal is a freelance talent platform that connects businesses with software developers around the world. The company was founded in 2010 by Taso Du Val and Breanden Beneschott, and Taso is the current CEO. 

Toptal is known for their strong vetting process which ensures that only top professionals are part of their talent pool. Their developers are spread worldwide, with the majority based in Europe and the Americas. 

How to hire a developer on Toptal 

Hiring a dev on Toptal can take up to two weeks to complete. Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Fill out an online form giving info about the skills you want.
2. A Toptal director of engineering will chat with you to understand your project and technical needs.
3. Toptal recruiters will match you with a handpicked developer for your project.
4. Start working with the developer on a two-week risk-free trial. If you’re unsatisfied, you can request a replacement at no cost. 

How Toptal vets developers

1. Applicants are screened on English skills and soft skills.
2. A technical interview involving coding challenges to test candidates’ technical knowledge. 
3. A live coding exercise and interview by Toptal experts to evaluate creativity and problem-solving skills.
4. Candidates at this stage are given a real-world test project that lasts about 3 weeks.
5. Top 3% of successful candidates are added to Toptal’s talent pool. 

Toptal’s pricing

Toptal’s prices vary since developers set their own rates. However, rates typically range from $100 to $200+ per hour, depending on the engineer’s experience, location, and project scope. Toptal also charges a $79 monthly subscription to use its platform for your talent search. 

Toptal used to charge a $500 initial deposit, but it's unclear if this policy still applies today. 

Toptal invoices our clients twice a month. Its acceptable payment methods are credit cards, PayPal, ACH, and bank wiring.

Toptal Client Reviews

Reviews from past clients about Toptal are generally positive. This client praised the high quality of software engineers they hired, but commented on Toptal’s high pricing. 

Toptal’s free trial policy isn’t as “free” as they claim, judging by this customer’s experience. He canceled his trial within the free period, but Toptal still invoiced him.

Pros and Cons of Toptal

Top 10 Toptal Competitors For Hiring Developers in 2025

We’ve compiled a list of the best alternatives to Toptal so you can compare and choose the platform that best fits your needs. 

ReactSquad

ReactSquad is a marketplace of vetted React developers for SaaS startups. All our devs work with us full-time and in-house and are rigorously screened through 3 interviews and 4 weeks of a paid test project. If your project requires React, Next.js or Remix expertise, we have the right team to meet your needs.

ReactSquad vs Toptal

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CloudDevs

CloudDevs is a tech marketplace for hiring remote freelance developers from Latin America. They are headquartered in the USA, and provide developers from several countries like Brazil, Peru and more. CloudDevs allows you to hire both freelancers and full-time staff for your business. 

CloudDevs vs Toptal

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Upwork

Upwork is one of the most popular alternatives to Toptal. It is often used by startup founders to hire freelancers at cheaper rates. The quality of developers varies as there’s no vetting in place. This means you’ll have to dig deep to find quality developers. 

Upwork vs Toptal

You can read a full comparison of Upwork vs. Toptal here.

Andela

Andela is often seen as a close alternative to Toptal. They have a large pool of over 150,000 vetted tech professionals from several countries. Andela is best suited for long-term projects as all initial contracts are signed for at least 12 months.

Andela vs Toptal 

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Freelancer

Freelancer is one of the world’s largest freelance platforms, with over 50 million active users, including clients and freelancers. Its features include a time tracker and mobile app to manage your project. However, like most generalist platforms, the lack of a vetting process means you’ll need extra effort to make the right hire.

Freelancer vs Toptal

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Revelo

Revelo is a platform that connects you with remote software engineering talent from Latin America. You can source from nearly 300,000 developers and start with a two-week free trial. Revelo handles payroll & compliance on behalf of its clients. 

Revelo vs Toptal

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Crossover 

Crossover bridges tech companies and software developers by posting job openings by clients on their platform and inviting developers to apply directly. Crossover’s main focus is getting companies to hire for full-time roles, not freelancing gigs. They allow clients to state their pay rates before posting a job.

Crossover vs Toptal

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Fiverr

Fiverr is one of the biggest freelance service platforms, where providers, known as sellers, offer their skills, called “gigs,” for sale. These gigs have a defined timeline, which are often in weeks, making Fiverr suitable for short-term projects. If you want a software engineer, use Fiverr’s search and filter functions to browse profiles, check out gigs, and select the best fit. By the way, Fiverr developers aren’t vetted. Client reviews and their seller level may hint at their quality, but it’s still not guaranteed since you can’t request coding tests or interviews.

Fiverr vs Toptal

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Guru

Guru is similar to Fiverr and Freelancer, with a large pool of freelancers with various skills. Like most general freelance platforms, you can find developers for almost any tech stack. However, without a vetting process, anyone can join the platform, which means you'll again spend a lot of time looking for a quality developer.

Guru vs Toptal

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Supersourcing

Supersourcing is a specialized platform that helps you find and hire remote and on-site developers. They use a combination of an AI system and technical recruiters to vet the developers they present to their clients.

Supersourcing vs Toptal

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Which is the best Toptal alternative?

Short answer: It depends on your needs. Here are our recommendations based on different hiring priorities. 

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