Toptal and Turing.com are two popular options for hiring developers, but which one truly stands out as better?

TL;DR: While both provide skilled developers, Toptal edges Turing because of their stricter vetting process.

But let’s dig into the details. We’ll compare the quality of developers they offer and how much you should plan to spend. By the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer idea of which platform might be the better choice for your needs.

What is Toptal?

Toptal helps businesses connect with developers from all over the world. They focus on working with the top 3% of talent, which is why their vetting process is famously strict.

How does Toptal work?

1. Fill out a form on their website giving details of what you're looking for, like the number of devs needed and the specific tech stack.
2. After filling the form, a sales rep will call you to better understand your needs and answer any questions you have. 
3. Toptal will search their database and present a list of candidates that fit your requirements, usually within 4-5 days.‍
4. ‍You can review the matched candidates to make sure they’re a good fit.‍
5. ‍Once you’ve signed off on your choice, you must pay a refundable $500 security deposit. The developer then starts working with your team in a 2-week risk-free trial. If things don’t work out, you can either part ways or restart the entire cycle with a different developer at no cost.

What is Toptal’s vetting process?

Toptal’s vetting process is famously tough, with about 3% of applicants making it through. Here’s how it works: 

1. Communication interview by Toptal recruiters to test applicants’ language skills and ensure they can communicate effectively.
2. Next, Toptal recruiters give candidates coding assessments to prove their technical abilities are up to Toptal’s high standards.
3. Those who make it through move on to live coding exercises. Here, they’re tested on problem-solving skills, creativity, and experience.
4. The final round involves working on a real project for about 3 weeks. This step assesses how candidates perform in a real-world scenario.

Toptal reviews, pros & cons

Toptal reviews

Toptal boasts a strong 4.7-star rating on G2 and Trustpilot, with many clients praising the platform for the quality of software engineers. 

However, not everyone is thrilled. We found a common issue in the negative reviews: lack of transparency with Toptal’s risk-free trial. A client was unhappy that they were asked to pay the developer out of their pocket despite canceling during the free trial period. 

Pros

1. Toptal devs have expertise in a broad range of technologies.
2. Rigorous vetting process ensures that you’re getting skilled professionals.
3. Large talent pool.

Cons

1. Expensive. Toptal’s devs charge between $100 and $200 per hour.
2. It can sometimes take several weeks to hire a dev.
3. The security deposit can be a turn-off for some. 
4. Lack of transparency with their no-risk free trial.

What is Turing?

Turing is a platform that connects companies with developers from all over the world using machine learning and AI technology. Turing has over 2 million freelance developers from over 150 countries in its talent pool. You can find engineers skilled in various tech stacks, such as Django, AWS, PHP, C#, and more.

How does Turing work?

1. Post a job on Turing, sharing your project’s requirements, tech stack needed, and how soon you want the developer to start.
2. Turing’s AI algorithm will scan its database of devs to find potential matches. This can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
3. You’ll receive a shortlist of the best-matched developers. Then you can review and interview them to see who’s the best fit.
4. After you’ve chosen a developer and finalized the agreement, you can start working with them. Turing offers a two-week, no-risk trial period to make sure everything goes smoothly.

What is Turing’s vetting process?

1. Turing’s AI conducts automated tests focused on candidates’ tech stack and assesses their understanding of technical concepts.
2. Candidates take on a live coding challenge conducted by recruiters, where their practical coding skills and problem-solving abilities are put to the test. ‍
3. ‍Turing’s AI evaluates candidates’ soft skills, like communication, collaboration, and remote work adaptability. ‍
4. ‍Those who pass all the tests will have their profiles finalized and can start getting matched with jobs.

Turing reviews, pros & cons

Turing reviews

Turing.com has a 2.6-star rating out of 5 rating on Trustpilot. However, most of the reviews come from developers, making it tricky to find genuine client feedback.

One 5-star client review, however, praised his Turing developer for his high-quality performance.

Among the negative reviews, effective communication was the common problem for clients. 

Pros

1. Turing has a vast network of over 1.5 million devs. 
2. 2-week no-risk free trial period. 

Cons

• Expensive. Devs charge between $100 to $200 an hour.
• The vetting process is not so rigorous and stringent.
• Its AI matching system often leads to mismatches as it lacks the human touch to understand personal dynamics of clients.

Comparing Toptal and Turing

We’ve put together a number of factors to help you make a decision between these two platforms. 

What’s a better alternative to Toptal and Turing?

Now you know the pros and cons of both platforms. While you’ll pay a premium for devs on both websites, Toptal’s stricter vetting process ensures higher-quality developers.

Looking for React developers? Then there’s a better option…

ReactSquad

Hire senior React developers at affordable rates

• Qualified, senior developers with 5+ years of experience
• Affordable and transparent pricing at $75/hour
• Get matched with a developer in 48 hours

Let’s talk about your project

ReactSquad is a marketplace of vetted React developers for SaaS startups. We provide expert React devs to startups to work with their in-house teams. 

Why Us?

• Specialists: We’re 100% focused on React with a niche focus on SaaS.
• 7-day no-risk free trial.
• Developers are rigorously vetted: 3 interviews + 4 weeks of a paid test project. Handpicked by a Silicon Valley Senior Engineer.
• Transparent pricing of $75/hour. No hidden charges.

How it works

1. Book a call to tell us your needs: Whether you need one developer or a whole team, we’ve got you.
2. Quick matching: Our matching process is lightning-fast – we’ll connect you with a developer within 48 hours.
3. Meet your developer: We can arrange a quick call with your developer for you to see if he is the right fit for your team.
4. 7-day free trial: Test your developer’s skills in real-time, with zero risks.

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We’ve presented three options in this article. But which is the best? The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It really depends on what you’re looking for.

If you need developers with a wide range of tech skills, Toptal and Turing are your best choices. If you want a faster and more efficient hiring process, Turing or ReactSquad might be the better option. But if you’re after the perfect blend of affordability and high-quality talent for a React-based project, ReactSquad is the right fit.

Ready to get started? Book a call today and get matched with a dev in 48 hours.