Toptal
Hire from the top 3% of freelance developers, designers and consultants, matched within about 24 hours, with a no-risk trial.
Toptal at a glance
Toptal — Hire from the top 3% of freelance developers, designers and consultants, matched within about 24 hours, with a no-risk trial. Paid plans start at $79/mo and a free trial (No-risk trial up to 2 weeks; not billed if not satisfied). Rated 4.8/5 from 2,564 reviews on Trustpilot. Best for companies hiring senior, pre-vetted developers, designers or finance experts for long-term work. It ranks #1 of 28 in our DevTools guide.
- Rating
- 4.8/5 Trustpilot
- Starting price
- $79/mo
- Free plan / trial
- NoTrial: No-risk trial up to 2 weeks; not billed if not satisfied
- Guide rank
- #1 of 28 DevTools
About Toptal
Toptal is an exclusive network of pre-vetted freelance developers, designers, finance experts, product and project managers and marketing specialists. It says fewer than 3% of more than 200,000 annual applicants are accepted after a screening that includes language and skills tests, live interviews and a test project. Founded in 2010 by Taso Du Val and Breanden Beneschott, it is a private, fully remote company and says more than 35,000 clients have used it.
Instead of browsing an open marketplace, clients describe what they need and Toptal's matching team introduces candidates, usually within 24 hours; Toptal says 90% of clients hire the first candidate introduced. Engagements can be full-time (40 hours a week), part-time (20 hours) or hourly, and Toptal also offers team hiring and consulting. A no-risk trial of up to two weeks means clients are not billed if they are not satisfied, and they can trial up to three people per position.
Toptal's model is different from fee-on-every-payment marketplaces. Talent set their own rates and Toptal does not take a cut from them. Clients pay a flat USD 79 monthly subscription when they proceed with talent matching, refundable on cancellation if Toptal cannot provide talent, and are invoiced twice a month on Net 10 terms by card, ACH, wire or PayPal. Hourly talent rates are not published. Compared with Upwork, Toptal costs more per hour but removes most of the screening work, so it suits senior, long-term roles rather than small one-off tasks.
Toptal pros & cons
- Rigorous vetting: fewer than 3% of applicants are accepted.
- Candidates usually introduced within 24 hours by a matching team.
- No-risk trial of up to two weeks, with up to three candidates per role.
- Talent keep 100% of their rate; Toptal takes no cut.
- Highest Trustpilot score among major freelance platforms: 4.8 from 2,564 reviews.
- Clients pay a USD 79 monthly subscription, and hourly rates are not published.
- Not suited to small one-off tasks or tight budgets.
- No open catalog to browse; you rely on Toptal's matching.
- Hard for freelancers to join: years of experience and a multi-week screening.
Key features
Toptal pricing
Prices change — confirm on Toptal's site before you buy.
Toptal alternatives
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Frequently asked questions
What is Toptal?
Toptal is an exclusive network of pre-vetted freelance developers, designers, finance experts, product managers and other specialists. It says it accepts fewer than 3% of applicants.
How much does Toptal cost for clients?
Toptal charges clients a flat USD 79 monthly subscription when they proceed with talent matching, plus the talent's agreed rate. You can cancel at any time and request a refund if Toptal cannot provide talent. Prices as of November 2026.
Does Toptal take a cut from freelancers?
No. Toptal says talent members set their own rates and it does not take a cut from them.
Is there a trial period?
Yes. Clients can trial talent for up to two weeks and are not billed if they are not completely satisfied. You can trial up to three people per position.
How fast can I hire on Toptal?
Toptal says candidates are usually introduced within 24 hours and that 90% of clients hire the first candidate introduced.
Toptal or Upwork: which is better?
Toptal suits senior, long-term roles where you want vetting done for you. Upwork suits a wider range of budgets and project sizes where you are willing to screen proposals yourself.
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