Toptal Alternatives

Toptal is one of the first names that come to mind when you think about platforms for hiring top-tier developers, designers, and other tech-related positions. Toptal has quite a rigorous screening process, which makes it a platform with one of the most reliable and professional freelance talent.
But despite this prestige and reputation, users of Toptal have reported varying experiences. For some users, access to elite talent is an indispensable quality, and while they appreciate it, others express frustration over the high costs, lengthy hiring times, and limited flexibility. Several users have left reviews on platforms such as G2 and Capterra, complaining about issues including unresponsive account managers, overpromised developer availability, and unnecessarily complicated contract processes.

There are numerous Toptal alternatives available, each offering great talent with varying pricing models, vetting processes, and hiring flexibility. This comprehensive blog will explore the best alternatives to Toptal in 2025 and guide on selecting the right platform for your specific needs.

Why seek Toptal alternatives?

Toptal has a reputation that precedes itself—the platform is known for offering an elite pool of talent. However, it isn’t the perfect choice for everyone, and these are some of the reasons why businesses and individuals alike seek alternatives to Toptal: 

• Toptal is generally considered to be on the more expensive side, with its premium services coming at a premium price. Small businesses and startups often find these prices expensive compared to other platforms. 
• Toptal’s thorough vetting process can take some time and slow down the hiring process. This can be a problem for companies that require immediate services. 
• Toptal is known to specialize in developers, designers, and financial experts. It lacks broader categories, such as marketing and content writing. 

• There’s a certain minimum requirement when it comes to commitment, in terms of the number of hours or contracts. This isn’t ideal for businesses with short-term needs. 
• Some users have left reviews stating that while Toptal promises to partner with the top 3% of talent, they have been paired with developers who have left much to be desired in terms of their work and have not met their expectations. One such instance is of a user who reported on G2 that there were delays in project delivery as well as communication issues, which undermine the company’s promise of professionalism.

These limitations of Toptal create a need for companies to search for platforms that better serve their needs.

Pros and cons of Toptal

Pros 

• Highly vetted talent. 
• Excellent developer quality and a high level of professionalism. 
• Dedicated account managers. 
• Smooth process. 

Cons 

• Relatively higher pricing. 
• Less flexibility. 
• Limited variety in non-tech fields. 
• Not ideal for one-off gigs or small tasks.

Best Toptal alternatives in 2025

There are several alternative options to Toptal, based on various factors such as talent quality, pricing, and flexibility. These are listed below.

Coding Crafts

Coding Crafts is a relatively new name in the tech industry. Despite its newness in the complex and constantly evolving tech world, Coding Crafts stands out as one of the top alternatives to Toptal for developers in 2025. The company has made a name for itself, specializing in connecting companies with highly skilled developers. 

Key Features 

• Coding Crafts has a rigorous screening process in place to ensure that only the best can offer their services on the platform.  
• Coding Crafts’ pricing system is affordable and competitive when compared to Toptal. 
• On larger and more comprehensive projects, Coding Crafts offers dedicated project managers. 
• The platform offers freelancers specializing in full-stack development, mobile app development, and custom software development. 

For businesses and individuals seeking a reliable, transparent, and cost-effective alternative, Coding Crafts is a leading choice.

Arc.dev

Arc.dev is a platform that exclusively focuses on remote developers. This exclusivity and rigorous vetting process ensure that only top-tier engineers are accepted onto their platform. 

Key Features 

• There’s thorough technical vetting carried out by Arc.dev before letting any developers on their platform. 
• Both freelance and full-time hiring options are available on the platform, letting businesses choose according to their needs. 
• Arc.dev places a strong emphasis on remote work, enabling remote workers to connect with businesses from around the world. 

Arc.dev offers a lot of flexibility in hiring developers, while also offering lower rates than Toptal for a similar level of expertise.

Upwork

Upwork is one of the most globally recognized freelance marketplaces worldwide. Unlike Toptal, Upwork doesn’t just focus on elite developers; it offers a wide variety of talent at varying price points. 

Key Features 

• Upwork grants businesses access to millions of freelancers from all industries and worldwide. 
• There is a vast talent pool of freelancers specializing in development, design, writing, marketing, and more. 
• Upwork offers payment protection for its clients, ensuring funds are released only when clients are satisfied with the work. 
• Upwork has a flexible hiring model, allowing freelancers to be hired on an hourly, project, or full-time basis. 

Upwork is a suitable platform for businesses with limited budgets or broader requirements. Upwork is a more versatile and economical alternative to Toptal.

Fiverr Pro

Fiverr Pro is a premium, upgraded version of Fiverr that focuses on top-rated and vetted professionals. 

Key Features 

• Fiverr Pro offers vetted and verified experts in fields like development, design, and marketing. 
• Fiverr Pro utilizes a transparent pricing model with fixed project prices. 
• Since Fiverr Pro is a premium offering, it also offers a quick turnaround for projects. 
• There is no long-term commitment required, and clients are charged per project. 

Companies that require highly specialized tasks or short-term projects can find Fiverr Pro to be a more affordable and better choice compared to Toptal. 

Gun.io

Gun.io is a platform that specializes in connecting developers. Its diligent screening process, combined with the flexibility in hiring, makes it a top choice for tech-related projects. 

Key Features 

• Businesses and individuals alike connect with freelance developers through Gun.io, which primarily focuses on connecting developers. 
• This platform isn’t only focused on talent within the US, but also on developers from all across the world. 
• The pricing model employed is transparent and flexible when needed. 

This platform is ideal for startups and enterprises seeking a streamlined hiring process without incurring Toptal-level premiums.

Lemon.io

Lemon.io is a platform designed to help startups. They offer freelance developers to startups at competitive prices.  

Key Features 

• Their vetting process is designed to tailor to the needs of a startup. 
• They offer rates that are both affordable for startups and competitive. 
• Lemon.io has a very efficient and quick process for matching clients with freelancers within just 24 hours. 
• The company primarily focuses on Eastern European developers, as they offer a high level of quality and are also cost-effective. 

Lemon.io is ideal for startups that require top developers quickly and at affordable rates.

Crowdspring

Crowdspring isn’t a direct competitor to development services platforms, but it focuses solely on design work and serves as a good alternative for those who require it. 

Key Features 

• Being a platform that focuses on design work, Crowdspring focuses on branding, logo design, and graphic design etc. 
• Crowdspring offers an affordable pricing system with access to thousands of designers worldwide. 
• The hiring model used by Crowdspring is project-based, with no strings attached and no long-term commitment required. 

For businesses that primarily use Toptal for design work purposes, Crowdspring is a good, cost-effective alternative.

PeoplePerHour

PeoplePerHour is a freelance platform that offers talented professionals from a range of different fields, including development, design, and marketing. 

Key Features 

• PeoplePerHour is a flexible platform offering both hourly and project-based hiring for clients. 
• The platform is designed to be user-friendly, featuring an easy-to-use search engine and filters. 
• There’s a huge pool of freelancers from across the world, allowing businesses to choose according to their needs and budget. 
• The overall costs associated with hiring from PeoplePerHour are lower than Toptal. 

It’s an ideal platform for small to medium-sized businesses that may need occasional freelance help, without having to pay premium prices.

Guru

Guru is a diverse platform that offers freelance talent from a variety of fields, including design, development, and business consulting. 

Key Features 

• Guru’s payment model allows its clients to pay in various ways, including milestone-based payments, hourly rates, and task-based payment terms. 
• Third-party payment gateways, such as Safepay, ensure the secure and encrypted transfer of money from clients to freelancers. 
• Guru offers affordable and competitive pricing. 

Guru can be a good option for businesses that require flexibility in hiring and payment models, without compromising on quality.

Freelancer

Freelancer.com was one of the first platforms to emerge in the freelance market. The platform is still one of the largest freelance marketplaces. 

Key Features 

• Being one of the oldest freelance marketplaces, Freelancer offers a vast array of freelancers from diverse industries. 
• Their bidding system helps control costs. 
• Freelancer has nearly every service category covered, offering talented freelancers in all categories. 
• Their escrow payment protection model ensures funds are released only if the buyer is satisfied with the work. 

Freelancers offer great flexibility, as well as a broad pool of talent from all across the world and every industry.

Developer Vetting: Who delivers quality?

One of the major factors considered when comparing Toptal alternatives is the vetting process employed. Here is how some platforms’ vetting stacks up: 

Recommendations based on different hiring needs

A company or individual will need to assess their needs, budget, and requirements before selecting the right alternative to Toptal. Different types of organizations have varying needs and will be better served by certain platforms more than others.  
Having personally tried Toptal for a mobile app project last year, my experience was somewhat mixed. Toptal connected me with a developer who was seemingly sound at first. Anyways, the onboarding process was delayed by almost a week, and there were several back-and-forths with account management while trying to align on project expectations. This was frustrating and unprofessional, as I paid top dollar for Toptal so that I could gain access to better-quality developers. This kind of experience highlights how alternatives can sometimes offer better value, especially for time-sensitive projects.

Lemon.io and Coding Crafts are affordable and are known to be better oriented for startups due to their reliable and vetted developers. This would make them ideal for startups. Fiverr Pro, PeoplePerHour, and Freelancer are all platforms that have the necessary resources and manpower to generate long-term, robust solutions that cater to the needs of big organizations and enterprises. Crowdspring specializes in design work and visual content, making it an ideal choice for organizations and individuals that require creative work of any kind. Upwork, Guru, and Freelancer are platforms that are best suited to help with small and general freelance needs. They are versatile platforms that offer assistance in development, marketing, and more.

Tips to choose the right Toptal alternative for your outsourcing needs

Choosing the right platform for your outsourcing needs can be a tedious process. Here are some tips to ensure the platform you choose meets your needs. 

• You should consider the scope of your project beforehand and decide whether you require a full-time or part-time developer. 
• A budget should be prepared, including all potential costs, so that money is spent efficiently and work is hired by the budget. 
• Research can help in knowing more about a platform. This can be done by reading reviews and ratings, as they provide valuable insights into any platform. 
• Furthermore, if you’re a large organization that requires high-quality work without worrying about costs, platforms with thorough vetting should be chosen.

Choose Coding Crafts, the Best Alternative to Toptal

We have reviewed some of the top alternatives to Toptal above and discussed their benefits and drawbacks. Among the platforms mentioned earlier, each offers something unique, and the one you choose depends on your specific needs, budget, and project timeline.

For startups or medium-sized businesses seeking top-level developers at a competitive price, Coding Crafts appears to be the best choice. The platform’s combination of affordability, transparent processes, and rigorous vetting system makes it a strong rival to larger names in the industry.
However, for businesses seeking to tap into a global pool of talent across various fields, Upwork is a suitable option. Similarly, for businesses seeking a developer-based platform that specializes in remote hires, Arc.dev is worth considering.

Ultimately, the best alternative to Toptal varies from business to business, depending on what each business truly requires. However, we seem to think we’re quite skilled at what we do.
Try Coding Crafts, and see whether we’re the right fit for your development needs in 2025.