Toptal connects companies with top-tier freelancers from its global network of rigorously vetted talent. In this Toptal review, I take a closer look at its fees, features, and hiring process to help you determine if it’s the right freelance marketplace for your business needs. Whether you’re seeking developers, designers, or finance experts, this guide will provide the insights you need to make an informed decision.
Hiring full-time employees aren’t always the best solution, especially when you only need to hire someone to work on a short-term project. Freelancers are best suited for these types of projects where you need an expert but don’t want/need to hire them full-time.
Is the premium price worth it to hire freelancers? I think so. From my personal experience, Toptal has been a game-changer. When I needed a top-notch developer for a crucial project, Toptal’s process was smooth and efficient, connecting me with a perfect match in no time
Although there are hundreds of freelance marketplaces out there, most of the freelancers on these platforms aren’t experts.
To find a reliable freelancer you can work with on multiple and complex projects, you will need to hire a few freelancers before you find one that fits your needs perfectly.
Even then, you can lose them if they decide to raise their rates, go out of business, or simply disappear.
This is where Toptal comes in. Their platform helps you hire the top 3% of freelancers in the world from over 100 countries, and most are located in America and Europe.
Toptal only lets the absolute best talent join their platform, so if you want to hire the top 3% of freelancers in the world, then this Toptal is the exclusive network to hire them from.
The cost of hiring a freelancer from Toptal depends on the type of role you are hiring for, but you can expect to pay between $60-$200+ per hour.
- Toptal boasts a 95% trial-to-hire success rate, with $0 recruiting fee for the top 3% of the global freelance talentpool. You’ll get introduced to candidates within 24h of signing up, and 90% of clients hire the first candidate Toptal introduces.
- If you only need help with a smaller project, or are on a tight budget and can only afford inexperienced and cheap freelancers – then Toptal isn’t the freelance marketplace for you.
When working with Toptal, you can easily find an expert freelancer for your project in the first try as all of the freelancers are vetted and interviewed before they are allowed on the platform. And you are in safe hands because Toptal works with companies like Airbnb, Skype, Hewlett Packard, Zendesk, Motorola, Bridgestone, Shopify, and many others.
What is Toptal.com?
A couple of years ago, I was in a bind trying to find a top-notch developer for a crucial project. After wading through endless resumes and interviews, I was still empty-handed. A friend suggested I try Toptal, and honestly, it was a lifesaver.
Within days, Toptal matched me with a developer who not only had the skills we needed but also fit right into our team. The whole process was smooth and saved me so much time. Since then, Toptal has been my go-to for finding top talent quickly and efficiently. Their vetting process is no joke, and it shows in the quality of freelancers they offer.
Toptal is a freelance marketplace similar to the likes of Upwork. What differentiates Toptal from other marketplaces (like Upwork) is that it gives you access to the best of the best freelancers from around the world.
Unlike other freelance networks/marketplaces, Toptal vets and interviews freelancers and only accepts experts who can prove themselves.
Toptal can be your partner that helps you finish all your projects.
Whether you need someone to design the user interface for your new iPhone app, the backend of your complex web server application, or an interim CFO – Toptal can help you find the right expert who can get the job done.
Their network includes project managers, product managers, finance experts, designers, and developers.
Toptal has five general categories of talent that you can hire:
- Developers – front-end, and back-end developers, software engineers, software architects + more.
- Designers – UI, UX, visual, interactive designers, illustrators, animators + more.
- Product managers – AI/ecommerce/blockchain/cloud PMs, interim CPOs, product owners, and more.
- Finance experts – financial modeling/valuation/forecasting, interim CFOs, CPAs, blockchain consultants + more.
- Project managers – Asana, digital transformation, digital and technical PMs, scrum masters, and more.
How Toptal Works
Unlike other freelance marketplaces, Toptal’s team personally helps you find the best freelancer for your business needs.
Toptal only allows the best of the best freelancers in the world to join their platform after a rigorous interview process that can take weeks. The high quality of freelance talent available on this platform is their biggest differentiator.
When you sign up, you have to fill out a simple survey, which takes less than two minutes. It helps Toptal understand your project needs better.
Once you sign up, you will be assigned an expert who will get in touch with you to better understand your project requirements. This step helps the Toptal team understand how big and complex your project will be.
The Toptal team will then find a freelancer who fits your requirements. You’ll get introduced to candidates within 24h of signing up, and 90% of companies hire the first candidate Toptal introduces to them.
The Screening Process
What differentiates Toptal from other freelance marketplaces is its rigorous screening process which only accepts 3% of all applicants.
The reason behind their vigorous screening and interviewing is to weed out low-quality freelancers who don’t have enough experience.
Toptal’s screening process has 5 steps and only experienced and expert freelancers who are serious about their work end up successfully finishing it.
The first step of the process is all about testing communication skills and personality. The applicant must be able to communicate in English extremely well. They also test to see if the applicant is actually passionate about and fully engaged in the work they do.
Only 26.4% of the applicants make it past this step.
The second step is an in-depth skills review that weeds out any low-quality freelancers who aren’t exceptional at the work they do. This step tests the applicant’s problem-solving ability and intellect. The applicant is required to complete various assignments to prove their skills.
Only 7.4% of the applicants make it past this step.
The third step is live screening where the applicant will be screened by an expert. This step is more like a one-on-one interview with an expert in the applicant’s primary domain of expertise.
Only 3.6% of the applicants make it past this step.
This fourth step assigns the applicant with a test project that mimics real-world scenarios and tests their ability to solve real-world problems. Only 3.2% of the applicants make it past this step.
The final step is an ongoing test of continued excellence. Toptal doesn’t take low-quality remote work and poor communication lightly. This step ensures that only the best of the best freelancers remain on the network.
Only 3.0% of the applicants make it past this step and are allowed to become a freelancer in the Toptal network.
How to signup (as a client/employer)
Signing up for Toptal as a client/employer is very easy. It only involves answering a few questions to give the Toptal team an idea of your project requirements.
When you visit the sign-up page for Toptal, you will see a survey form:
The first question you need to answer is who you are looking to hire. For this example, let’s work with Designers. Once you have selected the type of talent you wish to hire, click the Get Started button.
Now, you have to select what type of project you need help with:
In most cases, you will be working on a new project, so let’s pick ‘New Project’ as the type of project. Click the big blue Next button on the bottom right of the form to continue.
Now, you have to pick whether or not you have clear specifications for the project. This basically tells Toptal how far you have come in the ideation process:
Most of your projects can benefit from input from an expert designer or developer. Unless you already have clear specifications ready for your projects, select the “I have a rough idea of what I want to build” option and click the Next button.
Now, you have to decide how long you will need the designer:
For most projects, it will be only a few weeks, so let’s pick “1 to 4 weeks”. If you aren’t sure yet or want to leave it open for discussion, choose “I’ll decide later”.
Now, you have to choose how many designers you need:
For most projects, you will need more than just a designer or a developer. You will need someone on your team to handle other parts of the project. So, let’s pick “A cross-functional team”.
If you aren’t sure yet or want to leave it open for discussion, choose “I’ll decide later”. Click Next to continue.
Now, you have to choose the level of time commitment your project requires:
For serious business projects, this will be full-time or at least part-time, so let’s pick Part-Time. If you aren’t sure yet or want to leave it open for discussion, choose “I’ll decide later”. Click Next to continue.
Now, select the skills your ideal candidate for this project will have:
For a web design project, you will need Web Design, Responsive Web Design, and User Interface design. Select the appropriate skills and click the Next button.
Now, select the number of employees who work at your company:
Let’s pick Less than 10 for this example. Click Next to continue.
Now, select when you need to designer to start working with you:
For most projects, it will be at least 1 week and up to 3 weeks. If you aren’t sure yet or want to leave it open for discussion, choose “I’ll decide later”. Click the Next button to continue.
Now, you have to decide whether or not you are open to working with Remote talent:
For most types of projects, even complex ones, this will not matter but if you aren’t sure, choose “I’m not sure”. Click the Next button to continue.
Now, select your budget for this role:
I recommend picking “$51 – $75/hr” as most freelancers on the platform charge at least $60/hour. Click Next to continue.
Now, fill in your contact details to finish signing up:
Now, fill in your contact details, so that the Toptal team can call you to kickstart the process:
That’s all. You have completed the signup process. Now, you will receive a kickstart call from Toptal where an expert will answer all your questions and request more details for your project so they can set you up with the most suitable freelancer for your project.
Rates & Pricing
To hire your first freelancer on Toptal, you need to make a one-time, refundable deposit of $500. If you decide not to hire at any stage of the process, you will receive a refund.
Otherwise, the $500 will be later added as a credit to your account and will be used to pay freelancers that you remotely work with. This deposit tells Toptal that you are serious about hiring a freelancer.
Unlike platforms like Upwork, you won’t find any cheap freelancers on this platform.
The best of the best freelancers come with an expensive price tag. Most freelancers on this network charge at least $60 per hour or even more depending on the skills and experience level.
How Much Does Toptal Cost?
Toptal offers flexible pricing depending on client requirements and their geographical location.
The below toptal.com cost figures can be used as a guideline:
Developer cost:
- Hourly Rate: $60-$95+/hour
- Part-time: $1,000-$1,600+/week
- Full-time: $2,000-$3,200+/week
Designer cost:
- Hourly Rate: $60-$150+ per hour
- Part-time: $1,200-$2,600+ per week
- Full-time: $2,400-$5,200+ per week
Finance expert cost:
- Hourly Rate: $60-$200+ per hour
- Part-time: $2,000-$3,200+ per week
- Full-time: $4,000-$6,400+ per week
Project manager cost:
- Hourly Rate: $60-$150+ per hour
- Part-time: $1,300-$2,600+ per week
- Full-time: $2,600-$5,200+ per week
Product manager cost:
- Hourly Rate: $60-$180+ per hour
- Part-time: $1,500-$2,800+ per week
- Full-time: $3,000-$5,600+ per week
Remember. If you are not happy with their performance within the first two weeks, Toptal will refund you both the deposit and any charges for the freelancer’s work.
Pros and Cons
The biggest benefit of hiring freelance talent from Toptal is that their rigorous screening process weeds out anyone who is not an expert.
When you hire someone from Toptal, you can be assured that they know how to solve your problem or help you with your project.
But that is also one of the biggest cons of working with Toptal. Because they only offer access to the very best freelancers, the rates can be pretty expensive if you are just starting out or low on budget.
If you are on a low budget or only need help with a small project, then it makes a lot more sense to go with a freelance marketplace such as Upwork.
But going with freelance marketplace sites like Upwork that allows anyone to join as a freelancer will face you the exact problem Toptal helps you solve. Hiring the perfect freelancer will take some trial and error.
And this, in many cases, might mean losing money (and time) to find the best freelancer for your project.
Another big benefit of working with Toptal is that you are not on your own. Unlike other platforms and marketplaces that simply give you a list of freelancers, Toptal’s team of experts works with you to find the perfect freelance talent for your project based on your requirements.
Verdict ⭐
From my personal experience, Toptal has been a game-changer. When I needed a top-notch developer for a crucial project, Toptal’s process was smooth and efficient, connecting me with a perfect match in no time. The quality and professionalism of the freelancer exceeded my expectations, making Toptal my go-to resource for hiring exceptional talent.
Toptal excels as a premier platform for hiring top-tier freelancers, offering several standout features that set it apart:
- Rigorous Vetting Process: Toptal’s stringent screening ensures that only the top 3% of freelancers make it into their network, guaranteeing high-quality talent.
- Diverse Talent Pool: From developers and designers to finance experts and project managers, Toptal provides access to a wide range of skilled professionals.
- Seamless Hiring Experience: The platform’s efficient matching process quickly connects you with freelancers who meet your specific needs, saving you valuable time.
- Quality Assurance: Toptal’s commitment to excellence is evident in the consistent quality of freelancers they offer, making it a reliable choice for critical projects.
If you’re seeking a dependable and efficient way to hire exceptional freelancers, Toptal’s robust features and high standards make it a top contender.
This review of Toptal has explained that Toptal is a fantastic freelance talent marketplace if you want to hire the best freelance talent on the Internet.
Toptal only lets the absolute best talent join their platform, so if you want to hire the top 3% of freelancers in the world, then this Toptal is the exclusive network to hire them from.
The cost of hiring a freelancer from Toptal depends on the type of role you are hiring for, but you can expect to pay between $60-$200+ per hour.
Their rigorous interview screening process only allows 3% of the applicants through and weeds out all the low-quality applicants.
This more than doubles the chances of finding the perfect expert freelance talent for your projects from the get-go. Unlike other freelance marketplaces such as Upwork, you don’t need to depend on trial and error using their platform.
Although Toptal makes finding great freelancers a walk in the park, the freelancers on the platform cost a lot more than your run-of-the-mill cheap freelancers.
If you are just starting out or are on a low budget, then I don’t recommend using Toptal.
How We Evaluate Freelancer Marketplaces: Our Methodology
We understand the critical role that freelancer hiring marketplaces play in the digital and gig economy. To ensure that our reviews are thorough, fair, and helpful to our readers, we’ve developed a methodology for evaluating these platforms. Here’s how we do it:
- Sign-Up Process and User Interface
- Ease of Registration: We evaluate how user-friendly the sign-up process is. Is it quick and straightforward? Are there unnecessary hurdles or verifications?
- Platform Navigation: We assess the layout and design for intuitiveness. How easy is it to find essential features? Is the search functionality efficient?
- Variety and Quality of Freelancers/Projects
- Freelancer Assessment: We look at the range of skills and expertise available. Are freelancers vetted for quality? How does the platform ensure skill diversity?
- Project Diversity: We analyze the range of projects. Are there opportunities for freelancers of all skill levels? How varied are the project categories?
- Pricing and Fees
- Transparency: We scrutinize how openly the platform communicates about its fees. Are there hidden charges? Is the pricing structure easy to understand?
- Value for Money: We evaluate whether the fees charged are reasonable compared to the services offered. Do clients and freelancers get good value?
- Support and Resources
- Customer Support: We test the support system. How quickly do they respond? Are the solutions provided effective?
- Learning Resources: We check for the availability and quality of educational resources. Are there tools or materials for skill development?
- Security and Trustworthiness
- Payment Security: We examine the measures in place to secure transactions. Are payment methods reliable and secure?
- Dispute Resolution: We look into how the platform handles conflicts. Is there a fair and efficient dispute resolution process?
- Community and Networking
- Community Engagement: We explore the presence and quality of community forums or networking opportunities. Is there active participation?
- Feedback System: We assess the review and feedback system. Is it transparent and fair? Can freelancers and clients trust the feedback given?
- Platform Specific Features
- Unique Offerings: We identify and highlight unique features or services that distinguish the platform. What makes this platform different or better than others?
- Real User Testimonials
- User Experiences: We collect and analyze testimonials from actual platform users. What are common praises or complaints? How do real experiences align with platform promises?
- Continuous Monitoring and Updates
- Regular Re-evaluation: We commit to re-evaluating our reviews to keep them current and up to date. How have platforms evolved? Rolled out new features? Are improvements or changes being made?
Learn more about our review methodology here.
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